A Day to Prepare - January 19th

Sunday morning and we actually slept late for Haiti! Usually it is early to bed and early to rise, but for some reason I slept until 6:45. With breakfast at 8 that is late. It also helped that Mary and I are downstairs in the quarters formerly used by the guest coordinator. There hasn't been one of these in awhile and with the hospital closed there isn't a need for one. The manager of the Children's Nutrition Program (CNP) sees to the needs of the visiting team.


After breakfast we went to the 8 am church service. The church is located at the back of the compound. You could say we arrived late but many others arrived after us. I think you could say we were at the early service or perhaps we just left before the service really got into high gear. The music is delightful, but none of use knew enough Creole to understand the sermon or prayers.




Most of the day was spent organizing drugs and equipment for the medical clinics which start tomorrow. With dentists on the trip equipment takes on a new meaning. Portable tables and chairs are stored at the hospital for use by each team. There are also a lot of dental instruments to be cleaned and organized. Some instruments stay here but a large number are brought by each dentist. Our team includes two active dentists and a retired dentist who will be pressed into service.

On the lighter side we found time to go to a local soccer match. I had seen the stadium before but this was the first time a match occurred while I was here. Like the church service the crowd drifted in slowly. By late in the first half the stands were 80 to 90 percent full. There we also a goodly number of folks on the walls and the adjoining buildings. Sort of like the apartment buildings around Wrigley field. The match was entertaining. At half time armed guards came out to talk with the officials. There were even vendors selling beer in the stands. Unfortunately the home team, which played well, made one mistake and lost the match one to nothing.


















Some of the others met up with Jimmy Parison, brother of Gary, and went to visit with the family. He walked with them back to the compound, so I got to talk with him briefly. Here is a family that has found success on many levels, which is a miracle in itself.

A real high light of the day occurred when American Airlines called to let us know that the missing bag had been found. We should get it sometime on Monday. Not too bad under the circumstances.

Just before dinner several of walk around the corner from the hospital to visit a local artist at his home/studio. Typical of most Haitian art work it is quit colorful. Since it was near dark we had to view the art on his walls by flashlight. While we were visiting soe of his younger neighboors came out to check on his unique visitors.











Not entirely sure what is going on with the power this evening. We thought we had EDH (that is Haitian power) earlier but there has been lots of audible switch throwing in the last ten minutes and the power is coming and going. With no power during the day the only chance to recharge things is at night. Which may be in question.

What ever our power issues are the music from the street party, which started again at dark is going strong again tonight.


Well I need to wrap this up. Breakfast is at 7am and we plan to start seeing patients at 8. The Monday clinic will be at the hospital so we plan to see patients until 4 pm. It has been advertised by word of mouth and on the St. Croix radio station; which is still operating.