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Final Day and Final Thoughts- Haiti

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Day 14 I cannot believe it is the last day we have in Haiti. I get emotional when I think about going home. I woke up before the rest of the crew this morning and had my morning coffee with Cindy and Sarah. Today was a big day for the students! It was the last day of class for the students before heading off to their integration sites for 12 weeks. The students started filing in just before 8am. And just like every morning they started the day with a song and prayer. But today’s song was different. It was bold, emotional, and absolutely beautiful. I closed my eyes and took it all in. When they were done I looked around the room and everyone had tears in their eyes. It was such a powerful moment. Altogether, in the same room, with the same goals, and the same heart. A heart to care, serve, and help the woman and children of Haiti. I was so glad we were able to stay at the house for class today. Sam, a film maker, came to the house last night and was shooting film...
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Days 11, 12 & 13- Coming to the End

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Day 11 Today is a National Holiday in Haiti. Schools are closed and most people do not have to go to work. Last night before going to bed Stecy told us that they would need all four of us volunteers to go to the hospital this morning because many workers will not show up to work at the hospital. We left for the hospital in the Land Rover with Cindy because the moto drivers were not working today either. When she dropped us off she went to the market because she is making an American style dinner for us tonight. When we arrived to the hospital Jessica went directly into labor and delivery while the other three of us went to check on our ICU mom. We were told that she was able to get out of bed yesterday and walk! We had a small celebration of cheers when we were told that. She is still unable to move her right arm but much of the swelling has gone down. We hand expressed a little milk out of both breasts and told her that is it important to continue multi...
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Days 9 & 10

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Day 9 Let me tell you about how much I love Sundays in Haiti! We have another relaxing morning this morning. Coffee, facetime, and fellowship with each other. When Megan woke up I asked if she wanted to make eggs with me. We ended up making breakfast burritos with eggs, onion, garlic, peppers, and avocado. It was delicious! Perrine planned a day full of activity for us. After she finished her morning rounds with all of her other obligations we were ready to go! Marisade is another town approximately one hour from our house. Haitians don’t measure anything by distance but only time because they don’t understand distance measurements. The drive is a bumpy one and there are 11 people in the Land Rover. We cross over 5 rivers to get to the town. At every river people are washing clothes, motorcycles and bathing. In the same rivers they are fetching water to drink. It is definitely an experience to see all of the activities that are taking place in the same river. Th...
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Day 8- Market Saturday

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Day 8 It was a slow moving Haitian Saturday. I was the first one awake as my automatic mind alarm clock went off. I came out to the kitchen to grab some coffee and breakfast. Cindy and Perrine were awake as well, busy making “Saturday eggs”. Everyone is excited for eggs on the weekends because there is the time to make them. I was busy getting caught up on writing my blog when I realized how hungry I actually was. I ended up eating cornflakes with banana because I couldn’t wait any longer. Sarah came to the table and requested some help with a powerpoint for a presentation they are giving to the Haitian MSPP. So, I worked on putting together the powerpoint and the staff were so glad that they didn’t have to do it. I did not quite finish so I am sure that I will be working on it tomorrow as well. We decided to do some baking and we got a little carried away. We made five packages of brownies and banana muffins.   Around 11, Perrine asked if anyone would like to run some e...
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Haiti Days 6 &7

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Day 6 This morning we woke up to a great surprise!!! A coffeepot!!! Mariot, one of the Haitian program managers, was able to find and purchase a coffee pot. This made the morning run so much smoother and we all enjoyed two cups of coffee. Perrine came into the kitchen and said because it is Thursday, merchants lineup outside the walls of our compound to sell different things. We were able to go out to the streets to see if there was anything we would like to purchase. One Nurse at a Time, the organization that gave us a scholarship requests that we bring something back from our trip that they can use for their auction. It is how they fund scholarships for future volunteers. I will only have my carry-on luggage on the way home so I could only purchase things that would fit. I was able to get some beautiful paintings on canvas that I can frame back in the States. Some of the other girls bought beautiful wood carvings, a tea set, metal work, and traditional Haitian clothes for ...
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A New Day- Haiti Day 5

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Day 5- Feeling refreshed I woke up this morning with a new outlook on the day. Our alarms were set for 7 and we all meandered out to the kitchen where Cindy had already made coffee. We are so grateful that we don’t have to wait for our coffee in the morning! The coffee pot broke and there are not the means to just run to the store to grab one, so they have to wait until someone goes in to Port Au Prince. Cindy calls it cowgirl coffee and if it is shaken at all, all the grounds with rise up. Regardless, we are happy to have it! After breakfast, we all start to get ready for the day. Today I have the opportunity to teach NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation) to 16 of the midwife students that will be in the classroom.   I am so excited that I get to teach this to them because it has the potential to save SO many babies if they can execute it properly. Soon all the students file in, and they begin the day in song and prayer. The sound they create when they sing is angel...
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