Settling In

Today I paid all the workers that have been working so hard for Forward in Health, the three translators, but in particular Evens.  Evens is conscientious to a fault, honest, and always has our back.  The workers that are building the clinic, led byJean Claude, they all work hard.  It was a great feeling to reward them for their efforts.  This week they formed and poured the gallery behind the depot that will serve as a walkway and support for the depot roof.  They also started building a bigger depot that will house all of our tools and materials in a secure dry place.   When it rains here it really rains, and things have a way of growing legs and walking away in Haiti, so this depot will give us a great sense of security.

The site of the clinic is in an astoundingly beautiful location.  Mountains visible in the distance, patches of palm trees between lush fields of corn with goats wondering and cows tethered to stakes.   A variety of houses, some block with metal roofs, some mud with thatched roofs, some wood frames with blankets and or tarps for wall.  There is a school nearby, many kids go but many also wander around the beautiful setting.  As I drive my motorcycle by kids on their way home from school, the younger ones go in the morning, olders in the afternoon, all in uniforms, some of the older ones yell things at me, only , however, if they are in a large group, the boys trying to impress the girls.  But not only boys yell, the girls can be fierce.  The kids wandering, playing with hand made toys, for example, one of their favorites is a a car made out of a pop bottle, with caps for wheels, held in place by found nails that they pull with string.  Another popular try is to take an old bike tire and push it along with a stick, they'll chase their tires for hours.  These kids don't treat me disrespectfully, but are eager to return smiles and waves.  In fact, they are precious.

There is a group of women that hang out at the clinic site every day.   Some have been there every time I've gone there.     Others come in at lunch bringing food, there's an old freezer that is usually stocked with water and soda.  Quite the little family scene, kids coming and going, baby goats baying away, like small children.  I think the neighbors come in and fetch water, which is one of things FIH plans to do for the community.

A group of doctors and nurses will be coming down to do clinics in various locations, one of them at the job site.  Evens and I are going tomorrow to locate another site in the mountains somewhere.  The plan is to head to a really great coastal town in the afternoon, maybe get a little swimming in.   Thankshttp://halinhaiti.blogspot.com/