Bercy Hospital

Please continue to pray for the team in Haiti: For their safety during the political unrest, for their longevity as they finish up their first week there and especially for those they are caring for. Please pray that lives will not only be saved physically but spiritually as well. Here is an excerpt from Joe's email yesterday. The Ruth and Betzabe that he talks about below are 2 of the medical residents from our hospital who also went on the trip.


Our shift last night was truly blessed as we ended up working 15 hours and didn’t kill anyone. We actually brought a few back from the brink. We had a 76% increase in the number of patients overnight from 38 to 67!!!!! Two of them especially were so dehydrated that they didn’t have a palpable pulse and would have been dead in less than an hour in my opinion. Our nurses were GREAT!!!!!! Team Ecuador has really left an impression on the staff here as well – as being dependable, flexible and caring. Several of the people that have worked with us have asked to be scheduled with us for their time here. One guy, Dr David Gettle, who specializes in disasters and was here in January with Eckehart and team said that if he gets a call about another disaster he’ll ask if they’ve called the Ecuador team yet or not and that he’d go in when they sent us. He was joking but also serious. He has been very impressed with Betzabe and Ruth. They are such good workers and so caring. It’s been a blessing to have them here.

Haiti

Please pray for the group in Haiti. Last night when the election results were announced there was some rioting in Port a Prince. The team is safe outside of the city, but please pray for peace in the country and that the airlines will start flights again before the 18th so they can come home.

This is a picture I recieved today of the team working in one of the "hospital" tents. Joe hasn't had to start an IV in a LONG time. He is getting lots of practice.

Update on Haiti

Just wanted to share a part of the email Joe was finally able to send today. They have very limited internet and phone service. I will post pictures as soon as I have some.

I was taking a few minutes to write to you and let you know that all is well. We’re on our third night shift in a row and will work one more night before having Wednesday night off. I’m not quite used to
the changes yet as I still sleep only 4 or 5 hours. With each
passing day, I think and hope that I’ll get more used to the change.
Our shifts are from 7pm to 7am and we usually make it back to the compound by 8 or 830. From the truck, we go straight to the showers, after having our footwear disinfected. That’s done because of the amount of stool and vomit that we may step near, even after it´s been cleaned up. After bathing we go to the cafeteria and have breakfast which is filling but often cold as the rest of the staff has already eaten. By the time I’m ready to hit the sack, it’s usually 9 or 930 in the morning. The building is like a barracks with about 100 bunks (an uneducated guess) and I’m fairly close to the big fan and door.
It`s a welcome relief from the outside noise to have the fan close by.
After getting up I usually lay in the bunk and read for awhile before going to the rec tent and drinking some of the instant Starbuck’s that I brought with me. I’ve done the math and it’s not going to last – bummer. I need to thank Christine Scott for getting me the box. I’ve been sharing the packets with Hermann as well.

Sometimes Its The SmallThings

Last week while shopping at "Real Grocery Store" a few hours away, I found Snack Packs and Snyder's pretzels. I know, this probably means nothing to you, but it was the happiest day I have had since I found Heinz Hamburger Dill pickles. Sometimes, its the smallest things that make your day!

Well He Is Off To Haiti

Joe leaves this morning from Quito for Haiti. Hopefully he will have internet access at some point while there to update everyone, but if not I will do my best to keep you up to date on stamping out disease and pestilence.

Please pray for safety while traveling, in Haiti and for endurance. Joe found out yesterday that the hospital is working 12 hour shifts trying to keep up with the cholera outbreak.

Isabella's school had their first performance a few weeks ago. They danced to the music from Bonanza and did an amazing job. Their second performance was during Shell Days (post coming soon) in which they beat out 4 other schools to win a new computer for their school- which her school can REALLY use. The sad part was that we (her parents) didn't understand that it was a competition until they started annoucing the winners- that information made lots of other things make sense. For example, the moms in charge were very particular about the shirts and skirts and we had an entire morning to make the hats out of foam. ALERT! If you ever need a cowboy hat made out of foam, don't ask me- I am horrible at it and have the hot glue burn scars to prove it.

Fuzzy Floors

Well, I have never seen this before:

Yes, when I woke up this morning, this is what I found growing on our tile- some sort of white, moldy fuzzy, hairy, scary stuff. Don't know, can't explain it just glad it was easily swept away and doesn't grow back faster and thicker each time. Things that make you scratch you head and go "hmm, interesting...."