April 8, 2011

I believe they bring us to this place so that we cannot resist coming back. It was set in the Pelerin (Pilgrim) church in a most beautiful village of Banyette, again with the walls fallen down (only adding to the beauty) but as Nick says the ‘bones’ were still intact. There was a beautifully carved podium on a slightly broken up marble raised area where we set up our field pharmacy.

We could see beautiful greening hills just above the still present door through the fallen down walls. A donkey brayed nearby off and on, and we had a dear little angel following us around all day. We had our biggest day for patients and this humble volunteer truly enjoyed triaging the people from 3 months to 95. The road in passed abundant and greening farms, much new construction and well organized rubble piles. A truly hopeful place.

PROPERTY co-chair’s view, by Nick:
And I thought we had problems at Epiphany: a lovely church set high on a hilltop with a school to the right. A nave that soared to at least 30 feet…. But the front wall, to the narthex was broken somewhat and inclined out about 10 degrees (“Cuozzo, don’t lean on that wall!) while the back wall, at the altar side of the church and tumbled completely down the hill. Our field pharmacy set up on the epistle side of the altar, like a MASH in France in one of the big ones.

Nice people, a few of which left me in tears after they thanked us for coming. Our last patient, a grizzled father of three with six grandkids hobbled over with his walking stick, had so many needs and therefore a lot of meds so we gave him a carrying bag. He smiled, shook our hands, and said ‘God bless you.” The dust, the heat, the hammering of the tropical sun faded in this moment of one to one appreciation.

-Susi