So if you read my post about our tour of downtown Port-au-Prince Haiti, you might have derived that I was a little discouraged by it all. It was a little overwhelming to see all the need that still lingers even after billions of dollars of aid came in.
Makes one wonder where it has all gone?!?! So Monday was our last clinic day in Haiti, and I can't say I was feeling my usual ambitious self...but that could be for many reasons. The night before Pastor Pierre told us there was a new village that cropped up on the mountainside near the clinic/school in Chambrun and he would like us to visit. Apparently several families had moved out there after the earthquake. It sounded like a great idea, but I must admit I was really thinking how far behind it would put us at the clinic. Pastor had made an announcement at church on Sunday that we would be holding clinic, so you know there was going to be a good sized crowd. Just when I think I've seen it all in Haiti,
I get surprised! We took a turn off the main road and started down a dirt path - pretty usual so far! But then we went through a dried up river bed where some locals had an open market. Still usual, just usually seen more in the city. Then we drove for quite a while, hanging on the backs of the pickups as we dodged bumps in the road and hung on for dear life! (okay that might be a little dramatic!) Finally we came to stop at the foot of a mountain. We all jumped out of the trucks and began following our Haitian tour guide. Up the side of the mountain we wandered until we reached the top where the village was. The view was breath-taking. I mean it was mountains and brush and lots of dirt, but at the same time just simply beautiful. One of the villagers greeted us and let a yell ring down the mountain to some huts below to let them know the Americans had arrived...apparently Pierre had told them we were coming but they weren't sure we would actually show up.
We took a quick tour of the village which consisted of 6 makeshift tents with a few more a little further down the mountain side. Inside one tent was a small child sleeping. A lady (who looked much older than her 36 yrs) walked over to Pastor and asked a question. Apparently the young child in the tent had been sick with a fever and she was hoping the "doctors" would take a look at him. Pierre pulled me aside and asked me to check the child over. His lungs sounded junky so I wanted to give him antibiotics, but no one had put any in the medicine totes. Pierre and I decided it would be best to go back to the clinic and get more meds so we could see the rest of the villagers, and so the construction guys could get started on their work as well. So back into the trucks we jumped and headed off to Chambrun to restock.
Two tote fulls later we were ready to head back up the mountain. Once we arrived back at the base of the mountain the Haitians were waiting for us. We were able to get food donations from our friends at GAiN, so besides medicines we arrived with 10 boxes and 12 5-gallon buckets of food. The men and women came to help us unload. One woman carried 65 pounds on her head while carrying a child in her arms...that's what you call grace and strength. Once back on the mountain top we started seeing patients. There was no shelter or building to use so we stood outside on the mountain side under the blazing sun...but don't feel sorry for me...I'd do it again in a heart beat. Linda was able to give all the children and adults Vitamin A and deworming meds while I did assessments. We even got Brandon in on the action...we'll make him a nurse yet. Several people needed antibiotics, but all received Vitamins and Tylenol. Then it was time to pass out the food. Many times this will cause a stampede and we weren't sure how this was going to end for us.
But the villagers were so gracious. There was no fighting or pushing like is often seen with desperation. Each family received several days worth of rice with vegetables that contains the daily nutrients they need. Our clinic team even had 4 jugs of water left over and left it there. One woman was so appreciative because it meant she wouldn't have to trudge down the mountain for water for several days. All she could say was "thank you!" Linda then had the great idea to get a picture of the village as it is now, and when we all return at some future time we would have been able to document how much it has grown. We got the crowd to stand on the mountain with a view of the mountains behind them...left me speechless! I asked Roberson (our translator) if the village had a name and one of the adults stated it was called Boukafarine...
I misunderstood the translator when he told me what that meant. He said "flour and fire" but I took it for "flower and fire" which is exactly how I would describe Haiti. Beauty amidst destruction...how fitting...so for me it will always be Flowers and Fire! After our tour of Port-au-Prince my soul was focused on how insurmountable the work seemed, but it took the small village of Boukafarine to remind me that I can't save the world, but I can make a difference right where I am at. And for those few moments on Monday, I was right where I was supposed to be doing my small part to heal Haiti!
Makes one wonder where it has all gone?!?! So Monday was our last clinic day in Haiti, and I can't say I was feeling my usual ambitious self...but that could be for many reasons. The night before Pastor Pierre told us there was a new village that cropped up on the mountainside near the clinic/school in Chambrun and he would like us to visit. Apparently several families had moved out there after the earthquake. It sounded like a great idea, but I must admit I was really thinking how far behind it would put us at the clinic. Pastor had made an announcement at church on Sunday that we would be holding clinic, so you know there was going to be a good sized crowd. Just when I think I've seen it all in Haiti, 
I get surprised! We took a turn off the main road and started down a dirt path - pretty usual so far! But then we went through a dried up river bed where some locals had an open market. Still usual, just usually seen more in the city. Then we drove for quite a while, hanging on the backs of the pickups as we dodged bumps in the road and hung on for dear life! (okay that might be a little dramatic!) Finally we came to stop at the foot of a mountain. We all jumped out of the trucks and began following our Haitian tour guide. Up the side of the mountain we wandered until we reached the top where the village was. The view was breath-taking. I mean it was mountains and brush and lots of dirt, but at the same time just simply beautiful. One of the villagers greeted us and let a yell ring down the mountain to some huts below to let them know the Americans had arrived...apparently Pierre had told them we were coming but they weren't sure we would actually show up. 
We took a quick tour of the village which consisted of 6 makeshift tents with a few more a little further down the mountain side. Inside one tent was a small child sleeping. A lady (who looked much older than her 36 yrs) walked over to Pastor and asked a question. Apparently the young child in the tent had been sick with a fever and she was hoping the "doctors" would take a look at him. Pierre pulled me aside and asked me to check the child over. His lungs sounded junky so I wanted to give him antibiotics, but no one had put any in the medicine totes. Pierre and I decided it would be best to go back to the clinic and get more meds so we could see the rest of the villagers, and so the construction guys could get started on their work as well. So back into the trucks we jumped and headed off to Chambrun to restock. 
Two tote fulls later we were ready to head back up the mountain. Once we arrived back at the base of the mountain the Haitians were waiting for us. We were able to get food donations from our friends at GAiN, so besides medicines we arrived with 10 boxes and 12 5-gallon buckets of food. The men and women came to help us unload. One woman carried 65 pounds on her head while carrying a child in her arms...that's what you call grace and strength. Once back on the mountain top we started seeing patients. There was no shelter or building to use so we stood outside on the mountain side under the blazing sun...but don't feel sorry for me...I'd do it again in a heart beat. Linda was able to give all the children and adults Vitamin A and deworming meds while I did assessments. We even got Brandon in on the action...we'll make him a nurse yet. Several people needed antibiotics, but all received Vitamins and Tylenol. Then it was time to pass out the food. Many times this will cause a stampede and we weren't sure how this was going to end for us. 
But the villagers were so gracious. There was no fighting or pushing like is often seen with desperation. Each family received several days worth of rice with vegetables that contains the daily nutrients they need. Our clinic team even had 4 jugs of water left over and left it there. One woman was so appreciative because it meant she wouldn't have to trudge down the mountain for water for several days. All she could say was "thank you!" Linda then had the great idea to get a picture of the village as it is now, and when we all return at some future time we would have been able to document how much it has grown. We got the crowd to stand on the mountain with a view of the mountains behind them...left me speechless! I asked Roberson (our translator) if the village had a name and one of the adults stated it was called Boukafarine...
I misunderstood the translator when he told me what that meant. He said "flour and fire" but I took it for "flower and fire" which is exactly how I would describe Haiti. Beauty amidst destruction...how fitting...so for me it will always be Flowers and Fire! After our tour of Port-au-Prince my soul was focused on how insurmountable the work seemed, but it took the small village of Boukafarine to remind me that I can't save the world, but I can make a difference right where I am at. And for those few moments on Monday, I was right where I was supposed to be doing my small part to heal Haiti!
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