Sunday
We voted to miss church to work a long day as clinic was closed. Did no shopping, tiling first priority. However, with seven of us and Edrick driving, and within two miles of the clinic, the gradual vibration turned into a massive tire failure. Our third in as many days.
Immediately a pickup truck stopped and offered help for a fee, which we were happy to pay, and took all but Edrick to the clinic. Edrick went with the good Samaritan to buy a used tire...no small feat on Sunday in Haiti.
Meanwhile, after some personal instruction, Linda and Laura were given the lab room to layout and tile. Sybil painted. Elena ran for anything anyone needed. Bob cut tile with a finicky saw, and Carla and myself tackled the hallway. We kept three Haitians busy mixing mud and observing so they can help this week too.
We celebrated Laura's birthday. Hanaia brought a beautiful cake from town. It rained hard. We slept right through it. All were tired.
Monday
It rained all night, maybe four inches. It was amazing. I don't know where it all goes. Linda, Edrick and I ran errands, the others took a tap tap with staff to the clinic. Errands included buying four new tires (hopefully for Wednesday installation) picking up Edrick's drivers license, paying for auto assurance (that's what they call it here, not insurance), buying 2x4s and paneling for a ceiling in the pharmacy, a chisel, 5 gallons of paint, two kinds of nails, a glass cutter and picked up remaining tile...and it only took 5 hours. Maddeningly slow procedures everywhere. Crew at the clinic discovered we had their lunch with us...that's Haiti.
They grouted two rooms and half the hallway which was laid on Sunday, cut off and re-hung the doors...a big job. Our team is getting into a rhythm. We even know where the tools are and who used what last. Only 11 patients today, that helped.
School started in some areas and students are reluctant to enter large buildings. Some schools started, but not many. We can tell by watching to see who's running around town in their uniforms.
A freshman college student in P.A.P. hitched a ride with us yesterday. He's been watching us work. He lived with his 24-year-old sister who was killed in the earthquake. He had left her for just a minute to go out and buy something prior to the event. He was at a total loss. His life turned upside down at age 20. He is staying with a friend in CAP, not with his parents who are too poor. His college was destroyed. He was an economics major and loved math. We asked to take his photo. "No, no, don't want photo on T.V." We thought maybe he believed in Voo Doo, so we asked if he was a Christian. And he said he was. But he had a fear of his picture being on the internet. A fine young man. We discussed English pronunciation, he taught us some creole words. He returned today to see photos of my family. We hoped to show him that photos were nothing to fear, and are important to us.
We have devotions every night. It brings the days experiences of each of us into focus. It's been a blessing that AT&T and other phone companies have made all calls to and from Haiti free until February 28th.
Answers to Your Questions
Aaron asks, "how much electricity will be produced by the new solar cells?" It's a 500 watt system and we're using it ourselves to light the rooms we're working in. It accommodates one light in every room, one or two outlets in each of 8 rooms plus the hallway (but they can't all be on at once.) We operate a microscope, two centrifuges, doctor's instruments, two small fans and a maze of cell phone chargers being used at any one time.
The purpose of the solar cells is to eliminate the need for the generator for those tasks. It eliminates the fuel expense for the generator and the excessive noise; which is particularly difficult when the doctor is trying to talk to the patients.
The people are very excited by the project. They take a lot of pride in ownership of it. On Friday we're planning a dedication ceremony for the solar system and the new water well that the MN team established. It's amazing how much use that gets.
General color
The dust has turned to mud. And still the most lasting impression is the amount of garbage everywhere. The closer you get to the water the worse the trash is. The worst neighborhoods are on the shore. Surprising the smell isn't notable.
The most memorable aspect is how wonderful the people are. The children come up to us and want to talk. They've been watching us work and are curious and friendly at the end of the day. They smile from ear to ear. The men don't pay much attention to the children. They're starved for that type of affection. They're fascinated by blue eyes and blond hair.
It's amazing how some things are more affordable and of similar quality here, and others are outrageous. We can't imagine how people afford to buy them.
You can't imagine how bad the potholes are here. It's like jumping down stair steps. You might only be traveling one mile per hour. It's almost like someone dropped bombs all over the road, leaving craters 15' wide and 8' deep.
Linda's been working really hard. She has to keep track of all the finances for the clinic, and for us, she manages the staff and she's very good at it. She's been here 5 times, and this time for a 4-week stretch - 2 weeks before we arrived, and she'll leave when we do.
And Bob, he's been a God-send. I don't know what we'd have done without such a skilled electrician.
It's raining again. Time to call it a night.
-Staton (via phone)
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