What do a generator, 64 batteries, 2 water purifiers, a water booster pump, a water tower, a wall, an inverter, 2 washing machines, a fridge, a copier, a car, and numerous toilets have in common? The answer, regrettably, is that they all broke or had problems during our first couple months in Thomassique.
Unfortunately, diplomas in French and Biology did little to help us confront these pressing challenges, which heavily affected the daily functioning of the clinic and staff house. Getting things fixed in Haiti is no easy task. Repair supplies are rarely available in Thomassique. More frequently we'll have to go to Hinche (an hour away); Port au Prince (5 hours away); or sometimes even Santo Domingo (requiring a full weekend trip) to get what we need. There is also a shortage of skilled technicians in the region. We did our best to find solutions, such as using Klorfasil to provide the staff house with purified water, hiring local repair men, and hosting teams of American technicians to work on large issues. It became clear, however, that the clinic needed someone who could address these types of problems on a full-time basis. But who could handle this job? We needed someone who could fix a wide variety of things, from cars to doors to microscopes. The prospect of finding an individual who not only had the appropriate skills but also desired to spend a year in rural Haiti seemed slim. Thankfully, we found Brian Dierks!
Brian joins us from Fort Collins, Colorado, where he most recently owned his own bike shop. After volunteering with one of Medical Missionaries' earthquake relief teams earlier this year, he saw a posting about our need for someone to help keep the clinic facilities running. Upon reading the job description he quickly decided it was a perfect match for him, and accepted the position. Among other things Brian is an EMT, a commercial pilot, and a former lab technician. He is exceedingly well-traveled, having spent considerable time abroad, across 5 continents. Most importantly, Brian is an easy going but hard working individual who seems to capable of fixing virtually anything. He is already popular at the clinic thanks to his reputation as the guy who brought back electricity, and his culinary talents as a bread baker. Brian will be here for approximately a year, and is responsible for overseeing the clinic and staff house facilities. He will also be collaborating with us on the many projects and initiatives we run from the clinic. We couldn't be more excited to have him here!
For more information about Medical Missionaries, please visit www.medmissionaries.org.
