Haiti 2015 mission
- Thread starter SixFive
- Start date
Thanks again for everybody who sent me money for goats. I think it's a great program for the local people. They can have upwards of 4 goats each year to sell for upwards of $70 USD a piece. That's gigantic here and a real life changer for many plus it's a renewable resource. All of the people who got goats were obviously very poor, handicapped, or elderly. Thank you all so much!
I'm for sure heading to Kapafu in the am and not coming back until Feiday morning.
I'm taking a suitcase full of medication, so I'm hoping to do a big clinic there for the people who are sick. Updates friday. Thanks for reading!
I'm for sure heading to Kapafu in the am and not coming back until Feiday morning.
I'm taking a suitcase full of medication, so I'm hoping to do a big clinic there for the people who are sick. Updates friday. Thanks for reading!
I wrote stuff on my notepad in Kapafu, so I'll paste it below. Pictures later when I have B's phone.
Kapafu!!
Kapafu is about an hour boat ride from the Mole. It is a small fishing village with grass huts. When we arrived, the women were cleaning the catch of the day. Hopefully I can add a lot of pictures. I'm just writing on my notepad now bc I have no wifi or Internet of course.
We explored the area a little and checked on the big project here; latrines! Sanitation is lacking in many areas of Haiti, and this village is no exception. Whenever and wherever you need to go, you just "cop a squat". With this new setup of what essentially is a triple seater outhouse, things can be much more sanitary. One of our friends named Angela just came in yesterday, and this is the big project she raised funds for, and we were all pleasantly surprised that the latrines are nearly completely finished.
I found a shady area, and Brandi and I set up a clinic. The main complaint of the day was sore itchy eyes, and I thankfully brought a lot of eye drops. I did find a huge inguinal hernia on a 36 year old man, and I referred him to our sister mission in St Louis du Nord's surgical program. He might be able to get surgery next month or maybe as late as September when groups come in!
Another man will come see me at the Mole tomorrow BC he has a terribly strained shoulder that I think I can treat there and not here. I think we saw right around 30 people. The only baby was healthy and looked well.
I have some video of the people singing, but it's very dark and will probably only be good for the sound if I can even get it to upload. They played drums and one man had a homemade stringed instrument. They were very enthusiastic and great singers. Even though I didn't know the songs, they were very enjoyable.
It's so different to be in a place where there is no power. A few of the people have flashlights, but most do not. I have a poor sense of direction and actually got turned around at midnight when I went out to pee and ended up in the wrong part of the village :facepalm: I had to retrace my steps back to the ocean and start over. How pathetic is it to get lost in a village where there are only 25 grass huts?
Sleeping in the tent on a little tiny twin mattress is not comfortable at all. I'm way too big for it, and I can feel the ground thru it. Rough conditions for me, but it is just one night. No cpap either of course. My wife has nudged me awake multiple times for snoring, so it makes for a terribly restless sleep. The Mosquitos aren't bad though here as it is a much dryer area.
Again, I have slept terribly. It is now 0045, and a lady in the next tent is snoring so loudly. I can't get comfortable at all on this mattress; it's like I'm sleeping on the ground. It's very sticky and humid too. I wouldn't be able to live here, and that's a fact. Count your blessings!
We arrived back to the mission before 8am. Breakfast was ready, a quick shower then and on to clinic again. There were over 50 waiting for me when I got there. They generally give me the heaviest load bc a lot of the Haitians request me, the "big doctor". I had my first alcoholic Haitian patient. His liver was enlarged, he had ascites, and all I can really do for him here is give him a multivitamin and iron (he was severely anemic too; nearly white gums and lower eyelids). I suggested he quit drinking and eat more, but I don't really expect him to be around much longer.
I'm super tired now, but I can't find anywhere to take a nap that isn't stifling hot. I'm probably going to turn in very early tonight, and I don't know yet what tomorrow's plans are. Pics tonight hopefully.
Kapafu!!
Kapafu is about an hour boat ride from the Mole. It is a small fishing village with grass huts. When we arrived, the women were cleaning the catch of the day. Hopefully I can add a lot of pictures. I'm just writing on my notepad now bc I have no wifi or Internet of course.
We explored the area a little and checked on the big project here; latrines! Sanitation is lacking in many areas of Haiti, and this village is no exception. Whenever and wherever you need to go, you just "cop a squat". With this new setup of what essentially is a triple seater outhouse, things can be much more sanitary. One of our friends named Angela just came in yesterday, and this is the big project she raised funds for, and we were all pleasantly surprised that the latrines are nearly completely finished.
I found a shady area, and Brandi and I set up a clinic. The main complaint of the day was sore itchy eyes, and I thankfully brought a lot of eye drops. I did find a huge inguinal hernia on a 36 year old man, and I referred him to our sister mission in St Louis du Nord's surgical program. He might be able to get surgery next month or maybe as late as September when groups come in!
Another man will come see me at the Mole tomorrow BC he has a terribly strained shoulder that I think I can treat there and not here. I think we saw right around 30 people. The only baby was healthy and looked well.
I have some video of the people singing, but it's very dark and will probably only be good for the sound if I can even get it to upload. They played drums and one man had a homemade stringed instrument. They were very enthusiastic and great singers. Even though I didn't know the songs, they were very enjoyable.
It's so different to be in a place where there is no power. A few of the people have flashlights, but most do not. I have a poor sense of direction and actually got turned around at midnight when I went out to pee and ended up in the wrong part of the village :facepalm: I had to retrace my steps back to the ocean and start over. How pathetic is it to get lost in a village where there are only 25 grass huts?
Sleeping in the tent on a little tiny twin mattress is not comfortable at all. I'm way too big for it, and I can feel the ground thru it. Rough conditions for me, but it is just one night. No cpap either of course. My wife has nudged me awake multiple times for snoring, so it makes for a terribly restless sleep. The Mosquitos aren't bad though here as it is a much dryer area.
Again, I have slept terribly. It is now 0045, and a lady in the next tent is snoring so loudly. I can't get comfortable at all on this mattress; it's like I'm sleeping on the ground. It's very sticky and humid too. I wouldn't be able to live here, and that's a fact. Count your blessings!
We arrived back to the mission before 8am. Breakfast was ready, a quick shower then and on to clinic again. There were over 50 waiting for me when I got there. They generally give me the heaviest load bc a lot of the Haitians request me, the "big doctor". I had my first alcoholic Haitian patient. His liver was enlarged, he had ascites, and all I can really do for him here is give him a multivitamin and iron (he was severely anemic too; nearly white gums and lower eyelids). I suggested he quit drinking and eat more, but I don't really expect him to be around much longer.
I'm super tired now, but I can't find anywhere to take a nap that isn't stifling hot. I'm probably going to turn in very early tonight, and I don't know yet what tomorrow's plans are. Pics tonight hopefully.
Pics from Kapafu. First one took forever, so I'm going to do the rest small since I have so many. Hope you will enjoy. We are doing a "clinic" in a shady spot out of a suitcase full of medications.
This lady is making yarn out of raw wool. We watched her about 30 minutes; it was so intriguing.
Catches of the day. The first is an eel.
Making muscles with a local boy.
New Latrine pics.
Party today for the classmates of my mom's two orphans.
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This lady is making yarn out of raw wool. We watched her about 30 minutes; it was so intriguing.
Catches of the day. The first is an eel.
Making muscles with a local boy.
New Latrine pics.
Party today for the classmates of my mom's two orphans.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Thanks for the update and great pics!
Seems like a tropical storm would wipe out Kapafu in the blink of an eye.
" But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is , and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." ~ Hebrews 11:6
Seems like a tropical storm would wipe out Kapafu in the blink of an eye.
" But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is , and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." ~ Hebrews 11:6
Not a very busy day today. The trip is winding down. We still have the lady with the foot wound and a boy with a ripped finger we are seeing nearly every day, but otherwise no patients today. We did several activities with the orphans today including a movie tonight. This picture was taken of me with a dog and a the 9 month old baby who is only 7 pounds during nap time [emoji99]
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Not a very busy day today. The trip is winding down. We still have the lady with the foot wound and a boy with a ripped finger we are seeing nearly every day, but otherwise no patients today. We did several activities with the orphans today including a movie tonight. This picture was taken of me with a dog and a the 9 month old baby who is only 7 pounds during nap time [emoji99]
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
You deserve a rest. :toast:
Back in BG just now after traveling all day. Not going to write much more since I was able to keep up the whole trip. I'll th to post some more pics later. Thanks for the support.
Haiti 2015 mission
https://vimeo.com/151620980
This goat was very vocal and kinda whiny, so therefore I named him KOD after his benefactor who graciously contributed to the goat fund.
https://vimeo.com/151620420
This is Madjack again. He was pretty silent. He just butted the other goats (even Mrs. Madjack) when he felt they were eating his food.
The great thing about these goats is they don't need water, and they eat everything. I found they really liked banana tree leaves, and there were plenty of those around.
I didn't really name any other goats; I didn't feel any others really fit the personalities of their benefactors. Thanks again all who sent me money for my trip and goats. It was greatly appreciated, and I hope u feel I did it justice. We are talking about going back in May if we can work it out.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
https://vimeo.com/151620980
This goat was very vocal and kinda whiny, so therefore I named him KOD after his benefactor who graciously contributed to the goat fund.
https://vimeo.com/151620420
This is Madjack again. He was pretty silent. He just butted the other goats (even Mrs. Madjack) when he felt they were eating his food.
The great thing about these goats is they don't need water, and they eat everything. I found they really liked banana tree leaves, and there were plenty of those around.
I didn't really name any other goats; I didn't feel any others really fit the personalities of their benefactors. Thanks again all who sent me money for my trip and goats. It was greatly appreciated, and I hope u feel I did it justice. We are talking about going back in May if we can work it out.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Last edited:
Haiti 2015 mission
B took this video of the plane coming in to pick us up to leave. It's a 9 seater. Kinda cool. U can also see the sweet runway hahaha. The pilot took a walk all the way down the runway to clear some of the larger rocks after he landed and before we left.
https://vimeo.com/151621341
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
B took this video of the plane coming in to pick us up to leave. It's a 9 seater. Kinda cool. U can also see the sweet runway hahaha. The pilot took a walk all the way down the runway to clear some of the larger rocks after he landed and before we left.
https://vimeo.com/151621341
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Listen you Big Dumb Moose
Next time maybe I can go for a small herd.
Only if you name the dumbest goat whinerguy.
