There was a dead whale that washed up in the reefs, so we went to check him out. Very interesting. We also snorkeled this morning. It was nice to get in the water. Much of the reef appeared dead, but there were some areas of live coral. The water wasn't super clear and there wasn't many fish. Intrepid did see two turtles from the dinghy while we were going home though.
Our buddy boat Chez Nous came this morning with 1.5 tons of food for the town. They got 5 local boats to come out and pick it up and get it to the beach, which was a great community effort since this town only has one boat at this harbor. Yesterday Courage made cinnamon rolls and we brought them to the clinic. The school's headmaster was there with his son and he said, "Anything but kasava!" That is their local root, like yucca (I think it's the same), and most people are surviving on that right now all day every day. A few papaya trees have fruit hanging, which seems odd that they could survive 100+ mph winds on those flimsy trees, yet other larger, more solid trees were devastated. And the landscape was destroyed in patches. I don't understand exactly how that happened. I would think it would hit like a sweeping arm clearing everything in its path, but it was more selective than that and in a very unclear pattern.
Our clinic was successful, lots of people with muscular pains since they have been working very hard this past month. Kim was working all day, and this morning while they offloaded the food, a panga came to get Kim for a few more people that wanted adjustments. She was their favorite provider ever!! A few very interesting cases of cerebral palsy, jaundice from a metabolic enzyme disorder, probably episodes of SVT, and likely TB. One patient apologized to us that everything was in such shambles. "This is such a beautiful place usually."
Courage and Steffan met a man onshore who lost everything. He, his wife, and their 5 kids were sleeping in a lean-to type thing while he was rebuilding their house. But they lost everything in their house. When offered things, he'd state, "I'm not asking." He used to have a spear gun to go fishing for food for the family. Courage gave him his old one and said he was sooo happy. It must be hard to rebuild and resupply with no stores. Where do you get new pans, bedding, clothing? And with what do you get it? You grow your own food, but that has been wiped out right now also. The houses are made of natural materials (and nails if you are lucky). But cloth?
Usually Port Patrick can sell food to Anghowat. But usually Anghowat has money from cruise ships. Fortunately this is a hardy group of people and they do not live by "stuff" or judge each other by what they wear or what they have.
After offloading Chez Nous and snorkeling (and Kim being called to shore for an impromptu back pain clinic), we left Aneityum and headed to Tanna this morning. Upon arrival here, there was a warm greeting by the locals! It's a cute bay - Port Resolution.
Just above us is an active volcano!!!! We saw smoke on the horizon as we were coming to the island. There are steam vents that become visible on the hillside, and some areas of boiling up water along the rock cliffs. The coconut trees appear to have their leaves, but on the shore coming in, it appeared all the rest of the underbrush and trees were dead otherwise. They knew we were coming due to our coordinators, so we have a gathering on the beach at 8 am to get oriented. The population here is relatively small, don't think we're doing a clinic here, but of course if someone needs something, I think they'll know to ask.
My dream is to go up and see the active volcano! Seeing active lava has been on my bucket list for quite some time! Integrity too! We missed the one in Tonga so are quite excited to see what tomorrow holds for us! Then more of the population is on the other side of the island, which is the windy side and was hit harder. It's a rougher anchorage and the winds are picking up in the next week, but we may try to either take a truck or take the boats over there. I understand they have a doctor, but have had foreign doctors here working with him until last week. We will see if he wants/needs help.
A nice organization, Samaritan's Purse, was the one who bought the 1.5 tons of food aid for Port Patrick that we delivered. They apparently were the first ones here with a plan and are organizing the recovery efforts for the Tafea group of islands (where we are now). They are headquartered here in Tanna and have a truck in Lenekal. They were suggesting maybe we run a portable clinic to the outlying villages with them in the truck. That could be fun and interesting, and maybe more useful than making them come to the hospital. We are staying flexible and seizing opportunities as they come. For now, sleep is the great opportunity ahead!!
Shannon
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