A Hospital in Les Cayes - Thursday 3/12

Monday, March 30, 2009

She looks like a child herself, doesn't she? This mother is very proud of her beautiful child. The moms were happy when I would ask to take a picture of them and their baby. Some children were so very sick that I couldn't bring myself to ask for a photo. This photo doesn't even come close to telling the story of health care in Haiti.

We often criticize our always rising health care costs. In Haiti you can stay in the hospital for $2. Sounds crazy doesn't it? What I realized is that the families give the care. They bring the food the patient eats. If the patient needs an x-ray, the family has to take them outside the hospital to a place where x-rays are taken. It's the same situation for medicine. The patient gets dressed and the family takes them to a local pharmacy for the medicine they need. You can't even compare our health care system to ours. We pay a great deal of money but look at what we get.

I toured the pediatric unit first and found an intake area followed by a smaller area where healthier children were being cared for. Here I saw three babies that had been abandoned. Because the families are expected to care for their children, the abandoned children were laying or sitting in soiled sheets. Their blessing is that there are health care workers who care enough to give them what they need. One baby layed in a diaper that was overflowing with feces. I wanted so much to grab a diaper and change this beautiful baby. You are tempted to take the children and hug and cuddle them. Given the looks I was getting I felt like an intruder and didn't want to appear critical. In my heart I know that the staff are doing the best they can with what they have. I don't doubt that they care greatly for their patients. They would probably be amazed at what we have here and would wish they had it for their patients. How different their patients' lives would be.

Another section of the peds unit was for children that are malnourished. I felt most uncomfortable in this area of the unit. Here you saw children that looked like they were at death's door. They very well may have been. So many lifeless looking bodies. As beautiful as Haiti is the true story is in what is lacking for these people. When I left the peds unit I didn't want to continue the tour. But if I wanted to get a better sense health care I needed to keep going.

Another unit we went through housed women. One women was happy to show off her newborn twins. A few beds down from her were two women attempting to transfer a young woman from a wheelchair to the bed and failing miserably. One had her ankles and one had her shoulders. The patient was moaning with pain as she was rolled onto the bed. My fear was that in trying to help their family member into bed they could very well have been doing her more harm than good. Again - her family was doing the best they could for her.

There were several buildings on the hospital compound. The buildings are made of cinder blocks and stucco. There aren't windows that keep out dirt or dust. I went in the morning and there were many family members outside looking in at their loved ones. My ride home was a quiet one and it left me with a better understanding of the struggles Haiti has with providing adequate care for the sick.

Paper Bead Project - Thursday 3/12/09

While my fellow missionaries went to Ile a Vache I stayed behind to spend the day in Les Cayes. Knowing they would be climbing up the side of a mountain made me think twice about attempting that with two bad knees. My plans for the day included a trip to the hospital in Les Cayes, spending the afternoon with the girls from the orphanage teaching them to make paper beads and then late afternoon with the boys at the orphanage doing an art project.

The paper bead project is one I had been planning for a very long time. One problem I encountered, which didn't surprise me was that the television was on in the administrative dining room and the "Bee Movie" was on. While I was trying to get the girls to focus on the technique their eyes often wandered to the television. What I found fun was that Babbout (my translator) loved art projects and while he was to explain the process - he did so while working on the beads himself. While it was fun there were moments when I wished so much that I could speak Creole. The language barrier was so very obvious.

The girls were mindful of each other and happily waited their turn to use a glue stick or brush.

Later that evening some of the girls wandered up to the dining area. We had finished dinner and I was enjoying a Coke made with sugar cane sugar (yum!). The beads had dried and I began trimming them so they would have the finished beads for the next day. With the television being off several girls crowded around and they began helping by pulling the plastic center stick out. They were tickled with the finished product. I would love to have had another afternoon to do it again.

Sunday, March 15 - A Special Time

Sunday, March 15, 2009 we experienced the joy and fellowship that comes when you can look into the eyes of fellow Christians and see the Holy Spirit shining from their souls. That's what I saw in the eyes of our Haitian brothers and sisters in Christ.

I was able to understand on a spiritual level what Pastor Ahlmeyer has often taught us about - "the Holy Christian Church" and the "Communion of Saints." What a joy it was to pray the Nicene Creed and the Lord's Prayer with them. Different people from very different parts of the world praying in different languages came together in one voice to praise and worship our God.

To stand with this congregation as Pastor Marky Kessa distributed Holy Communion made me feel honored and so blessed to share this precious sacrament with them. At that moment we were all the same - children of God, each one shaped and molded by His hands, every soul created for His purpose - to bring him glory. No doubt our heavenly Father was pleased to have His children from Peace communing with his children in Haiti. I know he felt the joy that each one of us felt to be there.

The choir was exceptional. Their voices were strong and trust me the poor quality of the video above doesn't do their voices justice. Nor can you see the joy on their faces. What you can see are the choir robes that Peace donated to Pastor Marky's church. That is one thing I've had members of Peace ask me since I've returned. It obviously means a lot to them knowing those robes are being worn each Sunday as the choir in Jacmel raises their voices to God.

This was a special Sunday for the church is Jacmel. It was their anniversary and a special meal was prepared for everyone in attendance. A line of people was started from a large table outside the kitchen (a separate building from the church) and containers with food was passed to everyone inside the church. When that was finished another line was made from the kitchen building and drinks were passed until everyone was served. We had a wonderful meal of beef, rice and beans, plantain and potato salad made with beets. You could tell by the smiles on the women's faces that they were delighted to be able to serve everyone this very special meal.

Saturday, March 14 - Medical Clinic in Jacmel

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Saturday was very busy. Patients were ready and waiting for us at Pastor Marky's church. We set up the "doctor's" exam areas where the altar usually is.

Patients would first go through "intake which is where we interviewed the patients with the help of our translators. From this station they would go to have their blood pressure and pulse checked. If a urinalysis was needed they would take their paper cup and go back by Robbie our "pee pee king." After all of this they would wait to see the "doctor". Their last stop was the pharmacy where Jeanne and one other team member would pull together the prescribed medications. Jeanne would explain the dosages and drugs to our interpreter who would then tell our patients what the instructions were for taking the drugs. The time goes so quickly that hours pass and you don't even know it.

One patient stood out, well make that two patients. One woman was suffering from many ailments. She had had an abortion. Whether this was voluntary or involuntary we didn't know. She suffered from depression, anxiety, stress and other problems. Robbie seeing her many issues did the right thing. He talked with Pastor Marky and had him talk to this woman. It was obvious to Robbie that her problems went much deeper than any medication could touch. As I often heard Pastor Isador say, "God is good." That was obvious when we got the report that the following day this woman was baptized. She received the gift of peace, joy and love that only our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ can give. She came for physical healing and received spiritual healing. These are gifts that we as missionaries were honored to witness.

Friday, March 13 - Travel to Jacmel

Tuesday we had traveled the one road from PAP to Les Cayes. Today we traveled the one road from Les Cayes to Jacmel. Each road brought a different view of Haiti.

I was amazed how small villages existed along the mountainous terrain. You could see the rows that had been turned and prepared for planting.

The roads are basically two-lane and you encounter every size truck. Along with the vehicles you have your share of donkeys, horses, groups of children walking home from school, women with baskets balancing on their head. And as always, the honking of the vehicles to warn others that you are close by.

We also saw small villages where the roadside markets were busy. As we got closer to Jacmel we began to get glimpses of the ocean. It was exciting knowing that we were going to spend time with Pastor Marky and would have the wonderful experience of standing with his congregation as we would worship together on Sunday. It would be a dream come true.

How often I've wanted to better understand the needs of the people in Haiti. As a congregation Peace Lutheran has worked hard to help in some small way to meet their needs. The hearts of the people at Peace open wide to their calls for help. We have been blessed to be able to help. Visiting Haiti will now help us answer our many questions. We can offer suggestions based on a knowledge of the country and the work Pastor Marky and his lay pastors do here.

I think we were all surprised at the beautiful hotel that awaited us in Jacmel. We still couldn't drink the tap water but most were anxious to jump in the pool. Jeanne and I were content to look out over the bay at the mountains on the other side. The breeze was warm and the air was clean. It was very different from Les Cayes. Each city has a feel all its own. PAP is large with many people. UN trucks were everywhere. Les Cayes was equally busy but smaller. The smell of charcoal (made from wood) always hangs in the air. Jacmel seemed smaller and less people, but more mountainous.

Thursday, March 12 - Clinic on Isle A Vache

Sunday, March 15, 2009

We went to an Island that was about 45 min to 50 min away by boat. We rented a boat from the orphange on the island which was donated by Food For The Poor. We had 22 people and 10 bags in this 21 foot boat which was very exciting. The dock had huge holes in it so we had to watch our step as we went to the boat. The trip was very beautiful and the cliffs and landscape was breathtaking. The Island is about 100 years behind the times, they have no electricity or running water. Housing was grass shacks maybe 10 by 10 wich would house complete familys. The children were waiting for us at the beach and helped us carry the supplies to the school. When we arrived at the school we found block walls and no roof, there were 4 rooms with rock floors. We spent 5 hours treating around 75 people for many different things. Many were malnurited and had no safe drinking water. Many needed medical treatment but can't afford the boat ride to the main land or the doctor visit. After the clinic we walked the half hour back to the beach and spent some time with some kids swimming and playing. Then back in the boat for about 45 min. When we arrived back in Les Cayes the dock was full so we had to beach the boat on the shore which was litered for about the first 15 feet.

Later that evening we went to the boys orphanage, which was the one of the best times we had. Jeanne had 3 little boys crawling all over her, Dennis was wrestling with a couple of the boys and I had 2 or 3 boys that just didn't want to let us leave. It was very hard to leave I wanted to bring them back with me.

It was another great day!!! - Posted by Rob Ertl

Jean stayed back and spent the morning at the local hospital. The afternoon was spent with the girls in the orphanage teaching them how to make paper beads. Just before dinner she went to the boy's orphanage so they could do paint with water colors. Pictures will be displayed at church for everyone to see!

Wednesday, March 11 - Our First Medical Clinic

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Robbie is working in the church registering patients. He's had some interesting stories to tell but can always be seen with a smile on his face. Yesterday afternoon one of the boys from the orphanage was "helping" Robbie do his work. Pam Juris, another missionary with us, told how awesome it was to see Robbie "communicate" with this boy. It really touched her heart.

Dennis is now a "doctor." One comment from our debriefing period last night was from Lynn and she said she looked into the exam area of the clinic where the "doctors" are set up. She made the comment that Dennis was so happy, he was just beaming. Dennis told of one child that he put the stethoscope to the boy's ears and asked him to sing so he could hear his voice through the stethoscope. Even after Dennis took the stethoscope off the boy's ears he continued to sing. Dennis continued the exam and the young boy continued to seronade him.

Jeanne and I were working together in the pharmacy. It took an hour or two to get into the "groove" but once we got it down our only challenge was remembering where all the different medications were. Last night we had a chance to go over some of the ways we could do things better.

The people who came to the clinic were so patient and grateful. One person said that they were thankful we can because they can't afford medicine and this was the only way they could get relief for their problems. We mainly dispensed Tylenol, Ibuprophen, antacids and vitamins. Many people suffer from stomach and blood pressure problems due to the high salt content in their food - such as the fish from the ocean.

Last night two members of our team cooked mac and cheese for the children in the orphanage. It was wonderful seeing all of their beautiful faces. If someone was full they would put their left over food on another child's plate. When they were done they stacked their dishes and pushed them toward the center of the table. I gave out Barbie dolls and the boys each got a Chicago Cubs cap. I hope the pictures turn out.

I'd love to post photos but it takes a long time to upload images.

Tomorrow I will stay behind (I want to preserve my knees) as the rest of the group travels to Ile A Vache. This is a primitive island not far from Les Cayes. It's a mountainous island about 5 miles x 10 miles. Nora's husband is from Ile A Vache and they are working to build a school for the children there. The stories we will have to tell when we get back are incredible.

I will visit the local hospital in the morning, teach the girls how to make paper beads in the afternoon and then work with the boys on an art project in the late afternoon.

We are all doing well. There are few bugs or mosquitoes to be found. We are being fed well and feel very safe and happy to be here doing our Lord's work. We love and miss you all.

Tuesday, March 10 - Travel to Les Cayes

On Tuesday morning we visited a group of metal artists who take metal, like the top of a steel barrel and first draw the design or scene they want to work on. They do the initial drawing with chalk. Then they begin the long and tedious work of cutting and hammering the design into the metal. I purchased a few pieces that you will all be able to see when I get back. We had a sandwich for lunch and then began the long trip to Les Cayes.

During this drive we had mountains on both sides of us. It was very obvious how the forests have been stripped of the wood. It's very easy to see how mud slides happen when the rains come.

There is one road from PAP to Les Cayes. During one of the hurricanes a lake took on so much water and the water never went down. The bridge crossing that lake is no longer usable so they began construction on a new road. This was a slow and dusty portion of the trip.

Until they paved the road to Les Cayes the trip would take 10 hours. Our trip took 5 hours but that was only due to the slow process of traveling the new construction.

It is fascinating to see how the traffic moves as there are no street signs, stop signs or traffic lights. You merge and honk your horn to let someone know you are coming behind them. Crossing traffic is basically edging out until someone stops and lets you cross. On the road you will find bicycles, motor cycles, cars, buses, large construction trucks, "tap taps" which is their version of taxis. I hope the photos of these turned out. Each one is a piece of art. The colors and designs vary but many times across the back you will read "Thank You Jesus" or perhaps reference to a Bible verse. The name tap tap comes from the fact that when you want to get off the vehicle, which could be a small truck or as large as a bus, you tap on the metal so the driver knows to let you off.

Many buildings in the residential areas remain half built. Often the building progresses as you earn enough money to put up more of the building. These are cement or block structures.

Most of the towns or villages often have one or two vendors. A bank might be a building as large as a Wisconsin sturgeon fishing shack. Pharmacies and radiology services are off-site. We parked downtown PAP while two of our team members went in to purchase drugs needed for the clinic. It took an incredibly long time but we did see a woman with clothes underneath come out with a patient gown over her clothes. Where she was going, we don't know.

As we got closer to Les Cayes the beautiful beaches of the ocean began to appear. It's so beautiful. It's difficult to understand how there can be beauty on one side and desolation on the other. But the wood is needed to cook and it is a source of income for some. So many contrasts were seen along the way.

I slept like a rock that night.

We Fly Out of Miami Not Once But Twice!

Monday, March 9, 2009

We were ready to leave the snows of winter and head south to the sunshine of Haiti. Sunday night Jeanne and I were sitting in our hotel room in Madison and looking at each other we felt as though this wasn't real. We were going to a third world country where the sights, smells and conditions would be unlike anything we had experienced before. My prayer for this team is that Jesus will open our eyes to see, our hearts to feel and our ears to hear every message and blessing he has in store for us.

The flight out of Madison was in the darkness of the early morning. Madison to Chicago was uneventful. Chicago to Miami was again a lovely flight. Jeanne and I read while Dennis and Robbie worked Sudoko puzzles or caught a little shut eye.

Our flight out of Miami was one we won't forget. It wasn't too long into the flight when things didn't feel right to me. There was a surge of power and I could hear and feel the plane slow and then speed up. The ride wasn't what I had experienced in the past.

Soon the captain came on and said our landing gear wouldn't come back up and we couldn't fly to Haiti with the landing gear down. We couldn't land with a plane full of fuel so we flew around, and around, and around Florida until we had just enough fuel.

The captain came back on and said we would do a fly by so the ground crew could look at the landing gear. If all looked good we would land and they would check the landing gear out further.

We did the fly by and up in the air we went again. After flying around a little longer we landed. I half expected to see fire trucks and other emergency vehicles parked on the air strip. Nothing so exciting happened. We got off the plane and were told to checked in at D23. I was waiting for one of the passengers to yell "BINGO!".

I kept wondering what my lesson was here. Perhaps patience, perhaps realizing that God is in control. All my worrying would do no good. I had to accept that God's plan is the best plan.

While we waited for the next flight it gave us further opportunity to get to know the other members of this mission team. There's Lynn (our fearless leader), Luke, Pam and others. I'll remember more names tomorrow, I promise! For the sake of accountability I'm #4. When Lynn does "roll call" (a blast from my military past) I'm quick to shout out my number.

We got into Haiti after 6 pm. It was dark and quiet. Had we arrived on time we would have been met by bands playing hoping for a monetary donation and many men wanting to take your bags in hopes of earning a little money for the day. So naturally when I was pushing my cart with bags on it every time someone grabbed the cart I was saying "no, no!" We finally made it out of the baggage area and started out to the vehicles waiting for us. One poor guy grabs my cart. He's trying to pull my cart in one direction and I'm pushing it in another. I felt like my cart was being hijacked! How was I to know he was working with our driver? Finally our driver yells "No, no - he's helping me!" The battle finally ended and I could relax.

We arrived at Wall's Guest House and found many American missionaries there. A small orange tabby kitten greeted us and being the cat person I had to scoop him up. And yes Mom - I had to stick my face in his.

Everyone went out for a meal on the town. I stayed back as my knees were sore and there were more stairs I'd have to climb. I had a meal at the guest house of spaghetti, a wonderful salad, bread and a custard pudding. It was delicious. I'm sure a few of you remember soda in a glass bottle - right? It's been years since I've enjoyed this. Tonight I enjoyed a cold 7-Up in that green bottle. It was so good! I've always believed nothing tasted better than soda from a glass bottle.

The manager of the guest house showed me where the electrical plug was and he gave me permission to use their internet connection. I'm such a great packer that I managed to have the laptop in one bag and the electrical cord in another! So I apologize that I didn't have something for you this morning.

Tomorrow we head out for Les Cayes. This is where Nora and the Children of Israel orphanage is. The other missionaries that have been to Les Cayes tell me how happy the children are. They say that the people of Haiti are a happy people. For the little that they have (in comparison to us) they are happy with what the Lord has given them.

I will write more tomorrow. I think the computer is probably recharged. I can only hope so. I'll make sure I pack the cord AND laptop in the same bag. Good idea, huh? Lots of photos were taken today so perhaps I can find time to download some of them and get them posted. That will be a lot more interesting than my tired ramblings.

We all send our love. Know we are happy to be here doing the Lord's work and representing the love and care that Peace has for the people of Haiti. My computer says it's 11:14 pm which is probably 10:14 pm Haiti time. I don't believe they do that "spring forward, fall back" thing we all live by.

Sunday, March 8 - Our Journey Begins

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Sunday morning church service was inspiring as we were commissioned. As I listened to Pastor's words the reality of what we were to do became very real. How blessed we are that Peace Lutheran gave is the opportunity to go to Haiti and share their love with the people in Les Cayes, Ile A Vache & Jacmel. Our congregation has an incredible heart for service and sharing the love of Jesus with the world.

Dennis, Robbie, Jeanne and I began our travels with the Wisconsin snows we are all too familiar with. Once we got on the road we all admitted that we had over packed. Deciding what you can leave behind is difficult. Although leaving all my socks behind wasn't intentional. So the 2 pair I do have will just have to do.

As we neared Fond du Lac the snow turned to rain. We got checked into our hotel and before long the rain turned to snow. Our hope for Monday was that we would have clear skies for our flight to Haiti.