I got up early and Bernard took me to the airport in another attempt to pick up the medications out of customs. We arrived around 730 and after going through the process of talking to multiple people still had no success. Patience is very necessary and something that doesn’t come easy. I had several clinicians waiting on me at the clinic and people waiting for medical care at Pastor Lucs church as we had planned on doing a mobile clinic there that day. After stopping at a clinic, We finally made it to the guest house and picked up the clinicians then headed to the church. We made do with meds I stopped by a pharmacy to get after going to an ATM in a bank. I saw a huge line of people when stopping by the bank and learned it was people seeking work. Humbling and a reminder of my good fortune. Haitians are hard working people and it’d be a hard country to live in unemployed I imagine. At the church, the members were so attentive to helping us set up the clinic. The people were waiting patiently, a lesson I needed to adopt and practice more. With 3 clinicians and myself we worked through the patients. I learned lessons about organization to have triage, vital signs taken and ideally someone to manage the pharmacy to keep everything in order and flowing, will take it all into future preparations in developing solid mobile clinics. I can look back on this trip and see how the variety if experiences have been instrumental in preparing me for the mobile clinics that I’m managing with God’s guidance. Having these things arranged at other clinics in advance made things work out more efficiently so lessons learned for the future. This basis enables providers to focus on spending time with and moving through the high patient volumes. Though it started off rough, with teamwork, we all pulled together and all the patietn’s were seen. We walked back to the guesthouse and the others enjoyed soda and Prestige Haitian beer while waiting for me to change. Bertrand came with his tap tap and we all headed out to go to dinner. We ended up at a really nice restaurant called LaMaison, it was delicious. Everyone ordered tasty Haitian food, I enjoyed my usual beans, rice with a sauce, salad, plantains and picklies. They shared stories with me about life in Haiti, some really sad and it was good to get more acquainted. One of the clinicians lost his mom and siblings in the quake and you never would have known it with the quiet strength he carried on with and he was always willing to help out. The painful stories people endure are palpable and hard to fathom. It helps put things in perspective about what matters in life. It amazes me how those who have been through some of the worst trials have the most calming and comforting spirits. The determination and resilience Haitians carry, maybe is in part what gives so many people a desire to come serve here as Haiti is a very special place. Somehow exposure to the culture strengthens and Blesses us beyond measure. I cant contemplate how I would carry on in the face of a magnitude of similar obstacles. In the end of it all as my trip nears its final days, it only deepens my desire to come back and serve more. It makes me want to dedicate part of my life from now until I can no longer serve in Haiti to help make a difference. Perhaps, in part I’ve found my calling, medical mission trips abroad, it’s what makes me thrive. I especially love the idea of mobile clinics and meeting people where they are at. I was touched more in this day, which was no doubt one of the hardest, but most emotionally moving and somehow uplifting days I’d had in Haiti. I had a renewed energy to carry on even after the challenges of not getting the meds out of customs and other issues. After dinner we stopped by a couple of different pharmacies to get more meds on the way back to the guesthouse to no avail. Things were really expensive to buy in bulk at the place that was open, and Delmas 2000 the main market I wanted to go to was closed. Most shops close early in PAP, especially on the weekends in the early afternoon by ~2pm most stores are closed.

Latter that night after I was back at the guest house hanging out I was reading through and singing from a worship song book and gave an extra copy I had to one of the stoic guards. Not long after I saw him walking around and singing out of book as well, many songs were in Creole and English. He later came to join me and even though we spoke different languages he sang in Creole and I sang in English, both praising the same God. It was these serendipitous, spiritual moments that left a lasting impression in my heart for Haiti and the people and what an awesome God we serve. He helped me with the Creole verses and I helped him with the English and we sang songs until late in the night. The spiritual unity of believers is a powerful thing and transcends races, languages and all other divisions. Its what reminds me of Christ’s omniscience and a gentle affirmation that he’s always there. That night was a reminder that I’m where He wants me at this point in time. Those moments spent singing had me thinking we never know how we can impact someone’s life.