Monday, February 24, 2014

Goodbye to one team, hello to the next

The team left on Sunday. They were a great group and had a great rest of the week. The construction crew finished the foundation out in Canaan and the medical crew saw a lot of patients. On Friday, we were very excited because Katie, one of the students in the group, her dad is a dentist, and he came to visit and spend the day! He was able to pull teeth for 10 patients! We are so grateful because a dentist is so badly needed here. After work on Friday, the team went out on a tour downtown. On Saturday, the team enjoyed their last day relaxing on the beach. Some of the team members enjoyed some special moments meeting their sponsored child for the first time. On Saturday night, Mr. Genois stopped by to thank the group for all their hard work and explain about PID's programs, specifically the sponsorship program. It was many of the group members' first time to Haiti, and everyone went home learning a lot and taking home lots of new experiences.

This week there is a new team, some of who arrived on Friday and others who arrived on Sunday. Alison and Barbara, a midwife, are teaching a midwife class to a group of 21 students, mostly from Blanchard. The nurses, Andrew and Nicole, worked in the clinic with Claudia in the emergency room, triage, and seeing patients. We look forward to a fun and productive week together.

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Last day in the village

Yesterday the dental team packed up and spent the day at Lake Atitlan. They were a great group of people who are reallly passionate, caring and did a lot of hard work this week. They left the clinic at least an hour after the Maine team everyday. So many patients to be seen and they really didn't want to turn anyone away. I really hope to see some of them again here in Guatemala.

On Saturday we headed to the construction site and the school in Saquiy for a VBS party. The kids watched a movie, had some cake and broke some piñatas. It was a little crazy, but a lot if fun.

Today we are heading to Antigua for some sightseeing.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Update from Haiti

The team continues to have busy and productive days both here at the clinic and at the construction site in Canaan. They work very hard.

Last night the team went to a small movie theater up the street for movie night. They watched a popular Haitian movie with English subtitles. This evening, Mme Pavelus came to our meeting to give her version of the history of Haiti.

Today Guetchine and I went to two different public health offices, trying to get the vaccinations that they are requiring us to get. They continue to give us the run-around.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

A refreshing end to a busy day

I am here at the hotel waiting for dinner. Most of the dental team are taking a dip in the pool. The Cape Porpoise team has already been in and out and are now freshly showered.

The clinic saw around 55 dental patients today.

Construction mixed more cement and moved some dirt. VBS crew had another full day.

First two days of work

The team has had a great first two days of work.The nurses, Claudia, and a few future medical students have been working and helping out in the clinic- in triage, discharge, the emergency room, and seeing patients. The rest of the group has been working hard at the construction site out in Canaan. They are working on the foundation for the next house, filling it in with rocks and cement and securing the re-bar in the corners with cement. They also built a tarp shelter out on the site where they can take breaks in the shade. A couple students stayed back today and helped paint 10 signs for PID, which the MSPP has required of us pointing the way to the PID clinic from the main road.

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

More patients going home with less teeth

Today the dental crew saw about 55 patients!! The word has spread that we have dentists and they are in high demand.

The team from Maine arrived late last night and had a full day of work today. They are continuing the construction of a house in Saquiy. We also did a VBS for kids in the morning and in the afternoon.

Monday, February 17, 2014

Pulling Teeth

Today was the first day of work for the team of dental students. Around 35 patients were seen and were all very excited to take advantage of this service. Here are some pictures:





Sunday, February 16, 2014

A visit from Gale and team arrives

Gale left Haiti yesterday after spending a very busy 4 days here with us, in which every waking minute was spent in meetings as Gale tirelessly worked with the directors and staff here to continue to improve as our programs grow. On Friday, as part of MSPP's requirements to step up from a 6-month license to a 2-year license, we held an "evacuation simulation" (a fire drill) at our clinic with the staff. It was quite a comical scene as Mr. Genois announced with a bullhorn that everyone must exit due to a fire, and clinic staff all rushed to carry out some of us who played "patients".

Today we are thankful that despite the storms, the group arrived safely in Haiti with no flight cancellations. We welcome a few familiar faces and many new faces as well as we look forward to a great week together, working in the clinic and out at the construction site. We also welcome Claudia, an EMT who will spend a month here helping out in the clinic.

After the team's arrival, we had an unpacking party in which we unpacked all the PID suitcases they brought. It was like Christmas! The team worked together to unpack with record time and efficiency. The team then enjoyed a delicious dinner, then an introductory meeting before they settled down for the night.

Monday, February 10, 2014

Atitlan and a day of adventures

Yesterday we enjoyed a great day at Lake Atitlan. Some were able to go horseback riding and others enjoyed exploring San Pedro.

Today it was back to work in the clinic and it was quite the adventurous day. The morning went quite well and the kids enjoyed the craft. In the afternoon as we were driving into Saquiy another truck was coming out and had to back up so we could pass. But he backed up and one of his tires slipped off the bridge and he got stuck.



Brad and Josh went off and came back with a long beam (who knows where they got it from. Rumor has it that  Brad cut down a tree and formed it into a beam, but I guess we'll never know)that was used as a lever to lift the truck up. After about 15 minutes of working and pushing and pulling and lifting, the truck was finally released!!


On the way out we got stuck behind another truck that wouldn't start and we had to help push it into someone's front yard so we could get by.  Never a dull moment working in Guatemala.


Tonight after the team meeting I went out with my mom and niece Cadyn to the supermarket to buy some piñatas for tomorrow's VBS party.


Saturday, February 8, 2014

VBS and digging!

The VBS had their second full day of activities - in Saqui in the morning and behind the clinic in the afternoon. The kids are having a blast and the group is getting worn out from so much fun!

The construction team started the next house for a family in Saqui. They spent the day digging out the foundation. I'm sure they will sleep well tonight. 



Friday, February 7, 2014

First day with a new team

After a long day of traveling yesterday the team finally arrived at the hotel. After dinner and some quick information they headed off to bed.

Today was their first day of work in the village and they had a full day! The VBS team did 2 sessions - in the morning behind the clinic and in the afternoon at the school in Saqui.

The construction team poured the floor for the house and bathroom in Desierto.

The nurses saw many patients today in the clinic.

Tomorrow will be another busy day.


Team arrives safely in Guatemala

After a one day delay because of the snow storm, the team arrived safely in Guatemala.