Today was quite an adventure with our descent up the rocky path to the mobile clinic in Germaine! Who knows how Erick (a doctor with NCBM) found the gorgeous site, hidden along a winding, dusty, and bumpy road on the edge of the mountain, alongside fields of green plantain leaves and corn, down to the pebbled streams below. Some Haitian people walk for hours from all around to get to our clinic nested high in the mountains. The sites were breathtaking with the ocean on one side and the rolling mountains on the other. We passed beautiful scenes of the Haitian people cooking or working at their homes (Kai); children, to the elderly walking or riding donkeys loaded with food and items to sell. Children bathe in the clear streams flowing down the mountain. Beautiful (bele) red flowers brighten trees adorning the mountain sides. The ride was quite bumpy yet ‘Pi’ was an excellent driver, able to make a deep ditch feel smooth to pass over. As the ride continued nearing closer to an hours’ drive we thought we could not have made it any higher up the mountain when we approached a stream that had carved its path through the dirt road. Dr. Merline said we still have about a 5 minute drive higher up the mountain, so we all needed to get out of the white van in order for 'Pi' to get through the stream, and washed out road. It took a few tries, some pushing of the van, some fish tailing, and rolling more stones under the tires before the van could make it up the mountain.
We cautiously hopped back into the van and continued the drive up to a small village, called Germanie (as they are of German decent). Here we saw beautiful patients with gorgeous (safire) green eyes, lighter tan skin, and brown hair. We had clinic in a small church made of tree posts and tarp. We met the pastor’s wife and unloaded our supplies. The sun was already beating down on us through the tarp, yet we continued to set up the clinic, and later introduced ourselves to the people whom had already gathered. Our set up today I felt flowed really well as the people lined the benches around the edge of the church/tent waiting to be triaged/get vitals, then see the doctors, and last go to the pharmacy. Even though the church was small, I enjoyed being able to watch what was going on in the entire clinic as I triaged/took vitals, I watched the patients, and the doctors, and pharmacy. It was great as we finished a group to triage; I would transition over to sit with the doctors to hear about the cases, and then walk over to the pharmacy as needed for Tylenol for children with fevers, or to get needed supplies for the doctors.
I was especially blessed by the many babies we had today. Pastor Phil was excellent in as babies would begin to cry, Phil would kindly go ask the mother (waiting to see the doctor) if he could hold the baby. They would smile and gladly let Phil take the child close with their head over his shoulder, and would walk, and sing ‘Jesus loves you’. It was breath-taking to watch the upset infant wrap his brown little hand on Phil’s lily white neck and quickly be at ease, some even falling asleep. I enjoyed also today being able to give some of the children some of the shoes, and clothing that people had donated or made for me to bring. There were two girls that were so happy to receive beautiful handmade dresses, putting them over top their worn and torn make-shift dresses.
*There was also one little boy whom I noticed as soon as he walked over to my triage table. He scuffed along in his way too small shoes. They had been worn down as he had been wearing them almost like sandals with his heel flattening down the back of the shoes. I knew that he needed a new pair of shoes especially walking such long distances on the mountain, and prayed that one of the shoes I brought would fit. I kept an eye on him throughout the clinic to make sure he did not leave before I could give him some shoes. I waited till he made it up to see Dr. Merline, and I went over with two pairs, and was so elated to see that the brand new looking nice sandals that had Velcro straps around the ankle, and foot would be perfect for him to walk on the rugged mountains and in the streams. Dr. Merline handed me a wipe to clean off his mud covered feet. As I wiped off each foot, with the caked mud, I could not help but to think of the story of Mary washing Jesus’s feet. It was such a blessing to serve this little boy to clean his feet and put on a new, perfectly fitted pair of shoes. His face immediately brightened, and his teeth beamed through his smile. Such a sweet moment I will always cherish.
*There was also one little boy whom I noticed as soon as he walked over to my triage table. He scuffed along in his way too small shoes. They had been worn down as he had been wearing them almost like sandals with his heel flattening down the back of the shoes. I knew that he needed a new pair of shoes especially walking such long distances on the mountain, and prayed that one of the shoes I brought would fit. I kept an eye on him throughout the clinic to make sure he did not leave before I could give him some shoes. I waited till he made it up to see Dr. Merline, and I went over with two pairs, and was so elated to see that the brand new looking nice sandals that had Velcro straps around the ankle, and foot would be perfect for him to walk on the rugged mountains and in the streams. Dr. Merline handed me a wipe to clean off his mud covered feet. As I wiped off each foot, with the caked mud, I could not help but to think of the story of Mary washing Jesus’s feet. It was such a blessing to serve this little boy to clean his feet and put on a new, perfectly fitted pair of shoes. His face immediately brightened, and his teeth beamed through his smile. Such a sweet moment I will always cherish.
During the clinic I appreciated Dr. Halbrooks and Dr. Merline sharing with me about their patients, explaining to me their conditions, and how they plan to treat them. I saw today a young girl that had an ganglion cyst on her wrist, in which Dr. Halbrooks was excellent in explaining to me the process and letting me assist him in numbing the area, and drain out the quite thick fluid. The people today were just ‘a precious people’ as Phil said it. Even though it may have been hot, I truly never felt the heat, or slowed down at all, yet spurred out with energy through this entire blessed clinic.
Thankfully on the way back down the mountain by God’s grace and Pi’s God-given driving skills he was able to get over the streams, and ditches, and the van back onto the road. (I have it all on video, it was nerve racking, yet amazing to watch). I loved the clinic today, I felt like we were in such a secluded part of Haiti, tucked away was a beautiful land, like a safari, and beautiful people.
On our way back to the compound we dropped off ‘St’ (since our van was quite packed with people having to sit even on the floor of the van), and I was so excited to pick up ‘W’!!! It was so wonderful to see him in person again, my translator from last time I came to Haiti. It was great for him to be able to come back to the compound and get to talk and catch up. It was fun to introduce him to my new friends (other team members) at the compound, and play a few rounds of uno and spoons, [which he called ‘rocks’ (where they grab a rock from the middle)] with some of the other young people at the compound. We enjoyed the dinner that night (my favorite, chicken, marinated in a delicious sauce with green peppers and onions, yum J). ‘W’ just finished his exams and has one more year of school, and he prays God willing he will go to a University and find a job. At dinner ‘W’ shared with me, and Phil about his love for sharing the gospel with a group from Mission of Hope. How he has been to the mountains, and Port-au-prince, to share the love of Christ with others, as well as his burden for sharing Christ to the many people that believe in voodoo. He shared of their efforts in trying to save a Voodoo priest, who later died, and they were unsure of his salvation. ‘W’ was such an encouragement to us, when he said that the Hatians can go and preach and preach, yet many times when the Haitians see Americans or white people travel so far to come here, so often they are more receptive to accepting Christ. This was a great testimony to know that even just our presence is being a witness and encouragemtn to the Haitian people. ‘W’ did say also that after the earthquake many people thought that this was the world coming to an end. He remembers playing basketball at the Mission of Hope and felt the earth shaking beneath his feet, and they all just laid down on the ground. Many people lost their lives, yet many lives were saved as a result of the earthquake.
Devotions tonight were led by Gary; it was such an awesome devotion focusing on prayer. He broke us up into teams and had us go to different parts of the compound to each pray for different aspects of the ministry in Haiti. I was so glad that I was in the group that prayed near the front entrance of the compound, we drove and sat outside on a picnic table, under the stars. It was beautiful to see the Haitian sky, the big dipper, and even see lights over towards Port-au-prince lining the city, and glistening some up the mountain. I enjoyed hearing each person’s prayer as the cool breeze blew behind us. Our group prayed for the overcoming of obstacles, for the Haitian doctors, and workers, and people of Haiti to not get discouraged yet to be strengthened, to overcome voodoo, be saved and turn to Christ. I prayed for the continued ministry of the doctors, that God willing we would still have a place to come after NCBM pull out in October, that the NCBM hired workers would find jobs, and continue to be shining lights in and around Haiti in the places they live. Other teams prayed over the medications, and the compound’s continued ministry, and for Haiti as a whole. Then at the end we all gathered and laid hands on the three doctors, and Bobby & Wanda (our American hosts) to pray over their continued ministry. For the doctors to have continued support and strength, that they would be blessed, and their ministries continue to impact the lives of their people in Haiti. We are so thankful for them and the many lives that have touched in Haiti and how they have impacted many of our lives as Americans working with them through NCBM.
Tonight after devotionals…. and as I write this blog Dr. Halbrooks came over to me to talk about my future medical endeavors. This was such a Godsend for him to come this week with his family. I later found out that actually him family and Bethany and I were supposed to be together on team 52 back in December. However, due to political unrest our team was canceled, as all flights were canceled to Port-au-prince. Therefore it was such God’s doing that we ending up on the same trip (unplanned by us), to serve together. Dr. Halbrooks has been great to teach me hands-on his methods of diagnosing and treating patients. Dr. Halbrooks and his family have served in Ethiopia and China for several years, and he was an excellent person to advise me about looking into organizations such as Project Med Send, or the IMB, to further serve with after completing PA school in places such as Haiti!!
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