Monday -Flight and introduction to Gens De Nantes

I woke up with a start this morning. A rooster “let it go” right into my ears, so it seemed, I couldn't believe there was a wall between us. Elma, also listening and enjoying the sound of her beloved roosters, was watching me and thoroughly enjoyed the moment of my sheer panic. All through the night we could hear the sounds of dogs, donkeys, guinea fowl, night birds and the roosters.
Earlier in the evening church choir music filled the air, and with the hum of dune beetles, we were reminded of the “son besies”, a similar insect in our country of birth, South Africa, usually welcoming evening with their piercing high pitch sound.

 

Today's transfer from La Jeune to Gens de Nantes (pronounced JEANDENOT) occurred in stages. First, all of us were sat in the back of an open truck, and then, all of us, sat once again, in two 5 seater Cessna aeroplanes, flying us into Pignon. Finally, a UN truck drove us gingerly over a bad road to Gens de Nantes.

 

 

The MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) airplane trip was very colourful, to say the least. Our hand luggage and us had to being weighed. The flight was short and slightly bumpy, the landing on a dirt landing strip was escorted by thousands of kids trying to
get out of the way of the landing air craft, and then following in a cloud of the dust the planes to end of strip. The pilot of the first plane actually got out of his seat quickly after stopping to shout warning to the milling crowd of kids about the second plane which was soon to land.
The landing strip was quite framed by houses on both sides, and grooved from recent and past water floods. The pilots manoeuvred the deep grooves expertly and one felt a sense of gratitude to be safe on terra firma again. Gens de Nantes surroundings and clinic reminded us of our experience in Nompumelelo Hospital, in the Ciskei, during our earlier days working in Mission Hospitals from 1986 to 1988. We felt we finally are home. After soup Upon arrival, I was glad to hear a sick gentleman, seen earlier in the day with an undiagnosed back pain was kept for me to assess. Kidney stones were suspected, but his family unfortunately decided to terminate the treatment plan and took him to a witch doctor.

Negotiating who would ride on each plane according to our weight!

The runway

  

We are blessed to be guided by Marilyn McIlroy, a true missionary nurse with a long history of serving the people of Haiti. She is a bundle of experience and wisdom.

Thanks to Wilna van der Watt, my youngest sister living in Townsville, Australia for

your contribution.

We prayed for your bells palsy tonight, as well as for our ailing parents. Thank you also to Fouche and Wilna Williams, our good friends and compatriots in Regina for their contribution to our blog.

Dr Braam

Sunday - Experiencing La Jeune

 Before breakfast the driver, Immanuel, and vehicle arrived to take our luggage to Gens de Nante. Our 50 lb bags of luggage were easily lifted on top of the van and it was well tied down. Several hours of driving lie ahead but we have received word tonight that it all arrived safe and sound.

Today was time change in Haiti so when church began this morning at 0800, it was  pretty early. After a bit of singing, we listened to a very animated message in Creole that seemed to go on and on. One Haitian commented to us today that we still experience the confusion of the tower of Babel.

 This afternoon we met with three of the executive of the AEM (Association of Mission Churches - Haitian branch of EMCC) and looked at the medical clinic here that is sitting vacant. It was a bit overwhelming to see the conditions. Marilyn had spent 11 years here as a nursing missionary, having left in 1994. The clinic has operated off and on over the last number of years. It is in a state of disrepair and one of the executive pastors said he felt like Nehemiah when the walls of Jerusalem needed rebuilding and he had a deep desire to rebuild.

 

Contemplating what can be done here.

 

Morning preparation for our meal - chicken drumsticks and lemons soaking

                                      

A Wait and Travel Day

Well…it has been quite a day! After a great nights sleep we got up and enjoyed breakfast provided at the guest house. The constant roar of diesel truck that emitted more fumes than you can imagine accompanied by the choir of horns provided the background music and entertainment.

Gift shop at Walls

Lynnise found a group of 4th year nursing students from Indiana and challenged them to think outside the  box of traditional nursing.

Yesterday when we left the airport, we were told the luggage would be coming in on the 0955 AA flight. Marilyn, who speaks fluent Creole, Elva, Mike and Martin head off to the airport  to retrieve the valuable cargo! It had not arrived.  The Haitian drivers felt that due to the political unrest in PAP that we should leave as soon as possible. We packed up and left the guesthouse, thinking our luggage would join us again in Cap Haitien. As we were passing the airport we got a call that our luggage had arrived.  What an answer to prayer!! 

So we identified the luggage only to find out that 5 Haitians wanted to see the contents to make sure we were not carrying drugs. In about an hour we were loaded and on our way to La Jeune.We stopped at a store where Marilyn bought our lunch of crackers and cheese and this armed guard paced at the store entrance. 
 
                                                  

  She also bought a bunch of bananas along the road - for about $1 US.

 The highway from PAP to Hinche was a great corkscrew highway that wound up and down the mountain. We travelled for 5 hours today on a road that needs to be felt to believe!

                 We crossed thru one river without difficulty thanks to the skilled Haitian driver.

 Along the way we passed groups of cows walking along the highway that were being taking to PAP to be sold. The road was paved to Hinche and money had been designated for the rest of the road but has apparently lined someones pocket instead.

  We finally arrived at our destination and were warmed greeted by the Haitian cooks and the aroma of fresh baked buns was almost overwhelming. We did some repacking to keeping only bare necessities that we will need for our stay here at LaJeune. The rest of the luggage will be heading up by truck to Gens de Nantes tomorrow, while the team will be flying on Monday. 

The purpose of the stop over in LeJeune is to explore a project we have been challenged to in possibly reopening a medical clinic here next year.  After a cool refreshing shower, we are ready  for a good nights sleep. We had 2 hours of power in the evening and it is getting very close to “lights out” and believe me, that means it is dark!!           
Posted with difficulty....Sharon

Arrived...in Port Au Prince.. with a little more Patience

We have arrived at Walls Guest house in Port Au Prince after a very long tiring day that started at 3:30 AM in Toronto. We had a delay getting away and then landed in New York, changed planes and sat again for an hour before taking off. Weather and de-icing were part of the problem. We were glad to be on the ground in PAP only to find out that only 4 of our 17 checked luggage arrived.  By the time we finished at the AA baggage counter, the airport was empty and we had time to buy our Natcom internet sticks and over to this Guest house. It was 5 pm and supper served which we were all more than ready for.  Thus begins our journey in Haiti. This veteran team is familiar with the sights, sounds, smells and exhaust in the air but we are happy to be here and excited for the days that lie ahead.

 

Marilyn trying to find our luggage

Mike and Teresa got one of three bags.

So hard waiting here for our luggage. 

Next AA flight should be getting in now or.will be checking at the airport.

We are thinking of all the things we are thankful for.... our first highlight was Air Canada opted to waiver all our luggage fees in Regina, even our 70 lb oxygen concentrator package. This saved us $350...  Sharon

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Packed and ready to go.

We are packed and nearly ready to go:  12 suitcases with 3 more to pick up in Toronto.

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