I say day three because I already forget what day it is. The day has been sunny except for a few showers late in the afternoon, and the temperature up in the mountains – clinic is about 3,800 feet above sea level is very comfortable with a 3-5 mile per hour breeze. So the temp up here is in the low 80’s while north of us, in Port au Prince, it is about 95 degrees.
The day at the clinic was somewhat lite – about 135 treated, which was a surprise to everyone. Nothing unusual for our troop of 26, other than there was a line of school children at about noon. The typical issues are malnutrition and everything that go along with that – stomach problems and pain. there are the typical skin diseases and parasites issues with both parents and children. Several children – toddlers – needed clothing and were supplied out of the stocks here and what clothing brought from the group.
One of the amazing things here is that all of the people on the streets, and waving at us from their homes as we pass are very well dressed and extremely clean. Considering the only water they have is from catch basins in their homes, I do not know how they do it. Their clothing is always clean, neat, and relatively fashionable. I know the word fashionable is something that you did not expect me to use, but the girls all wear skirts and well made shoes and lots of accessories. They wear up to date jeans they do not look any different than most children in the US, except I would say -they are dressing up more. I believe that most of their clothing has been sent since the earthquake, as the boys all wear sports wear from worldwide soccer teams and or professional teams in the US. One toddler today had on a Green Bay Packer neck scarf he was wearing with much pride – if only he knew.
Last night and today, the cutest young laddie from Missouri came along with us. She is a 30 year old, Carmen Diaz look-alike, who is here all by herself working in the Orphanage that Mountain to Mountain also sponsors. The Orphanage has about 30 that are awaiting adoption. There has been with us in the guest house, a couple originally from the Naperville area who are adopting two children. This couple brought along their other two adopted children from Russia. The husband and children had to go back today, while she stayed for the extended addoption process. God bless them!
More work tomorrow at Clinic – Sunday off Will keep you up with what is going on.
Mike
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