Our new office building is almost done and there is now a small courtyard around our dining area with a permanent outdoor eating area. It's really sweet. My room no longer shares shelves for medicines but has a desk and storage areas. It feels like a palace.
The clinic was hopping when we arrived and Andrew and I jumped right in and started seeing patients. Always the day of greeting is really happy. I am at my best here. Full of purpose, focused, joyful. I simply love this work and am grateful for the opportunity. We saw many patients in a short time.
Our Birthing Class started yesterday. We have 21 students and they are eager to learn. Showty has a plan to make a little promotional movie of our work with the local birth attendants. I hope to help him along the way.
Yesterday was my little Alison's 4 birthday. How much fun that it happened I could be here at her birthday. We all went and brought her a little cake and drinks, a couple presents and snacks. She grinned and grinned. We sang her Happy Birthday in Creole and in English and she got covered in her cake. All the kids had gone outside to play with some new toys and she just sat in the house smiling and eating her cake. I wonder if she will remember this birthday. Both Edmonde and Vanel said over and over how happy they were. It was a really beautiful little party.
They are struggling still, despite now having 2 rooms to live in. It hasn't rained in months and their small well has gone dry. Vanel goes out every day and rarely finds work. I don't know the solutions to these problems altho I worry about them. I hope someday we can help start another business for Edmonde, but there is no money now. The kids are thin, Vanel is so thin and looks like he has aged.
Many people still talk about how much president Martelly is helping Haiti There are lots of social service programs helping people get off the streets, work and find housing. It still looks here, filth, garbage and dirty water everywhere, including trash and flies. But underneath it all ,and visible in some places, is progress.
We go to Hinche, 3 hours north into the mountains on Thursday to visit Midwives for Haiti. I hear its a beautiful place and I look forward to visiting the countryside again, and to learning about their programs and how we might partner with them.
I am warm, happy, with a full heart. I hear its getting pretty cold again back home. Stay warm, Miss you all.
Alison