Haiti, Laboule Trip Blog

Cranbrook Community

10/31/07

I have received confirmation from Rachel that the team has made it safely back to Canada. Danielle will be staying in Haiti at least for the near future, and I, Paul, will be returning home to Canada on November 9.

This will be the last team trip blog, and I want to thank all of you for your support of this team and this project. It is a blessing to be working in partnership with each of you... including those I have not yet met.

Feel free to check out my personal blog if you would like to continue to follow my trip here in Haiti. My blog began as a log of my travels to Haiti in the spring of this year (before I was involved full time with HFL), and, though I have not posted on it over the last few months, I have realized lately that it is a great communication tool and will be revamping it over the next few days. You can find the link on the sidebar of this page.

Here is a snapshot of the Cranbrook team's last couple days in Haiti.

As you know from our previous posts, our medical clinics finished on Saturday. It was a tough clinic. On top of being 6 days without a break, the team was also dealing with some really big medical illnesses. Doc Bob termed it as the toughest clinic that he has done to date in Haiti. This left the team pretty tuckered out, and everyone was ready for a break. Here is a shot I decided really needed to be on this blog... Steve (HAM carpenter teacher) and Michelle... trying on reading glasses and acting a little... well... you fill in the blanks...


On Sunday morning we spent time worshipping and participating in the church service here at HaitiARISE Ministries. In the afternoon/evening we rested, some of us napped, a few of us went for a walk through Grand Goave... we all relaxed and chilled out.

Here are a couple shots of our friends in Grand Goave from those who went for a walk on Sunday through town.


On Monday we woke up to further warnings about Tropical Storm Noel, which turned from it's predicted course and came right over Haiti. We had made plans to spend the day at Jacmel on the other side of the island, and the team was still gung ho to go. So, after some risk analysis done by me, which included contacting residents in Jacmel to find out the true weather report and severity of the storm, we headed over the mountain to Jacmel. The day started off as sunny mixed with clouds... a perfect day for a drive through the mountains of Haiti:


We passed a quarry on the way through the mountains, this last shot represented the lack of jobsite safety here in Haiti. We arrived in Jacmel to a sunny yet blustery day, and spent three-ish hours roaming the streets, looking at souvenirs and exploring. Some of the streets weren't very clean...


Here is a good example of kids doing their best to have fun in spite of the circumstances they are in... a bike without rubber:


We headed down to the beach around noon, and on the drive there the weather worsened... to the point that after twenty minutes at the beach we decided to pack up and go back to Grand Goave. Here is a shot of Doc Bob with an avocado... ready for some beach R&R... The rain was coming down in sheets.

Suffice it to say that we spent a large chunk of the day in the van... it was definately an adventure... here's a shot of us on the way home...


One of the things that the team was looking forward to in Jacmel was a big seafood feast on the beach... our hosts were able to arrange for some lobster and conch to be delivered from the ocean to our cooks at HAM so that we could still have our big meal together... here is one of the cooks with part of our meal:


We spent the night talking about our experiences and packing up. On Tuesday we woke up to reports of the airport being closed and roads being unpassable between us and the airport. After going through nearly $20USD in phone cards making international calls to the airline company, we finally were told that the airline was still operating... which meant we had to attempt to get to the airport. We loaded up and started driving... here is what the rivers looked like.


Unfortunately... I took a lot of video... but not a lot of pictures... there were many homes flooded and water streaming across many parts of the road. After twenty minutes of driving in the van I called back to Grand Goave and asked Marc from HAM to follow us in his four wheel drive pickup just in case we needed extra help getting through to the airport. Fortunately we made it through, and though the departure terminal at the airport was full of backlogged American Airlines customers from delayed flights the Air Canada ticket counter did not have a lineup, and the team was able to check right in. This is where I left them... until hearing from Rachel that they made it back safely to Calgary.

I had to post this pick of the drive back to Grand Goave... not only was the water higher on the road (2 feet deep at some places)... but we ended up with a flat. The guys in the van were a little shocked when I said 'Hallelujah!!!' (translates: 'praise the Lord'), a little loudly... they did agree with me once I explained that it is better we had a flat now rather than with the team on the way to the airport.

The last two weeks have been packed with experiences. You have shared in some of the stories of our time here and I pray that you have glimpsed a little of what you have supported. I know I speak for all of us when I say that we have been blessed by your partnership. Please take the time to find out more from the team members you know and feel free to contact me for any reason using my email address or the HFL contact page. I leave you with this shot... a photo summary of our trip.

May you be blessed!

Paul DenHaan

HFL Team Leader

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10/30/07

The team is safely out of the country and headed back to Canada!

That's all I have time for at this present moment. Check back for a post in the next couple days about our last little bit of time at HAM.

Paul DenHaan
HFL Team Leader

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10/27/07

Today was a great day... our last day of clinic... but we are all dead tired... so I'm making this one short and sweet.

I am posting this blog specifically to inform you, our supporting audience, about a tropical storm that developed in the Caribbean Ocean this afternoon. Below is a chart from the USA National Hurricane Center which I monitor when in Haiti. It shows the projected path of the tropical storm, labelled Tropical Storm Sixteen, and I've indicated our location with the red arrow. We are currently out of any potential path of the storm (indicated by the white cone), and on the furthest outside edge of the tropical storm warning (indicated in blue outline).


This storm will not endanger the safety of the team, but it may cause a damper on the last couple days we have planned here in Haiti for R&R on beaches on both sides of the peninsula we are on (indicated by blue outline). This blog is specifically meant to help inform you, our supporting audience, of the fact that we are aware of the storm, that we are safe, and that this is not something to get worried about.
Thanks for continuing to support us with your thoughts and prayers.
Paul DenHaan
HFL Team Leader

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10/26/07

It's Michelle and Rachel here once again. The last few days here at Haiti Arise have been filled with excitement and laughter. Our fourth day of clinic has come to an end and we have seen over 580 patients! With the happy times there are sad; and humor keeps us going. We thought we would do a different kind of blog this week and share with you all a selection of our favorite quotes and jokes from the team - hope you enjoy it!

-Picture it, after a long day of clinic, I (Rachel) am tidying up my clinic room. Doc Bob comes in and says, "It's a good thing youre not my daughter, because Ive been eyeing that zit on your forehead all day!". To which I say, "Zit? I don't get zits!".

At this point, Doc Chuck pipes up from his sudoku puzzle and proclaims, "Rachel!! We're sitting here, sweating like beavers, putting on enough DEET on our skin to repel mosquitoes from 40ft. What do you expect?" Then team was stunned at the comment, Michelle replies, "Sweating like beavers Chuck?" And the reply from Dr Chuckles was, "well, think about it; have you ever seen a dry beaver?" Ha, Ha, Ha!

-"I have all the questions to life's problems, but no one asks me!"
-Chuck, while puzzling over a sudoku puzzle

-"I think it's getting hotter in the room," Michelle says while in the pharmacy just after Paul comes to the pharmacy window. Paul replies, "Sorry!"

-When asked about group showering, Jessica replies, "I'm not quite there yet guys!"...we were only kidding!

-"The chances of that are as good as a snowballs chance in Haiti!"
-Doc Bob to the team

-When debriefing after a clinic, Rachel says, "I had a hard time teaching my blind patients how to use their inhalers!" Bob replies, "are you sure they were blind when they got here?" What a comedian!!

-"I wish I could get a big iceburg, bigger than the one the Titanic hit, and lay it down right on my belly."
-Chuck on the balmy weather here in Haiti

-"This patient came in to clinic today and was just talking so fast!! I'm a wigwam, I'm a tepee, I'm a wigwam, I'm a tepee, I'm a wigwam, I'm a tepee!!!!". I told him, "whoa, slow down my friend. You're two tense!"

-"I think we'd better do a pregnancy test on them."
-Chuck on absolutely ANY, ANY patient that we see.

-"Does it help when you're up to your chest in alligators, and someone tells you they've been there before?" Chuck again.


This is now Paul updating the blog. Everything up to this point was written yesterday. Due to inconsistent power and an early bed time last night (9:00), this is the earliest we could get it out.
Here are some pics and comments to give you an idea of what we have been up to over the last couple days:
Some new friends!


I would like to introduce you to Nadia Louis, a 19 year old gal from Grand Goave. The Cranbrook team members who were here in June diagnosed Nadia with a very serious heart murmur. After having a couple different Haitian doctors do tests over the last few months, and the results having been reviewed by Canadian doctors in Alberta, we met with Nadia again to have her sent in for more tests. The results from the tests done on this trip will be brought back to Canada for further review. At this point the only place willing to do treatment in BC/Alberta is in Edmonton, but the bill is estimated at being $60,000 CAD. Below is Nadia with Kaye.



This lady is 86 years old - and after Kaye saw her, she said that the lady is has a body that appears as healthy as a 30 year old. Check out her hands.


We have internet access!!!! Of course this means that life just took a major shift and change here at HAM. Here are two of the consequences:

This boy is 11 year old and has a major case of fungus under finger and toenails, as well as on his feet. We've been treating and soaking his feet for the last three days, at the same time we've become his friends. Rachel decided to give her prized marathon-hardened running shoes to him to help his feet become healthier.
After our first four days of clinic here in Grand Goave, we decided we had the resources and time to conduct an extra two days of clinic - Here are the people who showed up for appointment tickets:


Bob trying to get away from the rest of us one night to talk with his wife, Jill - here's the pile of gravel he was on Jill!

Chuck: Worn out from coming up with slogans that would be -bloggable-.

The last couple days have been tough. There have been many serious illnesses and thought provoking cases. It has taken a toll on the team members on all fronts. Physically we have been getting to bed earlier and earlier each night as we get closer to the end of our trip - yeah, it's coming to an end in just a few days. Emotionally, mentally, and spiritually it has taken it's toll as well, resulting in a few deep conversations probing into issues of life and the differences between cultures and countries. This is real issues we are dealing with, issues that will change the way each of thinks about the future and acts in the present.
I've given enough details that I think you can find some specifics to pray about.
Blessings from Haiti.
The Team!

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10/23/07

Hey all!!! Thanks for staying tuned in on how we are doing! Here is the update you are looking for!

Our team has spent a very relaxing and productive time at HaitiARISE Ministries (HAM) in Grand Goave (GG). It seems that these two terms (relaxing and productive) do not seem to go together - but I assure you that they do. Here is a shot that one of our team members took on the way home from the beach on Sunday afternoon:




We left you off with a post after a Saturday trip to the beach. Sunday we spent the morning chilling and sleeping in a little, before heading to church to spend time with the Haitian people involved in and with HAM. We had a great morning. Of special note was the time we spent after the service, greeting and spending time with the people we have come to help, to serve, and to be served by. Here are some pics.


We have completed our second day of medical clinics here at HAM, and they went off without a hitch. The general comments of the doctors is that in comparison to other clinics done in the past, they have seen more seriously ill people in this clinic than in any other. We have seen people of all ages with things such as; a brain tumor, fungus covered digits (hands and feet), and cancer. It has been both tough and rewarding for the team as they have pitched in to help out wherever/however we can.


There have been some menial duties required to keep this operation going: here are a couple examples:

Doc Bob as he escorts our elderly malaria patient to and from the ladies bathroom (because it was closest to the bedroom), and the subsequent cleanup that was required.


I took over team clothes washing duties for the team. I received some interesting looks from the Haitian ladies in the kitchen who dont often see a male - let alone a white male -doing clothes washing:

Of course, we do get to relax at the end of the day - some of the team has chosen to sleep without a mattress on the cold tile floor to escape the hot and sweaty nights.

Please continue to life us up in prayer. We are all in a place doing work of the kind which the evil one would prefer we werent. Please continue to pray for health of the individual team members and for continued granted grace for that which we cannot accomplish. Thanks for all your support!

Paul DenHaan
HFL Team Leader

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10/20/07

Update time! This is Rachel and Michelle writing you from Grand Goave, on the Caribbean coast, where the low temperature at night is a chilly 29 degrees Celsius. Last time we updated you on our first clinic day at Mt. Top Ministries. It has been a busy few days...

After leaving MTM, we hopped in the back of the truck and headed down the mountain to visit Laboule Children's Home, which is largely supported by the Cranbrook team.
After a short but fantastic visit we continued down the road to God's Littlest Angels, an orphanage set up to enable adoptions of Haitian children. Although we only spent one night there, our time was filled with delight. There were 97 orphans ranging from newborns to toddlers; all beautiful, and all welcoming to any attention.


Kaye became instantly attached to one baby in particular, however all of them received equal amounts of smothering from the rest of the team. It was a sight to see Dr Chuck (aka- double tuck chuck) on the floor, two babies in his lap (both with runny noses) and loving every minute of it! The orphanage itself was huge, three stories high, with designated rooms for each stage of growth. The toddler room was the most active-as the children could walk, grab, and pull. You could not walk into this room unnoticed by at least a dozen kids. The balcony was filled with toys, swings, and jolly jumpers for the children, and rocking chairs for the volunteers. Everyone was encouraged to spend as much time as possible with any of the orphans.


Thursday night at GLA was girls' night shared with the other volunteers-naturally, we each grabbed a little one and settled in for an hour of 'Grey's Anatomy'; I think the kids enjoyed it more than we did! While preparing the babies (and ourselves) for bed, Michelle and I snuck off to the upstairs patio and watched the lightening storm over the valley, toddlers in tow.


The next morning, our time of enjoying a mix of formula and diapers was at an end. We all jumped in the van that was to take us to our next stop; Grand Goave. It was an interesting ride, consisting of a bathroom break at a 'gas station', chaotic driving, and accidentally showering Doc Chuck and Danielle with my left over Stawberry Crystal Light. Oops. Nonetheless, we arrived safely!
On the road from GLA to Port-au-Prince, en route to Grand Goave, we came across a truck which was spewing flames from the engine and cab compartments. There are no local fire departments in Haiti, so the fire was dowsed with sand from a flatbed truck which happened to be passing by. It was an interesting sight to see the sand filling up the engine compartment and cab.

Our time here will be spent conducting clinics for the community, but yesterday was spent exploring the market and the ocean. Among the items being sold at the market were fresh buns from the bakery, freshly slaughtered livestock (we even saw a cow's head!), fabrics, packaged MSG, and live chickens.
The bakery; rolling and pressing the dough.

The Caribbean's water was warmer than the water we use to bathe, and crystal clear. The surrounding area was nothing short of lush, just like a post card with a few additions.

We couldn't keep Michelle from climbing a tree:
Chuck took on laundry duties for some of the team!

Since our departure from MTM, we have managed to fill our days with one adventure after another but are looking forward to commencing clinic tomorrow!!
Michelle Callen and Rachel Gibson
CCT Team Members

2 comments

10/18/07

Hey all!!! Thank you for showing your support by checking out what and how your friends, family... and maybe even strangers in your life are doing in Haiti.

First off, the team is healthy! Everyone is doing well. I'll introduce them to you in a moment. Before I do that I should communicate that we have made some scheduling changes, and will be heading to Grand Goave early. We look forward to seeing Marc and Lisa Honorat at HaitiARISE Ministries tomorrow.

Here is our team from Cranbrook Community eating lunch at MTM yesterday:

From left to right we have Doc Chuck, Michelle, Rachel, Kaye, Danielle, and Doc Bob. Danielle was already in Haiti, and met up with us at the airport in Port-au-Prince. You'll have to look up my mug shot on the staff page of the HFL website for now.

Here are some shots of the first day of clinic we had in Gramothe. Doc Bob, Kaye, and Rachel did a great job of stitching up this young man's head. Of course everyone is thinking... how did that happen? (The cut of course... not the great job) Answer: In Haiti there are a lot of dump trucks... but few backhoes or loaders. Typically dump trucks are filled by laborers such as our friend below. This young man was filling a truck with large rocks; one rock was rejected by the truck (bounced off the rim of the box), and he ended up needing stitches:



Doc Chuck used his inventive skills to fashion a back brace into a neck brace for this young man who has a pulled tendon in his neck.

Rachel with patient (baby) and mom. There were quite a few babies with really bad cases of scabies... Kaye, Rachel, and Michelle took care of giving them Lindane baths... (don't email me to ask me what Lindane is cause I don't know... I just know it's what you do)

Here is Michelle and Danielle having a pause and a laugh inbetween filling prescriptions in the pharmacy with Micah, one of our translators.


Well... it's time for me to go to bed again... hope this has given you a snapshot of our first day of medical clinics in Haiti. Tomorrow will be a day of travel to Grand Goave. Keep checking back for updates... next one will probably be in a couple days after we've arrived and settled in at HaitiARISE. Please check out their website in the meantime in the links section of this page.

Paul DenHaan

HFL Team Leader






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Previous Posts

10/31/07 I have received confirmation from Rachel...
10/30/07 The team is safely out of the country an...
10/27/07 Today was a great day... our last day of...
10/26/07 It's Michelle and Rachel here once again...
10/23/07 Hey all!!! Thanks for staying tuned in o...
10/20/07 Update time! This is Rachel and Michelle...
10/18/07 Hey all!!! Thank you for showing your ...
10/16/07 The team is safe in Haiti... all of us! ...
10/15/07 Hello supporters! Today marks the...


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