Down the Back Stretch

One Last Week Ahead

I use the horse racing analogy not because of any fierce speed on my part; it is the time that is racing...  "Do not go gentle onto that good plane..."   or so said the non-guitar playing Dylan.   I am running as fast as I can to complete all I set out to do, but I fear I'll have a "DNF" posted.   This is probably how I feel every year. (And if I listened to what I tell my students, I'd go back and read my old blogs to see.)   Almost none of the uncompleted stuffs are related to needing more money. I realized a long time ago that I would never ever be able to give enough even with my small focus of the nursing school and St. Ann's -- things like the outdoor playground for the girls at St. Ann's.  The new basketball backboard is up and the girls really enjoy it and we have balls... However, it is really hard to change routine.  When I was at St. Ann's Thursday afternoon, it took over 30 minutes to find the key for the locked playground.   The girls had not used it since we left on Sunday. It is not that the sisters and matrons don't want them to play; it is not thought about, as it hasn't been done before .....  changing behaviours is slow work .....   I really would hate to see it sit locked for months .....  Dennis and I will be back to St. Ann's a few more times and keep kicking the can, but even if I stayed till Christmas some stuff would still not be changed .....  The good news is that if I get back next year, I will know where to start as the same problems may still be there!

Mental Health and Psychiatry

Last week the Graduate Academic Committee of the Graduate School of University Guyana approved the offering of the degree Master in Medicine, Psychiatry.    This was the last big hurdle before there will be an official Psychiatry Residency Programme in Guyana.   There is a more formal committee for the university but they almost always accept the working committee's recommendations.   A few of my colleagues deserve the credit for pushing this through - Drs. Bhiro Harry and Jorge Balseiro who did  all the research and document preparation for several long months.   It also had the support of the Dean of Health Science, Dr. Emanuel Cummings, and the Dean of the Medical School, Dr. Madan Rambaran, all of whose experience with University Committees were essential.   I had the privilege of attending the meeting as a "Visiting Expert"... I really think I was there to just add some colour.

Guyana is still number one in the world by population for suicides ..... and as you know if you read the papers online or even my blog, the events that scream the need for better mental health in the Guyanese community are the daily occurrences of spousal abuse, violence, etc.  There is now a concrete though long term approach to treating the most difficult mental illnesses.    Four general practice doctors will begin the three-year programme in the new year.    It is uncanny how one positive development can have the power to dispel the darkness.

This is probably from Confucius.   However, is also
the saying of a group from Maryknoll that I joined in 1964.  (Dennis as well.)

As much as I love psychiatrists and think they do wonderful things, I know that the new programme is only a tiny part of improving the mental health needs of the country and the delivery of services to the sufferers from mental illness.    There are other initiatives both by government and private groups, including faith groups.

Last Sunday, I was invited by the Youth Group of Holy Rosary to talk about suicide prevention and mental health.   Mental health needs are being brought to the forefront of public discussion over the last two years.    I am optimistic there are much better times coming in these areas.

More Mental Health

The new Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton, liked the idea of a National Mental Health Institute -- a separate place that would be the focal point for all Mental Health Services in Guyana, much like the Caribbean Heart Institute.  Recently, they have purchased two buildings near the hospital that will house the psychiatry outpatients, provide teaching classrooms for the residents' and medical students' rotations in psychiatry, a community reference library and meeting rooms, and the main office for the Mental Health Unit of the Ministry of Public Health.

Setting for the National Mental Health Institute (in progress)
on Quamina Street.

Leslyn Holder,
the new National Mental Health Coordinator.

We have a new National Mental Health Coordinator, Leslyn Holder, who is getting organized and presenting the first ever budget for Mental Health.  A costing accountant has detailed the costs of implementing the National Mental Health Action Plan 2015-2020.

Lots more good stuff is happening, including the third trip to Guyana of the Canadian Mental Health Team whom you an find on FB at:  Transforming Guyana's Mental Health System. Old timers Peter Kuhnert and Ram Kalap will be joined by first timers Lance Morgan and Shrenik Parekh.  They are here to finalize goals for the next 3 to 5 years.

Peter last year

Ram and John last year

Your Tablets and their Stories

The generosity of those who have little amazes me again and again.   When I was getting organized to come down, I had asked Elsie Asabere, the Director of the Nursing School if she could identify all the new first year students who had a device that could access the internet.   She wrote me back that there were only ten who did not have a tablet, laptop or phone; so I bought 20 tablets with donated funds.

However, when I got here there were 15 who did not have anything and a few more whose units were not really very good.   So I said that as I had planned to give five as photography contest winners to girls at St Ann's, could they decide among themselves which 15 students would get a tablet?  I was willing to just have two photo prizes if they needed more than the 15.   When I returned there were only 15 in total who needed a tablet ..... because, they told me,  the girls at St Ann's needed them more.  More?  I was amazed at their cooperation and generosity towards others.  

Well, I have run out of time to do the photo contest ..... so I decided to see which first year students really needed a tablet right now.  I knew two second year students had had their tablets from last year give up the ghost and they had no money to get another tablet ..... but the first year were my priority, so I asked who really needed a tablet.  (Some had little phones that could access the net, but I couldn't read them even with my glasses.  So I said that I had four extra ones now (I knew someone who really needed one in second year) and we would draw lots for who got them.      The next day I brought in some blank sheets to do the draw... And the class had decided that there were only really three students who needed the tablets and I could use the other for someone who needed it more.  More?

Another first year student came to tell me that a quiet student needed the last one... So I said, Fine send her in.   She arrived at my room and told me she had a phone but the charger was broken and was waiting for some family to come at Christmas to bring her a new charger ..... and in the meantime, she would use a batchmate's on class days.    She did not need it.   And she did know of one second year student who needed it more.  More?

I do not want them to sound like Mother Theresa - or else I couldn't yell at them when they gave a stupid answer (yes, I know there are no stupid questions, but there are some incredible answers) -- imagine yelling at Mother Theresa!   However, they are gracious, kind and generous... amazingly generous.   Next year, I will get everyone a good tablet - with your help of course...  I might even roll the donations to my beer fund into it as well.   I do know what more is...

The National Flower is Becoming Endangered

The government has banned the sale and use of styrofoam at the start of 2016.  The white food boxes have littered the landscape from ocean and canals to trees.   An amazing move!  And as usual, I have been ahead of my time:  I have been having my meals here in plastic reusable containers since Maria Kidner and Jane Greiling made me, back in 2003 (and as Kristin did many years ago in Dundas). Actually, they shamed me into it and -- and then they never came back to check .....   And today I have the same ones ..... though they have gotten stained over the years so the kitchen staff always ask me, "Have you cleaned these recently?"

Dennis is getting ready to leave the day before me, but not before packing his parachute and one more pink umbrella drink at Frenzy's Bar on a Saturday Morning...   He tells me that those umbrellas are nothing to laugh at as they are big chick magnets ..... Anyhow, the "chicks" get their laugh for the day....  All kidding aside, I will miss him.

Dennis will write next week's blog and I will probably finish up the following week.. Thanks for sharing our adventure - John, Dennis and Emilee.

The Big Surprise... [drum roll, please]

Dr. Emilee Flynn Arrives

On Monday night, Emilee arrived in Guyana.  Emilee has been trying to come to Mercy Hospital for about a decade to see and work with me.   Yet for one reason or another, could never get here.   Now she is so important, a distinguished senior paediatric resident at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in Philadelphia, that I am really just helping her.   I have known Emilee ever since she was born.  She is the oldest child of my sister Monica and her husband John Flynn (I think he's also a doctor  ).   It has been many years since I actually have seen Emilee in person, so it has been a great time to catch up with her life and living... and get some new and embarrassing stories about my sister which I'll be able to use the next time the clan gets together.

Emilee has matured into a wonderful woman and sensitive paediatrician -- and she has been on the go ever since she arrived.   Emilee is interested in practicing medicine in some developing country after she finishes her residency this year, so is here to look at how children are cared for here and has accompanied a local paediatrician Dr. Malika Mootoo on her rounds and clinics for a couple of days.  When she returns she will team up with Dr. Rohan Jabour another long-time paediatrician here, as well as a new (to Mercy) Cuban Paediatrician Dr. Rosa.   

In the middle week she is travelling to Linden and then back to GT to lead a programme on Helping Babies Breathe -- a course in neonatal resuscitation.   

Emilee is walking around the Bourda Market.

with Dolly  Karran
who has a stall at the market
 and is an old friend of mine. 

I have gotten her out in the city walking around. Don't worry, Monica: she had me and my awesome strength to ward off any muggers.   As well, she has been helpful with the PBL course and other classes.  In fact, I was going to cancel my afternoon class and walk Emilee around the city; however, the students so wanted the chance to talk with her about her life and becoming a paediatrician that they begged me not to cancel.   I did not realize how much of an embodiment of their dreams Emilee represents; she is a symbol of the kind of person they wish to be.  Emilee gave them a chance to see themselves in the future .....  and for a few moments it was close enough for them to taste.  

Of course we went to St Ann's (see slide show at upper left); she also met my friend Dr. Bhiro Harry and attended several planning meetings at the Everest Cricket Club where she enjoyed some Banga and Shark as well as Plantain Chips.   She watched Bhiro and me imbibe a few drinks and she stuck to water.   Georgia, Bhiro's wife, invited her to their home for dinner.  She met Indira who is Bhiro's and Georgia's favourite daughter and a doctor who is pursuing further education in psychiatry to be able to help cure her father ..... and their favourite son Pravesh who is a dentist.

Emilee came to a Mental Health and Suicide Prevention meeting with the local press corps and the Minister of Public Health, Dr. Norton.  She was introduced as part of the team of technical specialists working for the Ministry!

It is good to have her here; I have been honoured by her wanting to visit me and see my life here.   I am sure she will be in more of these blog posts, but for now - enough.

My Health

I have been recovering from my cough etc., and now feel only about a decade older than I actually am .....  I went of my own accord to see Doctor Devi who lives in the flat next door and who has been checking on me every time she comes or goes.   She put me on a bag-load of pills and tonics and home-squeezed fruit juice! Now I do feel well -- and I hope this means that I won't get my usual bronchitis after I get home.

A New Ambulance for Mercy

A colleague, Chris Klaffs, who has been coming to Guyana for many years and is from the Florida Synod of the Lutheran Church has assisted her friend, Pastor Mike Mielke who lives about 30 miles from her in Florida and has the great Wilderness Lake Church.  He has friends/family at Banks Distributing -- my beer company, eh?  He loves Guyana, and several of his congregation are Guyanese.  He and his church raised money for two ambulances -- and one of them is for Mercy!  This is a great service for the hospital and its patients.  Thanks!!

Some Thoughts on Receiving Donations

Here are parts of a recent email from Dennis LeBlanc who has been down for the last two years and is planning on being here again in October.   He had a reflection on asking and giving that I want to share.

Hi Jo'c,

Yesterday you wrote "I am always humbled by donations" . . . that is a word I have always felt and used myself. I carry all sorts of baggage about asking for money, but a couple people have pushed me beyond my self-imposed limits around "fund raising" over the past few years. I can't say it's gotten any easier, but I have tried to be a little more bold and creative (the tin cup routine never worked well for me) in asking for money for causes important to me.

This is the outdoor "playground" at St Ann's we are trying to improve.

When people give, I am still truly humbled by their care, concern, generosity and support. Well, I've had a lot of practice in humility lately! Today at the nursing home, three staff people came up to me (separately) and talked about the newspaper article and how they "wanted to help out a little". One hundred and fifty dollars ($150) later, I staggered back to my desk, overwhelmed by their words and gifts. It has truly been "a wonderfully humbling day"!  The total amount raised now is $704 (that's good 'ole U S of A dollars, not Guyana dollar value)!

Thanks for reading... More next week. John

except .....  does anyone know what this is?

"Light Dawns in a Weary World"

This post is written by Peter Kuhnert, a Lutheran pastor and medical doctor and Guyanese colleague.    He was a leader with both the 2013 exploratory mission and the 2014 Mental Health Team which worked in Guyana for ten days in October-November.  [They have a wonderful FaceBook page, "Transforming Guyana's Mental Health System".  Peter's message serves as an excellent reflection on giving flesh to the incarnating Christian Christmas message.   

Peter bends low to listen to a girl at St. Ann's 

********************************************

Three years ago, shortly after my first ever visit to Guyana, I was contacted by John.  He asked me if I thought we might do any kind of work together in Guyana.  I told John, emphatically, that I did not think there was any opportunity to do any work in Guyana.  There was no will, no energy, no finances, and no manpower.  There was no Spirit.  I suggested perhaps we talk again in one year.

Two years ago, a dimly burning wick began to splutter to life.  Perhaps a opportunity did exist for some partnership work to strengthen and support existing mental health services in Guyana.  John was now living locally in Ayr.  I had started working at Freeport Hospital.  We had met a couple of local psychiatrists who wanted to explore international mental health care in a culturally and religiously diverse context.  Perhaps this opportunity might bridge the partnership and development work of the ELCiC with that of mental health services, for the betterment of life for the whole people of Guyana.  Perhaps.  Certainly, there was enough enthusiasm to plan a needs assessment visit and begin some relationship development.

One year ago, October 2013, Ram and Brenna and Sujay and I joined John in Guyana for a week of site visits and meetings and discernment. We were graciously received by Dr. Bhiro Harry (Georgetown) and Dr. Mayda ( New Amsterdam), and by the minister of health, Dr. Ramsarran. We saw much and heard much and clearly saw the need for a sustained mental health initiative to support good people and hard work already being done with absolutely minimal resources.  Few in-patient beds.  Few trained staff.  No budgets.  Limited medications with only variable availability.   The needs seemed overwhelming. Yet the Spirit began to blow.  The candle burned brighter.  We knew we would come back.

The past year has been a year of planning and preparation.  An excellent slide show about our 2013 trip, courtesy of Sujay and Brenna, began to peak interest in this initiative amongst the local mental health staff at Grand River hospital, Homewood health centre, and the Kitchener Downtown CHC. Who would have expected that when we called a planning meeting, in March,  for those interested in a self-funded mental health trip to Guyana in October 2014, over 40 people would attend!  And over 20 would commit to this 10 day project!

The Canadian Mental Health Team at the Farewell reception
hosted by the Minister of Health

The project itself was a huge success.  19 individuals divided into two teams, working in both Georgetown and New Amsterdam.  The number of initiatives for  this 10 day trip was astounding. The re-introduction of life-saving ECT technology to the New Amsterdam hospital.  Clinical visits to community hospitals in Linden and Suddie ( including an awesome speedboat ride across the Essequibo river).   Opportunities to teach physicians and nursing staff at both Georgetown and New Amsterdam.  Community education initiatives about mental health during each of our community tours.  Relationship building opportunities with the ministry of health, the University of Guyana medical school, and the schools of nursing in both Georgetown and New Amsterdam.

Dr Bhiro Harry continued with his
on the ground leadership for our team.

Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, the Minister of Health provided
excellent direction and support for our team.

Perhaps most impressive, has been the high level work that John has participated in, to help create a national mental health strategy for Guyana.  This is coupled with an ambitious strategy for the creation of a bilateral university partnership to bring bring post-graduate psychiatric training to Guyana.  This would be a first step to creating a national human resources strategy for mental health that might eventually include nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, and chaplains.  The wheels of future possibility have already begun to turn.

Chaplain Ram Kalap was a leader
on both the 2013 and 2014 teams.

Sujay Patel and Peter celebrate the fulfilment
of all their hard work over the last two years.

What a difference a couple of years has made!  Initially, there was no hope.  There was no kairotic time- no time for illumination and transformation.  But slowly, ever so slowly,  light has dawned.  A dimly burning wick has begun to burn brightly.  Hope is being reborn and a spirit of possibility  is beginning to take hold. What began with the question of one, " What can we do in  Guyana?" has been echoed by the voices of 19 others and the possibility of systemic change is becoming real.  Systemic change for the betterment of care for the whole

people of Guyana.

What is more Christmas?

...than bringing Joy to children.

Thanks, John, for risking asking the initial  question.  Thanks, John, for nurturing hope in your own unique manner.  You have helped open our eyes to the possible.  You have inspired us.  We are grateful.

John amazing the Cuban Psychiatrists
 with his command of Spanish.

Thanks for being a blessing. Looking forward to being your partner into the future.

Peter Kuhnert MD MDiv 

***********************************************

Thanks, Peter.  I am humbled by your kind words.

PS: I have a few more themes for this blog, but I have returned from Guyana to develop my usual cough and cold. I am feeling better today.  I especially want to post the pictures and stories from the "2nd  Annual Father John's Photo Contest.'

Have a Blessed Christmas and let you light shine...

Canadians from Suddie to New Amsterdam

The Canadian Mental Health Team Returns 

Yes, and more of them!  This year there are 17 professionals who have joined Peter, Sujay and Ram [Brenna stayed home as she is in late pregnancy] who were here last year on an exploratory trip. If you wish to look back, see  Peter Puts Pen to Keyboard, November 1, 2013.

Actually, we got an early warning that they were coming when one of the team members called their hotel here on Saturday night to confirm her reservation, only to discover that only about half of the team was booked.   Many of the hotels have web sites here and have on line reservation forms; however, whether they are ever looked at is a different question.  A little experience of  "Welcome to Guyana" .....   They had visions of arriving  at 2:00 AM from the airport with no room to sleep in -- wandering the streets of Georgetown.  And my "ever-helpful roommate" Sylvia was walking around our flat deciding how many mattresses we could accommodate here!   She finally figured that she could get them all in here, but Dennis and I had to sleep on the boxes in Materials Management next door.    

Well, Peter was able to book another hotel before Leiota from the Ministry of Health got even more rooms. They were met at the airport and brought safely to their rooms ..... at the two hotels.   And that was not the only expectation that was not met ..... The lectures were postponed.  The meeting with the Minister of Health was cancelled in order for him to address the Ebola situation here, and make the usual political speech about how well prepared Guyana is.   The Minister of Culture had been called out of the country, so the press conference was much smaller than expected and all the cameras were involved with the Ebola announcement..  

I had made a solemn vow before any god I could remember that I was going to stay at a distance and just observe from the sidelines as I already thought I couldn't finish what I already had on my plate; and besides, Peter, Sujay and Ram were veterans!  It didn't last, and my neurotic-messianic disorder came to the front when I realized that they would be doing nothing for most of their first afternoon in Guyana.  So I volunteered to do a small tour of Georgetown -- St George's Cathedral, the tourist trap crafts lane, National Museum and the Seawall.  Well, by the time they had decided to go and we had a bus ..... The Cathedral and Museum were closed, and I don't think anyone bought anything at the craft shops.  So we walked over to the Market area near Stabroek and wandered through the crowded and dark stalls.  (I think they became aware that they were really a minority.)   Then, we took off for the ocean and the "beach" at the Seawall near the Bandstand.  And, thank God, the ocean was still open! 

The women excited to see  Guyana's Beautiful Beach...

The Team had planned an opening meal and Dennis, Sylvia and I got invited to join them.  It was a great meal and good fellowship and a way to put some of the start-up problems behind them -- perhaps.

What is more Guyanese than Indian Food?

  






The End of Day One

Tuesday morning saw Team 1 and Team 2 get on their way to New Amsterdam and begin their work at the National Psychiatric Hospital re-introducing an Electroconvulsive Therapy Clinic.  However --  and this is a screw-up even beyond the usual Guyanese screw-ups ..… No machine, no electricity in the room, no AC for the delicate equipment, no security (read: door lock), no anaesthetists, no patients with depression, no knowledge claimed by the CEO nor Dr. Maida, the psychiatrist, of their arrival, no recovery areas, a visiting surgical team scheduled at the same time which seconded all the NA anaesthetists, the hotel gave their rooms away -- ETC.  Yes, it's all true!    

This project had been in the works for months, and the machine and supplies had been shipped and arrived in the country.    I might call Sujay thorough!  He and his team had developed teaching materials, manuals and guidelines for ECT administration, proper use of anaesthetic, nursing care pre- and post-therapy, how to use talk therapy as a co-joint intervention, patient and family education materials .....  His team put in hours and hours of preparation.   The ECT programme is what the government and Dr. Harry had asked the team for last year. 

I am glad that I wasn't in New Amsterdam when they arrived ...  But to my amazement and to the huge credit of my colleagues, no one turned homicidal and they went about planning how to be effective with almost every expectation unmet.  Canada should be proud of the professionals who come to foreign lands and represent the best of the Canadian Spirit -- though I do not think they went as far as making a Canadian apology for the inconvenience they caused!

In the end -- or really just a few days later -- the ECT machine was found and a place was secured for it at the General Hospital in New Amsterdam and Sujay and his team began training health professionals.   The Ministry of Heath worked very hard to correct any earlier problems.   It did add weight to my adage:  you need to be here face-to-face to achieve what you want to get done.  It is just how it is  -- and why the country finds it difficult to move from a developing country to one which is more developed.

Next:  Peter's team got left behind.  Or no, not exactly.  On Tuesday, the members accompanied Dr. Harry to his outpatient clinic in Linden ..... They ended up being surprised by 40 or so nursing students and staff who were there for a half day workshop on Mental Illness and Suicide Prevention...  And before any of them could find a  suitable weapon, Dr. Harry had left.    And again the amazing resilience of these Canadian professionals, including Sylvia, meant that they took a few minutes, regrouped and presented a well-received workshop.   When Dr. Harry reappeared, he tried to "kiss and make up" with a large lunch!  

On their way back to Georgetown by bus, the team saw a pickup truck roll over -- and just like in the movies, Dr. Upe, who had all his medical supplies with him, and Nurse Naderia, jumped out of their bus and started to attend to the two people in the truck.  This had to be the world's record for the quickest accident response time in Guyanese [and maybe Canadian] history!  

Back at the School of Nursing, Dennis led both of Tuesday's classes by explaining the students' Myers-Briggs  Personality Profiles.  He gave the tests to them last week and had spent most of his time since then in scoring.   It was a great exercise in self-reflection and maybe the first time that they had looked at who they were in such depth.     


The girls were so advanced that
he upgraded his class from Relationships101 to 102




 



A Special Wuzzle for Dennis.
I had to save it for someone
to whom it applied.

He also had the class get in touch with their "Poet Within" in homage to
Robin Williams' Really Dead Poets Society.   

 Mercifully, The End of Only Day Two.

Day Three would see me return to my vow of just watching... However, I had only printed off Revision 37 of their suggested schedule and failed to notice Revision 49:  Team 3 presents to Mercy Nursing Students at 9:30 .....  Okay, I am Canadian:  if they can cope, so can I.  We cancelled Problem Based Learning for that day, had another teacher give me her class time, and arranged for the second year students to be there, for which another teacher gave up her time... And Upe, Naderia and Paige did an excellent job of presenting "De-stigmatizing Mental Illness".  The students had lots of great questions as just about everyone in Guyana has been touched by mental illness or a suicide.   At least, we would return to "normal" on Thursday .....

That evening the Ministry had rescheduled the CME talks for 6 pm at the auditorium of the National Public Library.   Would I go or not?  I was really tired ..... and the event was not publicized anywhere that I know of .... so Sylvia and I (Dennis was still at the Bosco Boys' Home) went, fearing that no one else would be in the audience ..... Upe talked about the "Elderly and Mental Illness" while Peter presented on "Psychotropic Drugs During Pregnancy".   Actually there were more than 30 doctors in attendance and all appreciated the presentations ..... and Sylvia and I managed to stay awake.

Mercifully, The End of Day Three

It's never "normal" in Guyana ..... The Wednesday's Team had such a great time at the Nursing School that the other half of Peter's Team was now coming on Thursday... And this was on no schedule .....  To shorten these tales:  Martina Power, Sinidu Shimells and Tammy Benwell met the same students and presented an overview of Mental Illness, highlighting Depression and also some Identification and Intervention with Suicidal Persons.    I hate to say this but the students may have enjoyed it more than PBL .....  The presentations were great and the students benefitted . 

There were two more lectures at the Library again on Thursday at 6:00... However, I was just finishing my St Ann's Girls "Bodies, Boys, Belief and Boundaries" course, scheduled to end at 5:30 but the girls kept me overtime till 5:45.  Martina had donated some t-shirts and since there were twenty of them I used them with the girls in my class.  [Some are in the pic.]  Thanks, Martina.  

I then faked an injury and went to my Everest Cricket Club, where there is no cricket ..... and took Dennis down the path of fun and self-destruction.   And then our "Dynamic Catholic" Course leader joined us incognito.   Even better than two more lectures!

Gratefully, The End of Day Four

Friday saw the local team head out to Suddie for an outpatient psychiatry clinic.   The best part is the speedboat ride across the Essequibo... especially in the afternoon when the winds are almost always stronger and the passengers always wet.   From what I hear it was a great clinic with lots of patients seen ...and no bad surprises. 


Today is a Day Off  
The Teams trade places and the NA team comes here and the GT team goes there till Monday.   One of the team members, Ram Kalap, is Guyanese and has a large family outside New Amsterdam who are hosting the whole team to a traditional family feast.   The unholy trinity here is not going as we are headed out on Monday to the National Psychiatric Hospital with the nursing students ..... and two+  hours one-way in a minibus is about all the fun I can manage.

The Team will be here till the early hour of 2 am Wednesday Morning when their adventure will be over ..... Dennis has another week, till Saturday.  And Sylvia is deserting me to go one a retreat to Barbados - white sand and blue water ..... for a week, while I am still here getting my points in the Kin-dom for dedication.   Just three more weeks till I and Sylvia finish for 2014.

This Week's Star at Mercy

?????????????

This is not because there are no more stars.  I just didn't get around to interviewing anyone...  Next week, maybe I'll have to have two?

Father John's 2nd Annual Photo Contest

This Week's Slide Show contains some of the thousands of pictures that the St Ann' Girls have taken for Father John's 2nd Annual Photo Contest.   I will put up only those that made the first cut for the category "Happy Face".  If you have a favourite, tell me and I'll make sure not to cut it when I reduce to just ten finalists.

Thanks for reading this far.
John [Rev]
The Team has a page on FB at: Transforming Guyana’s Mental Health System: A Canadian Initiative