New life
This is the fourth trip that Nancy or I, or just Nancy alone, have made to Jeremie since Hurricane Matthew in October 2016. It is ever greener, and there is a lot of construction taking place. A word of caution. . .set aside whatever images occur to you associated with the word “construction”!
It is basic, or less. . .piles of sand, gravel, cinder block, etc. . .although I have seen more backhoes in a day than I have seen since we started coming in 2011. But it is all in earnest, 7 days a week. . .all life in Haiti is 7 days a week as most do all they can to eke out a living for themselves and their families. . .including putting a roof of their heads, bit by bit, over many years. And they seem both earnest and grateful for the few gifts that put them a little ahead of what would be otherwise possible. They live at that intersection of Faith and Hope and seem undeterred by the poor quality of life in Haiti, at least as we might judge it.
Today’s baptism of John Harley Augustin, 1-year old son of Gaelle and Axary Augustin, was also a celebration of new life, and an introduction of sorts (to be appreciated later!) to the notion that perhaps this gift of life transcends “me” . . .and that we might become so much more seeing ourselves a part of something much bigger. Our team sat front row watching the baptism ceremony, listening to several choirs, and a lively sermon no doubt unsettling whatever devil lurked about!
We spend the afternoon prepping for the two mobile medical/dental events ahead of us this week. So many donated meds. . .a shout out to St. John’s-Providence and St. Joseph’s-Pontiac. . .that we brought bulk and needed to break down into individual dosages that our Haitian Docs can prescribe tomorrow (Chiraque) and Wednesday (Testas).
While there are seven of us, we had another 15 or so of our loyal ground crew and Haitian nurses who will be with us this week scribing pill bags, sometimes cutting pills, for sure counting pills and filling pill bags. . .for about 4 hours this afternoon. They really put their backs into it, and every year they seem more eager to do the more difficult tasks. We couldn’t do what we do without all of YOUR support. . .and we couldn’t do what we do without this loyal Haitian either.
Long days here, by design. The voice our team hears is help as many people as quickly as possible. . .as my father used to say, “so mote it be”.
Nancy and John Smith, Sarah and Mick McClelland, Jackie and Paul Keller, Anne Spence
It is basic, or less. . .piles of sand, gravel, cinder block, etc. . .although I have seen more backhoes in a day than I have seen since we started coming in 2011. But it is all in earnest, 7 days a week. . .all life in Haiti is 7 days a week as most do all they can to eke out a living for themselves and their families. . .including putting a roof of their heads, bit by bit, over many years. And they seem both earnest and grateful for the few gifts that put them a little ahead of what would be otherwise possible. They live at that intersection of Faith and Hope and seem undeterred by the poor quality of life in Haiti, at least as we might judge it.
Today’s baptism of John Harley Augustin, 1-year old son of Gaelle and Axary Augustin, was also a celebration of new life, and an introduction of sorts (to be appreciated later!) to the notion that perhaps this gift of life transcends “me” . . .and that we might become so much more seeing ourselves a part of something much bigger. Our team sat front row watching the baptism ceremony, listening to several choirs, and a lively sermon no doubt unsettling whatever devil lurked about!
We spend the afternoon prepping for the two mobile medical/dental events ahead of us this week. So many donated meds. . .a shout out to St. John’s-Providence and St. Joseph’s-Pontiac. . .that we brought bulk and needed to break down into individual dosages that our Haitian Docs can prescribe tomorrow (Chiraque) and Wednesday (Testas).
While there are seven of us, we had another 15 or so of our loyal ground crew and Haitian nurses who will be with us this week scribing pill bags, sometimes cutting pills, for sure counting pills and filling pill bags. . .for about 4 hours this afternoon. They really put their backs into it, and every year they seem more eager to do the more difficult tasks. We couldn’t do what we do without all of YOUR support. . .and we couldn’t do what we do without this loyal Haitian either.
Long days here, by design. The voice our team hears is help as many people as quickly as possible. . .as my father used to say, “so mote it be”.
Nancy and John Smith, Sarah and Mick McClelland, Jackie and Paul Keller, Anne Spence
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