By Jennifer Quigley, Frist Global Health Leader
Open Door Haiti is a clinic in Limbe that is connected to Open Door Church of God in Cap Haitian. We provided the Standard Days Method of natural family planning training to the providers in both places to help accommodate them and their weekend schedule.
The first session in the clinic was off to a rocky start because it was late and the providers had 10 hours of work in for the day. About an hour into our training, the generator cut off, so we were sitting in a very warm, very dark room. Needless to say, most of the providers started to fall asleep! We agreed to end and start fresh on Saturday, and all said they could stay as long as necessary that day to complete the training.
Photo: At Open Door Haiti Clinic on the first day. The providers are holding their CycleBeads to participate in learning activities
Saturday was much better! The group was mostly men, which offered an interesting take on women's fertility and the "white bead days" or days of abstinence. All agreed that this method would appeal to the majority of their patients and were eager to start teaching the method. This group was one of the best I have had yet, despite our rocky start! Much interesting discussion happened and the whole group demonstrated eagerness to learn.
Thanks be to God for such a wonderful and successful mission!
Outside, patiently waiting for church to let out so that we can use the room to resume our lesson in the Standard Days Method of natural family planning.
On our way home, a woman is coming from the market with many groceries to feed her family. It amazes me how much women can carry on their heads!