Thankful for hands to hold.

So sorry for the delay in posting, we are, as Mike will report, been a lean, mean team without lots of time for touching base with the outside world. So today, some musings from our team:

Mike's report-
It's way too soon to wax poetic or philosophic. I will need weeks to sort out my feelings from this complex and powerful trip. A few tidbits- The new style medical mission (Small, lean, fewer non-clinicians) has been a valuable learning experience. I and everyone here has been blessed by the amazing team of self-sacrificing, compassionate, uniquely gifted team we have become. Teresa's hard work and energetic spirit have been beyond amazing. And finally, Mo and I have been amused (maybe better-astounded) to share our humble room with a rat, so far unseen but very active- chewing up the leather wristband of my watch (Fortunately it was not on my wrist that night), nibbling my bar of soap drying on our table, a hole in my backpack to nibble some M&M's, and then leaving scattered pellets, reminders of his passing.
Thanks be to God that the downpour of Thursday did not repeat today. We worried... about the river rising but tonight (Friday), it's clearing so we think we'll get back to Port au Prince ok.
Saturday update: Rained heavily most of the night, We won't really know the status of the river until this afternoon when our second driver, Michael, second SUV return from Port au Prince as scheduled. We hope the report we hear of clearing skies today are correct.
I saw our friendly rat about 4AM. I was awakened by the clatter of my watch hitting the floor, falling from the window sill above my bed. A quick flashlight sweep showed a rather substantial and well-fed rat climbing out the open window. We are very close to nature here!

Mo's report from Thursday:
It has been quite a week so far. Everyone is working very hard: lots of disease and pestilence. People here have a hard life but seem very enduring and open to any help. As a team, we are quite enjoying each other's company and comraderie. Dokte Mo

A final note for now-
Beverly's mantra today- Be thankful for hands to hold. We have done a lot of hand-holding in prayer, in healing, in just being close to each other.
Mike's report about the weather is true. It's 9:30 AM and raining hard. So we are working on ways to get across the river and all getting out our swimming suits! Traveling with a bunch of doctors, they all assure me that they have medicine to treat against anything that might live in the river. Actually, I wasn't worried, ignorance is bliss!
Sorry for the lack of photos but I have had trouble uploading them. I will continue to try. Until later then, today, tomorrow, Monday men tale, tale. (But soon!)