We woke up in the morning feelin' like P. Diddy. We were so happy we got to drink coffee today. Becca has been NEEDING coffee. We had made a plan to go with Renette(The Dezman Fleury secretary/records keeper who speaks English) to a couple Doctors to see about getting the girls a class about their bodies, and also to set up some exams for them. Many of them have been having problems but are embarrassed to talk about it. We want them to know what is normal and what is not. We want a gynecologist to give them the right info, rather than heresy from their friends.
As things in Haiti always go we did not leave on time. This morning was really hard for me because everyone was expecting me to pay for everything. Becca and I are realizing we have created a monster. Every time Americans come here we/they are always paying for everything, giving gifts, and acting like money bags. This all happens unintentionally. Its very hard because you want to help. You want to use money that people gave you to help the kids to benefit them. The thing is I think we are crippling them and those in charge by the way we have gone about "helping" Anytime anyone is sick, they come tell us. Anytime someone is hungry...they come tell us. This trip Becca and I came without an organizations money to spend, so we are really realizing a lot of things as far as money goes. Even before this trip we were talking about how everything we do has an impact even when we think what we are doing is helpful it may not be in the long run. This isn't just happening at our orphanage, or even just in Haiti. An example in Haiti is the show "No Reservations" with Anthony Bourdain. You should look up the episode he did in Haiti on youtube. He is trying some food when he sees that all around him people are hungry. He decided he wants to buy out the food that the cook has made and feed all the people around. Watch to see what happens. Another good resource for this is the book "When helping Hurts" Becca and I's approach to Haiti lines up very well with what this book says. You can't just think about right now. You have to think about the long term. You can't just say here is the solution without knowing the people you are finding a solution for. (Jill this is what we have been learning and MUCH more)
Back to what was happening. We went to a new doctor place because we met a guy on the flight over who worked there. We brought Renette with us which was good because our guy had already left Haiti and there were only people there who spoke Creole. The new place we went to was a different branch of a clinic that we frequently go to in Leogane. They were nice. We asked about having a doctor or nurse come talk to our girls and get exams. They told us how much it would cost per exam and it was way out of our price range. We went to the clinic that we normally go to since we know the doctor who works there, hoping we could get a deal. She's helped us a lot in the past and given us free medicine and pedialite for Charly when he was really sick last summer. She asked how Charly was and was really concerned when we told her about the skin problems that the kids have been having. She told us that she would be working in the clinic this Thursday and that she'd see two kids for free for us! We really love her not just because she gives us free things but because she really has a heart for helping people and is gentle with the kids we bring in. Amy feels really connected to that place because a lot of emotional things have happened there. We took kids there every day on our first trip last summer. Charly got free medicine from that doctor every day for two weeks. This is also the clinic that Amy took Charly to when she came alone in September. In January we took Charly there and he took some of his first steps in the waiting room. There's lots of emotions and memories connected with that place and they all come rushing back every time we go. Anyway, we plan on taking two girls there this Thursday and we will talk to her then about setting up something for all the older girls.
Judith was supposed to take Yvrose and a little boy from the boys orphanage who was sick to Doctors Without Borders but the wait was too long so she took them to a different clinic. She was going to ask the people at Doctors Without Borders about getting a class for the older girls but since she didn't go she couldn't ask. Amy, Renette and I went to ask instead. While we waited to talk to them in the waiting area we met a woman named "Kob" which means money in Creole. We thought that was awesome. The people at Doctors Without Borders were nice but told us they don't have enough doctors to lend us one for a day. Bummer.
We went and got food from our favorite cook Miglise, Amy borrowed a loudspeaker from a dude and said some sweet things in Creole and had the biggest smile in the world after. It's the happiest I've seen her in my whole life. Right next door to the Internet cafe is a place to buy food and drinks and we've never been there before so we decided to try it out and see if they are in the running for coldest cokes in Haiti. They are. I'd say they are definitely number one. In case you didn't know, this is definitely one of the most important things we want to learn about Haiti. It's like in the Bible how the word "love" is in there more than any other word. In our blog, the word coke is used more than any other word. Most important business for reals. Seriously.
We tried to upload pictures but the Internet is too slow. Sorry!
Love,
Rebecca and Amy
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