-and we even had chocolate!
It has been a busy couple of weeks. We had a visit from Lemon Aid, 18 strong medical team. I had been promised a whirlwind and they did not disappoint! Lemon Aid has clinics for the children in the care of Compassion. A medical program allows them to track their health, provide them with medicines for one year and charts their immunisations. They will also see the siblings and parents of these children and if there is time and medicines left the clinics are open to the public from the villages. Most of these clinic take place at Compassion schools in remote villages of La Gonave and so take several hours to get to. The roads of La Gonave are very bumpy and in the rainy season sometimes impassable. This leaves for a very fast 5miles per hour speed for most parts. I went to 2 clinics with the team. On the first day, at Etroits, I helped with the immunisations, it reminded me of baby clinic as a practice nurse and something I am good at. On the second clinic a week later, at Gros Mangle, I was part of a conveyer belt registering, weighing, measuring and assessing children before sending them into see the doctors. It was a great team and they had a fantastic system, tried and tested over several years.
It was great having a visiting UK team, different accents and similar cultural habits. Justin had forsaken the best part of his own luggage allowing us a delivery from both Amazon and Debenhams. The visit also allowed for a topping out ceremony of the the new hospital build. The walls had reached roof level on the first ward and whilst Justin, the man responsible for the hospital and us being here, was here the first truss on the roof was erected. The ceremony attracted local dignitaries such as the bank manager, the mayor of La Gonave and all the hospital staff and the builders currently constructing the new hospital. It was a great dedication ceremony with respect and praise to all involved not least of all the hospital administrator and all the local workers. Now 3 weeks on and the wooden part of the roof is almost complete, the first ward is being rendered and the second ward will be at roof height by next week!
We had another UK visit last week. Jez Blacker, a Middlesex boy living in LA, came with a group of electricians, fitting out the new Guesthouse. The team included Ant a printer from Bovingdon who brought Cadbury’s Chocolate……..THANK YOU! Again it was great to have a little home from home and they were all great guys getting on with the job in hand and working hard. We look forward to welcoming them back again when they come to start the electrics on the hospital. These guys not only donate their time to come to do this but also all the materials as well as a new bike for the compound so Ella can ride as well.
Most of last week was Missionary Sabbath, meaning no teams. It was strange to be so quiet and for 3 days there were no workers on the compound either allowing us to wear shorts and strappy tops! Thursday of last week, Marty and I were invited out with Lowell to deliver Bibles, health books in creole and banana palms. We took a 2 1/2 hour drive to La Torre up in the highland and interior of the island. We drove almost all the way across the island and managed to see both sides of the coast line, although not at the same time. The soil in the mountains is rich and copper red and the climate is cool and refreshing without mosquitoes……! The lushness of the area was amazing and apart from the VERY bumpy ride in a 4x4 I would go again tomorrow. I do believe I’m a country girl at heart.
Saturday was Ella’s 8th Birthday and our first day off all together. No work, school or grocery shopping. Ella was very excited and I a little apprehensive as to how I could compete with a normal birthday here. As it happens she had a fabulous day and not once asked for something not available in Haiti. We of course had lots of sunshine and was hoping for not too much rain beforehand as we had planned to see outside of Anse a Galets. Julian and the girls had not yet been further than the airstrip and the new children's village so this was a big deal. Matt and Julian had decided that a quad bike safari would be just the ticket. The girls were very keen and I made myself be keen as i had never been on a quad before. I have confidence in Julian's driving and knew Matt would take good care of the girls. After borrowing a quad from Lowell off we went on Saturday morning heading out along the coast not having many plans. Becca is driving Matt’s quad with Ella in the middle as a sandwich filling. I’m on the back of Julian’s quad and finding myself really enjoying it and after a short time and encouragement from Julian, I decide to let go of my very tight grip round his waste and take hold of the bars on the quad instead! Before long we found a flat bit of Saline and build up speed. We made it out to “Double Saline” with beautiful coconut palms and snowy Igrits. Unfortunately there were no Flamingo to be found on the day. We stopped at the beach and were immediately surrounded by locals digging up clams out of the sand. Unfortunately we did not have time to stop for them to get enough for our lunch but decided that it would be lovely to come back with the purpose of a locally cooked Clam lunch
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We had to be back for 3ish as we had Ella’s pizza party to organise. 7 children making their own pizza’s, all good as gold, teaching the Americans “pass the parcel” and then they went out to play just as normal. FRESH CREAM SPONGE for 22 people went down a treat. There are only 4 families, 2 couples and 3 singletons on the compound so we all get together as often as we have an excuse to. Easter Sunday was no exception with a lovely bring and share lunch after church. The kids had prepared a Easter production with lines, songs and bible verses for missionary Church on Sunday. Robin had written the whole thing and cast the children really well, especially Rebecca ad Haley was just right. Heidi had practiced the songs with them and the whole thing was a great success. Now we just wait for uncle Matt to scale down a Shakespeare play for the kids, he is the thespian after all.
We are now half way through our first 6 months. I have been a little homesick in the past couple of days and Rebecca is definitely looking forward to seeing her friends again in July. JuIian is getting on great with the construction and was a little surprised when I showed him the current hospital so he could see what the expectations are for the fit out! I have finally started some regular exercise with my neighbour Marty, we try to enjoy Davina together twice per week..although we skipped today as I was really tired…..!
We hope this finds everyone at home well and rested after a good Easter break. I enjoy hearing big and small news from home and try to keep up with everyone on face book but am always happy to hear more. It’s my mum’s birthday on Friday so join me in wishing her a Happy Birthday…med dejlig chokolade og kager til……!
Lots of love from us in Haiti xxx
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