Today's Update

Oh my gosh. Fresh bread two meals in a row. What a wonderful treat!!! When I say fresh bread it just means not stale. For breakfast had something like spam and fresh tomatoes so made a sandwich...really good. Today prayer of thanksgiving for healing eye and fresh bread. Thank you God so much. Before I left for clinic pregnant woman came to house and wanted me to check blood pressure. I didn't have a cuff so asked her to come to clinic which she did. Turns out she is anemic and needs to eat better but has no income. Baby's father left when police came looking for him. Seems to be common problem and not just in Haiti. Will try to help until after baby born in Feb. Went to see little lady with infected foot. Daughter had come to the house to tell me she was hurting. Foot looks worse again and all I have to offer for pain is tylenol. Dr. has not been in clinic all week so want them to come Monday for recheck. Do you ever have a day when so many good things are happening you wonder what's around the corner? Today is that kind of day but am just going to enjoy. Madam Jackson brought up a nice reclining lawn chair to my room. Don't know what I did to rate but was very thoughtful.. I think I have been invited to go to Cap Haitian with family. I say I think because no translator. When I came in 2010 we landed in Cap Haitian but just drove thru so will be my first sightseeing trip. Generator came on tonight which I am very thankful. Last night when it went off there was a really loud pop which didn't soun good at all. Oh my goodness, children will be children where ever you are. Guermanie just came to my room and said she and Nana aren't friends anymore. Not sure how to say kiss and make up in Creole.

Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. Hebrews 13:5

Joyfully,

Barbara

Focus My Thinking

Finally brothers and sisters; whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praisworthy--think about such things. Whatever you have learned from me or seen in me put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9

Woke up this morning with Guermanie standing over my bed wanting $2 (Haitian) but only had $1 which I gave her. Probably for a roll to eat before school. Spaghetti for breakfast; decided to try it haitian style...mixed with mayo. Not bad. Saved my roll again. Clinic almost over and daughter of woman I have been giving antibiotics to and cleaning her foot wants me to come to her house and give care. Excited about getting to do this as this is the kind of thing I want to do. Am sure she is ultimately going to lose toe. Wish she could just go to hospital to have it removed. Daughter came to get me and we walked to house. Room very small with double bed, cot and a table. Young boy is outside washing dishes in a basin on the ground. Even though very small it is very clean but flies always a problem. Meds given and foot taken care of. So glad for the opportunity to show love of Christ. Waiting for Wol to wake up so can feed him and go for a walk. Earlier in my stay here just felt that I was watching Wol for Madam Jackson but now realize that if I watch Wol things are easier for the children here and that is a very good thing. Had another piece of my yummy candy today with tea. So good!!! Have a piece for tomorrow and Sunday and then al gone. So sad but so delicious while it lasted. Wol finally woke up...had a good nap and is now eating. No baby food here. Children start eating table food very young just mashed up. Even though Wol is a little past a year has only 4 teeth but manages very well. Downstairs for diaper change and shoes and a quick bath in washtub. Outside for a little and walked down to a house where a little boy always runs out asking for "chiclet". For last 2 weeks have told him "mwen pa genyen". I don't have any but he comes out anyway and laughs. Yesterday I told him "demen", tomorrow. When I went by the house this afternoon he didn't come out. Mom went and found him so I could give gum I promised. Of course when you have something to give children come out of the woodwork but I was prepared.
Joyfully,
Barbara

An Extra Beautiful Day

Give lots of vitamin B complex injections at clinic and always to people having pain. Asked today what it does and was told a muscle relaxant so let it go. Dr. Johnny then asked if we used in United States and told him not for that purpose where I worked. He was very surprised and looked it up on phone for me to read. Read info but never saw anything about muscle relaxant. Well not harmful and am sure a few extra vitamins here in Haiti beneficial. Using the kawo to iron a few clothes (cast iron iron) and am realizing there are a few things to watch out for. Number one is do NOT touch anything other than the wooden handle. Number two is beware of latch that keeps top of iron on. The latch allows for the top to be raised to put the charcoal in. Latch is pretty loose so if not careful you could end up dumping charcoal on your feet or your clothes. Neither one is good and my clothes and I remain unscathed. Did have a couple close calls. Ummmm...sitting here drinking a cup of vanilla chai tea and eating a piece of peanut butter candy that Walson's grandmother made. Seems like just an extra beautiful day today; maybe it's the peanut butter candy. Almost every day I fix Guermanie a plate and she takes it to my room to eat. Today there was an extra piece of fish so put on her plate. She ate all the rice and then said her grann likes fish so we put in a ziplock bag I had and she took it across the street to share. Have a better understanding of what a treat that is when you subsist on rice and beans. This evening Guermanie sitting at table and helping Wetni with homework by flashlight. She really seems like a bright little girl and think about what her future holds. Joyfully,
Barbara

Today's Adventure

I eat a lot of stale bread here but last night bread was hard thru and thru. Decided I could wait until breakfast and gave my bread to the roosters. If I had thrown it hard enough might have knocked one out. Well breakfast this morning was macaroni , banana and bread which was pretty fresh. Decided to save it for dinner just in case. This morning as leaving for clinic, baby Wol grabed my legs and said mama. Oh dear, not sure how Madam Jackson felt about that. Will have to see what I can get him to call me. One suggestion from a friend was George. Hmmm. No Rosena at clinic today but at least am able to ask a few questions and give a few instructions using bad creole. When I got there 4 patients waiting and no one else there. Clinic busier than usual, not so much with number of patients but things that need to be done. Two young men who had been in a motorcycle accident on Monday came in to have their roadrash cleaned and dressed. I have always hated that because is like cleaning burns. One guy had injured both arms and the other only one. Know it really hurts to be washed. Last patient was a little lady I have taken care of two other times She has gangrene to her toe and her daughter carries her in. I have wondered how she manages to carry her from home. Patient is not large but neither is her daughter. Cleaned her wound and gave her antibiotic and then walked out with them. Mystery solved. Her daughter put her on a motorcycle...man in front, patient side saddle in middle and daughter on back. Will see them again Friday. Glad to know daughter isn't having to carry her the whole way. Oh my goodness. Walson, my creole teacher just broght me some candy his grandmother made from peanut buter, sugar and milk. Oh so delicious. Will have to make it last. Oh and they make their own peanut butter. Little after 7 and generator now on. Thought maybe going to be a no generator day which is OK but never sure what to do and 6:30 way to early to go to bed. One thing I wish I had bought and brought was a light for kindle so wouldn't have to use up flashlight. Next time I will know. Well you know the fresh bread I saved from breakfast, Guermanie came in my room and said her grandmother was hungary. Guess there goes my bread which is OK. Glad I had it. But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. Psalm 59:16
Joyfully,
Barbara

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