Jamaican military

Ok, after an electric water foot massage (that I found in my storage room today) and several hours soaking my swollen dirty feet, a movie, a fan, a coke, and friends, I’m relaxed again after very probably the most tired day in Haiti yet!

This day turned out nothing like I originally thought it would. I must admit, I can’t say my life is boring.

This morning, after checking in at the clinic, I decided it was time to organize my medicines again. Yes, I think I did that on one of my last blogs too, but a medical team left and I probably got at least 7 or 8 tubs of stuff. It’s useless if I don’t know what’s there, so I started that. It’s hot, it’s full, and full of dirt, so first I had to make room. About halfway through, I get a call, asking me to take Nerivadson to Port – he’s being adopted. So drop my stuff and get him ready. I was just about ready to go when I got the call that it was canceled – he’ll go tomorrow. Just in time: I went down to let them know, when I hear someone saying they need like 9 tables and 20 chairs at the clinic. My antennae went up – WHY?

The Jamaican military showed up with 4 big UN trucks loaded with food and bottled water and medicine and doctors and soldiers (no idea how many); 5 doctors, plus some nurses. What a scrounging around, finding the best place to work out of and a method. I let them take over our patients, especially since I only had 1 nurse working today and almost 50 patients. I must admit, I would rather not repeat the confusion of patients and dispensation of medicines again – next time I’d know what to avoid. But by the end of the day, they saw 120 patients.

Then of course here it doesn’t take long for news to travel and people to arrive. Within a very short time, I’m sure we had close to a 1000 people there. (got some pictures up on facebook already.) The noise was tremendous – the chattering and talking and bustling and everything. I just decided to tune it out – let the military control it. That was what they were there for. On a whole, it went very well, especially after hearing how in Port, at one distribution, the people actually turned over one of those big UN trucks. Ok, so if I would run these food distributions, it would be done differently, but they were given orders not to return with food so they let the people go back in line, some up to 4 times!!

Of course, they brought for Canaan too, so I went up and got my truck (what would we have done without it? All other vehicles were out) and I made two ‘loaded’ trips with boxes of ‘Mackerel in Tomato Sauce’ cans and one loaded with bottled water.

After they were ready to head back, after 5 p.m., 10 guys, DR workers of neighbors of Chris and Leslie came for 2 vaccine shots each.

Oh, and another thing the Jamaican army did was build 2 latrines – don’t know if they’re done. That won’t be enough for the amount of patients we expect, so hopefully they will be back on Monday to make more. A security fence, and we’re set to get started with our field convalescence center. Oops – I still need a nurse. Any takers?

The Jamaicans, together with the Canadian military have been great in helping us. Pray they will continue.

I think I deserved my foot massage tonight!! Just needed a shoulder massage yet. Anyone wanting to come give me one? Lol

Tomorrow, Navedson is scheduled to leave for the US to his new parents. We will miss him. Everyone’s attached to him. He’s full of life in his toddler ways. If the papers get finished, Orlancia is going too, but as of today, she still needed to get the Prime Minister’s signature. They’re hoping he’ll give it tomorrow. Please pray! Also remember her siblings here, especially her oldest brother Mackenson. He’s a great 13 yr old brother who loves his baby sister so much, but he also knows the opportunity this is for her.

Ok, it’s late enough, I should be in bed. But then tomorrow is Saturday (what does that mean here though?)

Thanks for remembering us and praying!!