Last night we were treated to hotel rooms with…wait for it…Air Conditioning! For the first time in all my trips, I was actually COLD. That’s right, not just cool or chilled but downright cold. I got under the sheet and used my towel as a blanket and was quickly fast asleep. I think the rest of the team had a similar experience and slept rather well. We awoke to a nice breakfast and then departed to visit the Brooks family at Much Ministries where Kez works. We enjoyed visiting and hearing more about their mission as well as their big plans for a future marketplace in Gonaives…very exciting!! Much of the team also bought beautiful items created by local artisans, which is a large part of the ministry’s economic development mission.
Once all “spent” we departed for the road to Jolivert, and those of us who have made the trip repeatedly steeled ourselves for the gut wrenching bouncing and twisting over the next 3-4 hours. In very few places the road had improved…there was a nice new bridge over a river crossing and the paver road in Gros Morne has been extended. This may have accounted for about 10 minutes of the eventual three and a half hour journey. As for the other 200 minutes, the roads have not changed…or become much worse. We had to stop 3 times…once for a dragging muffler (big surprise on these roads, huh?) and twice for a broken brake caliper on the luggage truck. Good old fashioned Haitian ingenuity solved both problems and remarkably we arrived at Clinic Jolivert in just under 4 hours.
We were greeted immediately by our friends Blaud and Christophe. Blaud is now married and expecting their first child…a boy he announced, beaming from ear to ear. Christophe has not changed a bit but he is here without his daughter now, who is in the States…not sure who will entertain us after clinic this week??? Once bags were unloaded, we were treated to a delicious afternoon meal, followed by the tedious task of unloading bags, sorting items and then bagging meds. It is now 8pm and we are done for the evening. Nets are hung; cold…I mean, refreshing showers are being taken; late evening snacks are being eaten and even a little craft work is being done to surprise our patients and school children this week.
Some will travel to our first outreach clinic in the morning and the rest will work in the on-site clinic here. We will need to rise early for breakfast, additional sorting of meds and then travel time to the clinic.
For now we will hope for a reasonably quiet night where the bears sleep soundly, the donkeys and roosters sleep late, the dogs get along and the drums stop beating down the hill. Tomorrow we have hiking and exploring plans after the patients have all been seen…after all we have new members to introduce to our hill and tree. I am sure the sunset will be beautiful as always! After that, who knows…a beverage, some cards, stories…just another day in paradise.
That’s all for now. Sleep well and Love to All,
The Team
I just want to say thank you and to let know how much you all are appreciated. The work you all are doing in Haiti is a true gift of love. You’re not only bringing light and hope to those families there but, also to us here. It’s so refreshing to see people like all of you doing selfless acts of love, generosity and kindness. I am so very proud of my daughter Chelsea and her cousin Kiki and blessed that they are apart of an amazing group of people. Have fun, be safe and enjoy the sunsets. <3
Adam,
Know that I’m pulling for you and the team! Do good stuff everywhere you go and for everyone you encounter! You guys are in my daily prayers!
Your post makes me homesick for Haiti! Do good work, love to you all!