Church and More Preparation

    I got a good night's sleep last night despite the rooster.  This rooster didn't read the book.  Roosters are supposed to crow in the morning, not all night long.  Add to that the donkey braying in harmony now and then and it made an interesting night.  I still got plenty of rest.
     After breakfast we walked the half mile to church.  Church is held outside rather than in the sanctuary for fear of the damage to the building during the quake.  Because of the heat, church started at 0800 instead of 0900.  There was lots of singing and praise, but it was in Creole so I didn't understand it, but I got the gist.  The service lasted 2 1/2 hours and at the end they passed out rice the church had purchased for families.
    After church, Bill and I were asked to make a house call.  A lady who delivered at home less than 24 hours before was concerned about milk production.  Pierre, who is a native Haitian now practicing in Florida, went along as interpreter.  Bill then made another house call before we walked a different way home through the village.  The sights, sounds and smells remind me so much of patrolling through villages in Vietnam.  No pack, rifle, sense of awareness as you take each step.  Totally different mission this time, but it brought back memories.
     Lunch and then back to the clinic.  We had to get the operating rooms ready for surgery.  Initially, they smelled damp and moldy.  Pierre, Jim and I spent several hours washing all the walls with bleach then mopped the floors with antiseptic solution.  Pierre got all of his anesthesia gear together while Jim and I sorted through piles of instruments trying to sort out what we need.  Jim and I will probably scrub together with me assisting in ortho and him assisting in gyn.  This will be interesting to say the least.
     While this was going on, the others were preparing their areas.  Dentistry, general clinic, pharmaceuticals and supplies are ready and we are ready for our first patients tomorrow.
     Another tidbit- the windows have eyes and voices.  The windows in the dining area consist of multiple 'slits'.  When you are in this area, you hear "You! You!"  When you turn around, all you can see are eyes in the slits.  These are the children begging as we eat.  No pun intended, but food for thought.....we are so lucky.
(posted by Lori for Ian.)