Day 4 – Back to the “Real Bush”

By Adam Sarbin March 4th, 2015

Yesterday we had on and off showers late into the evening, which kept things cool and allowed most to get a decent night’s sleep…at least while the bears were quiet. However, I believe we were all treated to the serenade of the 3:45 AM rooster again. He was alone until his peers joined in about a half hour later, after which little sleep was had by most of the team.

Once awake, we enjoyed a wonderful pancake breakfast, compliments of our host Blaud. With full bellies and water bottles we trooped down the hill to get ready for both local and outreach clinics. Soon after, several motos arrived to take the group to the first true Bush Clinic of the week. Once meds were gathered, we were assigned to our motos and mounted up. Ches was experiencing a motorcycle for the first time and…wait, no helmet. I wonder if her mother knows this…oh yeah she was on the moto just behind her!

Sarah, Carey, Melila and Heather held down the fort at Clinic Jolivert. The rest of us were off to the races and within minutes at a knee deep river crossing – everyone off the motos, pants rolled up and across we went.

Once across, we embarked on “the road hardly ever traveled!”. And when I say road, I use that term very liberally. It was a rutted “path”, sometimes no wider than the motos we were riding, riddled with rocks of all shapes and sizes from pebbles to small boulders. Our drivers expertly navigated this trail, keeping all their passengers safe, and yet I still came away from the experience thinking it added new meaning to the word “nutcracker”. As I have said previously, after these experiences, I’m glad my wife and I are no longer interested in having children! It continues to amaze me that someone or some group of individuals would travel so far from a source of fresh water to establish a village. Every year we seem to find an even more remote location…they make Haus Moustique from 2012 look like a thriving metropolis. These must be a very nomadic people or they just value the independence that land and space affords. There is no doubt they are not afraid of the hard work that comes with such a choice.

Once we arrived at Clinic it was clear the word was out. We had a 4 hour clinic and treated nearly 100 patients, and I for one am happy to report this was a rather young community by our prior standards. I saw lots of infants and kids…and Chelsea is thinking about how to get one of these cute babies in her carry-on (surprise Caleb!). This trip I am feeling like a real Pediatrician for a change! (I must report a correction from last night – the outreach clinic yesterday saw 90 rather than 60 patients) After we treated the last patient today, we quickly packed up and headed for Jolivert. One hour later, after the same jarring ride in reverse, we were happy to see our river crossing…quite refreshing and only 5 minutes to home and a delicious afternoon meal.

After a little down time, we all tackled our favorite hill behind the school. Seems like it got harder for me this year (not enough time in the gym…who am I kidding, NO time in the gym) but we were all determined to get to our lonely tree at the top and that we did. At least I didn’t have 2 children pulling on me the whole way up,  like Heather. She handled it well and appeared to have enough energy to crest the next mountain over, if only there had been enough time! We took our usual sunset pictures and then returned down the hill for some late afternoon/evening relaxation…and a cold beverage!

It is now getting late and we are thinking of showers and sleep. No rains tonight but the air is still cool. Here’s hoping the 3:45 rooster is off his game tomorrow.

That’s all for tonight. Love to All,

The Team