RMHM 2011 PAGE 2
DAY 3: 27 July
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| Thank God for the Philippine Army! |
To the faithful who have been following our news, be rest assured that we are all healthy and safe! It was upon reading the newspapers that we realised the scale of an earthquake that had hit us. It measured 5.9 on the Richter scale. We similarly learned that a typhoon, by the name of Nock-ten, had already killed 20 people in Manila and caused the population to receive a warning not to leave their houses. Despite of this, the influx of patients was dense throughout the whole day even as the rain continued to pour generously.
Until presently the head of the Barangay had never accommodated a mission as important as ours. We are happy to have been warmly welcomed by the local leaders, and Fr. Couture even had to refuse to publicise the event in neighbouring churches in order to prevent us from being submerged with patients. On the other hand it is sad to state that some priests from the parishes surrounding our church had forbidden their faithful from having our priests come to bless their houses. At the same time however they won’t do the same themselves.
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| We even had an official visit of the Barangay Captain (center) and two of his councilors. |
On arrival in the morning we found a person hunched up on a bench and burning with fever, the same patient with tuberculosis that Dr. Dickès had sent to the hospital earlier on. The staff however had only analysed his sputum. For this poor man to survive it is necessary for the mission to take charge of him. This would however be expensive. He will have to be taken care of by the TB hospital.
Over the course of the day we admired on a number of occasions the devotion of the Filipinos. Two persons cleaned from top to bottom the comfort-rooms (toilets) all day long in order to make the patients comfortable; if we did not give them some lunchboxes they would have fasted the entire day. In addition we appreciated the efficacious aid rendered to us by some men; we had hardly filled a heavy carton before it found itself on their shoulders.
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| Dra Elaine in her section had about 80 pair of eyes to examine |
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| Delphine from Marseille handles the dressing of wounds |
As a reward for a humid day of hard work, Dr. Dickès presided over the traditional annual gathering of the society of balut eaters (a balut is a duck embryo of 16 or 18 days – it hatches at 21 days!). Some recalcitrant refuse as always to enter but happily this year the new volunteers showed themselves to be more valiant. They will perhaps initiate you upon their return back home…
Till tomorrow if you will…
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| Everyone has to pass by the vigilant eye of St Joseph |
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| The patients are first registered by the Bethanians (our future sisters) and the Oblates |
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| Then the French nurses take their vital signs |
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| They are then directed to their specific doctors, here, the pediatricians... |
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| ...who have their own zealous pharmacy team |
DAY 4: 28 July
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| The Mission's Banner |
The morning came upon us with a bright and beautiful sun for which we had prayed so much since Sunday. However, last night, Fr. Couture announced to the joy of all that in case of further flooding, some could go and visit nearby flooded areas. Thus, when the blue skies appeared, our zealous volunteers almost started to pray for more rain! Oh the fickleness of the human heart, so hard to please!
Around 1pm however, an impressive but short storm shot through Manila. A scramble resulted within the outdoor gymnasium. In spite our large roof, tables, medicine and people got drenched. The army jumped into action to save the materials from the unexpected and unwanted intruder. The waterspout made a deafening noise and flooded the Mariana. The palm trees bent over in the wind. With the patients and materials sheltered however, the various activities resumed.
Despite the warnings from the authorities not to leave their houses, more than 450 people came to visit us today. An impressive turn-out indeed! Our best day so far. We are now reaching the 2,000th patient.
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| A welcome visitor to the Mission, Fr. Joseph Pfeiffer |
Amongst all the patients, the situation of a young man stood out in particular. Ryan, aged 26, was extremely thin; this was the third day he came to see us in order to have his infected neck wounds treated. The blood test demanded by the doctor who examined him the day before revealed him to be HIV-positive. The result was announced to us by telephone. The medical staff at the hospital refused to confirm the result in writing, seeing that such a person could be considered dead. Treatment is unobtainable for these patients in the Philippines. The announcement of the news to his mother was painful and drew abundant tears from her. Then, catching her breath, her first reaction was to request for Confession and Extreme Unction for her son. This moment of great emotion and strength was surprising for us, revealing the strong and beautiful faith of the Filipinos.
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| Two of our self appointed gate keepers |
We also saw 2 more cases of tuberculosis which were transferred to the hospital, a child and an adult whose adorable little girl of 5 months drew smiles from all of the volunteers. The mother demanded that her child be baptised, while requesting that Dr. Dickès become her godfather.
Once more, the day was well regulated to the amazement of the local civil authorities who kept an interested and pleased eye on us. The military teams changed each day and were always humble and ready to serve at any task.
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| The Mission provides electrocardiograms (ECGs) as well |
We now offer you a special edition of Filipino first names which we came across today: Fruit, Labrador, Busbus, Dios, Jam, John-Wayne, Princess, Prince, Dauphin III, Kisser…
The day ended with Holy Mass which was offered under a thundering storm. However, a good meal of fried « baluuuuuuuts » (the chant that one hears daily from the balut seller from within our windowless church) warmed us up. With the mission coming to a close, some ideas came together and we envisaged finding ourselves creating a Rosa Mystica section within the next pilgrimage to Chartres. This idea continues to build up....
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| Big sister handles little sister while mother is at the dentist |
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