On Thursday, December 11, our Mother Angela Clinic team responded to a request to bring the clinic to St. Etienne. First we had to travel by car for an hour, going through a few rivers. Once we reached the place where we could park the truck, we loaded our medications on a horse, while a few of the village people carried the rest of the boxes up the mountain. It was a 2 1/2-hour walk up the mountain to get to St. Etienne’s, and we arrived at our destination after sunset. We slept overnight with the family of the person who had asked us to bring the clinic to this location. Our team had plenty of fruit and fresh vegetables to eat; these are grown up in the mountains. Because the height of where we were it was not hot nor were there any mosquitoes. There was a room for Sr. Marilyn, which she shared with Clara, our nurse.

The team woke up at 5 a.m. to prepare for the day’s work. The people prepared a tent, and the clinic opened at 7 a.m. We were able to receive 109 patients, ranging from babies to children and teens, up to adults and the elderly. We had to turn away over 50 people, with the promise we would return. Our hope is to return in February.

The people in St. Etienne have no access to any medical care or medications. The spirit of the Mother Angela Clinic team was a “Response to Love,” and to “Love is to Give.” They certainly gave their all to the community of St. Etienne,

We started walking down the mountain at 4 p.m., after a delicious dinner prepared by the community. At 5 p.m., it was already dark, and it was a 2-hour walk down the mountain. Thanks be to God, all arrived safely! Then began the hour drive back to Jacmel.