More News From Haiti

School starts back for kids today after Long Christmas break and then a week off in rememberance of earthquake 2 years ago. Planned on a really quick shower due to cold water but as I got into the shower saw a humongous zarenyen (spider) in corner over sink. Ugh. Am doing OK with smaller spiders in my room, mouse in my bedroom and roaches but this thing makes me shudder. So big. Finished my shower REALLY fast!!! Got to clinic and found we needed to clean before we had clinic. Yesterdays big party at church left everything a bit of a mess. Now to clean the floor you pour water on it but first you have to pump the water into buckets from the well. I did the pumping as have not had opportunity. Pumped two buckets and abasin full for the woman washing clothes. This is why everyone in Ferrier has beautiful arms...pumping water and carrying heavy loads. Even the children have beautiful arms and everyone has great posture. Chickens must have come in clinic to clean up leftovers as feathers and chicken poop on the floor. No kids in school over here and when I asked why was told they have to clean up the church. Wow! Interesting clinic today. First patient little boy with wheezing, using abdomenal muscles an breathing fast. Rx for antibiotics, no breathing treatment and home. No wonder so many children die in Haiti. Little later a man walked to clinic with daughter and just looked worn out...BP 64/40. Took him back and laid him down and BP normal. Dr. Johnny sad that people in the country feel need to "clean themselves out" couple times a year with home remedy. Well he cleaned himself out to the point of dehydration. We had no normal saline and doctor wouldn't give him more than 100 cc of lactated ringers which was not a lot of help but did get pressure up to 76/50 and yes, he was going to walk home. Last patient was a little lady with gangrene to her little toe. I was asked to mix antibiotic with 7 cc and give in one shot. Tried to tactfuuly point out that only necessary to mix with 2.1. "OK, give with3 cc." OK, I can live with that. So hard to try to make sure patients get what they need and not make others lose face. A real balancing act at times. Didn't even make it to the stairs before Wol was in my arms. This morning he cried when I left for clinic which made me feel bad. Rest of day with baby.
Joyfully,
Barbara

Sunny & Warm Today

Looks like going to be a sunny, warm day today. Breakfast is scrambled eggs with.....yup you guessed it...tomatoes. Also got fruit today which is great. Today young man who was in motorcycle accident on Dec. 13 finally came back for suture removal. This is the second time have had to take out stitches that have been in way too long. Not the easiest thing with these old eyes, no good light and a moving target. Don't think he ever went to the eye doctor but lower lid healed much better than I thought it would. Amazing how well the body heals even without what we consider appropriate intervention. Jeandenie, who was supposed to be my creole teacher, came by today and wanted to know if I would go with him and take a picture of him with his grandmother. She is 104 years old and living in a one room house that is just big enough for a cot and a chair. She is ill and dying and flies were everywhere. We changd her clothes and gave her something to drink. I asked Madam Jackson if we could have a mosquito net to hang up and keep the flies off of her. Living to be 104 in Haiti must be quite a feat and her grandson said up until now has been healthy. What a privelege to make a small difference in her final days. Joyfully, Barbara

Foggy

Foggy, foggy morning (bouya maten). Tomatoes are flourishing in Jackson's garden at the school so we are having tomatoes in everything which is fine with me. For breakfast today tomatoes in spaghetti and for lunch tomatoes in rice, in fish and cut up on a plate. Have started using mayo that does not get refrigerated and tastes really good on tomatoes and even mixed in rice. Not sure if it would be pediatrician approved, well actually am sure would not be but have a homemade pacifier for Wol. Sometimes he is so tired and just won't give it up. One day as I was rocking him he had a little cardboard box that 2 pieces chiclets come in and was holding in his mouth and sucking; went right to sleep. Took box out of his mouth and he stayed asleep. I don't know if the box has a little of the minty flavor or what. All I know is that it works and since I am the one who gets him when he is cranky we will continue with unconventional paci. Has worked 3 times now. Please don't tell chiclets people or they will start printing on the box DO NOT USE AS PACI FOR YOUR BABY. Today was asked to be godmother to baby I stopped and held. I remember Janet said godmother in Haiti has all sorts of financial responsibilities for child so thanked them and declined. See I can say no once in a while. No generator last night but going tonight so kindle charging.
Joyfully,
Barbara

Ayiti Avanti--mekredi 4 janyve

Woke up early this morning to the sound of rain and a breeze blowing thru my room...nice. At 6:30 thinking it would be so nice just to curl up and read but guess better get up. Have water boiling for coffee now just have to find coffee pot. Ze fri, pen and manba for breakfast (fried egg, bread, and peanut butter). No fruit again. Walking to clinic in the mud today but fun listening to the kids call me by my name. Still asking me for chiiclets and then laugh. They all know I don't have any and have to buy some. Was able to tell them in Creole and all the adults just laugh. Maybe laughing at my Creole. Really cool at clinic and was wishing I had my sweater. Wow, we saw a grand total of one patient. Down time equals study time. Tuesday someone brought in a big fish but I couldn't figure out how to ask what kind. Even those that spoke English didn't understand. They told me it was a big fish which was obvious and that it came from the ocean which I figured. Today learned how to ask "kisa kalite pwasom sa". I found out it was gwo sad, big snapper. After lunch took Wol to my room where he promptly fell asleep. While he slept I curled up with my fleece blanket and read. So thankful for my kindle. Before dinner Guermanie came and said she was hungry. I had given her egg, bread and peanut butter at breakfast but that was the last she ate. At dinner I gave her my avwon (oatmeal) and part of my peanut butter bread. A little bit later I found her in my room with the fishbones from lunch picking off and eating any remaining meat. I hate to see anyone hungry but especially children. We all know there are hungry people everywhere, even in our own community; very different when you live it everyday. Just a reminder that we can all be a part of making sure someone gets a meal they need no matter where we live.
Joyfully,
Barbara

Pi Bon Jounen ( Better Day)

God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 Always amazed how daily devotion relates to my day. Sadrac let me know breakfast ready and apologized no fwi (fruit); told him that was OK. Have my coffee so all is well. Clinic much better. No doctor but Rosena and Fre Jak there. Nadej finally showed up with her baby Iberline Noel and she looks good. She is alert and smiling and not dehydrated. So glad. Nadej; however, had really high blood pressure so given meds for that. Even though needs no more children am glad not taking birth control pills. Sadrac was so sweet and fixed me pe pet (popcorn) for my lunch. So good. A little taste of home.. After clinic washed my hair and some laundry and then silly me went outside to play with kids. Immediately had all sorts of dirty little hands playing with my hair. Texture of my hair so different from theirs that they think better than a new toy. Not a problem as it is washable. Some of the kids played with the jump rope while others crawled all over me wanting my glasses, my necklace, my shirt, a dollar and on and on. Mwen pa genyen. I don't have any. Good day.
Joyfully,
Barbara

Monday Monday

Oh dear. My spider friend back in bathrom early morning. Cold chills. I almost put my hand on him as was on the metal door slide that opens door. Ughhh. Several of house visitors leaving this morning. Walked over to Jackson's garden which is really growing. Did not realize they also had sisal growing which is an agava plant that they cut, dry and dye to make baskets and jewelry. At one time some people were able to make money with sisal as was used in rope production but now everything synthetic. Clinic this morning very frustrating. As you know clinic starts at 9 which never happens and just don't worry about it. Today by 9:30 me and 5 patients and no doctor', no Haitian nurse and no parmacy person. By 9:45 still no staff. Went to pastor's house to let him know I had a problem. Finally at 10:15 someone showed up to help with the 10 people in the waiting room. So I think I have it figured it out. If you work for free you come to work but if you get paid you come whenever you want. Now why couldn't I have figured that out years ago. As a result of late start didn't get through until almost 1 which was OK with me. Walking home from clinic lovely sight...freshly butured hog hanging on the front of a house. Didn't exactly make my mouth water for a BLT. After lunch just studying Creole. Germanie came in my room looking very forlorn and when I asked her what was wrong she said "grangou, no mange maten, no mange midi". She was hungry because no breakfast or lunch. Of course had to give her money for food. I guess she is our project while I am here. Sittin here now and having bread with peanut butter and papaya smoothie. Yumm.
Joyfully,
Barbara

End of exciting year

Think it is rather fitting that devotion today contained bible verse that has sustained and propelled me over last two years. Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Sometimes have not heeded words and have been discouraged but then reread. Lazy day. Played with children and read a book. At one point while downstairs saw a goat being led in and knew what that meant. Didn't want to stick around to watch what happens before it shows up for lunch. Mange midi and yes we are having goat along with our rice and beans. Only got a small piece but was actually good; first time I have ever eaten kabrit. Getting kind of hungry but apparently no mange aswe (dinner) tonight. As of 9 pm no food. Oh well. Lots of people in the street celebrating new year with dancing and music. All of this continued all thru the night. Family went to church and service will last until about 1 am. I didn't go and went to bed around 10 but was awake off and on during the night listening to celebration. Mwen swete ou bon ane. (I wish you Happy New Year). Joyfully,
Barbara