Last night was very nice. We again enjoyed some good conversation on our rooftop and we all slept quite well. The air was cool and the fans ran nearly through the night. We awoke in anticipation of our return to Pastor Gerard’s and the clinic at Delmas 24.
We were not disappointed – we entered at the rear door near our “old home” and were greeted by the sound of hundreds of children laughing and singing in their classrooms – it was sweet music to our ears! Our home looks essentially the same but our living space has been converted to a clinic. There are still marks of our existence – duct tape on the walls of the boys room where mosquito nets were hung and our mattresses stacked in the corner of the girls room. The courtyard is completely clean of any debris now and the classrooms are pristine, including the smaller ones below the sanctuary.
It was not long before we heard the familiar sound of Christine’s sliding footsteps and her voice. What a reunion it was. Few words were spoken but much was communicated in the hugs, smiles and tears that were shed. We were lucky to meet her eldest daughter Christina. They spent a hot morning in clinic with us which went quickly, due in great part to the fact that we had our extraordinary pharmacist back with us. Then we all walked back to “our home” for a lunch shared with Christine and her daughter. We will see them one last time on Saturday morning and enjoy a lunch made by our friends Mona and Manis – we already placed an order for their picklece (what a treat).
This afternoon we had an opportunity to revisit the St Joseph’s home for Street Boys. The change is amazing – the whole 7 story building has been brought completely down and is being rebuilt from scratch in what appears to be quake resistant fashion…we can only hope.
We also had a chance to do some shopping for our loved ones. No hints, but a surprise is on the way and I think you will all be pleased.
On all our travels we got to see Delmas and it is clear that this township has recovered much more than Port au Prince proper. The streets are generally clean and there is truly bustling commerce everywhere. There are reminders every so often with collapsed buildings that remain untouched and if you travel off the main roads, the after-effects of the quake remain obvious – untouched rubble, collapsed buildings and large tent cities. Despite all this it is clear that some degree of recovery is being felt in this corner of the city.
We finished our evening with a familiar treat – dinner and a swim at VISA Lodge. It was a refreshing way to end our day and prepare us for the rest of our week. Tomorrow brings another day in clinic for some and some will be treated to a walk through the “Ravine” with Kez to treat her regular kids.
Now we finish our evening while catching the breeze on our rooftop looking out over the city. It appears a storm is on the way so a quiet night may be expected.
We all miss our loved ones back home and look forward to reunions on Sunday but are not quite ready to leave this place behind. As before we are being touched by our friends, coworkers and patients and they will most certainly leave an indelible mark on our souls. Our return is surely guaranteed.
That is all for tonight. More to follow tomorrow night. Love to all!
The Team