Hurricane No Mas

I have lived in the same house my entire life. My only moves were to college and to camp, so that made the last two months pretty interesting. A few weeks ago, Leah and I were returning to our house from YWAM when I got a phone call from one of the guys we were running the ambulance with. He was working with a group in Port-au-Prince and wanted our help since they were getting ready for the hurricane. A few days before, I had found out that the clinic I was working at was going to be permanently closing in the next few days. After obtaining permission from our various organizations, we agreed to go.

By the time the hurricane actually hit, it had downgraded to a tropical storm and changed course. We got lots of wind, rain, and a little bit of flooding, but nothing like what had been feared and predicted. Our team was riding around in two ambulances (or technically one ambulance and a bread truck) and we checked out the various tent cities around the capital to make sure everything was okay.

After the hurricane, it was back to being on the lookout for cholera. There are an incredible number of rumors and ridiculous reports going around and so we almost can't be very sure of whats going on. However, at the beginning of last week, we got a call that there was a nun in Cite Soleil who was running a cholera clinic and needed help. I believe it was the UN who referred to this area as the worst ghetto in the western hemisphere. So naturally we had to go check it out. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) was currently working there from 8-3 each day (I suppose if you have cholera you get better by 3pm?) but she had no night shift and MSF was planning to leave by Saturday. We went to see the nun Tuesday afternoon and we talked and told her we'd give her a call. We didn't just want to run in, due in large part to security issues. However, after returning home that day, we decided we would take over the night shift. After calling Sister back, about an hour after we left, we found out that MSF was pulling out completely, leaving only the Sister and another nun with the patients. Brenden and I spent the night working with one other doctor who happened to be in the area for a few days and one other nurse, with Leah to translate, and another marine serving as security. Four medical personnel for 60 patients. We worked 16 hours that night, losing only one patient shortly after we got there. And we've spent every night since then working at the clinic, though our team has now expanded as a team of four people arrived back with the executive director a few days later. I may actually be without some words for once, but with working 12-16 hours every night for the past week, I haven't had a lot of time to process. Oh, but before anyone worries, we feel completely safe. The nun has good standing in the community and that covers us since we're working with her. Leah and I, of course, realize that the Lord surrounds that place each night while we're there. But we don't even give a thought to the situation, so there's no need for anyone at home to be worried either. 

The house we're staying in doesn't have electricity or internet, hence the lack of updates. But this afternoon we stopped at a restaurant/hotel to get their wifi. And now its about time to get back and put on my bleach covered scrubs and head out to the ghetto. I love my job.