MedicalMissionTrip.org

Day 6 and the 4^th day of clinic

Another day another location. The only thing constant on this trip is an unending supply of people in need of medical attention and our unified desire to serve them. Yesterday Bob read from Mathew 18:20, “wherever two or three are gathered in his name, there am I in the midst of them.” We have really had a sense of Christ’s hand in all that we do. All of our clouds have had silver linings.

Today we traveled to Getsemani, our most rural location to date. There was a house with a courtyard covered with tin roofing. Nancy set up shop inside the house for womens health and Judy & Cherie were in the courtyard for adult health. They shared their space with Brad in Tropical Optical. Randy and Jeff did an awesome job in hanging tarps to create workable space for everyone.

The rest of the crew were located across the road where Pastor Juan’s crew of volunteers

erected several tent like structures for Triage, Pediatrics and Optical vision testing. Because the site was spread out we made maximum use of runners to get the patients where they had to be.

During the late afternoon storm clouds gathered and lightening flashed in the distance. Yet again God smiled upon us as only a few drops of rain fell and the storm passed us by.

And the mission team continued seeing patient upon patient bringing our 4 day total to over 800 patients. Today Dr. Mike saw 49 patients with his wife Susan assisting him. Liz made Mike’s life a lot easier by being able to translate for all those patients.

After a quick shower at our hotel we went to a church service at Providincia where several of our mission team had worked on a bible school project a few years back. The service was followed by a delicious meal of tamale, plantains and refried beans served up by the ladies of the church.

As a special treat Pastor Juan had the bus stop in the central area of Ahuachapan for ice cream and a quick stroll in the park.

ROCA ETERNA (THE ETERNAL ROCK)

TODAY WE MOVED TO A NEW LOCATION. IT WAS CHURCH AND HOUSE LOCATED IN A MORE RURAL SETTING. WE SET UP PVC/TARP AREAS OUTSIDE FOR THE LOCAL PATIENTS AS A MAKE SHIFT “WAITING” ROOM. INSIDE WE DIVIDED A ROOM INTO TWO EXAM ROOMS USING ROPE, SHOWER CURTAIN HOOKS AND A TARP. WE HAD TWO ADDITIONAL EXAM ROOMS FOR MIKE AND NANCI. IN THE CHURCH WE SET UP “TROPICAL OPTICAL”. IT WAS A VERY LONG DAY, AS WE FINALLY MADE IT BACK TO THE HOTEL A LITTLE AFTER 7:00. TODAY WE MINISTERED TO 231 OF THE PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.  IT WAS THE FIRST DAY THAT WE HAD ACCESS TO OUR MEDS, AND IN GODS PROVIDENCE, IT WAS THE FIRST DAY THAT WE NEEDED SOME OF THE MEDS AND GLASSES THAT WE HAD SPECIFICALLY BROUGHT TO EL SALVADOR . TOMORROW WE MOVE TO ANOTHER RURAL SETTING IN AN AREA KNOW AS GETHSEMANE. IT SEEMS THAT GOD HAS USED MONDAY AND TUESDAY TO PREPARE US FOR TODAY, AND MAYBE USED TODAY TO PREPARE US FOR TOMORROW.

Whew!  What a day!  It started off a little differently then expected.  We headed off to Reisago, a small community just outside of Ahuachapan, originally we were headed for Gethsemane, but as is our saying here in El Salvador “Everything is subject to change”.  The clinic was actually a school, clinic and church rolled into one. We had some renovations to attend to, as Jeff described, to set up shop.  Thank God for our professional handymen!!  Once down to business, we were’ rockin and rollin’ in patients.  The older patients seemed to dominant the am session, but after lunch there was a pediatric rush!!  Droves of families and kids populated are triage area, sending everyone running in all directions.  We had those escorting patients to and from triage, labs, exam rooms, (Michaela, Randy, Honey, Annabeth, Betsy, Jeff, local El Salvadorians, anyone on two legs!)  The lab workers and farmacia people working in organized chaos (Katie, Kay, Randy, Jim).  Triage, which was be the way outside, (Honey at the Helm, Betsy, Bea 2, Brenda and Michaela).  Tropical Optical was serving the Lord like no tomorrow, kudos to Dr. Brad, Michelle, Annabeth, Bob and Jeff.  Susan ministered the youngins, does Susan ever stop smiling?!  Those kids were grinning from ear to ear!!  OK, let’s not forget the providers.  Judy was amazing, speaking Spanish to every patient, welcoming everyone with grace and charm, and helping me!  Dr. Mike was awesome (no surprise), he loved on the kids and helped those kids to be well and healthy.  He of course, didin’t work alone.  Liz was the very patient, loyal interpreter, Susan switched careers, to pediatric pharmacist to help Mike out.  Bea 1, my long time, professional interpreter, never complained one iota, she is amazing!!  How could I could even think I was I tired when she was always raring to go!

What an amazing day!  Dinner finally at 7:30!  Pasta and tuna, veggies.  A worry free devotion!  OK, time to finally get to bed.  Suitcases packed for tomorrow.  Where to doesn’t matter.  We are ready, spiritually, physically and happily.  God knows, no worries.  Love, hugs and praise.  Cherrie ( Jeff wrote the first half)

Day 5 and The 3rd day at the clinic.  (A New Clinic)

Today was a great day at the clinic. We rearranged the setting and flow of the clinic and it made things run a lot smoother. We saw just about as many patients as we did yesterday. Dr. Brad, once again, saw close to 100 people. The people came in and we took their height, weight, and temperature. Then they waited to get their blood pressure, respiratory rates, and heart rates. They then sat and waited to see the la doctora. Dr. Mike had a baby who was crying in a lot of pain that had to be sent to the hospital. Dr. Judy also had a man with really bad chest pains that was sent to the hospital. Susan did an amazing job with the kids. She spent all day with them, entertaining them and talking to them. She also took them outside and showed them how to play games. That was hard to do because none of them speak English, but it was also very comical to watch. Susan did a great job at putting smiles on the faces of the kids today. Lunch was very good. The rice and meat tasted delicious. Juan’s family is so generous to make and bring us lunch everyday. We are very blessed by the lord to have them. The best thing every day is to see the gracious smiles on the people’s faces. That is part of what keeps us going in the hot, crowded clinic. We got the medicine today! We are so thankful to God for providing for us and answering our prayers. Jim and Betsy were amazing about driving around and getting the medicine back for us. A huge thanks to them. We couldn’t have done it without them. Tomorrow we’re going to a different clinic, hopefully things will go smoothly. God will provide.

Michaela