Some New Things

I will begin by apologizing because I haven't written in quite awhile......sorry. I have had quite a few new things in the mix and wanted to share it all!

Last Tuesday I was bitten by a bee. I was upset and it hurt.

I have begun going to a new hospital in Bourdon, Haiti. This hospital has two BEAUTIFUL ultrasound machines that I will learn and then train the physicians on. They see around 2000 patients and deliver 10-20 babies each week! They have an incredible reputation within the community. In fact, it is so good that last week Zizou and I witnessed a woman's loyalty to them. We were sitting outside the hospital when a beaten up Honda Accord pulled up the driveway. When I looked inside I could see a woman holding her pregnant belly and hunching over. "Yay", I thought, "a baby will be born today!" A man hopped out of the drivers seat and called for help. He began yelling across the car to a nearby nurse that his wife was in labor and she refused to go anywhere else except this hospital. In one fluid motion he opened the back door (did I mention I was sitting perfectly eye level with the back seat?) and a young girl fled the car leaving only the pregnant woman. My eyes traveled up the car and I could see there was blood and fluid covering the floor and bits of the seat. Then, as I looked up at the woman, I noticed she was squatting above the seat.  Perfectly perched underneath her was a newborn baby. She didn't make it in time. The baby's manger was a Honda with cloth interior.  I sat there unmoving and speechless. I watched as the doctor ran out, cut the cord, wrapped the baby, and carried the woman inside. I began to look around and met Zizou's eyes. "Did that just happen?", I said. "Yeah", he replied. "You're going to put that in your blog, aren't you?" Friends, of course I was going to put this in my blog! Im very excited to begin working there and meet these daily happenings!

On Thursday of this week I scanned a woman with triplets. At first, I only saw two and told her that she had twins. Her eyes grew large and she put her hand over her chest. Then, as I kept scanning, I noticed a third. I looked at her and held up three fingers.  Her next response was laughter.  All the women in the clinic began gathering around her, touching her legs and arms. They were awed by her blessing. It was quite beautiful to see their response. She left beaming and so did I.  Did I mention they were all boys?

About two weeks ago I got to visit with my beautiful friend Ruth. Zizou and I made a trip to see her and her team in Gressier, Haiti. While there, we attended a 10 couple wedding that the team had been planning for months ahead of time. They brought donated dresses, tuxedos, make-up, perfumes, gift bags, bouquets, shoes, veils, and the list goes on and on. We all helped the brides and grooms get ready for their big day and then went to the ceremony. It was evident that the couples were overjoyed to get married and blessed that a way was provided for them! We had such a great time!

Getting the couples ready for the ceremony

The bridesmaids dancing into the ceremony

My Ruth and I!

Lastly, I am happy to report that after 11 days of harsh antibiotics my stomach bug is gone! Now is the time that I should stop drinking regular coca cola for calories and really watch what I eat and drink. I will have Zizou remind me tomorrow.

Just in case

In case you were wondering how I was doing driving my car, you can ask this man below.

He is fixing the clutch that I broke off....completely. 

Ronald

Zizou doesn’t know a stranger. He makes a new friend every place we go. In my mind I have averaged him knowing at least 2 new people a day. That’s a staggering 14 new people in one week...and he remembers all of their names! I have felt very blessed by this character trait of his. One reason why is our friend Ronald.

Zizou met Ronald one night when he was in need of transportation by motorcycle. Coincidentally, Zizou is one of the many voices that will be quick to lecture you on the dangers of a riding a taxi moto. “Seven people die a day on motorcycle”, he tells me. So, being in desperate need, he approached Ronald. After questioning Ronald about his safety practices, Zizou was reassured that Ronald had a safety first attitude. He also learned that Ronald had previously done motorcycle shows in the Dominican Republic. Zizou was sold and later told me that he was sure Ronald was one of the best taxi moto drivers in Haiti. Ronald and Zizou exchanged phone numbers for future moto needs. 

A few Fridays ago we had moto needs. I needed to get to my clinic in Sarthe and the Toyota was “sick”.  So, Zizou called Ronald. I had not yet seen the force on two wheels that was Ronald, but after that Friday I too was convinced of his talent. Have you ever wished that you had a camera because words could not explain what your eyes witnessed?  Yes? Then bear with me as I try and explain we looked like on this motorcycle. Starting at the front end of the motorcycle: front wheel, steering column, ultrasound machine in suitcase, Ronald, me, Zizou, back wheel, fumes. 

Sidenote: Im not sure the Haitians even noticed the cramming of people/objects on the motorcycle. Instead, they were mesmerized at the white girl on the taxi moto.

If Zizou wasn’t completely for Ronald before, then this job sealed the deal. Ronald was now our official moto man. I, being a big advocate FOR taxi moto, now had a reliable man on the job. He took us to the grocery store, the cyber cafe, and even to look at cars. Ronald and I exchanged smiles while Zizou and he exchanged words. Unfortunately, now that I have a car, we don’t need his services as often. 

However, last week we had moto needs again. My car needed to go and get looked at in a garage far from my house and we needed a ride home. Zizou called Ronald and he was at our service in the blink of my eye. We had to wait inside the garage for about 50 minutes and Ronald waited outside without a single complaint. On our drive home I began questioning Zizou about what I should pay Ronald. I explained how I only had one bill and it was 100 Haitian dollars (roughly 12.50 american). He, like always, told me that Ronald didn’t care what we paid him. When we arrived at my house I gave him the bill and Zizou asked him for change. He said he didn’t have any and tried to give our money back. Remembering all the times he took Zizou places for free, I told him to keep it all. 

The next day I began talking to Zizou about Ronald. I wondered aloud if he had a wife or babies. Zizou told me that he had a wife and four children at home. I was shocked. “You mean to tell me that he has 4 children and he tried to give our money back yesterday”, I said. Zizou began to tell me how Ronald was a good man and just wanted to help us. He conjured up my memory about a night two weeks ago when he called Ronald to take us to the cyber cafe. I remembered that night clearly. I felt like we were committing an injustice on Ronald because we spent so long at the cyber cafe. Even when I was finished Zizou worked on the computer for another two hours. I was angry that we made Ronald wait. When we finally arrived at home I gave him $20 American dollars for all of his time we took. “When I called him to take us he was at home and was happy to take us there”, Zizou said. He went on to say that “Ronald told me how much you gave him that night. He had so much joy because he didn’t have any food in the house or money to buy it.”

It was then that I had not only high respect for Ronald’s driving, but his character. This man was willing to give us back our money because he didn’t have change when his needs were far greater than mine or Zizou’s. I feel blessed by knowing him. I hope that I can learn from him about being kind and giving to others. 

The Value of a Child

Meet Sheloh

He loves to sing and dance

and sit with you

and be silly

Shelo is a little boy I met at the We Advance clinic. His smile is infectious. He knows how to say exactly three words in english: I love you. With those three words he likes to sing a song, "I love you, I love you, I love you." I don't know where he lives or why he was all the way at the clinic by himself, but everyone(including me) loves to see him. He helps around the clinic and gives really good kisses. It is no wonder that Jesus liked to surround Himself with little children. 

Also....I finally got all the paperwork finished on my car! Here you can see my new license plate!

(The BB is coincidental)  

A couple of weeks ago Zizou and I got the chance to travel to the mountains with a visiting group. We stopped at an overlook where you could see the entire city of Port-au-Prince. It reminded me of how small I really am. Here are some pictures of our time there! 

Im probably saying, "Hurry up Zizou, you know I hate getting my picture taken"

Zizou in his ALMH t-shirt

Port-au-Prince