Day 4 & 5 Donna

Hi Everyone!

The past 2 days have been a whirlwind of planning and activity. Today our construction hero's with Rainmaker raised the frame for our temporary therapy clinic. It was like a barn raising with many of the volunteer Haitian staff at the hospital pulling on ropes and helping to hoist and place beams. I took many pictures and will post when I get home. The men then took some thick metal wire, flattened one end with a hammer, drilled a hole, sharpened the opposite end and made large needles. Talk about inventive! They laid out four huge tarps, duct taped them in some fashion so rain will not leak through, drilled holes through the duct tape and fabric and we have all spent time at the end of the past 2 days with needles and pliers sewing them together. Tomorrow they will cover the structure and begin work on our walkway and ramp. We plan to have an official "ribbon cutting" in the afternoon. (They have some string and orange construction tape so will again improvise!)

I have hired three translators this week and they are so eager to learn and helpful that we have begun to train them as our therapy assistants as well. Gibson is 37 and can read and write English which is a rare skill here. He will be our "intake coordinator" when we open Monday, taking down names, cell numbers (everyone has one here or knows someone who can pass on a message), and take a short history of the person's problem. We will train him to discern who really needs our help and who just has minor complaints of knee or back pain. Emmanuel and Alex are handsome young men in their twenties and have been quick to pick up on our patient teaching. After translating just once the proper way to walk with crutches, Emmanuel began to just tell patients himself to "stand up tall" and "lean on your hands not your armpits." We had our first "staff meeting" yesterday and informed them this would be a long term job for them if they were interested. As there are few jobs available here, they were elated. They hugged and kissed us good-bye today and kept expressing how grateful they were that we had created this clinic for Haiti and this wonderful opportunity for them. We told them we would try and recruit some beautiful younger therapists to come so they would not have to spend all their time with middle-aged women like us. Their eyes lit up and they shyly said that would be fine with them. Men here are so respectful of women and they told us "players" are frowned upon.

When I mentioned yesterday to Brad, one of the Rainmaker men, that I needed to create a website soon he immediately got me online and began looking at domain names. He informed me we needed to come to Happy Hour that evening and we would collectively vote on our new name. The Rainmaker group is "camping" on the hospital roof. Tents, port-a-potty, kitchen set-up and internet access. It was decided we should not limit ourselves by using "Midwest" in the name as we hope to recruit therapists from across the US . So we are now officially the Global Therapy Group.

Annette has not yet had her baby and I am so sad I will have to leave and not be able to hold it. The doctor said yesterday she needs an ultrasound but it costs $15. Most people here make less than $2 a day, if they can find a job. She told us that for her the ultrasound was impossible. Today at breakfast Judy, one of our team who is working with Annette, pulled $15 out of her pocket and said, "She will have it today". We are trying to do what we can, but have learned it needs to be in a quiet way or you will be overrun with requests.Many more stories to tell, but I am too tired to keep my eyes open. Your prayers are keeping me strong but I must sleep.

Our second team arrived today and they are so excited to take over, but I think a bit overwhelmed as we were with the enormity of what we have taken on. I have told them not to think too much. God has just made his plan and the solutions so obvious that all we have to do is put one foot in front of the other and follow along. I don't think they believe me yet, but I am confident He will be as present with them as He has been with us.

Bon Nuit! (Good night)

Donna