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Jan 16
2008
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Week onePosted by juliebriggs in Untagged |
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Well this the third time Ive tried to write this so I hope it works!
As most of you know Ive arrived safely and on time last Thursday. My first impressions of Haiti were hot, although I have definatley got used to it I have a cardigan on most evenings and mornings!It was busy there are alot of people everywhere. And it was poor, There are people at the side of the street selling things anything really, people washing cars to get money and kids trying to help me with my suitcase to get a little money, also people asking for money because I'm white.
Life in Haiti is hard for the people, you see nearly all the ladies walking round with things on their head, I've seen it in pictures but its amazing to see in real life. The main method of transport in Haiti is 'tap tap', its a car/truck with benches in it you can jump on where-ever and tap when you wnat dropped off. I'm pretty sure most of the time they carry more people than they are supposed to!!
The compound is really nice, I am living with two girls, Kate is a teacher in the school and Amy is a nurse in the clinic, although Amy is away on cross cultural training with some of the other missionaries so I haven't met her yet. The other missionaries are great and I have been to everyone's house to eat, its been good to meet everyone.
I will tell you about the clinic,The clinis is on the compound it has about25 staff mostly haitian apart from three, 2 Northern Irish Me and Gavin the doctor and Amy who is from canada (I think). The doors open at 5.30am and people literally come miles to see the doctor. We have devotions at 8 every morning before work and there are also patient devotions at 8, all the patients will have arrived by8 and will wait as long as it takes to see the doctor.
The physio department is small, just a bed and a physio but thats all I need!And my translator her name is Betty and her english is brilliant so thats good.So far I have seen 13 patients, 10 of which were yesterday. I have seen mostly arthritis at a pretty young age, the people have worked hard and their joints are suffering now!I want to tell you about two little boys I saw.
The first boy was three, he has clubfoot. So his feet are all turned in and he walks on the outside of his feet which is very painful for him. It's really sad because he was probably born like that but some simple stretches would have helped it but now because he has been like that for three years I don't know how much correction we can get, there is some movement but most of the position is fixed.
The other boy is called carlos, he doesnt know his last name because he has no family. He is 7 although he is very small and looks about 5. A lady who sells things outside the clinic looks after him. He came in with a stiff elbow, it looks like he has broken it but it didnt have any treatment and we don't know when it happened because there was no-one looking after him, again very preventable with the right care. So I hope physio will help him.
I think this will be typical of the patients I see, things which are easily preventable but because of the healthcare and the way of life simple things do alot more damage than they should.
I am also teaching PE for the month of January at the missionary school so I was there today doing some gymnastics with them, it was fun.
Thank you for your prayers and just some wee prayer points.
Thank God that I got here, I didn't think I would make it!!
For my translator I coudn't do my job without her
For the other missionaries how they have looked after me so far and are making the effort to get to know me
That already I have had some patients!
Pray that I will continue to settle in and that it will feel lke home here
For my relationships with the other missionaries, with Betty and with the other satff at the the clinic
That I will pick up creole quickly
That I will get lots of patients at the clinic and be able to do alot for them
Thank you, Julie
As most of you know Ive arrived safely and on time last Thursday. My first impressions of Haiti were hot, although I have definatley got used to it I have a cardigan on most evenings and mornings!It was busy there are alot of people everywhere. And it was poor, There are people at the side of the street selling things anything really, people washing cars to get money and kids trying to help me with my suitcase to get a little money, also people asking for money because I'm white.
Life in Haiti is hard for the people, you see nearly all the ladies walking round with things on their head, I've seen it in pictures but its amazing to see in real life. The main method of transport in Haiti is 'tap tap', its a car/truck with benches in it you can jump on where-ever and tap when you wnat dropped off. I'm pretty sure most of the time they carry more people than they are supposed to!!
The compound is really nice, I am living with two girls, Kate is a teacher in the school and Amy is a nurse in the clinic, although Amy is away on cross cultural training with some of the other missionaries so I haven't met her yet. The other missionaries are great and I have been to everyone's house to eat, its been good to meet everyone.
I will tell you about the clinic,The clinis is on the compound it has about25 staff mostly haitian apart from three, 2 Northern Irish Me and Gavin the doctor and Amy who is from canada (I think). The doors open at 5.30am and people literally come miles to see the doctor. We have devotions at 8 every morning before work and there are also patient devotions at 8, all the patients will have arrived by8 and will wait as long as it takes to see the doctor.
The physio department is small, just a bed and a physio but thats all I need!And my translator her name is Betty and her english is brilliant so thats good.So far I have seen 13 patients, 10 of which were yesterday. I have seen mostly arthritis at a pretty young age, the people have worked hard and their joints are suffering now!I want to tell you about two little boys I saw.
The first boy was three, he has clubfoot. So his feet are all turned in and he walks on the outside of his feet which is very painful for him. It's really sad because he was probably born like that but some simple stretches would have helped it but now because he has been like that for three years I don't know how much correction we can get, there is some movement but most of the position is fixed.
The other boy is called carlos, he doesnt know his last name because he has no family. He is 7 although he is very small and looks about 5. A lady who sells things outside the clinic looks after him. He came in with a stiff elbow, it looks like he has broken it but it didnt have any treatment and we don't know when it happened because there was no-one looking after him, again very preventable with the right care. So I hope physio will help him.
I think this will be typical of the patients I see, things which are easily preventable but because of the healthcare and the way of life simple things do alot more damage than they should.
I am also teaching PE for the month of January at the missionary school so I was there today doing some gymnastics with them, it was fun.
Thank you for your prayers and just some wee prayer points.
Thank God that I got here, I didn't think I would make it!!
For my translator I coudn't do my job without her
For the other missionaries how they have looked after me so far and are making the effort to get to know me
That already I have had some patients!
Pray that I will continue to settle in and that it will feel lke home here
For my relationships with the other missionaries, with Betty and with the other satff at the the clinic
That I will pick up creole quickly
That I will get lots of patients at the clinic and be able to do alot for them
Thank you, Julie
