Sunday

I am spent after a full day. This morning, we attended church in town. There was a men's choir that sang so beautifully it brought tears to our eyes. I took a video that I will try to upload. This afternoon I went to the hospital with 2 other volunteer CNMs. Since its Sunday, there weren't students: we just went to help out. The reality of the hospital is very hard. The building(s) use to be a stable (?) and is open to air. There are family members, chickens, and stray dogs outside everywhere. It is so hot I had to cool my hands in front of the fan to get gloves on. Labor and delivery was busy so we mostly helped there. It was a tough day. We saw preeclampsia, sepsis, and the loss of a full term babe to abruption. Another baby had died early this morning before we arrived. I also had a healthy delivery of a beautiful boy (that's him and his mama below). We walked home (about a mile?) in the dark with a welcome light drizzle coming down. Tomorrow, I am going out to a mobile clinic to provide prenatal care. We are expected to see 60 patients between 9 and 3: better make my coffee strong. Good night from Hinche.

The first picture is looking toward the front gate from the 2nd floor of the house. It is locked and opened as we come and go.

Here

Today I arrived in Haiti. I didn't take any pictures in Port-au-prince because I was too busy remembering to breathe. A driver from Midwives for Haiti (MFH) picked me up and took me on the long drive into the central plateau. Port-Au-prince was overwhelming: people, stray dogs, goats, mopeds, colors, sights & sounds - everywhere! There was a lot of traffic with no lights or stop signs. Our driver blew his horn no less than 100 times by the time we reached Hinche. I knew the poverty here would be beyond what I have seen, but I still feel blind sighted.

 Somewhere along the way, I started to relax and notice the beauty of the lush landscape as we followed the river inland and over the mountains. People in our jeep joked in Creole over loud reggae music. We stopped at a roadside market to pick up a string of fish.  Finally, we arrived in Hinche.

The MFH house is in a very poor area of the central plateau. It's a locked compound, though crime is low. The picture of me at dusk was taken on a hilltop, a short walk from the house. Children ran up to us along the way with bright smiles, "bonsoir!" 

I've taken my first cold shower and tried my first Haitian beer: Prestige (tasted delicious!)

Time to crawl under my mosquito net for a much-needed sleep.

Bonsoir!

Packing!

Packing!

I leave for Haiti in one week. I'm feeling a stew of emotions from excited and ready to nervous and sad (in leaving my family behind). I'm trying to wrap my brain around how different my experience there will be (a seasoned volunteer laughed at my asking if I should plan to gown/mask for deliveries). Guess it's like labor - I just need to surrender to the unknown and trust.

As I begin sorting through all of the items which have been donated, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. Thanks to all who have contributed, I have raised over $1900 for Midwives for Haiti and collected hundreds of dollars worth of needed supplies. Thank you thank you thank you. Not only for the monetary contributions, but also for the words of support, encouragement, and enthusiasm so many have shared with me.

My hope is that this blog may be a way for me to share my experience along the way (though Internet  access may be spotty).

Next stop: Haiti!