Monthly Archives: June 2018

Home Safe…but One Foot Still in Haiti

We had but 1 mishap on our return trip – Sarah’s carry-on, which was checked in Port au Prince to make room on the plane, never seemed to make it to the carousel in ATL. We were assured it would be forwarded all the way to ROA, so we all regathered for a well deserved dinner and beverage before our last flight.  Read More

Homeward Bound…aka Hurry Up and Wait

Last night we all cooled down on the roof and shared stories of our week as we listened to a raucous celebration on a nearby rooftop. We were tempted to join the party, but thought better of it as the work of the week had taken its toll.

The generator cut off early, so no fans, and those not in a corner room had a sultry night to endure. All of us were assaulted by the sounds of the night, and for those who have followed our travels, you know that means roosters, chickens, dogs and even some as yet unidentified creatures….it went on all night, building to max decibels just before dawn. In all the years I have spent overnights in Port au Prince, this was definitely the worst night for wildlife noise…and that’s saying something!

At least we didn’t have an early morning. Breakfast was at 9am sharp and boy was it a spread…enough to make the Hotel Roanoke proud – coffee, eggs, bacon, sausage, french toast, oatmeal, melon, pineapple and mango!! The food here never dissapoints.

After breakfast, we loaded the bus one last time and headed to the airport with Mario at the wheel again…smooth ride. We arrived in plenty of time – surprisingly light traffic on a work day midweek! Of course once inside the airport, it was hurry up and wait…the usual.

Delta ticket agents seem to gather for an hour before actually checking luggage….and then they inform you to go to another line to first have your passport checked before getting to the ticket counter. Then we pass thru TSA security, Immigration, we wait some more, then another passport and personal item check by Delta and then a final wait before boarding the actual plane! For those counting, we had our passports and boarding passes checked no fewer than seven times, eight for those who purchased anything in the duty free store (even if just a soda) and it required another if anyone needed to use the bathroom – actual passport check and an escort! This should be the safest flight in the sky!!

We should be boarding “soon”…maybe, so I will conclude here for now. I will post a quick message on Facebook announcing our arrival in Atlanta and another final post tomorrow once well rested from the day’s travel. Wishing all our loved ones well and looking forward to our reunions!

Love to All,

The Team

Returning to the Big City

Last night we dined again on a crowd favorite – rice with bean sauce and legume!! Shortly after, our new Director of Medication and Supply Inventory, aka Bethanie, cracked the whip and the fun began. There were bags and bottles flying, boxes opening and closing, papers being filled out and photographed, files being sorted…and an hour later we had taken over one wall in Paulsaint’s storage closet. Our supplies have never been so organized, thanks to the new boxes we brought and mostly the hard work of this team. I always tell myself I don’t think I could love and respect this group anymore, but with every trip I prove myself wrong! Read More

Market Day in Madame Bernard…

…which translates into “busy clinic day”, and it didn’t disappoint! It is but a short walk from the market to the clinic site and word travels fast. But first…we made quick work of the filing last night, after some cooling off on the roof, followed by some fun and games in the kitchen…which were only fair if Wilson was winning. Sleep came easy last night for most, but didn’t last for all…I think Corey had the Haitian version of a stink bug climb in bed with him…a rude awakening for sure in the middle of the night, but after some quick thinking and exterminator work, all was well.  Read More

Sunday on the Island

Despite the fatigue of the day yesterday and the chores last night, we did muster enough energy to enjoy some cooling off on the roof before bed. We did manage to catch up on all our chart filing and we are finding out just how many patients there are on this island who will be accessing care at our future clinic. With this and the 2 previous trips where records have been kept, we are already well over 1,000 patients and at the rate we see patients on every mission, I foresee a patient population numbering 5-6,000 at a minimum.  Read More