A QUICK UPDATE

Sorry that I've been so lax in blogging. Not sure why but I wanted to check in and let you know a couple things.

The first thing is to let you know that I'm still alive. I'm just finishing the second week of South Beach I and everything tastes like lettuce because it is. Not much effect on the weight yet though. Maybe if I shaved it would cause me to lose weight.

Secondly, for those of you who don't know, I had a double knee replacement back on June 18th. Since then the knees were pretty good. I certainly couldn't complain. But yesterday morning I played tennis again. Now that may not seem like much to you but it does to me. That was the first time I sweated in a year and a half. It actually felt good and I had no swelling and may even try it again next week.

I know this isn't much of a thought on Haiti but it was a thought on at least one that lives here.
Thanks for your prayers.

And so it goes!

John

Mardi Gras and Super Tuesday all in one Hunk

Yes, a big day in the history of the world but certainly no bigger then SuperBowl Sunday. All in all though I am getting my side of the bedroom cleaned up and can even see my desk. I even discovered that there is still a computer under all that paper. I just wish that was the only reason not much was being posted to this blog recently. Any excuse is as good as none. Please forgive.

Here are a couple pictures for your beholding. The first is of Jessica and the next is of Jessica along with her friends Josine, and Natalie all dressed up (sort of) and ready to go downtown for Carnival. I really don't believe my mother would have allowed me to go there at that age.

And So It Goes!

John

A Neighbor Dropped By

Last week’s clinics were well beyond full. Actually there isn’t too much strain even when there are large numbers, since usually after I begin seeing patients I simply just keep plugging along one at a time. By the end of the day I usually make it home without much trauma to myself. One thing that is necessary though is a protection system that has a sense when people are there for the sole purpose of having their physical, psychological, or spiritual ills evaluated and treated, rather than persons who simply want to get to see the white Dr. to see if he will give them some money. (Please know, I have told these people over and over that I am a Registered Nurse and not a doctor but in recent years I have even given up on the explanation since it seems that the only thing in their understanding that differs between the two is their sex.) My usual interference for this job is Eden, my nurse helper, and Pastor Francois, who helps Eden out and also collects the money. They usually do a good job, but Thursday my first patient was a lady who was about 60 years old. She came in, greeted me, then when I ask her what her problem was she let me know that her only son had died. She told me that she had no husband and as she teared up she explained in great detail that she didn’t have enough money to go on with life. At this point I explained everything that she didn’t want to hear: the reasons why there was such a thing as a medical clinic, which was to treat problems of the patients who were having pain, sickness, or other things like that. I also told her that it was not my responsibility to take care of these problems for her but that of her family, friends, church and neighbors. . .

Then it hit me. I didn’t know the book or verse but I knew someone somewhere asked something like “Then who is my neighbor?” And I was simply defenseless.

Well, time passes. I got through the other patients that day, although it would have been easier had the first patient had a severe case of bronchitis or arthritis. I deal better with those. Did I give her money? No. Should I have? I still don’t know since I do know the reason for both sides of this argument. I did encourage her in her struggles though. I hope her other neighbors do better for her than I did.

And so it goes!

John

Are You Kidding Me?

I have a bachelor's degree in biology. I am a Registered Nurse. I have practiced medicine in Haiti for the past 22 years. Then I take this test. It's just not fair. I think I'll go eat worms.

And so it goes!

John

CHRISTMAS

In John 1 verse 10 the Bible says that the word became flesh. The Message puts it this way, “The word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood. We could probably even rephrase that to read that the Word of God became flesh and blood and was laid just outside our door. From there he will move to save all of creation.

For a number of years the concept of the Christ of Christmas has been difficult for me to get my mind around. I just couldn’t find a way of understanding how the God of the universe had anything to do with gift giving, Christmas trees, and Santa Claus. So, for a number of years I went along with things as usual but really desired to spend the holiday all wrapped up in the things of the nativity. I really had no desire to have a Christmas tree and would have gladly sacrificed it for a life size nativity scene in my living room. But I never did. I guess I succumbed to social pressure and jingle bells.

I guess the way I came to confront the issues of it all was when I wrapped my mind around the fact that Christmas was REAL. Not that I came to believe that it happened exactly as some think on December 25^th or that there were three wise men instead of two or twelve. But I did come to the reality in my mind that a little, helpless, and hopefully breastfed baby was born and lived a human life and after growing up struggled with eternal questions and overcame those questions enough to become a human sacrifice for me and you. Thanks be to God!

I think of this most often when I see some of the little babies at my clinic. If you don’t know it yet I will tell you that 6-7month old babies are perfect. They are old enough to be fun but not old enough to be prejudiced. They don’t know a white person from a blue. When I take them in my arms and talk to them believing they must have a great vocabulary, their mother is quick to advise me that “they can’t talk.” Then they begin to smile and laugh and in their own way let me know that if I were holding the Christ child he would do the same. He would smile at me then wiggle his body back into the comfortable folds of his mother’s body.

I pray that this Christmas will bring with it the knowledge of the reality of the Christ child. May he be real and smile with you.

May you and those you love have a Blessed Christmas.

John, Jodie, and Jessica Ackerman