Sunday church and clinic

Good evening everyone. It's a little earlier tonight as I begin   830 our time. We are sitting in the lounge. Everyone with their phones and trying to get on a sketchy internet

Today was church day. I will post a couple pictures. We tried to delay Wendy as long as we could.   Jesme' was going to speak at 10;00 but he insisted the main part of the service started at 9 and we should not miss it. So we set a "quit time" at 12:00 and sure enough they went up to that very time! They were prepared for guests so we had groups of kids doing hip hop and singing songs. Great performances and even the Haitian parents were taking pics. There was some translating and as usual we were asked to say a few things. Mostly we entertained ourselves watching the crowd and playing with kids. The pastors mother was in he front row with her hands up and clapping with more enthusiasm than had she won the lottery in the US. And she did not stop for 3 hours awesome.

The kids played with the little paper plates we were using to fan ourselves. (We came prepared).

The clinic included a couple of home visits. A woman who had a stroke 6 years ago and had been on the floor. Cared for by her family and she looked remarkably good. Minimal bedsores and her hair fixed. The other was a woman who delivered a baby 5 hours previously. She was in a tin covered hut that was maybe 10 feet squared. A double bed with mom sitting up looking GREAT and the baby sweet as can be. Full term and delivered by a woman who had helped 3 other women before. I brought in Patti Cierzan to teach mom on breastfeeding. We were happy to exit as the room had to be 95 degrees in there. The baby wearing a cap and wrapped up twice. Nothing like Minnesota😁

Tonight we had a poignant and introspective meeting with the Haitian staff and us, talking about what drew us here to serve and the translators speaking to why they are here with us working. This does indeed take a lot of energy and time. The passion to make a difference is strong for everyone here and we have talked at length this week of bridging the gap to continuity of care. Wendy's organization H.O.M.E purchased land up by Mirabalais and they are on the way to self sustaining agriculture and a standing clinic that will create continuity and stability for many. I know we reach closer and closer each year.

If they could stay away from hurricanes and other natural disasters that would help. Vava (who has pulled 92 teeth in the last 3 days btw) traveled by motorcycle a day after the EQ to check on his family. It should have taken him 3 hours and it took him 6. even TODAY the travel is 6 hours because the bridges are not passable. Motorcycles can get drug through the low rivers. He said it looks like a desert there no foliage trees or standing buildings aside from the cement walled homes.

Ok that is it. People are wrapping up. Time for bed pics to follow hopefully. Bob wi. K