As I hear news again of unrest in Haiti, I contacted “Felix ‘ my friend and coworker over several mission trips. He noted the anxiety of living in a country where those in power seem to not be able to be trusted, and the disappointment he feels as a young man who loves his country, but is so frustrated by the steps backward due to the actions of some people. He holds hope that the situation will again improve. It seems that for every five steps forward, the people of Haiti have to endure one step back.
I am reminded of the hope we see during the time we spend interacting with our clients in Haiti, and working and relaxing with our friends on Ile a Vache. The overwhelming majority of people are honest, hardworking, fiercely loyal and selfless in their choice of life’s work, making it all the more frustrating that these selfish few can cause such upheaval and loss of trust.
We cherish the news received today that another of the clients we served at the clinic on Ile a Vache has returned from our referral to the hospital at Bon Fin for a mass in the breast with news that it has been completely removed and is benign. She joins the little girl with multiple abscessed teeth who underwent general
Madam Bernard clinic
anesthesia to remove infected teeth and is healing beautifully. We hope for good news about the other clients we referred in the near future.
As I look at pictures from our clinics I see communities that are organized and very committed to improving their health care, with local leaders who are generous with their time and energy to assist their neighbors in this effort. I am anxious to complete the clinic building so we will have a permanent dedicated clinic, stocked with locally purchased medication and a local staff who will be available in the
New road to clinic
community to meet the needs of their neighbors. I’d like to work myself right out of a job!
This Thanksgiving, let us be grateful for our friendships and connections here and abroad, and for the opportunity to meet and work side by side with such talented, thoughtful and generous people as those we have met in our travels: hoping that in solidarity we can develop sustainable and reliable healthcare in this cooperative effort, for the benefit of all.