Saturday, June 30, 2012

The happiest and saddest day

This morning the leaders and some of the team members got ready to deliver the afghan. We also made a card a got some fruit. The kids declared that they
Had saved food for her at home. They came back with bags macaroni and bags of dried beans. Packed and finally ready to go we made our way to the river and then to
A wooden house. On a rock in front
Of house sat 87 year old Maria. I asked how she was and she stated to cry. She had so much pain. The kids tried to clear her up. They read the card, gave the afghan and the food. She cried even more. It was so sad.

The kids brought the food into the house and came out and offered to clean the house. I was so happy to
See the kindness in the leaders.

Later the team went back with medicine for her.

They set up 5 filters this week. They are working on an emergency house for a family who lives on a porch .

Tonight we joined the English class. The kids in the class asked questions from the team visa versa. They wrote a piece about what Gale does in a
Day. Apparently, I work a lot, take care of many kids, eat sandwiches, help kids in school. The last one- which I didn't expect, was I feed cats:-).

It was a great day.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Hurray we finished the afghan

Some of the kids in the leaders group learned to knit in January with a team member named Cynthia . When I arrived this time we were determined to finish the project they started.
Tonight the afghan was finished. It was
An amazing group effort by these kids.
They will present it to a woman in her late 80's , who was hit by a chickens in a crate , falling off a truck while she walked down the street.
Tonight was the first night of the new English class. It consists of 1st and 2nd year Basico students and Mille , our pharmacist.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Eventful day

The team all got off safely this morning. One member was blessed with the opportunity to meet her new sponsored child before she left to return home.
Also today, Dr. Sem performed an operation! He removed a mass from this man's chest. It went well, and he will come back for follow up to make sure it is healing properly. Everyone was very excited to see this happen, as surgery is not an everyday event at PID's small clinic. We're also glad to see that the patient was able to receive the care he needed.

First day in Guatemala

Today the team worked on various projects. Some sorted through suitcases, some washed sand for water filters, a few transported sand, and others worked on the construction site digging a drench for drainage pipes for a new bathroom. Unfortunately the rain came early today and some people got a little wet.

Here are some pictures of the sand washing process:




Previous June Team

Here are some pictures from the team that left yesterday.





New team arrives in Guatemala

Today Abby went to
Guatemala City to extend her visa and meet the team. Sela, Julie, Gene and I stayed behind. We first meet about the water filters and then the women went
Shopping with Maria to buy many necessities. We went to visit a new village we will be working in.

The team arrived safe but tired. After dinner and a short meeting they went to bed . Tomorrow they will start early, making more water filters and building an emergency house.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

A final and meaningful day for the team in Haiti

McMurry team, the kids program ladies and the nurse all completed their last day of work today.

During the final meeting, everyone stood in a circle in the grass under the stars. Everybody participated in a relaxation yoga excrsize led by the childrens program ladies, and then shared what they learned and absorbed during their journey this week. This team has been a positive and energetic group and we hope to one day see all of them back at PID Haiti again.

Last day in Guatemala

It was a productive last day for the team. All the woodwork in the clinic got finished. The staff was sad to see the medical part of the team. One of the team sponsored a 1 1/2 month old baby boy, with a cleft palate , weighing
6 lbs. one bathroom was completed.
The water filters continued to be made.
Today I meet with the president of the University in Matze to talk about working together on the water filter project .

Sela poured over the list of students who want to take English at the clinic and came up with 6 that qualify.

Tonight we said good bye to a wonderful team as we get ready for a new team arriving tomorrow.

Monday, June 25, 2012

Reflections from Monday in Haiti

  We just finished up tonight's debrief meeting, which ended with a visit from Mr. Genois. The speech that he gives to the groups is always moving to hear: he speaks to PID's impact in the community, inviting each team member to let their participation in PID's work extend to their lives in the US: through prayer, through child sponsorship and telling others at home about our work here. He thanked them from the bottom of their hearts for their work here, and told them that they are not really leaving Haiti: they are staying here through the work they've done.

  That work was continued today, after the weekend's break. For the construction crew it was more block-making here on PID grounds and layering concrete over the foundation over in the house in Blanchard. The nurse continued to see plenty more patients today, as usually all the locals who get sick over the weekend come in for appointments on Mondays. The kid's program ladies (along with some McMurry helpers) held up a good attitude in an inconvenient situation. They had to run their program today, (including excersizes, art projects and snack) for 24 children in a orphanage for handicapped children in a tiny, cramped, hot room. The orphanage's usual location where PID runs children's programs was unavailable, so they had to do the best with what they had. They were positive and flexible, an attitude that goes a long way in a world where things rarely go as planned.

Sunday in Guatemala

Most of the team attended church today and them went to Antigua. We don't know why but we are always more exhausted on trip days than work days. Norm spent the morning with his sponsored family and then worked on filters all afternoon with Gene. Abby and I spent the night going over finances . Tomorrow will be the last day of work for the team.

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Beach trip

A great day today with Marcy leading the team first to an early morning church service and then to the public beach. The team had a nice relaxing day in the sun and water and are still enjoying time with each other, currently playing charades in the dining area.

Another day in Guatemala

The leaders knitting group continued work on there blanket that they will present to an elderly person in the community. The clinic continue seeing patients while the woodworkers installed a new screen door on the English room. The construction part of the group continued working on the bathrooms. Norm went to the University in Matze with two of our filters where they will test them for water purity.
In the afternoon the team went to the Mayan ruins of Abaja tikalik . Gale stayed back and did paperwork. We were all disappointed because we were suppose to see original Mayan dancing tonight but they canceled because of the rain.

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Port-au-Prince Outing

    This morning before a half day's work, the team took their walking tour of Blanchard, visiting people's homes. Rosemarie was so happy for the visit, she came out of her house and hugged everyone. Then the team worked a half day, including a local crowd of Blanchard kids for the children's program. The nurse cleaned out the woundcare room and the construction crew finished filling the foundation of the house. After work, the team and Marcy boarded the bus and headed into town for a trip to the national museum, tour of downtown, stop by the palace, some souvenir shopping, and dinner at Epidor. Jack, an old friend of PID's and who is currently working on another project in Haiti, stopped by tonight. At tonight's debrief, he had everyone's attention as he told old PID stories from years past.

Friday in Guatemala

Today was a busy day and ended with the team members squishing into a moto-taxi in the pouring rain to get back to the hotel. The construction team continued working on two new bathrooms and got the foundations finished. Gary and Bob got a lot of shelves up around the clinic and almost finished some screen doors. Norm worked with some members from the local university on the water filters. The day ended with a Honduran dinner cooked by Dilcia, Sergio's wife. We are all very full and happy.

Friday, June 22, 2012

Guitar Music at the Orphanage

The construction crew, the visiting nurse and the kids program ladies continued their respective works today, getting into the swing of things and observing more of the Haitian culture and language. Some McMurry team members tagged along on the kids program at the orphanage again today, and one team member brought her guitar along as well. Yesterday the kids in the orphanage sang the team a welcome song, and today we were able to repay the favor. A McMurry team member played quiet guitar music while the kids did their programs, and at the end played the guitar and sang a song for them.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Team's first day of work

Today was the team's first day of work. They met our 3 directors and got a tour of the clinic. The construction team split up into two groups, one group stayed at PID making blocks and sifting, while the other group worked on the current house project in Blanchard, filling the foundation. The nurse enjoyed working with the clinic staff in the morning. The ladies working on kids programs had kids from Cite Soleil in the morning, and ventured to a local orphanage in the afternoon. With both groups today, they did excersizes, art, and handed out goody bags to over 50 kids total! One McMurry team leader and the nurse practitioner also accompanied the ladies to the orphanage. It was a great start to the week.

First day of work in Guatemala

The team worked on several projects.
One group work on water filters.
Others worked on a bathroom
That we needed to add to a house we had finished.
In the clinic, several saw patients, other in paneled suitcase and handed out supplies, others prepared to work on adding screen doors, shelves and other repairs.
This team is working hard.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Today the group arrived safely in Haiti. The group consists of 14 construction volunteers from McMurry University, 2 yoga teachers doing kids programs, and one nurse. We are happy to welcome everyone to PID and we look forward to an exciting, full week.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

We are at the hotel

We made it safely to the hotel. The Rain slowed us down .

On the way to Guatemala

The team has arrived in Miami and will be leaving for Guatemala in a few minutes. Sela and Gene will arrive in Guatemala later tonight. We will be working on the public health initiative,
Water filters and construction, and adding a new English class.

Sunday, June 17, 2012

From the US

Today I picked up the suitcases from the warehouse. I was so impressed to
See one of the volunteers working on a shelf to make more room. Our new warehouse becomes more and more
Systematic daily because our amazing group of volunteers. Thanks Dave for the warehouse.
Thank you to Deb, Gena, Carla, Erica , Agnus and all others who help carry, sort and pack. we couldn't do it without you!

Friday, June 15, 2012

Finishing up the week

We are finishing up the first week of our Public Health Initiative. Julie has been doing fecal exams for the past four days and we've tested almost 100 kids. Next week we'll be doing more testing and start the presentations at the school for the parents and students. After the presentation each kid will go home with a toothbrush, toothpaste and a bar of soap.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

On my way home

It has been a busy 8 days between Haiti and then Guatemala. I am overnight in Guatemala city in a hostel. Julie is now ready to begin her two month internship in Guatemala. For now she will work in the lab and Leybi will work with her entering information in the new database. When I return next week, we will begin the public health presentations to the schools with Millie and Allahandra doing the presentations.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Saying 'Orevwa' to the Scranton group

Last day of work today for University of Scranton. They stayed on the PID grounds to work construction. We had a great time with these guys, they were an especially respectful and loving group, and we hope to see them back next year!!


Quilling Class





For the past five weeks older girls in the leaders group have been coming to the clinic each Monday morning to learn quilling. Yesterday was the last class and they all made cards that we hope to sell as a fundraiser for PID.

Monday, June 11, 2012

Guatemala

Today we worked on organizing the
Community outreach program. Visited the first school to drop off sample cups to be picked up tomorrow. Julie ,the new intern, cleaned the microscopes, learned where to shop
And where to buy a phone card.
Some of the leaders group has been learning to do quilling and are making cards to sell . The cards are beautiful.

From Haiti

The team returned from a restful weekend ready to work. Some did construction and others did medical. Mrs. Parvulus came to share her history of Haiti.

Sunday, June 10, 2012

The weekend in review -Haiti

The team worked on the house by the road. Three families will live in the house. One family will be in the duplex.
Mario, a 16 year old in our program will
Live in one room and the last room is still being decided . Others on the team made blocks. Then they went
Downtown to the museum and out
To epidor for dinner. Santilia and Vania got a much needed break from cooking. Today the team went to church and then to the public beach.

In Guatemala

Tonight around 5 Julie and I arrived safely in San Antonio. Tonight we reviewed her internship and tomorrow we will begin.

Friday, June 8, 2012

A hard day at the clinic in Haiti

This morning the clinic was mobbed with very sick people. I walked past the Emergency room and it was full. I walked into
Benito's room to find 4 kids under two
Burning with fever on one bed. Two 4 year olds on another table burning with fever. Our Rosemary came in very ill
With a fever and so sad. She stayed till
Dr Sem treated her and then we drove her home. Soon the ultrasound room was full of sick people and the triage room had to turn benches into beds
For others to sick to sit. As soon as we sent them out other filled there places.
Several premed and one nurse helped
In the clinic. The day flew by. Many sick had to leave before seeing anyone.

Thursday, June 7, 2012

First work day

We are happy to have the University of Scranton team. They are very neat, kind and hard working. The construction team had so much fun playing with the kids. Because of the holiday today a nursing student stayed to cover the Clinic with another student. Fevers, and wounds and two very tragic pregnant women trickled in all morning. One we are taking into the emergency program.

A personal tragedy for one of our staff who delivered her baby tonight
At only 5 1/2 months(at a hospital) . The baby is not expected to live.

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

University of Scranton arrives safely

My trip to Haiti was smooth. The team arrived safely . Tonight I met with Lizzy
And found out that the Haitian Ambulance actually came and transported a patient. Up to that point they had never answered the phone.
They only transport certain types of patients but it is great to have them for back up.

Off to Haiti

Today I leave for Haiti . The team from the University of Scranton will also arrive today. I will be there for four days to work with the team . My main reason will be to continue working on the clinic. As we receive sicker and sicker patients we have difficult decisions to make on how to serve them and what we can do. it is a good time of growth for PID as we work through this.

Monday, June 4, 2012

Last night for UConn

We just finished up a final debrief meeting with the team members, following a Haitian history discussion with Madame Pavilus. Today was the University of Connecticut's last day with PID. They've gained a lot of insight during their time here in Blanchard towards their research and have had a great experience working construction with Maxime the other construction guys as well as meeting up with old friends from other parts of Haiti.
This past weekend all the nurses who are here took their outing to downtown Port-au-Prince, as well as a successful mobile clinic in Bigarade, a town close to Damien. Sunday all of the team members went to the beach and had a great day relaxing in the sun. Today all were recharged for a workday back in the clinic and the construction site.

Friday, June 1, 2012

The team of nurses have been working hard in the clinic. A lot of really sick patients the past couple days. The UConn team has been working on making blocks, moving rocks, and mixing cement. The team members working on setting up the water filters are plugging through their list of houses to visit. Pouchon is still working at getting the solar batteries out of customs.

News from the US

We continue to reorganize PID because of all the changes that have taken place in the last several years. We are excited to welcome new volunteers in the US office. Jerica, our newest volunteer, is working on organizing a new system in the warehouse, analyzing the database, and organizing supplies in a better way so it will be easier for the packers. Natalie will begin tomorrow. On Tuesday another student intern will return from France to work with us for the summer. We are continually blessed with great volunteers .