How can they know how to sweeten the oatmeal perfectly? Today started with waking to the muffled low voice of the infamous Jute outside our window. Jute is Ranquitte’s most famous citizen. We met him nearly 3 years ago. He is my height, but couldn’t weigh more than 100lbs. He has some type of metal deficit, but he makes up for it in survival skills and begging. He is tremendously sickly, malnourished, and disheveled…which is the norm. It’s somewhat of a mystery about who takes care of him, but the way he wanders around I am not sure it is consistent. Today he is here because of some rash, I saw him yesterday and immediately after our greeting he motioned to his sores, pointed to his stomach and tried to verbalize his need in something that is like a child’s creole. I don’t try to put him off on purpose, most of the other “blancs” are scared of him, but me and Rachel think he might be Jesus in disguise. Eventually, I get some cream for him from the clinic, slip him a cracker, and I don’t cringe when I feel his dirty hand innocently grab mine along our walk up the hill, and when we part I give him a “side hug” just like anyone else.
After breakfast we start our day at the clinic. Again… no real plan. But we follow Dr. Greg’s lead and do what we said we wouldn’t do and begin taking charge and see the patients. We saw a myriad of issues and plenty of the same as well. Fever, acid, headache. I’ll let Rachel tell about the most interesting patients later, the highlight of my day was when I left the clinic momentarily and on my return greeted Frantz. We discussed the issues that we typically run by him so we can understand them better. I love him because I find myself listening to his rationale and opinions and after hearing them I always think…. “this is exactly how Jesus would see this” or “Christ would be pleased with that position”…. Which unifies our bond as brothers in Christ. It has always seemed that we have been united in Christ with Frantz…one mind, unity like Ephesians 4 describes.
At one point we discuss how Ranquitte has 26,000 people and no doctor. And another point we acknowledge how Ivy’s absence makes the divide between Haitian and American ever greater… leaving a void of leadership, communication and the love and example of Christ. Hmmmmm. . . ? Why do I always show up at times like this God? Are you trying to tell me something?
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