Check out Bobi's

Since tonight is not a good night for me to be online, may I just direct you to my friend Bobi's site? I know she's writing about many of the things that we've been doing and things happening here lately. By tomorrow night I'm sure it'll be updated. And you'll hear from me next time!

God bless!!!

All in a day's work

Hello, hello

I just realized there's been no blog entry in this whole year. Sorry! I'm still here though, and we're busy as ever.

This week we have an American team of 10 people here, so when they asked if I needed anything done at the clinic, I came up with quite a list. They are a team of hard working people, and our clinic looks much better. They painted the inside of one building and the next day we moved our whole pharmacy in there while they painted all the shelves in the pharmacy. Wow! Does it ever look much better! We continued seeing patients, but it was in slower motion. Thankfully the two days weren't busy ones and now we're almost back to normal. Doors and tables, file cabinets and chairs got their rust spots covered as well. Tin roofs won't flap anymore and my stand table is back on 4 wheels instead of 3. We've also been enjoying seeing the foundation of the new clinic get started and reinforced. Yea! And today we saw two guys (guards) moving in down there. That'll be needed especially once construction gets more under way. This team is leaving on Sat, and another one arriving the same day. That is happening each Sat. for the rest of this month. A lot of projects are to be finally finished, including a dorm for the young boys. And hopefully P. Henri's house will be closer to done.

Oh and these aren't the only visitors this year! My pastor from Canada, as well as S. Gladys and P. Henri's pastor, came for like two days. The special occasion??? Sister Gladys and Pastor got married last Saturday!!! This came in a very busy time for them, since a pastor that they work with very closely died last week and the funeral (that S. Gladys had to officiate) was the day after their wedding.

I continue seeing lots of people with malaria and typhoid. That seems to be almost the most common problems, and honestly, the easiest to diagnose. Then we have days (like today) when I don't know what to do for almost any of them - one lady got bit by a dog 1 1/2 months ago and now says is getting leg cramps from it; a belly that for about 2 years gets big and small whenever and is painful; a guy with problems; someone needing a prescription refill for antibiotics the way I never heard of them used and totally wrong in my knowledge; a 10 year old with an x-ray showing a lung full of fluids (probably has Tuberculosis). The last has me asking why some things hit certain people in a tidal wave. This family (Pierre family) is the one that has the 2 yr old Maikel that is in our malnutrition program, who came with a belly bigger than I knew could be possible (pictures in blogs past) and who also has two leaking heart valves. Last week the mother died giving birth to the 8th child (the oldest is 16). Now they have a newborn with no milk as well. Earlier this week the dad brought a 6 year old with a fever of almost 104; Now this girl, whom I sent to a hospital. And the mother's funeral is on Friday.

The malnutrition program is still going good. It seems every week we admit more children to the program - especially in Arcahaia. The problem we have is getting there. We never know if there'll be a vehicle to go with . It's about 45 minutes from here and public transportation is just not a real option for us, since we have to haul about 100 kg of Mamba, as well as scales, measuring board, water, and other supplies, plus change tap taps at least once. We see the need for a Medika Mamba vehicle as essential for the ongoing of the program. There are so many towns and village we could reach if we had transportation. Without it, we can't go there. There are some desperate women that will walk 3-5 hours for it. How many need it that can't come?
So if you are able and want to help us, we would be so appreciative. Enough small amounts would make it possible! Chris Hlavacek is collecting the money and you can either send it to him by mail (cheque or cash) or go to his Canaan website and pay it online. http://www.canaanorphanage.org/ All of it is tax deductible. Just let him know it's for the vehicle fund, since he's also the one that receives the money for the actual Mamba. Any questions, feel free to ask me.

And now, may God bless you, be in you, and flow out through you!
Elsie Kornelsen

Bon Ane Nouvo!

Happy New Year's!

(since I never know if I'll be online on New Year's, I'll just wish it now.)

I always have mixed feelings at the end of a year. Another year gone??? Am I happy about how I lived it or would I change it if I could? It's a good feeling to be able to feel that I wouldn't change anything. (not meaning I was perfect, just in general, where I am). This has been a great year. A year ago I did my last shift in Canada, and that was that. I left a country of ease and went into the unknown. Though life here isn't what you could possibly call 'easy', it has been a year full of blessings: - a new fulfilling job that is way above my league but I'm enjoying because it feels so worthwhile, lots of new friends both N. Americans and Haitians, exploring and getting to know a new country and culture, - I won't go into detail - it would get too long.

I do want to thank all of you who have been a part of my life this year, and the impact that has left on me.

And now I've loaded up some pictures for you to enjoy.

Bobi's brother Kyle and mom Barbara visited her for a week. They helped out tons with all the Christmas preparations. Thanks for visiting! I feel almost like I got a new family myself!


Also visiting us for 10 days over Christmas and New Year's are Tyler and Nick, medical students from South Carolina. They also got roped into helping their first day here. But we did take them to a nice resort the next day. They've helped out with two clinic days and two Medika Mamba days. This is Tyler on our way to our friends Chris and Leslie. He checked out how it felt riding on top of the taptap, on metal bars. Not sure if that was a better place than our jammed full ride standing up.


Graduation day for one Medika Mamba child!

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Tyler and Nick helping at our Arcahaia Medika Mamba. Since there was no school, Bonnie took the time off to come with us and see how we worked. Her nurturing person even got those little ones to sleep.

Graduation from Middle school to high school for 5 Canaan students
Nancy

Micar

Ismael

Daniel

Zilpa



It was fun for all of us to dress up - Me and Bobi

Pascal, Gerson, and Beno having fun making Mr Robin (after all, what would you do with a lot of grass around the place?

Cadet (our baby)

If you don't have marshmallows, how about candy? Joel thinks it's fun and good!

Bobi and me relaxing at the resort in our new clothes! That was fun!



May the sunset of this year bring you a great sunrise for the new year and may it be good and joyful and fulfilling! Make it so with God's help if the past one wasn't!!!

Elsie

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!!



It's kind of strange (and nice) to be away from all the commercialism of Christmas. It didn't feel like Christmas at all till a couple nights ago when Bobi's mom, whose visiting her for Christmas, gave me a piece of fudge. It's interesting how certain things (like foods) can send your feelings down memory lane.

Now this place is humming with preparations. All the decorations came out of storage, and we're trying to see where they can be placed. The Christmas lights stay up all year, but I have yet to see one lighted.

Tomorrow, the 24th, is the big day here. Not just Christmas, but they're also planning a graduation. 5 of the kids are entering high school, so they're having a nice graduation for them. It's to inspire the others to keep working towards the goal. There are also three little girls graduating from preschool. Family members have been invited and lots of food is being prepared.

The program is suppose to start around 3, I heard once, and who knows how long it'll be. They also have a Christmas program, so it's a do-it-all-at-once program. It's going to be interesting to see what the traditions are here. Apparently soup is on the agenda for midnight.

We're blessed to have internet again. It wasn't working for about 5 days. That's hard for us down here. Ha!

I'm being called for a medical need so I better go for now.

Have a great holiday season!!!!

Elsie

Wed, Dec 10

Good evening!

Wow! It really has been 12 days since my last post. Hope you got a good rest! Ha!

It's a challenge to my "emotional well-being" to be without a computer here. Some days it feels quite healthy; others, it should be hospitalized! Tonight, it's the latter. So, I'll try to be brief, since I have only half hour on it now. That just might be good for those that think my blogs are too detailed. That's OK. I sometimes feel that too. It's ok to skim over them. 

My parents have come and gone. It was great to have family here, let them see what I do. It was a busy week though and I wasn't able to take as much time off as I had hoped. The first sunday I took them for a drive to St Marc and a little beyond. We spent one day in Port. We only got to go swimming once!

One of the reasons it was so busy is we spent two days opening a Medika Mamba program in Arcahaia. 

                                                                             Bobi and me taking a "break" 

That's about an hour south of us. Thursday Sister Gladys, Bobi, my mom and I went to "scout" the area. We found 13 children that were malnourished. So Friday Bobi and I went back and entered them all into the program. We didn't have a vehicle to go with so the "10:30" time that we told everyone got extended to about 1:00, keeping all the parents and kids waiting. It allowed me to almost finish my morning clinic, but wasn't very nice for the kids. On that note, I have a request for you. Please join us in praying for a vehicle for the Medika Mamba program. Vehicles are quite expensive, especially since it has to be a strong one - 4 wheel drive, able to do mountains, diesel, 'lockable'. We'd rather not have a new one (it hurts too much when {not if} it gets it's first dents  but it has to have a good motor. Sister Gladys says a Land Rover is perfect and lasts forever almost. Maybe, but the price is scary! The need is everywhere; we have the Mamba, but don't have a way to take it to the little kids. We could "extend our borders" a lot if we had consistent transportation. So we're putting the word out there and if there's any way you can help in that, we would appreciate it. If you've always wanted to learn to do fundraising, or need a cause to do it for, here's an opportunity!   It is so awesome to see the health of the children when they're ending the program. I'm learning to appreciate chubby babies!! Today I had a really chubby one at the clinic, and he just looked SO GOOD! 

  

Things are feeling very quiet here right now. Yesterday we said goodbye to Lydia, Kristie, and Bethany. They were here for 2 months. Steve and my parents left the same time. And today Bobi's two friends visiting left as well. That leaves Bobi, Bonnie and me for foreigners. Sister Gladys and Pastor Henri also left today for a week in the States. 

One answer to prayer is we've hired a new nurse. She's Haitian, her name is MarieElise. Please pray for her as she learns the ropes, and me as I teach her. It will still take a lot of training, but she's already helping and I think will work out real well. After my difficult experience in the beginning, I'm happy to expect something different. She's staying here at Canaan, and therefore will be able to help in the Medika Mamba as well, which we really want her to be able to help us with. She knows very little English, so it's a challenge to my Kreyol, but good for it. Teaching everything through a translator is not the easiest thing. Thankfully she's quick to catch on and can go from there. 

Despite the new nurse, we are in need of some trained ones, either short term or longer term. If there's any nurses, doctors, etc that want to come help at the clinic,  please contact me. I would like to take some time off: 

1) to teach the nurses that I have (it's becoming so busy I don't have time to do teachings) 

2) to do some traveling in other towns (to see about starting the Medika Mamba program), 

3) in the summer I want to take a month or two off to go to North America. I'm looking for someone to come work while I'm gone. 

OK, time's up, gotta go.

Elsie

Bobi Bender

Hi,

Well my mom and dad got here, so I won't promise you that you'll hear a lot from me directly. But hey, I've found a way for you to keep up with some of my doings and even to see some pictures from here. Bobi here managed to get her blog up with pictures, so check that out. We do almost everything together, so a lot of her activities include me. OK, so maybe it doesn't tell you what I think but it tells you what I'm doing and involved in. Her link is on my list.

Elsie  

Friends

Sunday, Nov. 23, 08

Hi everybody,

Seems like awhile since I've written on here. Is it really not a week? I guess a lot has happened. Sister Gladys came home while we were gone last weekend, sister Boni is back till May (she's the children's hero and advocate and playmate and teacher and friend and mother all in one, plus all the things I haven't mentioned.) It's good to see her around again.

On Wednesday, a team of 31 arrived. It has kept everyone busy preparing. The girls working in the kitchen are LOVING making food for this quantity. It's a challenge they are meeting wonderfully - very organized and great tasting!! The team is also getting lots of work done - they finished pouring the cement for the roof of the little kids' dorm - across from our cafeteria. They have also made and set up a pingpong table, and they brought a net and balls. I think that will be an everlasting need here now - new balls! They love banging them with the paddles, which at least 4 are bare now. They don't understand the balls work better. One young boy just started ripping it off - I think for him it was in the way or something. But they're enjoying it.

Saturday afternoon, all of us and the older kids packed up and went to spend some time at a beach house owned by P. Henry's brother-in-law. It was a great place!! We had a bonfire, though it was too windy to sit around it - grilled hot dogs and chicken and a time of singing and testimonies and reflexion.

This evening, Bobi and I went with our friend from down the road - Matt, and his two visiting friends to hang out at the hotel where they're staying for the weekend. It was a wonderful relaxing time. We hung out on the roof of a 4 story hotel, watching the stars, chatting, and getting a massage from Renee, who is a massage therapist. There was a wind, and everything felt wonderful! 

Monday

Well the generator was cut off unexpectedly last night, so hope to finish this tonight. It's been a busy day at the clinic again. That's becoming the norm nowadays, it seems. It's to the point where one person can hardly do it alone anymore, which means it's difficult for me to take a day off. Malaria was the most common ailment today I think. Funny how it seems people come in in spurts with the same things.

This week is looking just as busy, but pleasantly so. Tomorrow I'm planning to go to Port again, this time with two patients. The one from last week, that we didn't get to a doctor with and also Maikel. His dad finally showed up last week, and we're needing to do an Echocardiogram on him - see if he really has a big hole in his heart. I put the fear of death into the dad when he was here - after all, that's what will happen if he doesn't bring his son regularly. The said thing is, I realize it is very difficult for him. It takes him 3 hours to get here on the taptap, and he works in Port, which is the other side. If he quits the job, where's the money???

We're celebrating Thanksgiving here on Wed (we're not in the US - who says we have to abide by their days???). This way we can serve it with the team. I haven't been here for one so we'll see what it's like but sounds like it'll be a feast. In past years, all the kids, including the youngest, get one whole turkey leg. They almost fall asleep eating it. So this will be fun for everyone!!

Then on Friday - back to Port. This time for a very special reason. My parents are coming to visit for 2 weeks! It's their first time (actually my first visitors here). They're from Costa Rica, so used to third world cultures, but I think they're still gonna be a little surprised.

OK, nothing is getting cleaned in my room tonight so I better close my ramblings here. Thanks for reading and keeping us here in mind. God's blessings to each of you!!!

Elsie