Anpil Patience (Much Patience)

Today was another day in which I had to work on patience.  I had an 8:00 a.m. appointment with Madame Mona at General Hospital for Marise, a young girl with two club feet.  We were running late and didn't arrive until 8:25.  I was needlessly worried about arriving so late.

I met a friend there, and we sat in a waiting room for about 35 minutes, waiting for Madame Mona.  About 9:15 a whole bunch more people came in.  They all had babies with them who had club feet.  For some reason, all the Creole that I've learned left my mind, so I sounded like an idiot when the receptionist-type person asked me some questions.  I waited another hour before I did anything.  During that time Marise slept a bit and pooped.  She did the poop thing about the same time that Gertrude called and I was called over to fill out some paperwork.  I finally had Gertrude talk to the lady so that someone understood what the heck was going on!

I had the file, but I needed to change the diaper.  Thankfully I had thought to pack some extra diapers.  Unfortunately, I forgot to pack wipes and rubber gloves!  Seriously, that was one of the grossest diapers I have ever seen.  Hosing her down would have been the best solution!  I'll spare you all the details.  I managed the situation and went back inside.  I sat some more.  And some more.  Then a lady looked at Marise's feet and said that they would cast them today.  Not what I was expecting.  I thought I was going in for a consultation with Madame Mona, she would take some x-rays, and then we would go back next week to determine what to do.  Yea. That's not the way it works.  First of all, I don't think I ever saw Madame Mona!  And if I did, I didn't know it.  After a bit more waiting, I was called back to a table in the hallway, and they put on the casts.  I wanted to take some pictures so that you could see the process, but I had to hold Marise while they put the casts on.  By the time I left (3 1/2 hours after my scheduled appointment), I was sweaty, covered in plaster, and pooped on.  Quite the morning!

Someone (not me!) has to take her back next Wednesday to have the casts removed and new ones put on.  Gertrude's going to go because when she was talking with the receptionist lady the lady asked Gertrude why she sent someone who couldn't speak Creole.  To be honest, I was thinking the same thing about 100 minutes into the experience!

My afternoon was much less eventful.  A group from Healing Haiti came, and I organized them to work with the kids.  Then I looked for new clothes for Michael in the depot.  That was fun.  He was so excited to try on new clothes and pick out his new ones.  His smile was worth the two hours of sweating and digging through donations in the depot to find the right size and styles that he might like.

There is a group here from Quebec, and they are doing an amazing job with the kids.  They play with them and spend more time with them than any group I've seen.  All of them are fluent in French, so they can talk with the kids and staff in a way that most visitors can't.  And, I get to practice my French with Joanna who only speaks French.

I get to add tour guide to my list of responsibilities at the guesthouse.  The Canadian group wants to do some shopping tomorrow, so I get to go with them and take them to The Apparent Project and up to Lookout Point.  That works out well because I have wanted to go to both those places myself.

Tomorrow Gertrude and I will meet with an architect to talk about plans for the school.  I'll let you know how that goes after the meeting!