A Year in Perú

It's all Good News

2010-09-03T07:30:00.000-07:00

I am very glad to report some news that one of the clinic patients, Milagritos, received recently.....she is cancer free!!! Considering the odds that this girl has faced it is quite exciting to receive this news. One year ago she had a rapidly growing ovarian germ cell tumor (which weighed several kilos) and has been through surgery, scary nights in hospitals, countless needles and many rounds of chemo. Thank you to all who prayed for her and sent something in to the patient fund. A Dios sea la Gloria!!!

Also, I will be returning to Peru in December for a visit after a few hard months of school in Birmingham (Surgical Physician Assistant program). I have only been here for 2 or 3 weeks and have already learned un monton (a ton)! I am so thankful to be here, even more so after my time in Peru...I can't wait to get back!

In the meantime, you can follow more clinic news here, on the Medical Missions new blog on the Peru Mission website.

And I am collecting supplies to bring back with me at Christmas time!! Small gloves, hand sanitizer, Clorox wipes, any OTC meds..., parasite meds if you have those available to you! Anything is helpful!!

Peru Mission Print Bulletin for June....courtesy of my fellow intern Heidi!

2010-06-28T15:19:00.000-07:00

http://riseandcome.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/june-printbulletin.pdf

Back in the EEUU

2010-06-14T12:11:00.001-07:00

Well most of you know that I returned home safely from Peru about 2 weeks ago. I have been sick (bronchitis or something….but don’t worry, my TB test came back negative!) but am doing well otherwise. I am back living on Ivanhoe and started summer school at LSU. Also I have been getting ready to go to Birmingham for school this fall and filling out loan applications, medical clearance forms and all of the other necessities. It has been an interesting and busy 2 weeks….things have changed here a bit and on top of that even the things that are the same I just have a different outlook on them now.

I think one of the most important lessons I learned this year, or rather something that I have a renewed appreciation for are the innumerable blessings that I have been given. Everything from friends and family to water that I can drink out of the faucet and the hair on my head. Life here is so much easier and we are so lucky despite the things that life weighs us down with!

Un poco mas de Cusco y el Valle Sagrado de los Incas

2010-06-04T12:17:00.000-07:00

llamas and lambs on the bus...market ladies en Pisac

Sacsayhuamán
La Plaza en Cusco
Machu Picchu...it means Old Mountain in Quechua

Ollantaytambo...where the Inca Trail starts

Maras/las Salinas...the natural salt spring mine in Moray

Adventures at Ausangate

2010-05-24T16:45:00.000-07:00

Keller and I left Cuzco a few day ago (mainly because I was tired of western tourists...but also becuase I have wanted to see this mountain for over a year..) So we packed up our backpacks and headed out without plans for a bit of adventure. We arrived in Tinki in the afternoon. Tinki is the last outpost of civilization aka last flushing toilets and market. Freddy our bus driver recommended a family who leads the 4 and 8 day treks around the range. He dropped us at the door. We were told by Aurturo that his Dad (the guia) was in Cuzco picking up a group of Slovakians so we put out stuff up in a room and took a walk around town (aka 3 blocks up and down a single street) where we ran into the Presidente of the parks horsemen association. They have certain rules about entering the park with the intention of improving services and conserving the parks resources. There are hundreds of men in this group and they have basically self organised into a group that pays a multa of $86 or so (you could look at it as a tax..) which pays for maintaining the trails for the horses. which is vital to their clients saftey and comfort. and of course....the clients are the ones who end up paying it anyway right? and there really is no way around it since everyone is on board with the association. also they have agreed to not do trips for less than 4 days (you arent even supposed to enter the park). of course once I started to explain that we didnt have time for the trek he offered me a ¨special deal¨ of 2 days for 150 USD since he was the president. In the end though we went with Aurturo-the 15 y/o son of the guide whose house we were staying in. We couldnt have had a happier guide...he was trying to talk his Mom into letting him take us but she said he had school. Of course I chimed in that it was Friday..so we had two full days. After settling on 20 soles a day plus food we crawled into our dark cold room to sleep till 4 when we would head out...

We ended up walking for two days with Aurturo and his 11 year old friend, Clever, who lives up in the mountains. His whole family lives there and they have sheep, vicunas, llamas and horses...as well as trout which are grown in huge nets in a 'llaguna' nearby. Clever grew up exploring these lands and we had a lot of fun climbing around with them, fishing, and just taking in the landscape which is just breathtaking. We even found some gold and copper when we were walking the moraine up to the glacier! There were also hot springs to swim in. I have been in a few of these over the past year but this one had the best view by far!!! It was right at the foot of Mt Ausangate. After finishing the trek we got up early one morning and walked down about 10k to Tinki to try to catch a bus to Cuzco...while waiting we decided to go watch some local soccer games we saw going on and got there just in time to see the girls play! I have never seen girls play in sandals...and huge skirts like this! It was very entertaining!

Cuzco

2010-05-21T08:33:00.000-07:00

Well Keller and I are in Cuzco! We went to see Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley...it is beautiful here but all I want to do is go back to Trujillo!! I miss everyone and the thought of all of the despedidas and goodbyes that are gong on right now makes me a little sad! But we are here for 4 more days so got to make the best of where you are right!? I am going out to find some nice big mountains...that always makes me feel better :) More photos of MP and Cuzco are forthcoming...

Don Jose turns 81

2010-05-04T14:08:00.001-07:00

My morning started at 5 am when I got up to go with Kelly to the airport to see her off back to the states...I am really sad to see her leave but so thankful for her time here. I have so much respect for her and think she is an amazing girl! We are going to miss her smile and cheerful spirit!

After the airport, Dale dropped me off on the Pan Americana and I flagged down a taxi to go pick up Don Jose at his house out at the edge of Wichanzao. Unfortunately they recently put new (loose) sand on top of the old (sand!) road so we couldn't get to the house. I had to get out and walk to his house, get him and walk back to the taxi. Thankfully the taxista waited for us (although I am sure it was only because I promised him 4 extra soles). We got to the Hospital and met Patty who had been waiting since 6am or so in line for a ticket. We were still number 11! But as usual we went in first. Lets just say the urologist has mentioned...several times..that he wants to marry me. I don't have any idea where that came from!...Anyway after a few more lines to reserve and pay for appointments and pick up some path reports we were back on our way out to the Clinic where the staff was preparing a small surprise party for Don Jose. This is the 3rd time in his life that he can remember celebrating his birthday!

Paso a paso

2010-04-23T04:52:00.000-07:00

We are always learning something (even if it is from a chicken leg)! Today Julton gave a lecture on suturing. Most everything I had heard before (thanks to Mom and surg in the vet clinic!) but I did learn a new stitch!

Feliz Cumple Elías!

2010-04-11T16:11:00.000-07:00

Ana's big brother Elías turned 4 yesterday, so we went to his birthday party! When everyone was lined up to kiss the birthday boy (as is the custom) one little girl gave him the only present he received and the rest of the time he was trying to escape and run to his room to open it, hehe. So cute! Ana is now able to sit unassisted in a chair so she just sat back to watch the fun!

2010-04-11T16:00:00.001-07:00

Don Jose is getting out of the Hospital tomorrow at 11am. Kelly, Patty and I have been visiting and making sure he has everything he needs (countless pharmacy runs!). He is eating and feeling okay. He says he is ready to get out of there and eat a duck!

Post op report for Sr. Jose

2010-04-09T16:40:00.000-07:00

Sr. Jose is recovering….out of our 200 soles we raised we have 2.50 left. What a blessing! They shouldn’t order too much more. How awesome is that! 200 soles for a major surgery and 2-3 day hospital visit. Although its not plush….shared rooms, have to bring your own TP, water, towel, blanket, chair for the caretaker, thermometer, everything.
We read for about 30 minutes yesterday…anything that came to mind that I thought would be comforting and encouraging for him to hear. Then I prayed with him for a few minutes. I actually surprised myself by only stumbling over a couple of words …It is amazing what time and practice will do for language skills! Please be praying for his recovery that it would be swift and complete, also that his spirits would stay high.

Some sad news

2010-04-09T05:55:00.001-07:00

Sr. Leon passed away the other night. Don’t get me wrong, it is sad but I am glad that he is no longer suffering. I went and visited him at the hospital in the late afternoon on Wednesday and he passed away that evening around 8 in his sleep. When I went to see him he had his O2 going and his labs were within the norms, he was awake and conscious, we had a nice little talk and joked around a bit. He also had a visitor from the church there. When I got to the hospital at 7 for Don Jose’s prostate surgery I decided to pop upstairs first to check on Sr. Leon. I was a bit confused because I walked into his room (It’s a big shared room) and he was no where to be found! I walked out to go find a nurse and an women followed me out and asked if I had come back to visit him. I said yes, and she informed me that he had died last night. She was a very kind, Christian lady and told me all that had happened. I am really going to miss spending time with him, and reading and singing….but I know that he is resting now (and his feet are clean!) I believe this is better because I am not sure who would take care of him and bring medicines etc after Patty and I leave. Patty was so great yesterday….while I was with Sr. Jose who was in surgery she went to Wichanzao, found his family and came back to Regional with all of them and helped them with the long difficult process of getting his body out. She literally had to help put his body into the freezer at the morgue! I know that was a really hard day, but the family needed some support and I am thankful someone was there to help them throughout the entire process.

Hospitals, an all day affair/adventure

2010-04-08T22:53:00.000-07:00

I was literally in Belen and Regional (the two main hospitals in Trujillo) from 7am to 9 pm yesterday. I gave blood to a young girl who had her ovarian tumor removed (3-4 kilos!) and then went to help Patty get Don Jose internado (admitted) in to Regional for his prostate operation. It was an all day affair, but I am so glad that we are finally in! We bought everything that the insurance didn’t cover (115 soles…not bad eh?) We will be with him there the next few days. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it) Sr. Leon, our favorite diabetic, is also at Regional. I hadn’t been able to find him this week and now I know why, he has been in the hospital. They have him on O2 and he is clean at least. He has a lot of fluid in his lungs and has some labs pending, so we will see what they are going to do with him. As sad as it is, sometimes I think our abuelitos are better taken care of in the hospital than in Wichanzao. They have hot baths and warm food and nice nurses (well, at least they are young!)

Highlights of the day: winning the blood donation race t(hat bag filled up so fast!)A and rubbernecking with the Peruvians at some of the ER cases that came in (bloody, yikes!)

Happy Easter! and a bit of news

2010-04-05T11:51:00.000-07:00

We had a 14 yo patient with a 30 cm ovarian tumor removed today. We have been raising money and working on getting this operation for several weeks. She and her family came from the Sierra to Trujillo to stay with a relative in Wichanzao. She received a diagnosis for a growing mass in her abdomen. They came into the clinic because she didn’t understand the implications of the doctors diagnosis (Ovarian cancer) and the process that she would have to go through to get a surgery. Not only were we able to get all of her paperwork done, raise money for the tests and surgery, but also find blood donors for her surgery that was today! Her case is very advanced, and the prognosis is poor. But we have done everything possible to assist them in hopes that our humble service to them would point them to a Savior who can ultimately provide comfort to her and her family. I am going right now to donate another unit (her 3rd) of blood since we are the same type.
Also, for those of you who know the case of Ana, she is now able to sit up without assistance and can almost walk!! She has also FINALLY gotten her insurance so hopefully we will move forward with visiting specialists and starting other treatments! AND Sr. Jose is going to get his prostate operation Wednesday as well. Pray for these patients that they would continue to progress and heal...and that we would continue to serve them well! God Bless, and I hope everyone had a beautiful Easter...

Here is what you can do!

2010-03-31T16:55:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone-I hope you have enjoyed reading the blog, keeping up with my adventures, thoughts and stories. I was thrilled to come down here with all of my financial (and every other kind!!) of support. But if you ever feel that you would like to make another contribution to the work that we do down here, this is something you can do that will go to the people who need it.
Between interns, Peruvian friends and clinic staff we pay for medicines, operations and procedures. We currently have a small clinic patient fund (the one set up for patient needs...example: an older lady comes in off of the street and the Physician tells her she needs an x ray....lets say AP lat..Well that's about 40 soles. Say she just doesn't have it, and has no children to help her. Well, this is just for her) This fund just got cut from 100 soles monthly to 50. That’s $35.22 in USD as of the exchange rate today. That’s it! Some of you may wonder how can that be all that you have for patients?? Isn’t this a medical ministry? Aren’t you supposed to be doing these things and providing these services for free!?? Well the fact is we practically are. Our doctors are seeing patients for 3, 5 or 7 soles. Medicines in the pharmacy (many of them from the states) are cheaper and we often give them away. The money that is collected from these sources goes to pay the salaries of our Peruvian staff which as to date is about 12 people. The fact is if we gave absolutely free care to all (which we would love to do!) we would have to close our doors…and then we wouldn’t be able to help anyone. What this fund (and the constant collections we take up) goes toward is those expenses that are out of our control. For example an actual surgery for a patient in the public hospital could cost as little as s/3.50 (Yes! It is actually just the cost of the paperwork that you pay for.) Now that is for a patient who has public health insurance and doesn’t count the gloves, medicines, suture materials, central lines, taxi rides, etc. that you have to pay for. Or maybe it’s a 90 sole set of X-rays or a 200 sole ultrasound. Without these we cant make a good diagnosis and move forward with potential treatments, and some times our patients…especially the most needy ones or those who don’t have family just have to wait and deal with the pain and watch their conditions get worse.

The hours of waiting in the hospital or home visits are the perfect opportunities for us and the deacons of the church to talk with these patients. With subjects like death, pain and suffering often on the mind it doesn’t take long for those big questions to come up, often resulting in opportunities to discuss the church, the Gospel, and of course my all time favorite "So you Presbyterians are like, Catholics, right?” This makes a huge difference in their lives and really outside of the mission ad the church no one has ever (had the time or interest to) help these folks in such a consistent manner.
40 USD, 75 USD, 15 USD, 300 USD…Literally those are life or death numbers…please think about contributing to out patient fund. Even if it is only 20 dollars, that’s more than the monthly fund we have right now! I know it is something I will continue to do (even as I live on student loans!) Every person that receives help fills out a ficha socioeconomico (I cant remember for the life of me what that is in English! Something like an economic survey) and deacons from the church visit them in their homes to talk and confirm the reality of their situation before help is given. We never give these patients cash, but rather accompany them to the hospital or diagnostic center. All receipts are kept as well, so everyone knows exactly where the money is going! Please consider helping these folks out! I know that if the Peruvian employees at the Clinic can find a way to contribute you can to!

Checks can be sent to:

Christian Missionary Society
P.O. Box 53363 Knoxville, TN 37950-3363
Phone: (865) 684-4580
(Wichanzao Clinic Patient Fund written on the memo line)

Update on Sr. Jose

2010-03-16T16:21:00.000-07:00

I have written before about Sr. Jose, an elderly patient at the clinic that we have had for some time now. I have spent quite a few days (countless hours in lines!) at Hospital Regional-one of the public hospitals in Trujillo. (Think Earl K Long, just with less equipment, endless lines, Spanish, and sandy floors. yikes!) He had had an enormous hernia for months but his public insurance had expired. He had given up and was in so much pain from his assortment of problems. He had just settled into the fact that he was gonna die. He just wanted to see what palliative therapy we could provide...antibiotics, pain meds, anything. But Karina started on his case and got his papers updated at the Posta and since Dr. Pinas (Jefe de la Posta en Wichanzo-the local health clinic) is filling in in the Consultorio he just filled out the papers there. And so after obtaining a referencia we were ready to face the hospital. The ironic thing is, to get anything done you have to meet several conditions that are rare in sick desperate folks-patience, money, strength and knowing when where and how to work the system (that was a bit of a learning curve, but I got it now! For once being a 130 lb 22 y/o white girl worked in my favor!). But really....it wiped me out all that standing and waiting, and during the week of tests and papers that we had to work through. Even when there was a chair Sr. Jose couldn't sit because of his hernia and prostate issues.

The most ironic thing about this experience is that we assume that the poor have all the time in the world for waiting in lines. I mean they don't have anything else to do right? They are getting a "free" service aren't they? NO. Of all people the poor are those who can not afford to wait. Those 5 hours waiting to get a stamp were precious moments for cooking menus, selling newspapers, and collecting plastic or whatever else was the business of the day. There goes the days work for the family...now what are we going to eat tonight? And if you need an operation and have to miss a week of work... what then?

For folks like Sr. Jose these are real concerns. I know because 2 days after his operation I went to go give him a shot at his house only to find out that he had left early that morning to work! He is an 81 y/o man who has had an operation, has a Foley catheter and is traveling across town in crowded public transportation to Ermelinda-one of the most dangerous open air markets in town- to sell his 10 centimo caramellos (3 cent candies). After I chastise him, he gestures with his fingers to his mouth "Pero mamacita! Si no trabajo yo, de dooonndee viene esto? mi pancito?" (But little mama! If I don't work, where is my little bread gonna come from??) That's a great question isn't it.

Sr. Jose is going to get another operation for his prostate this week I hope. I am getting up early tomorrow to take him again and if there are beds we will do the papers, get him in a bed and the next morning they will operate. (Once you are 'in' they are quick! ha) The public system paid for most of the last one, we just had to buy a few things but basically when all is said and done...both surgeries, all of the pain meds, the Foley catheter, the malla (a mesh covering that prevents the hernia from reoccurring) everything will cost $200 USD. That's it. For 2 operations, care and food. You may be thinking why would you waste money on a little old man like that? He's gonna die in a few years anyway... Well yeah, but we are all going to die, and none of us know when. And there are tons of reasons. First of all this man has no other medical problems and apart from what is going on right now he could out work and walk just about anyone! (In fact on the way to his house this afternoon I found him in the bottom of the garbage dump next to his house emptying his catheter bladder. I had to carefully climb down there to get to him, its quite the slope! and not something you want to fall in :p) Also this has been a time to get to know him and his comadre (He sleeps in the front room of the house of a Senora who has two young girls...they have been friends for years and she helps him out, he gives her platita/a little money when he can) He has had an interesting life. He is from Cajamarca, where he remembers milking cows and making cheese. His mother passed away when he was 7, and has had 3 years of school. His only recuerdo (memory) of his father was when he slapped a sole into his hand early one morning in front of a bakery where he was drinking. He is thankful for the schooling he received because he said all they did was read books-and he says now because of that he can learn anything. In fact he is still learning. Patty has caught him reading his encyclopedia, one of the only things he owns. He has even surprised me with some English! (Sky is the latest word) It has also been quite the witness to him as well as the family he lives with and the whole block really (In Peruvian fashion they were all quite curious and nosy as to why we would want to do such a thing). We have had hours of conversations about the church, Jesus, what is the Iglesia Presbiteriana (haha #1 question...Yeah, Presbyterians..you guys are Catholics right??) and why we are here. What an opportunity for the Gospel, good theology, and good to our fellow man. Thank you all for supporting me and giving me the opportunity to be here. It has truly been a pleasure to serve this man, and humbling to be thanked by him, and to remind him that I am merely a fleeting instrument of God's grace here and He has a plan that is being worked out.
And as Sr. Jose says "En mi pobreza siempre me gusta la amistad. Deseo lo mejor para ti en tus estudios. Si pudiera abrir mi corazon, yo le daria a usted. Pero no puedo jaja. Cuando vas a clase en su primer dia de estudio en Alabama, acuerdate de mi..Millones de gracias."

It is worth the 200 bucks. That's 3 Friday nights of babysitting...nothing! I hope to find him selling cheap candy in the market a few years from now. If you remember, pray for us this week and the next because this operation is gonna be tough. Several days in the hospital...they do it old school here. No laparoscopy or lasers...cut it up, drag it out. Although I am sure they have a cute little abbreviation for that :)

**And btw another bit of great news!! I have been thinking for a while about how we can fund things like this for those patients that we have that are truly in need and dont have other resources. We had a Clinic/Church fund in Wichanzao of 100 soles every month (33 USD!). This is a fund especially for patients, nothing else. It comes from Clinic consults and med sales in the pharmacy as well as offerings in church. Its a start, but not nearly meeting the needs we see every day. Dale Ellison (my boss, jefe de la Clinica, fellow missionary extraordinaire) created a special account through the Christian Missionary Society that is tax deductible (Rebbecca will send you the receipt!). This money will pay for medicines, ultrasounds, blood and parasite tests, operations, you name it. I keep reciepts for everything we do so if you ever want to see where the money goes, it an open book!
So if its burning a hole in your pocket send it. ;)

Un dia un poco pesado...

2010-03-15T12:28:00.000-07:00

Today was a little tough for me...I feel great but there are just so many sad things that have been on my mind. First of all my family buried my Aunt Tare today. I am okay with it but just so sad that I will never get to hang out and laugh with her again...she was so great. I will miss you Aunt Tare!

The other thing today that is just breaking my heart is this little 3 y/o named Segundo (something like Junior). He has a few health problems (lactose intolerance, anemia, etc.) and at first glance you can just tell he is short for his age and a bit sickly and pale looking but oh so cute. His little eyes are huge! His mother left them a month and a half ago and his father has not been able to work because he has been taking Segundo to doctors visits and taking care of him during the day. As a single father with no friends or family to take care of his son their resources have quickly drained. His father came to us today with a list of analysis that have been ordered in hopes that it would be more affordable in our laborotorio. He had 11 soles and the bill--as much as we could cut the costs down still came out to 50 soles. So we all threw in and were able to get them paid for. But after talking with this man, I realized that he can not afford to keep his only son. Literally they would practically starve, much less not have money for medicine, schooling, and every other thing a child needs. And there really are not gov resources that help with childcare while the parents work for the day. There is hardly work enough for people here much less when they have a 3 year old tagging along. This man was literally crying and at the end of his rope. What can he do? He loves his son so much but is going to have to give him up. Thankfully we know and work with some folks who are at Hogar de Esperanza which is a private orphanage south of Trujillo in Salaverry. It is a wonderful place, and actually many of the children there are not true orphans. Their parents can not afford to keep them but do not want to put them in the public system. We are looking to see if perhaps he could go there for a while. He would be well taken care of and his Dad could visit on the weekend. This of course is absolutely heartbreaking...but at this point it is a matter of survival. This man is between a rock and a hard place. Please pray for us a we search for all of the resources and options we can find, and also that he would be able to make the best decision possible for him and his son.

Aunt Tare

2010-03-01T13:16:00.000-08:00

Please keep my great aunt (We call her Aunt Tare, but her real name is Henrietta McKowen) in your prayers this week. She has been in the hospital because she suffered a MI (heart attack) and now has several other problems (hernia, internal bleeding etc.) They can not move forward without exploratory surg, which they can not do with her in this condition. They are trying to keep her comfortable with meds, and that is all.
Aunt Tare is one of my favorite people in the whole wide world. I just love that sassy old lady! I don't have any grandparents anymore and she is the last of her generation in my family. I wish I could be with her now. We have shared countless laughs, secrets, jokes...she has been a real important person to me and I pray that she will pass peacefully. I know she is a Christian, and believe she will be received with open arms upstairs! My Dad told me that she is constantly surrounded by folks back home that are visiting her. I hope that they are not only reminding her of how much we love her, but also the love and grace that God has freely given to us through his Son...

Pucallpa!

2010-02-28T14:01:00.000-08:00

Pucallpa was so great! (minus the 26 hr bus ride!) aaaand to be a bit more specific we weren't actually working in Pucallpa. We stayed the first night there, organized and packed up all of the food equipment and supplies and loaded up two boats and headed upriver for 8 hours to a village of Shipibo Indians called Alfonso Ugarte. We set up our tents in a clearing on the edge of the village and some of the local young men helped set up showers (aka plastic stalls with garbage cans full of cold well water!) and they kindly macheted (whew..spelling?) the knee high grass in front of the school outhouses...which one of the girls would soon find out was full of bats down below! I believe the kids knew about it before hand but "forgot" to tell her...I think if anyone in the village wasn't aware before, they were after that scream. We smoked them out and covered the holes with platano leaves to circumvent reinfestation but trust me I was very cautious all week! Later cooked dinner, set up hammocks and got to know some of the locals before crashing. The next morning we got up early to set up clinic and I started translating only to find out that most of the patients didn't speak Spanish! They teach Spanish in the schools there but all of the older folks speak Shipibo. So to communicate our boat driver Wilfredo translated from Shipibo to Spanish. It takes 210 soles worth of gasoline to get a boat to Pucallpa and just to ride is 15 soles so most of the kids had never been to town. The village grows jungle fruits and imports them to Pucallpa by boat so many of the men speak Spanish.

I was walking around one morning and heard a chainsaw and went to go check out where it was coming from. All of the village men were building a boat...but the local carpenter was making the cuts with a chain saw!! They will use this boat to send the produce to market.

The experience working with this team was amazing, it was different than any other campaign I had been on. I was glad to have been able to go to Moyobamba (another jungle city---but up north a bit) on other occasions because I could recognize fruits, understand thick accents and anticipated the zancudos (big mosquitos!). I also very much enjoyed the opportunity to learn about this people groups way of life and culture. It was such a privilege to learn from and serve them although it also saddened me to see all of the damage that western culture has brought. I use the word damage because in so many ways it is the most accurate. Yes, modern advances have occasionally brought medicine, machetes, t-shirts and TVs. But it has also cut down the forest, destroyed the possibility of living life in harmony with the environment, and left whole generations bitter and feeling left behind by the rest of the world. But this is reality for the majority of the people in the world isn't it? Globalization doesn't make us all winners. We should look back in history at what has happened, but we must look forward as well as we work in the present to provide people the tools and knowledge to use their resources effectively...and also help them to look past this life to the hope that we know is in Christ.

You can find all of the pictures here in my Pucallpa album on Picasa

Ready for the Jungle!

2010-02-12T12:45:00.000-08:00

Well...I am ready to go!

Tonight I am getting on the first of several buses that will take me to a jungle city on the other side of the Andes-Pucallpa.

I will be helping/translating for a team of dentists and dental students from the LSU Dental School. I got a huge bag of vitamins, bottles of parasite meds, toothbrushes, other creams, meds, a BP cuff and my stethoscope. I don't think there are any medical staff going so hopefully I can hold my own.

Please pray for safety this week for all of us at it has been flooding all over Peru. Also for Lima that I will be able to find a bus and not have any problems with other folks who might not have the best intentions.

I'll update in a week or two!

When it rains here, it pours...

2010-02-11T10:41:00.000-08:00

Well at least the Trujillanos think so....but being from Louisiana I feel right at home! It has been raining all over Peru for the past few weeks. There have been billions of dollars in damage and countless people without homes or shelter. The tourists had to be airlifted from Machu Picchu. Water s/10 a bottle and crackers s/6. And I am still going to the jungle Friday...and they are definatly in the rainy season now...

The rain has come to Trujillo as well and the streets are flooded and everyone’s roves are leaking. Because we live in the desert most people were not prepared and their homes have suffered damage. Even the clinic, which the summer got its roof repaired, had a ton of water when we all arrived this morning. Everyone worked for two hours and eventually the rain stopped for a bit but we really need to do some work on the roof later today.

On another note...Terri and I just got back from a visit to Hospital Belen (a 500 year old hospital in the center of Trujillo). We went to the Pediatric ward to visit Dr. Florez who is a friend of the clinic Obstetrician, Sonia. Dr. Florez is helping us out with a patient in the CMP who needs some special attention. The inpatient pediatric ward was a little worse than I imagined. Having been in ER at Earl K in Baton Rouge I thought I had seen it all. Belen is a big important hospital in one of the biggest cities on the coast. I wasn't ready for bugs on the floor, water leaking from the ceiling (well…it is like that in all of Trujillo right now!). They had 2 ventilators and 2 pulse oxs for the whole floor. The other children that needed ventilators had a medical intern with bag in hand manually ventilating. That’s a normal reality. Every 2 hours they switch. This is a 24/7 job…. manually ventilating each breath. The hospital has no portable Rayos X so if they need that they have to move the kids (with all their equip) to the other side of the hospital to do it. There is one 14 yr old boy with renal failure who can’t get dialysis because the hospital doesn’t have it. Literally it’s not available. One thing he really needs right now central line catheter (7 French). Its 156 soles…that’s like 50 bucks. Insurance doesn’t pay for everything and if the family cant pay….then the kid just sits…and waits. The docs and nurses and interns sometimes get together and hacer una cancha (a collaboration literally cancha is popcorn which is a common snack here…its like everyone throws in a bit to buy the stuff) to pay for a drug or treatment. They literally only have 2 pulse oximeters for the whole ward which is sometimes 24 kids. Its not that these physicians are at fault…they are working so hard (manual ventilation…it doesn’t get tougher than that). Sometimes you just don’t have what you need and you just have to deal with it and do the absolute best you can. Unfortunately even with the best doctors this can mean a death sentence for a patient.

We are trying to see if we can come up with the funds to buy that tube, we are supposed to be going back soon to visit the neonatal unit and maybe do a night shift in Peds. Hopefully we can get the line for him, it’s just hard when you are surrounded by so many needs. Who do you help? How do you decide? We are working in the morning, lessons and devotionals together in the afternoon, taking patients places and running errands in the afternoon, then dinner and then go to Starbucks to get internet and do stuff at night. I havent gotten a good nights sleep in a week! Always fun stuff to do and its great but I am tired!

2010-02-09T19:01:00.001-08:00

As I have been here for a few months and gotten to know some of the folks in the community and patients in the clinic I have become a bit involved in there stories…visiting them at home and arranging doctors visits, formula, nail clippers or medicines. Whatever it is that they need help with. I have found the balance of trying to help but also maintaining a healthy distance difficult. For example, today I was asked to be the madrina (godmother) of a baby from Clementina that is going to be baptized Sunday (her picture is below). As much as it is an honor to be asked to take on a responsibility like that it one also has to think about consequences and motives for entering a relationship like that (on both sides). It is a big deal here. In this case I do know the family and am involved, but honestly don’t feel like I would be able to fulfill that role (or pay for the fiesta!!). Oh to be a gringa….

Speaking of being white, I have been painfully aware of my skin color, nationality and socio-economic status the past week or two. Perhaps it was highlighted by the team being here and all the attention we got out in the communities. The differences are pretty stark. I try not to be to cynical, and I realize that our countries are continents apart but I cant help but feel frustrated by the lack of educational opportunities/medicine or you name it. An example is Ana (see picture below). She has a number of serious medical problems (almost every one were preventable, and probably wound not have happened stateside) and because she doesn’t have insurance her case has fallen through the cracks. She has gotten lost in the system and shuffled about from one person to another. From the day of her birth until now a series of unfortunate circumstances and coincidences has led to her current situation…and red tape, time and money stands between her and a cure. Thankfully many Peruvians have stepped in and volunteered to get involved in her case! Private (and w/o insurance EXPENSIVE) pediatricians, an orthopedic specialist, and a physical therapist have waived their fees and seen her. But others aren’t so lucky…I wait for the day when we will be equal, all things will be new and the color of my skin wont get me any favors.

Here are a few that have been on my mind lately...

Ana
Señor Leon
Valeria Antoneli
Señor Jose
The thought of leaving in May saddens me because I am just really getting into peoples lives here and can actually talk to them and get to know them and now I am about to leave. But I am also excited to get back to the states and move to Birmingham and start school. I have so much to learn! I feel so blessed with all that I have been given and I hope that I am being a good steward of what has been given to me. I have been feeling for some of these folks lately. There are no magic fix-it buttons here in Peru...things take time and money and patience. BUT THE LORD has put so many people (peruvian and american) in our paths that are willing to help these folks. Together we are making progress with each one of them!

Salmo 9:9-10
9 El Señor será refugio de los oprimidos,
refugio para el tiempo de angustia.

10 En ti confiarán los que conocen tu Nombre,
por cuanto tú, oh Señor, no desamparas a los
que te buscan.

2010-02-09T12:43:00.000-08:00

Well the last few weeks have been packed! This week we had a team from Independent Pres in Memphis come and work with us. In one week this team of physicians, dentists and other medical personnel went to the barrios of Manuelo Arevalo, Parque Industrial, Wichanzao, Clementina, as well as a sugarcane farming community—Mocollope which is 40 minutes north of Trujillo. We saw hundreds of patients and had a great week working together. I had such a fun time translating (mostly with the dental team!) and hope to use everything I learned in another upcoming dental campaign that I will be involved in next week in Pucallpa with a team from the LSU Dental School.

FYI...algo sobre el Perú

2010-01-25T15:20:00.000-08:00

• Perú es el 1er. productor mundial de plata, estaño y harina de pescado. Es el 4to. productor de cobre, el 5to. de oro, y uno de los países líderes en pesca, gas natural, agro exportaciones, petróleo y minería.

Peru is the world's 1st. producer of silver, tin and fish meal. It is also the 4th. producer of copper, 5th. of gold, and one of the top producers of fishing, natural gas, agro exports, oil and minerals.

• La economía del país ha crecido un total de 24% en los últimos seis años. Solamente en el 2006 creció en 7%. Sin embargo, el 48-52% de los peruanos aún viven en la pobreza extrema.

Peru's economy has grown continuously in the last six years with a total of 24%. Only in 2006, it grew 7%. Still, between 48-52% of Peruvians live under extreme poverty.

• Perú es el 2do. productor mundial de cocaína. El problema de el narcotráfico no es la hoja de coca, la cual no es droga, sino la creciente demanda de los países compradores. La cocaína se elabora en un proceso químico, donde la hoja de coca es solamente uno de los ingredientes.

Peru is the world's 2nd. biggest producer of cocaine. The narcotraffic problem isn't caused by coca leave, which aren't a drug, but is the growing demand from consumer nations. Cocaine is made in a chemical process, where coca leaves are only one of the ingredients.

• Lima es una de las 25 ciudades más pobladas del mundo (8'630,000 habitantes en 2006). Es la más poblada de la costa occidental del Pacífico Americano, y es la quinta más poblada de Latino América.

Lima is among the 25 most populated cities of the world (8'630,000 habitantes in 2006). It is the most populated of America's Pacific coast, and it's the 5th. most populated in Latin America.

• Lima es la ciudad donde más gente habla quechua en el mundo, superando a Cusco, Quito o La Paz. Es la tercera ciudad donde más personas hablan castellano, después de México D.F. y Buenos Aires, encima de Madrid.

Lima has the biggest Quechua-speaking population in the world, beating Cusco, Quito or La Paz. Also, it's the 3rd. largest city where most people speak Spanish, less than Mexico, DF and Buenos Aires, and more than Madrid.

• El quechua es el idioma nativo-americano más hablado del mundo y la quinta lengua con más hablantes de todo el Hemisferio Occidental (Continente Americano). El pueblo quechua son los descendientes de la civilización Inka.

Quechua is the most spoken Native language in the world and the 5th. most spoken in the Western hemisphere (American continent). The Quechua people are descendant of the Inka civilization.

• La amazonía cubre el 50 % del territorio peruano pero sólo el 5 % de los peruanos viven en esa región. Esto podría cambiar gradualemente cuando se inaugure la carretera Interoceánica entre Perú y Brasil. Muchos ecologistas se oponen a este proyecto.

The Amazon forest covers 50% of Peru's territory, but only 5% of Peruvians live in that region. This could change dramatically when the Interoceanica highway between Peru and Brazil will be open. Several environmentalists are opposing this project.

• El 92% de los hombres peruanos y el 79% de las mujeres peruanas saben leer (alfabetismo). Las mujeres peruanas tienen una esperanza de vida de 72 años y los hombres peruanos de 68 años apenas.

Peruvian literacy rates are 92% for men and 79% for women. Peruvian women has a 72 years old life expectancy, while Peruvian men hardly reaches 68 years old.

• Perú tiene tres idiomas oficiales: el quechua, el aymara y el castellano, pero el gobierno peruano casi no usa los tres idiomas en sus documentos oficiales. Existe discriminacion contra los peruanos que no hablan castellano.

Peru has three official languages: Quechua, Aymara and Spanish, but the Peruvian government hardly uses them all on its official documents. There is discrimination against Peruvians who do not speak Spanish.

• Perú está dividido en 25 regiones o departamentos. La capital es Lima, donde viven 8 millones de peruanos (casi la 1/3 parte del total nacional). Cerca de 2 millones de limeños no tienen servicio de agua potable en sus casas.

Peru is divided in 25 regions (states) or departamentos. Lima es the capitol city, where 8 million Peruvians live (almost 1/3 of the national total). Almost 2 million of Lima's habitants lack of running water in their homes.

• Perú es el 6to. país más grande de América y el 19vo. del mundo. Incluye 1,285,220 Km.2 de tierras, 5,220 Km.2 de soberanía marítima y una costa de 2,414 km. Solamente el 3% del territorio nacional es usado para la agricultura.

Peru is the 6th. biggest country in the Americas and the 19th. in the world. It includes 496,349 sq. miles of land, 2016 sq. miles of marine territories and 1, 242 miles of coast line.

• Existen varias regiones naturales en Perú, agrupadas en ocho áreas principales. La geografía peruana es retadora, difícil pero fascinante y está definida por tres elementos principales: la corriente marina peruana, los Andes y la selva amazónica. There are several natural regions in Peru's geography, divided in eight main areas. Peruvian geography is challenging, difficult but fascinating, and it's defined by three elements: the Peruvian marine current, the Andes mountains and the Amazon forest.

• El 73% de los trabajadores peruanos trabajan en el área de servicios, 18% en la industria y 10% en la agricultura. El 75% no tienen derecho a formar sindicatos prohibidos por las leyes laborales peruanas, porque trabajan en pequeñas empresas.

73% of Peruvian workers work in services, 18% in industry and 10% in agriculture. 75% of them don't have union rights according to Peruvian labor rights, since they work in small businesses.

• Solamente el 18% de las exportaciones peruanas van a EEUU, mientras que el 36% van a otros países de Sur América.

Only 18% of Peruvian exports go to the US, while 36% go to other South American countries.

• La moneda de Perú es el Nuevo Sol (S/.) que vale 0.31 centavos de dólar de EEUU. El sueldo mínimo legal en Perú es de S/.500 Nuevos Soles osea $157 dólares de EEUU al mes aproximadamente.

Peru's national currency is the Nuevo Sol (S/.) or new sun, which exchange is 0.31 cents of a US dollar. The minimum wage in Peru is S/. 500 Nuevos Soles or $157 US dollars per month approximately.

• Perú está en la lista de países donde ocurre el tráfico humano. Mujeres y niños peruanos han sido llevados a Japón, EEUU, España y Venezuela para explotación sexual y laboral. La mayoría de empleadas domésticas peruanas trabajan más de 60 horas a la semana, por un sueldo mínimo.

Peru is included in the world's list where human traffic occurs. Peruvian children and women have been taken to Japan, EEUU, Spain and Venezuela for sexual and labor exploitation. Most Peruvian domestic workers work as many as 60 hours per week, for a minimum wage.

• Perú comparte con Bolivia el lago Titicaca, que es la reserva de agua potable más grande de Sur América, y el más alto del planeta. Bolivia es el país más cercano cultural y racialmente a Perú.

Peru shares with Bolivia the Titicaca lake, which is the biggest reserve of fresh water in South America, and the world's highest. Bolivia is the closest nation to Peru culturally and racially.

• En Perú existen 84 de las 104 regiones climáticas del planeta. Aquí viven el 20% de las especies de aves y el 10% de las especies de reptiles. Casi 13% del territorio nacional está protegido en Reservas Nacionales.

Peru has 84 of the world's 104 natural regions. 20% of bird species and 10% of reptiles. Almost 13% of the country is protected as natural reserves.

• Perú es parte de la región Andino-amazónica, la cual concentra el 20% de las reservas mundiales de petróleo, muy importantes reservas minerales y de gas natural, el 20% de las reservas de agua fresca y 25% de la bio-diversidad de plantas. La Amazonía es uno de los más grandes productores de oxígeno del planeta.

Peru is located in the Andean-Amazon region, which concentrates 20% of the the world's total oil reserves, very important mineral and natural gas deposits, 20% of the fresh water resources and 25% of the biodiversity of plants. The Amazon forest is one of the biggest producers of oxygen in the world.

• Perú tiene 7.646 hospedajes ofreciendo 131.624 habitaciones y 229.886 camas, en 26 hoteles de 5 estrellas, 26 de 4 estrellas, y 487 de 3 estrellas.

Peru has 7.646 hotels with 131.624 rooms and 229.886 beds, in 26 5-stars hotels, 26 4-stars hotels, and 487 3-stars hotels.

• Perú tiene 69 aeropuertos comerciales, incluyendo 10 destinos internacionales: Lima, Arequipa, Chiclayo, Pisco, Pucallpa, Iquitos, Cusco, Trujillo, Tacna y Juliaca.

Peru has 69 commercial airports, including 10 international destinations: Lima, Arequipa, Chiclayo, Pisco, Pucallpa, Iquitos, Cusco, Trujillo, Tacna and Juliaca.

• El mar de Perú es uno de los más ricos del planeta, debido a las corrientes frías del antártico que atraen el plancton, alimento de varios tipos peces. Sin embargo, 3 de los 6 puertos más importantes peruanos están en la Amazonia.

Peruvian sea is one of the world's richest in sea life, due to the cold currents from the Antarctic which attract plankton, a food for many fish species. Although 3 of the 6 biggest Peruvian ports are located in the Amazon forest.

• El calentamiento global está afectando directamente a Perú: un 22% de los glaciales de los Andes peruanos que existían en 1970, han desaparecido, según una agencia del gobierno peruano. Científicos de otros países han dicho que los glaciales peruanos podrían desaparecer para el 2015.

Global warming is affecting Peru directly: 22% of the Peruvian Andean glacials that existed in 1970 have disappeared, according to a Peruvian government agency. Scientists from other countries estimate that Peruvian glacials could disappear by year 2015.

Heat wave

2010-01-25T14:19:00.000-08:00

Well its hot. Really hot. Remember when you went to the beach as a kid and your mom always tried to get you to come inside between noon and 2 because it was the hottest time of day and the sun is strong (aka she didn't want to hear you whine about your sunburn for a week)? Well here that oppressive heat starts at 9 and ends at 6. And if she told you now you'd listen! And the worst is yet to come! I here it gets unbearable in February...we will see what that is like. If you get to the clinic early and stay downstairs in a room with a breeze and don't move all morning it is bearable. Its almost like we are living in a desert or something...

Oh and I covered an English conversation class today. Its was my first time to teach a class and the topic was leisure time (of course we talked about travel, climbing and farming/soil erosion in Haiti. Hehe. Conversations inevitably digress into the favorite subjects of the profesora!). The idea of teaching a class of 5 adults whom I didn't know seemed a bit daunting but the topic was an easy one. We managed to stretch out the exercises for the hour and they seemed to enjoy having a new English speaker to talk to. Its quite amazing how interested they are in everything you do or say. At last the perfect audience!

Jungle Love

2010-01-18T17:00:00.000-08:00

I came to Moyobamba this past weekend for the boda (wedding) of Janet and Ludving. (Ludving is my friend Lenny´s brother and Janet is the younger sister of my friend Sonia). It was so fun getting to help with the wedding and experience a bit of real life here instead of just visiting as a tourist. I am staying in Sonias parents house and really enjoyed getting to know her family (which is huge!) and learning all sorts of interesting jungle customs, jerga (slang) an other tidbits. This week I have gotten to eat so many new foods and fruit and learned how to cook a few things! :) OH and how to drive a moto/motorcycle!

I love visiting the selva (jungle) but need to get back to work! But right now we are stuck here because there is a paro (24 hr strike) nationwide and until that gets worked out we are going nowhere! We thought about leaving today with th tickets we had bought but that would have put us smack in the midle between Moyobamba and Trujillo sitting in a hot bus hungry and tired at best, and at worst well who knows. But apparently how it works is there is a temporary strike (paro) and if thinkgs get worked out everything goes back to normal. There are a few rocks thrown and some burning tires/road blocks but thats about it. But if it is longer its is called a huelga.

Back in Trujillo

2010-01-05T15:45:00.000-08:00

Well I am back here in Peru after spending Christmas at home visiting family and friends. I want to thank everyone who helped the Clinic with their donations...I got everything through customs (aduanas) with out paying anything! We can't wait to use the supplies, equipment and medicine that you sent. It really makes a difference...for example Dry's Pharmacy in Zachary donated Triple Antibiotic ointment among other things...we did not have ANY. So yes, things like that do make a difference!! Even small cuts here get nasty quick!

I got to spend New Years day eating with freinds from the clinic and went to Allen and Sandi Smiths later that night.
We celebrated the New Year using Peruvian traditions (reformed, of course!) It is Peruvian tradition to create a giant life sized "rag doll" (muñeco) of old clothes and fill it with anything flammable (fireworks too!) and set it on fire at 12 to welcome the New Year and leave the old one behind. Of course ours had a twist, we each wrote down a pecado (sin) that we burned with the muñeco and will (try!) to leave behind this year.
Also there are other traditions, such as walking around the block with a suitcase...doing this ensures that you will travel in the next year (I hope this one is true!) Everyone also eats 12 grapes...each one representing one month of the year to come and your hopes/plans/wishes for each!

More traditions por Año Nuevo:
http://www.demodaenperu.com/blog/2009/12/ano-nuevo-2010/

Ah and although both Christmas AND New Years have passed, the Plaza de Armas is still brimming with folks who come to see the Arboles de Navidad (Christmas trees) that diffenrent companies sponser and put up each year...I guess they want to get their moneys worth!

Sweet Home Alabama

2009-12-22T06:39:00.000-08:00

So I always thought that Alabama was just a place you drive through before you get to the beach...and of course there is that Lynyrd Skynyrd song 'Sweet Home Alabama'. Those words are gonna hit a little harder AND I'm gonna be singin 'em loud when I pack up and drive up to Birmingham next fall..because for those of you who haven't heard yet I got into PA school at UAB! :D

Poverty and the Poor. What it means to us, and what it means to them.

2009-12-02T16:09:00.000-08:00

My time here has really helped me begin to see the wider effect of poverty on our world and its direct consequence on the lives of people. A few months ago I had a very different idea of just what the word poverty means and how to “fix it”. I used to define this concept more as a material or financial deficit. However, my current definition includes words like loneliness, hopelessness and shame as opposed to a more material description. I am becoming increasingly aware that changing attitudes and patterns is something much more difficult and time consuming to fix.

According to a report published in 2008 by the United Nations about one billion people in our world today live on less than one dollar a day, another 2.6 billion (40 percent of the world) live on fewer than two dollars per day. Meanwhile the average American is living on an average of 90 dollars a day. What a difficult statistic to wrap your mind around. That reality is just so far from us, and it is hard to imagine. Often financial or medical issues of the poor have to be addressed, but I see these folks as having relational needs that are even more glaring. More often than not their poverty is the result of a series of broken relationships, promises or poor decisions. Deep generational poverty usually doesn’t result from one tragic mistake or disaster. This is something we can work to redeem...but that’s just it. It is work and it’s hard! It is much more time consuming to heal and change hearts, minds and relationships that it is to give a medical treatment, a new set of clothes or a tin roof.

God’s grace and mercy to us through Jesus Christ really changes people’s hearts and in turn begins to repair their earthly circumstances. Of course we all suffer from the consequences that sin has brought us but as Christians we have the power to begin to redeem our situations and relationships by inserting the concepts of the forgiveness, grace and hope that the Gospel gives us.

For some (not so light, but very interesting) reading:
Urban Poor in Latin America -World Bank

When Helping Hurts-A book on Poverty Alleviation. Don't let the title throw you...it a great book and is endorsed by the Chalmers Center. If you haven't heard of them and are interested at all in this topic you need to check them out. They have a great philosophy of ministry and a wonderful track record.

Fue un buen Dia de Accion de Gracias, y estoy feliz como una lombriz...

2009-11-27T16:38:00.000-08:00

Well it was a wonderful Thanksgiving! And yes, I am happy but maybe not quite like a lombriz (worm...its a Peruvian saying somewhat similar to "happy as a clam") :O

Speaking of worms, I have one for you...it is a tapeworm. Most commonly contracted by eating raw fish which in Peru is found in the traditional dish of ceviche This guy is over a meter long, and yes that is a cologne bottle.

I am currently assisting our Dentist, Angel (and no its not pronounced like you think! It's more like an-hell) for the next few weeks. But in between patients I go over to the lab to see if I can see anything interesting or learn something..like my newest skill...drawing blood!!

Thanksgiving was a bit more tame (minus our turkey...) All of the families and the interns of the mission (46 of us total) gathered in the Bakers home for our delicious feast and had music and a worship service afterward. Of course followed by a Thanksgiving Day siesta!

Mmmm!! Ha, this looks bad but don't worry the other one was much more presentable. Probably one of the prettiest birds I've seen yet. All the food was so great and it made me want to come home for Christmas dinner!

2009-11-11T19:25:00.000-08:00

At prayer group tonight we went back and looked at some of the prayer requests/struggles and praises that we intern girls (and Alleen!) have been sharing for the past few months. It was so incredible to listen and laugh at them all because in their own way they have all been answered. Those of us struggling with homesickness aren't too anxious to go home for Christmas because that means our time is halfway over! And others who were seeking time and energy to spend with our Peruvian friends have been going out with them to dinner and to hang out and talk. I had been praying about getting an interview at UAB for PA school and don't you know I've got one! December 14th....so now I am thinking about that and what it could be like if I got in. But if that doesn't happen I am completely content coming back home for a few months, working and then applying again!

I'll be home soon. December 9th. :) I'm excited about getting back and visiting with folks but I need to buy my return ticket for next summer, which makes me pretty sad! I love it here! I am content and I'm finding my place and purpose in the mission and working in the clinic is wonderful. I am so excited to see everyone though, I miss ya'll!

Long overdue

2009-10-21T09:46:00.001-07:00

It has been a few weeks since my last update....partially because I have been away from Trujillo and internet for much of it but also when I am back here I am exhausted and don't feel up to writing! I am sick right now and not leaving my bed which has left me no excuse but to update this thing and catch up with people (which I have been terrible about...sorry.)But apparently the Lord has now provided some time for me to do that ;)
Two weeks ago I went with a group of Peruvians and Americans from Larco Church to the region of Ancash in the Andes. Our purpose was to conduct a study and investigate the presence, influence and attitudes of people there towards the Church. We started our journey on the western side of the Andes near Huaraz, and later traveled to the other side of the Cordillera Blanca to the cites of Huari and Chavin as well as several other pueblos. The people group from this area are known as the Southern Conchucos, their main city is Huari which is at about 10,500 ft above sea level. Supposedly there are only 0.24% Evangelicals (about 700 total). The majority of the Roman Catholics (95% of the S.Conchucos) are cristo-pagan syncretistic. During our time there we took observations and talked to local folks in order to gather information. The week that we were there was during a festival so the towns were swollen with people and activity...we got to see some parades and costumes and all the folks in their best dress. We also went and met several missionaries of different evangelical denominations who are serving in the area.
I have to say that one of the most memorable experiences of the trip was a visit to a remote village outside of Chavin called Iscog. The pueblo is a few hours walking outside of the town and is only accessible by foot (or burro if your lucky). We started out from town accompanied by an caballero of 78 yrs of age...drunk as a skunk unfortunately but despite his age and condition (...ahem)he had no trouble with the terrain (unlike myself! I blame the altitude...) so we walked up up up the mountain passing through a few little stands of trees and homes with cuys (guinea pigs) and snotty nosed kids and drying hides. The valley was very dry and it has not rained there in months...a problem considering this is a herding and farming community. Eventually we reached the top and the school at Iscog but there was no one to be found at first except for a few curious kids who just wanted to play some ball with us. Everyone else was in the fields or with the animals. We had a young man who was wearing blue jeans and a graphic tee walking along and talking with us for a while. (Young people in the Sierra want to modernize and dress like Westerners...but they always stick out to me here because they are wearing rhinestone jeans and everyone else is in more traditional wear...often bright beautiful wool outfits for the ladies) Anyway eventually a man came down to talk with us for a while about the community and what they think they need. They have been desperately pleading for rain. We ended up in a circle...the Peruvians and Americans, even the snotty nosed kids. Everyone. We held hands and asked God to send rain. We asked in Spanish. We asked in English..and then we asked in Quechua too.

Wouldn't you know that once we left and started to walk back to town big fat drops started falling from the sky.

The same day we returned the interns boarded a bus for Ecuador to renew our visas. We stayed in Cuenca, Ecuador for a few days and also visited Cajas National Park (it hailed!!) before heading back across the border. It was a good time to rest and relax and get ready to go back to work. Although I have to say the 70+ hours in buses and combis over the past 2 weeks was starting to get to me!! :O If you want to see all my pictures you can always access them by by going to my Picasa albums.

He's out and about

2009-10-01T12:14:00.001-07:00

Terri and I went to find Sr. Leon today and found him in the market begging for some change. We wheeled him home and took his glucose changed him and talked for a while, then we read Psalm 121 which we also sing in church sometimes...he has been trying to teach us new songs in Spanish because we have been singing in English when Percy isn't there! Sr. Leon's vision is bad and he can no longer read but he was reciting the Psalm as I was reading (in my terrible accent!)

Salmos 121
1ALZARÉ mis ojos á los montes, De donde vendrá mi socorro.

2Mi socorro viene de Jehová, Que hizo los cielos y la tierra.

3No dará tu pie al resbaladero; Ni se dormirá el que te guarda.

4He aquí, no se adormecerá ni dormirá El que guarda á Israel.

5Jehová es tu guardador: Jehová es tu sombra á tu mano derecha.

6El sol no te fatigará de día, Ni la luna de noche.

7Jehová te guardará de todo mal: El guardará tu alma.

8Jehová guardará tu salida y tu entrada, Desde ahora y para siempre.

Leche Condensada

2009-09-29T12:23:00.000-07:00

We have a diabetic patient at the clinic who came in recently quite ill and we had to send him to the hospital. He has been out for a week in his home on bedrest and Percy and Terri and I have been visiting him daily. Sr. Saturnino is elderly albino man with advanced diabetes. He cant walk or feel anything below his knees. I can't hear any breath sounds until the upper 1/3 of his lungs because they are full of fluid! Still haven't figured out how he was released in that condition...but thats another story.

He has 5 siblings an estranged wife and several children in Trujillo, but they have been reluctant to care for him because they want to inherit his house (not that there is much to it..)We have been bathing and changing him in hopes that he will be able to regain his strength. This has been a wonderful and interesting experience....singing Psalms in Spanish while taking care of him. Today he was asking us all about why we are here and what this was gong to cost him! We go through this every few days, but today Percy wasn't with us so I was on my own with the spanish. It went well though, I was able to explain first of all that it was gratis (free!)and that we were interns with the Presbyterian church. Also that we are here working in the clinic and helping the church serve the community. He said "Oh que bueno que bueno...la iglesia presbyteriana.." I proceeded to tell him no we weren't here serving the church, we are here to serve the Lord! He is quite the interesting character to say the least.
Today we were very busy in the clinic and didn't get out to visit him until 1 in the afternoon or so. Terri Patty and I walked in to see him up in his chair for the first time. At first I thought he was drinking an Ensure and I was wondering where he got it. Oh no. Not Ensure....leche condensada. Sweetened condensed milk..for the wheel chair bound diabetic! What happened to the diet counseling...the daily glucose checks? After expressing our firm and clear disapproval of his binge Sr. Saturnino commenced to tell us that it was ok and his body was accustomed to it! Everything in moderation! :O We have our work cut out for us I guess.

Getting out of my box

2009-09-20T15:21:00.000-07:00

We had a great time this week with a small team from IPC Savannah. I got out of my normal clinic routine and helped with campaigns in Larco and Arevalo Chruchs, as well as in the new church at Parque Industrial. We were also able to see patients in the clinic Thursday and Friday. The team consisted of Paul Carpenter (pharmacist), Ryan Moody (internist and pulmonologist) and Frankie Daniell. Frankie and Paul were able to help us replace the current roof over the stairwell and waiting room which was really in need of replacing because when it rains (although not often!) the water flows leaving streaks on the walls and puddles in the clinic. But not anymore! So it was a great week, I learned how to listen to the heart and lungs and we will no longer come to work with water on the floor!

This week was a great opportunity to get out of my “box” at work—literally I work in my little room in triage in the morning and don’t really leave. Although I love my work there it is good to sit in with the Doctor when I have time later in the day. These opportunities lead to chances to get to know patients and their stories, for example....
This past week I had a 13 yr old boy from Clementina come in with his mother (who is having her 6th child in December). I was really interested to see what was going on with this kid. In triage he said he had dizzy spells, and strange headaches, heartburn especially after sodas, numbness on his right side, general malaise…and a lot of other seemingly unrelated issues. Terri and I guessed gastritis and a parasite, according to Dr. Mario’s diagnosis I think we got it! Jeisson is 13 years old, and his Dad is in and out but not really around or involved. This kid has been the doorman in a combi (public transport van) for 3 yrs. That is to say he has been working a man’s job since he was about 10 years old, and is not in school. His income is possibly the biggest contribution to his household—I'm not sure about his Dad. Such a little grown-up, but still runs over to his Mom in triage while I am trying to get his weight and whispers something about being embarrassed about his dirty socks and smelly feet in her ear. He is still young and innocent enough to have a childlike heart, but I am sure he has experienced many disappointments, hardships and broken promises in his short life so far.
People and stories like this are too common to be considered or bothered about much, or at least be out of the ordinary. But this kid stuck with me for some reason. This week he and his mother came back into the clinic for a check up and I invited him to come with Terri and I to climb the Cerro behind Clementina for a good view of the city. We went on Saturday morning and had a great time. The clinic is only a 3 or 5 minute walk away from the fringe communities where people like Jeisson live, but unless you go out there often you tend to forget how they live. A few examples being the men sitting outside their homes drinking at 10 am. Thankfully, this is frowned upon (at least for the moment) by Jeisson and his little friend Juan Marco who promptly informed us that they were borrachos (drunks). Thank you boys, we didn’t pick up on that one ha. But really can you imagine the bitterness that these kids must harbor if their fathers are like that? The kids have to quit school and work to provide for their siblings or pregnant mother. Then after a few years of living this tough stressful reality they turn to the same outlets that their fathers did....drinking or drugs or women. Don't forget about the countless sick small children playing in the dirt together, alone without supervision. When the kids get thirsty, they all drink directly—and I do mean directly…they put their whole mouths on the newly acquired water spigots. Unfortunately, on top of their mouths being all over the spigot, the city water as it comes to Clementina is unclean and unbeknownst to these kids harbors the bacteria and parasites that make them sick. There are 4 access points in the community I believe. They are quite lucky to have access to water, I was surprised to see the nice concrete fountains. When I asked how they got these so quickly I was told that they are stealing the water by tapping into a city source. I am sure they will have to pay some exorbitant price for that water later....

Anyway, all this to say I am glad I got the opportunity to get to know Jeisson, Juan Marcos and his little dog, Como Tu. I don’t want these any of these observations to be taken as judgmental or ethnocentric. By no means are they intended to be such…we all have our own faults and problems. If anything it is remarkable how their lives can progress and bloom when given the opportunity. We live very different lives, but for some reason I can't help but identifying with these kids...and seeing what they have to experience makes my childhood innocence die a thousand little deaths all over again. So...It's good to get outside of your box...hike and talk a little...learn a lot about who it is you are serving and what its like to be in their shoes, however smelly.

1º Charla de Salud

2009-09-16T16:37:00.001-07:00

Yesterday we held the first of what I hope to be many "charlas de salud" (or health chats) for the women involved in Peru Missions microfinance ministry-Sinergia. There were at least 40 women all crowded into Sinergia's office space (and out the door) watching and listening as our Obstetriz, Sonia spoke about womens health and other..ahhgm, hygiene issues. I was amazed that not only did these women take time out of their day to come but they listened attentively and had lots of questions. I am really looking forward to more of these and enjoyed the opportunity to participate in something that will directly impact the health and lives of these women.

Tengo música!

2009-09-16T16:15:00.000-07:00

Today we were out on a campaign in Parque Industrial and I was talking to this little boy who of course wanted to play with anything and everything and he got a hold of my stethoscope. So I help him put it in his ears and let him listen to his heart. I asked him what he heard and after thinking for a minute he replied "Tengo música"-I have music!
Karina and I outside of the church in Parque Industrial. She has been faithfully volunteering to help in traige with patients- registering people and taking money or giving out tickets. Not the most fun job and it can get hairy when we have large campaigns. I am so grateful for our Peruvian friends and staff, they are all amazing and I have so much to learn from them. Mil gracias amiga!

Poco a poco...estamos creciendo

2009-09-06T12:22:00.000-07:00

Last week the clinic got a new sign, which I am quite excited about! I believe this is an important step in increasing our visibility in the neighborhood.

We have also launched the new blog for Peru Mission's Medical ministry and and clinic. Part of my job here is to promote the work of the clinic back home in the States and provide information about happenings here in this ministry.

The clinic recently hired a new Dentist, Angel Rosario, who we keep very busy out here in Wichanzao. He always has a smile--siempre con sonrisas! We also have a new lab tech, Kelvin who joined us last month and we recently celebrated his birthday, (as well as Kristi...our clinic psychologist) in the clinic!

Also, we have a new intern in the clinic! Terri Attardo is a recent graduate of the Nursing program at UConn and will be working with us for 6 months. I am so excited to share this time with her and learn from her! This photo was taken last week at a meeting of all of the clinic staff. Lora and Dale have created a manual to formalize clinic policies and so we had a lunch before going over it. I am glad we ate first because it took us almost 3 hours to get through it! We took turns reading out loud...in Spanish :O

A weekend in Huaraz

2009-08-18T16:22:00.000-07:00

This past weekend Nick, Mark, James and I went to Huaraz for the weekend. I had so much fun but it was definitely a whirlwind, I would have loved to stay longer but had to get to work Monday. Our bus left Thursday night at 9pm and arrived in Huaraz at 7 the next morning. We got to out hostel (Caroline Lodging) which was really nice (well..by my standards..it was a clean bed and a hot shower with a free braekfast!) I am really hoping to make this trip again, the bus was only about 20 USD and my hostel room was 5 USD a night. After getting to the hotel Friday morning we ate and then hiked to some ruins a few miles outside of the city. Needless to say I put a few miles on my boots this weekend but I had a great time and we were grateful that the Lord protected us from getting hurt or sick! We certainly would love to go again if we get the chance! On Sunday Nick read this very fitting passage for us on the way up to Lago Churup:

Psalm 19
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
3 There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.
4 Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,
5 which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is hidden from its heat.
7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.
11 By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can discern his errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then will I be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.
14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

By the way…I also want to send a big THANK YOU to Margaret Scroggs, NP (and the Daniel Clinic!...?) for the package of things for the clinic I got today! It was the first one I have gotten since being here, and I can’t wait to bring it in to the ladies tomorrow. That note and package meant a whole lot to me Mrs. Margaret, it made my day...Thanks!

Cerro Cabras

2009-08-18T16:12:00.000-07:00

Last week one afternoon after work some of the interns climbed the hill that overlooks Wichanzao and Trujillo. This hill, called Cerro Cabras (literally Goat Mountain) is dry and brown for most of the year but has turned green in the past few weeks due to all of the rain (aka mist!) we have been getting. I really loved getting out of town first of all for some fresh air…it doesn’t stink quite so much up there! But also because of the amazing view this vantage point affords. From this point, depending on the weather you can see all of the district of La Esperanza (north of the city) and much of the city as well. It is so amazing to see all the communities that I have worked in since being here-Wichanzao, Arevalo, Clementina, Nuevo Jerusalen, Parque Industrial, Milagro and others. We climbed up and looked for a few minutes trying to spot out all of the neighborhoods and landmarks we knew before heading down and singing (apparently there is quite the range of voices in our group!)I tried for about five minutes to get my camera set up to take a picture, but the wind was so strong it just kept blowing the camera over! We finally got one that is crooked but we are laughing and I think it just captured the moment well! :D

(If you haven't noticed..all of my pictures can be found by clicking on the MY PHOTOS link on the right side of the blog!)

New Interns

2009-08-02T13:05:00.001-07:00

The interns for this coming year have arrived! This is a picture of all of us...the old and the new at the beach this Saturday.

Meagan Samuelsen
Katie Bivens
Julie Breck
Heather Campbell
Julie Rogers
Jose Salaverry
Chip White
Nick Meyer
Mark Gregory
Emilio Salaverry
Chase Gosselin
Heidi MacDonald
Amanda Willis

2009-07-31T15:26:00.000-07:00

I recently was writing a friend about some struggles she is having and through thinking about this conversation have begun to realize some sin in my own life that I have been avoiding….procrastinating, you might say ;)

“...it has been interesting (Im sure you can relate...) to be ripped away from everyone/the norm and start over on your own. Honestly this is my first time and I am struggling with it on several levels. i think my tendency to "stay busy" and not take time and create a space to reflect this past month has built up some tension inside..so im dealing with that. And am thankful that God is showing me these things so I can begin to work through them now!”

When we get settled into our daily routines sinful habits and patterns seem to blend in and sneak into our work and our relationships. In the past month and a half my life has changed in many ways….this has magnified some of the sins already in my heart that I have managed to conceal from myself or just pushed out of mind.
During my time here in Peru I have noticed my tendency to procrastinate and put off difficult tasks when I am not sure how to tackle them. Now to be fair a lot of these projects or tasks are ambivalent or lack a real timeline, but they are still things that need to be done. For example, working on the independent study course I am supposed to be taking, applying to different schools or writing to family and friends back home. Sometimes this even reaches into work tasks. I am in charge of starting a blog for the clinic and updating pictures. I have done this but am not sure what improvements to make or what to do next and so updating this just gets forgotten and put back on the bottom of the list of things that I need to get done. I am still quite functional and even have time to help others with things, but I have recently been feeling the need to address this issue honestly with myself. God has given me great gifts, responsibilities and opportunities…and I must be a good steward of all of those things. And I need to be consistent and intentional about that work!

The intern book this month “How People Change” spoke of how our actions and the responses that come out of the difficult situations or “heat” in our lives are really just reflections of the heart. I was reading Jeremiah 17 this morning and really thinking about this chapter. Here are a few verses:

5 Thus says the Lord:
“Cursed is the man who trusts in man
and makes flesh his strength,
whose heart turns away from the Lord.
6 He is like a shrub in the desert,
and shall not see any good come.
He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness,
in an uninhabited salt land.
7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
whose trust is the Lord.
8 He is like a tree planted by water,
that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
for it does not cease to bear fruit.”
9 The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately sick;
who can understand it?
10 “I the Lord search the heart
and test the mind,
to give every man according to his ways,
according to the fruit of his deeds.”

Reading this passage really reminded me of the roots of the problems I am finding myself in and that my actions and habits are not really due to culture shock or communication problems, etc. (Which are a definite reality and ever present temptation to blame!) But they are flowing out of my rebellious heart! However I find great comfort in the fact that “ God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46: 1)

In Jesus Christ, God has given us everything we need to overcome these struggles and addictions and patterns in our lives if we are in communion with Him and seeking His will. In spending time in reflection and prayer and with the help of the Spirit and with accountability from my brothers and sisters I hope to move forward through repentance and in faith that this is a situation that can change...now! ;)

10 “Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Psalm 46: 10-11

Pediatric campaign in Milagro Sector 6--Tuesday

2009-07-21T14:27:00.000-07:00

Today we had another day of the Medical Campaign with the Norfolk, VA team! We were in Milagro once again but in a different sector, and operated out of a school ('colegio') called Circulio Solidario. We saw 80 kids and also had dentistry with our new Dentist from the clinic, Angel. He saw an amazing number of patients today..I know it was more than 40. Here are a few photos...

Although by the time I got the chance to get away from triage the day was winding down and things look deserted...but I assure you they were hopping earlier! And the free toothbrushes (and worm pills) were still a big hit!

From Trujillo July 2009

Cyntia helping in the dental area...

From Trujillo July 2009

My little friend, hehe. We were teaching him to count on his fingers

From Trujillo July 2009

Pediatric campaign in Milagro Monday

2009-07-21T14:20:00.000-07:00

Today began at 7 am this morning when I got up to be at the clinic for 7:30…we have a team in from Virginia this week and so our first day of clinic was in the barrio Milagro which is north of Wichanzao on the Pan American. The team has three pediatricians and one physical therapist so we were limited to seeing patients in those populations.

We were based out of a Presbyterian church of another Presbyterian denomination (interestingly started and currently pastured by South Korean missionaries) and saw 70 kids today. Everything ran smoothly but in the beginning we had some difficulty because most of the children that came didn’t have their parents with them. This is because they are all working during the day and usually the kids would be in school but of course the Peruvian schools are having a swine flu scare and just decided to let the kids out a few weeks early. We weren't sure how many patients we would have if we charged for the visits, because this is a very poor area so we saw the kiddos for free. We had a great turn out and had a lot of fun as usual with them...while they waited they got to color, play games and blow bubbles. Very cute!

We finished around 1pm and went to the church in Wichanzao for lunch (always a favorite of mine! The ladies at the church know what Peruvian food the Americans love!) I stayed around until 5 in the library where I have started to volunteer. The Wichanzao Church opened this library in May and I think it is quite the draw! There are always kids and teenagers in there reading, surfing the net or playing chess and checkers (first time I've seen that in Peru!) I will be there on Monday and Wednesday afternoons from 3-5pm. It is a great opportunity for me to get to know people in the community and talk with the kids, as well as read and learn about Peru. I will help keep it organized and help children with homework or projects, or just talk and hang out. The library is not huge, but it is definitely a blessing to Wichanzao and a great chance for me to get to know people in the community.

Also, on a more comical note I had a bit of an adventure in the collective on the way home. First of all there were 9 people in the car...I was in the back seat by the window when a nursing mother and her Mom got in with me. Okay, roomy enough until another man gets in the back too and so while squeezing in someone bumped the baby..which was by the way the healthiest (fattest) baby I have ever seen. In all seriousness though it really was a sight to see! Anyway...the baby is crying and so the mother starts to nurse her. Not out of the norm here at all, in fact hardly a day goes by when I don't see that, especially in the clinic. However, it is usually not in a car with 9 people, and inches away from my face! I mean literally....whew. Anyway I just had to turn my head and laugh, I love this place! Hah, not a day goes by without something like that happening. They say laughter and a good sense of humor is some of the best medicine for culture shock and homesickness...so I'll take all I can get!

Another day in the clinic

2009-07-14T12:53:00.000-07:00

Every morning in the clinic before the day gets going all of the staff gather together in the waiting room for a devotional and prayer led by Percy Padilla, the Pastor of the clinic. Usually we are joined by one or two early birds to the clinic, but most people don't show up until it gets a bit warmer out. Well, Tuesday is the day that Dr. Mario (one of the Peruvian physicians) attends patients in the clinic, and he is quite popular with the people in the neighborhood so by 8 am our little clinic was full of patients! So everyone had to stand because we didn't have enough chairs...such a blessing to have a room full of people to hear God's word but not when there aren't enough chairs! When I first got here I wondered why some days the clinic almost seems dead and others it is just bursting. I quickly found out this has a lot to do with the physician that is attending patients that day--and Dr. Mario is a favorite. To get you up to speed there are several Peruvian doctors who work in the clinic during the week. Occasionally we have teams from the states in the clinic or a doctor will come for a week or two, but the day in and day out patient care falls mostly on our Peruvian doctors who can serve as primary care physicians (although this concept isn't widely practiced here--most people come out only concerned with immediate needs).

The last patient I triaged today was this elderly man from the Sierras who was a farmer (agricultor....paltas/avocados, manderinas, limon/lemons). He came in with a complaint of some chest pains. I was trying to take his blood pressure but the machine kept giving me an error signal, so I went and found a cuff to take it manually (*We only have two stethoscopes in the clinic so I use mine all the time..Thanks Mom!) I had a bit of trouble though because this guys pressure was through the roof! We had a good little talk afterwards while I was taking his medical history. He was born in the Sierras in Huamachuco and was about 78 (I think...he wasn't sure so I just kept throwing years out at him and he eventually decided on 1931!). He told me about the different places he had lived in Peru and things he had seen. He worked around Huaraz for a long time and told me about that area. I am hoping to go soon with some of the other interns....there is a good bit of climbing there and it is supposed to be beautiful. He said there is always always snow and ice, and bitterly cold at night but so beautiful. He also taught me my first bit of Quechua..bread (pan in spanish) is t'anta. I love talking with the characters that come in...so fascinating to learn from them and they have had some very interesting life experiences.

One Month Anniversary

2009-07-10T16:35:00.000-07:00

So I never thought I would be able to admit this...but I am definitely feeling some culture shock after one month here in Peru. I was sick this past week (finally!) and I think that broke me, hah. I was in denial about it but I definitely miss everyone at home (the food too!).

I am starting to get settled here after a month. Well, at least I am past the point of being nonfunctional! The first week I was here I couldn’t get around by myself anywhere or go to the store and now I feel completely confidant in doing that. I’ve figured out how to cook pretty well on our little stove, and to wash clothes. Sounds easy, but it’s not! The washing machine doesn’t have water so you have to fill it up and watch it…refilling when necessary. Very time consuming!

Every week here has been completely different. My first week we had a medical campaign here in Trujillo, the second week was spent in the clinic getting to know everyone and how things work…checking out the neighborhood etc. Then the third week I was in Cajamarca, and now I am coming to the end of week four—a normal week in the clinic. This week has been great and has allowed me some time to talk more to Dale and Lora and reflect on what my role in the clinic will be this next year. A lot of things will be changing and I am trying to get oriented to the administrative and clinical responsibilities I may/will have over the next 11 months. On a normal day (I use that in the loosest sense here in Peru) I leave my apartment at 7:30 to be at the clinic for 8:00 and work until about 2:00. Most of my time thus far has been spent in triage with patients. If they are new I put together a new record for them and go through a few basic questions on personal and family history, etc. Apparently this is not commonplace in Peru…most people only come to the Doctor when they are sick to get medicine for their chief complaint and then they are outta there! So unless I explain why beforehand, people look at me like I am crazy when I start asking if they have diabetes, HIV (slightly taboo as you can imagine) or asthma. But once we get through the history I take vitals, weight, height, etc. and try to talk with them a little. Being in triage was definitely stressful at first, I had no idea how to ask these questions, how to spell names or street addresses or what to say but being thrown in and having to figure it out was the best thing that could have happened. It was quite humbling…and I have learned so much Spanish this way. It actually puts the patients at ease a little I think when I can ask them a question about my Spanish. It makes them feel like they are helping teach me and we both get a laugh out of it sometimes..either that or I just feel embarrassed and silly!

In the afternoons I read, do random things for the clinic (setting up a blog, photo albums, writing thank you cards) and I also try to study a little bit. This week I am starting Spanish lessons with one of the Peruvian SALI teachers—Rebeca. I’m reading a lot of books and lecture files online as well as watching videos on the internet to learn basic skills such as auscultation so when we go on house calls I can get an update on how the patient is doing. I try to get the Peruvian doctors to explain things, but we are not just faced with one language barrier but two! The Spanish is tough but when you throw in medical terminology sometimes things get lost in translation. But thankfully most of the words are very similar!

We don’t do house calls every day, however if we have a mother with a newborn, or an older patient who is not able to get to the clinic sometimes Dale Ellison (Peru Mission missionary who runs the clinic) and Percy Padilla (the Peruvian Pastor for the clinic…both awesome guys!) and I will go out and walk to Wichanzao or Clementina, Primavera, Los Pinos, Alberto Fujimori or some of the other developing communities where patients live. We visit for a minute, do a quick check up and then Percy will read an appropriate passage of Scripture (often a Psalm) then we pray. These visits are mostly pastoral in nature, so we can let them know we are checking up on them and looking out for them...it's a good opportunity to address spiritual and other concerns.
I really enjoy these visits, for several reasons but certainly because it brings an increased awareness of the raw reality of the ministry here in Wichanzao. Put yourself in my boots for a second on a sandy hill (a dune really) in Clementina: You are standing in front of two women and their children (no men sight)and their home…mostly made of sticks, woven plant fiber and cardboard (plastic or tin roof if they are lucky). The sky is dark grey and it’s misting…the fine, sticky kind. Percy is reading a Psalm in his strong quiet way and you are trying to listen to the Spanish but this thought keeps pressing into your mind of how when you leave everyone will just file back inside and sit…sometimes hungry, probably sick, and definitely, always dirty. And you know that at the end of the day you get to go home to a hot shower, electricity and good nutritious food…probably with desert. The only thing you have to remind yourself that you were even there is the sand in your shoes and a few black boogers from being out in the desert for an hour.

I feel like in my short time here in Peru I have seen medicine, hopelessness, poverty, faith and kindness in some of their purest forms. Don’t get me wrong I am probably making it sound terrible...but it is not all bad here and there is progress being made. The church here in Trujillo is living and active and growing. But there is so much hurt and worst of all loneliness here…the kids, the fathers working all day in their cabs or a dead end job, the housewives alone in the house, the elderly woman who lives on the street corner by our house.

“There is so much suffering in the world—very much. Material suffering is suffering from hunger, suffering from homelessness, from all kinds of disease, but I still think that the greatest suffering is being lonely, feeling unloved, just having no one. I have come more and more to realize that it is being unwanted that is the worst disease that any human being can ever experience. In these times of development, the whole world runs and is hurried. But there are some who fall down on the way and have no strength to go ahead. These are the ones we must care about.” –From In the Heart of the World by Mother Teresa

Christ served at every level of society and in many forms...but he always met the immediate needs of the people he was ministering to. He fed them, comforted them, healed them, gathered to talk and eat with them and then he preached to them. I think that as long as we are seeking to follow this we will continue to see the Church and Gods kingdom grow in this area of Trujillo. Please pray for the staff and missionaries as we witness to the lonely and lost in this community. It is our hope that we are lights of Gods grace in this neighborhood and that we will continue to be prayerful, conscientious, and consistent to that end.

Team from First Pres Jackson, Mississippi in Cajamarca

2009-07-07T17:16:00.000-07:00

This past week I was in the mountain city of Cajamarca with the First Pres Team from Jackson, Mississippi led by Dr. Danny Story (who happens to be the father of one of my roommates Sarah Story, who is also here interning in Trujillo). The team was split up into dental, medical and VBS teams, and I worked mostly with the medical clinic inside the church. This team has been coming to Cajamarca for the past ten years and really had an incredibly organized system. For anything to go that smoothly you knew many years of trial and error (and a lot of prayer and planning) went in to getting ready for that week! We had a great week of clinic and saw 589 patients in medicine, and probably more…but that was the official number. I was in triage with two other nurses, Emily and Sarah Elizabeth and we each took vital signs and triaged up to 70 patients in a day. I really enjoy triage for several reasons, first of all you are the first person they talk to about their problems, which are often sensitive and personal, and I was able to show some compassion and provide some reassurance that they would be in good hands. Probably one of my favorite things I get to do in my daily work isn’t even related to medicine…I really just like to comfort people and touch them, put their shoes back on, hold their hands, talk about something random or make them laugh to get their mind off of their worries. I find that once people can relax they are much more open to being honest and bringing up real, deeper concerns. Also, on the practical side this was the best opportunity I have had to practice my medical spanish and (attempt) to translate. Its really out of pure necessity that you are forced to do this because there simply are never enough translators. So I was very grateful for the practice and I hope to be translating for the teams that come late in the summer...Although this week I felt completely inadequate, humbled and often frustrated with my lack of knowledge!

We saw a lot of arthritis and associated joint pain as well as infections, coughs, the flu and other common issues. For a number of adults we saw this was their first visit to a doctor. It never failed to amaze me to begin clinic at 8 am and triage a woman who was in for arthritis and joint pain (along with at least 5 other problems, and more if I would let her), yet when I asked her why her hands were dirty she told me she had been digging potatoes in the cold early that morning! (It is literally freezing at night in Cajamarca) To be first in line I know she was there at 6:30 am, so who knows how early she had gotten up to begin work. Peru is like that…all around are constant little reminders of how difficult life here is and the constant fight for survival.

The most common complaint was people just complaining of total body pain, especially their backs, which I didn’t understand until after the first day of talking with them about their problems and lifestyle and watching 4 ft tall women carry a load on their back that was bigger than they were. In the states I saw a lot of preventable issues revolving around hygiene, and although I knew diet and vitamin deficiency was a problem here I never really realized the effects it was having on people. A lifetime of hard, physical labor and a diet that doesn’t include much more than meat rice and potatoes makes vitamin supplements essential here and we always need more. In fact vitamins (pronounced something like bee-ta-meen-as in Trujillo) was one of the first words I learned in the clinic in Trujillo, and to my initial surprise one of the most often prescribed treatments. Back home if I went to the doctor with a serious complaint and he gave me vitamins…well, I would go find another doctor. But here this is a very serious issue that manifests itself in all ages and types of illnesses, and a deficiency is often the underlying cause of a problem.

In Trujillo (and I believe other large coastal cities), it is customary (and expected) to greet everyone in the room with a few words and a kiss on the cheek, and touch effectively establishes instant feelings of friendship and familiarity. After a few encounters I quickly found out this wasn’t so with the mountain people! They are much more reserved and less touchy…probably good from a health perspective! I noticed a whole lot of eyes on the ground this week too. The people from this area have a long history of exploitation by other people groups and are often stereotyped as uneducated laborers. But for me this week was the closest I’ve felt to home in a month! I was right at home with the cows and barbed wire fences and hay….the backdrop of the Andes wasn’t bad either until I thought about how far people had to walk to get somewhere. Another habit of the people in Cajamarca which I quickly picked up on and found very entertaining was their tendency to add “–ito” to the end of many of their words. It is more or less the equivalent of adding “little” to the beginning of a word. For example, one of the MDs was called “Doctorisito” by a lot of little sweet old ladies. Now how many American MDs do you know that like being called “little doctor”?! However this is certainly a term of endearment and only given with good connotations as far as I could tell. I got a lot of “jaaaa hermaniiiita….por favorrr” and “doctorisiiita” which I quickly had to correct with the equivalent of “Ahhh no sister…I am a..Ummm…little student!” This was all very funny to me until in the latter part of the week when an 84 year old woman with one eye, a cane, and no shoes called me "little sister" and cupped my hands in hers to tell me thank you for seeing her. That was quite a moment for me...especially when I looked at her address...she had walked for a few miles on rocky roads to see us that day. How humbling. That gave me much encouragement, two seconds earlier I was thinking how much my back hurt from craning over trying to listen to soft voices for 4 days. I felt pretty ungrateful and ashamed of myself...had to take a step back. Just another day in Peru, ha! I really enjoyed my time with this team, they were so supportive of each other and a joy to work with. I know they are a blessing to the congregation and community each time they come. They also left many things for the clinic in Trujillo, which we are very excited about!

La Esperanza: Nosotros Trabajando. Nosotros Cambiando.

2009-06-26T14:52:00.000-07:00

When driving north on the Pan-American Highway out of Trujillo you enter the district of La Esperanza where the community of Wichanzao is located. Every morning on the way to the clinic I catch a collectivo, which is a black sedan which is somewhat like a taxi. It costs 1.20 soles (40 cents in USD), can hold about 8 people, and follows a certain route through the city. My route (B) takes me north out to La Esperanza, and on the way I pass under two bridges that mark your entrance into the district. Painted on these bridges are the words “La Esperanza: Nosotros Trabajando. Nosotros Cambiando.” Which means something like “We’re working. We’re Changing.” For some reason this phrase really captured my attention, and I began thinking what this slogan was trying to express and how it related to my experiences thus far in Trujillo.

I think that as we work here in the broken creation that God has placed us, we obviously experience change in many ways. Most of us start out strong and ready to conquer the world, and over the years we wrinkle, get sick and old. As Mother Teresa said "Each of us is merely a small instrument; all of us, after accomplishing our mission, will disappear." Life in this city is harsh for many. Work is hard to find in the city and nearly impossible in the country, which is why many people come here from the Sierra. The city is dusty and polluted and without an income and support of a community life quickly becomes difficult if not impossible. As you can imagine there is an enormous need and opportunity for the Gospel here, but this can take a back seat in the mind of a Peruvian who is struggling to keep food on the table for their kids. That is why Peru Missions various ministries fit so well here in this city. They meet people in the contexts in which they live and work and love them right where they are, teaching them to gather strength and hope from a source deeper than their own.

There is an ongoing cycle of redemption that is being played out in this city and everywhere else in the world. Sin leaves us and our world broken and tired, but as Christians we have faith that Christ will come to make all things new. This hope helps us as we work to bring justice and restoration to the world around us. So the phrase “We're working. We're changing” is given a much different (and much more hopeful) meaning in light of the Gospel, especially here in Peru where despite all of your effort and hard work change will often come slowly, if it comes at all.

Where to start?

2009-06-16T18:38:00.000-07:00

This has been a difficult blog to begin…not because I don’t have anything to say to everyone at home, but because there is so much to say about what has taken place this week!

Winter is just now beginning in Peru, and in Trujillo although it is still 70 degrees all of the Peruvians are running around in jackets. The kids come in with temperatures and sweating because they have been running around playing in all of those clothes! The city doesn’t get much sun this time of year and is engulfed by a permanent cloud of fog and pollution. This fog is analogous in many ways to the way I feel after my first few days in Peru. I find myself focused on what is tangible and close at hand, and have difficulty looking beyond the day I find myself in. There is always more to do, and the days here go by quickly but are just tiring in every way. Even cooking here is harder...you have to find "normal" ingredients, wash everything, light the stove (We have a portable propane tank next to the stove), then wait a good 15 minutes for the water to boil, etc. Just keeping up with the pace here is exhausting!

After over 24 hours of traveling I flew into the city over the water as the sun was rising over the hills that dominate the horizon around Trujillo (on a clear day). It was beautiful, but as soon as I stepped off that plane I knew I was in another world. As the light grew brighter I saw more of the city, and although I knew it would be big I had no idea of the sprawl and expanse of it. As we drove deeper into Trujillo the noise grew and so did the number of taxis, pedestrians, window washers and sidewalk snack vendors. Finally we arrived at our destination “Larco y Espana”, the (noisy!) corner of two major streets in the city where Peru Mission’s English language school (San Augustin Language Institute also known as SALI) is located. Next to SALI is a white building (The interns call it Casa Blanca or the White House) that houses the Peru Mission office (2nd floor) and the girl intern’s apartment (3rd floor).

I live in the apartment with 5 other wonderful girl interns: Heather Campbell, Gillian Baikie, Annie White, Sarah Story and Julie Rogers. We just moved here and are still getting upacked and settled but already the place has a lot of promise and I know it will be a place of refuge and retreat after a long day of work. The other girls teach at SALI until 9 pm! I however am on a completely different schedule, the clinic opens at 8am and on normal days when we don't have short term teams in I will usually be there until 2 or 3 in the afternoon. However when we have medical teams come in from the States they will often hold a Campaign (mobile clinic out of the churches) in different areas of the city (Larco, Arevalo, Wichanzao, Clementina, etc.) On those days I will help set up in the mornings and then triage the patients that come in, translate (or at least attempt to!), and try to keep things running smoothly.