El Salvador….take TWO-days 1 & 2

God does it again!! 

Mission trip opportunity #2.

About 6 weeks ago, I received an email from Dr Miller telling me about his upcoming mission trip to El Salvador and La Calzada Island. I had really felt a longing to join his ministry again when I saw their posts from the February mission trip...He and his wife Monica usually lead medical and dental brigade teams three times a year...However, their work to provide sustaining aid to the people on the "forgotten island" has gone above and beyond a few visits per year!! They have been working at providing consistent health care, have helped improve a local school, and have made major improvements to a small clinic. 

As God would have orchestrated it, I was able to clear out my schedule for the week they were going and got airline tickets!! And the story begins!

The last time I went, a friend donated a large suitcase and I packed it full of stuffed animals, toothbrushes and paste, and lots and lots of eyeglasses. I thought that is what I would do this time as well...but God had other ideas!! Nevertheless, I set to work trying to collect some things to take along. 

While I did have some eyeglasses, and quite a few reading glasses...I filled an entire suitcase and half of my own suitcase with exam gloves, toothpaste, dental floss, sutures, wrist splints, menstrual kits, dresses of all sizes made by a church in my hometown, knapsacks and little sew purses, bilingual childrens books, NT stories of Christ, some bilingual story book bibles, stuffed animals, slap bracelets and some balloons. Additionally, enough cash came in that I was able to make up the difference in a monetary shortage for the medications we need for the week, and some extra cash to use during the week as the Lord leads. 

I spent several hours packing, repacking, and weighing before I closed those suitcases for the last time. Each bag, according to Jeremy's freight scale was 49.7 pounds. The backpack weighed about 35 pounds and the "purse" weighed around 20 pounds. I had a LOT of stuff!!

At the airport...the first bag weighed 50.2..which he allowed, but the second one weighed 51.4--because I had stuffed in a small can of bug spray and an extra book. The book was what I grabbed out of the pocket to lighten it up...and the man at the counter saw the title of the book by JB Hixson on end times and was asking me about it. It turned out that he teaches on spiritual warfare in his church...and he let the rest of the weight slide!

I met Monica and Larry in Houston in the airport right before we boarded the flight to El Salvador. Here we are with our giant load of medical supplies, and very small amounts of our own personal things. Christ for the City International sent their van to pick us up and get us around. Originally, the plan was to spend the night at a beach house..but due to Father's Day and several members of the mission team not being here...we ended up with no beach house and our first change of plans!

We ate lunch with a couple who have recently retired here and are interested in helping with the Miller's ministry! I was ecstatic to see the fresh cheese that I grew to love the last time I was here...as well as an avocado egg salad on the cafeteria line! I also tried little balls of chorizo and some type of empanada...Delish!

Before we caught our boat to the island Saturday afternoon, we stopped at local grocery store for some chicken and fresh veggies. This was on my bucket list this trip...so I felt like I hit the jackpot to be able to go in and check it out!! Even though El Salvador grows everything they need in their country, they are also becoming more and more dependent on processed foods...just like we are in the states...and their health is also declining as a result of it!

The front doors are wide open and the floor is concrete but we found all the things we needed!

So we unloaded all of our supplies onto the dock and into this little boat..And then the fun really started. It is winter here in El Salvador...also known as the "rainy season." And rain it did...It started not far into our 30 minute open air boat ride through the mangrove forests. All of us had rain gear...but it was all neatly tucked into the abyss of our suitcases full of stuff!! Additionally, because of the time of day...the tide was out, and the water was too low to get to the new boat dock at Oasis...the medical clinic and our home for the next few days.

So we stopped at the dock of Sister Magdalena, whom we stayed with the last time I was there. By the time we got there...it was P-O-U-R-I-N-G down rain by the bucket full. And Monica didn't have cell service due to weather...and our ride forgot to come and pick us up to get us the half mile or so to the clinic. So, we hauled our luggage out of this boat..up those slippery dock steps without any railings into the mud at the top. 

And then we stole this truck. Or so I thought!! Apparently, we found out later that they had left the keys in it in case we needed it...We threw all the luggage into the truck...in the middle of a monsoon...and Dr Miller drove us through the crazy muddy roads over to the clinic. Dee, another team member from Arizona rode up front...and Monica and I stood in the back with the luggage. There is no road maintenance here...and truly there are only a handful of vehicles on the entire island of 1600 people...so it works fine for feet, bikes and mopeds. But every time Larry hit the brakes, about 2 inches of muddy water moved from the front of the truck bed to the back, soaking the bottom of the luggage!

And once we got all the luggage unloaded---in a monsoon...and moved into the appropriate rooms at the clinic, we looked like drowned river rats!! But we were HERE!! Lots of unloading of clothes, supplies, and the shoes we were wearing had to happen next in an attempt to get everything dried up!! One of the neighbor ladies named Paca came over and helped us cook some dinner--grilled chicken, fresh pineapple, avocados, and veggies--all grown right here!

Challenge number two...not only is it monsoon season...and heavy rains are called for every day this coming week...We got news that Dr Morataya--the doctor that works closely with this medical brigade--and his wife Nellie, lost their pregnancy a couple of days ago. They have one healthy little 3 year old boy, but have had the misfortune of a handful of miscarriages in the past...and a new one to add to their heartbreaking collection. If that isn't enough on their plates, they both are sick with flu-like illnesses including fevers...so his needed services won't be available to our team for at least the first few days...

We had a team meeting to consider possibilities for moving forward with the work. 

This morning...Sunday...a new friend Chino came to collect us in his moto-taxi. It is essentially a golf cart pulling an open cart. He fashioned a tarp for us over top to keep us dry...which was great!! We decided to make some home visits today...and since Chino transports people around for a living, he was glad to help us!! 

Our first stop was down the road a bit to the house of a boy who has cerebral palsy...Until 2016, when the Miller's started coming to serve the medical needs of this tiny island, child birth death rates were really high. There were no doctors, and there wasn't a lot of comprehension about anything health related among the people. The boy is around mid teens...and can often be very violent. Today he was in a good mood. I found a bright yellow stuffed animal in my backpack and gave it to him...which he promptly threw across the one room house...We turned it into a game and enjoyed playing with him. The picture above is a photo of their "kitchen" with their house directly behind it, and their bathroom the small structure with steps in the right side of the picture.

Here we are inside the kitchen and his mom is getting ready to make tortillas out of this big bowl of dough. The open coals just smoke until she needs them!!

They also had a granddaughter there today...She had an eye infection that I noticed...I asked her in Spanish if her eye hurt...to which she replied it did..and it was "leaking milk." Tomorrow after clinic we will take her some medicine for her eye...and I promised to bring her new dress from my stash!! I can't WAIT to do that!! 

After that, we got a few names of people to visit from Sister Magdalena in a nearby community called Ranchon. We stopped and visited a lady that had a little boy with Downs syndrome-and his level of function was much like the little guy with CP. We also visited a few older ladies in their homes. Most homes here are open air in some degree or another. They may be made of cinder blocks or sticks too. It was a really good opportunity for us to talk to them about the medical services available this week...as well a with the doctor who comes in every Wednesday to provide more consistent care. One of the older ladies told us she has diabetes...so Dr Miller had me check her blood sugar. My monitor is new to me...but her reading wasn't in numbers...it just read HI. Which...turned out to be over 600....a normal blood sugar reading would be around 120 or less...We are hoping to see her tomorrow in clinic to get her some different medication!! 

It just breaks my heart at how very little they have...few possessions...few resources...and few people that even give them a second thought. 

When we were finished with the home visits, we went over to the school. We had the key to get into the new kitchen that was provided to them recently through this ministry...however, there was no key to get into the gate...so in addition to stealing a vehicle yesterday...today, we picked a lock ;-) 

Here is a common type of sink used across the villages...it's in the center of the school, which you see in the background.

Here is a little peak inside their classroom. Open air with bars. 

The bathrooms were in a different building outside!!

And here is why there are soooooo many loose dogs running around....They were pretty cute. Dogs and chickens...there are more of them than people...and this afternoon, while we visited Sister Magdalena...3 random horses walked by down the road...and 30 minutes later, went by again!! So different than I am used to!!

The school has a few different types of mango trees...Here is Chino snagging a couple of mangos for Monica and I!! 

This afternoon we got ready for a 4:00 church service but it was suspended due to the rain...again, everyone bikes or walks here...and it poured down rain all day long...so it isn't very practical for people to get out much during weather like this...It does make us a little worried for people not being able to come to the clinics this week either!!

So instead, we spent a few hours visiting with Sister Magdalena who is a powerful force of God on this Island. She lost her husband to poor trauma management about 6 months ago. He was hit by a car on his motorcycle in San Salvador...and essentially bled to death in 7 hours of no treatment in the hospital. It was a horrible story...but I believe that God will use that experience to fuel a new movement to help teach their doctors skills and knowledge that they currently don't have good access too!! 

Magdalena and her late husband Carlos are ministers and missionaries as well. 

It was good to visit and pray with people today...As of last week...we had our human plan...but as of today...we are offering open hands to GOD'S plan for our time. El Salvador, as of tonight, is in a red alert for weather...meaning that due to the excessive amounts of rain coming in will open up chances for devastating mud slides and flooding. Tomorrow we plan to continue with minor surgeries and well woman care--both things that aren't accessible to the people here!! Chino will go around to pick up people to transport them to the clinic for care!! 

Praying for a great day!! 

El Salvador--Day 6

It's hard to believe today, at how fast the week has gone! I feel a second wind! I haven't talked to my family in a couple of days now...have had no connection with the outside world that I know...but I am ready to finish up serving here as I am needed to serve, and ready to relax later today and to celebrate a fruitful week!

 We all loaded into the back of this truck, and headed for Oasis to load up the equipment and supplies so we could drive on a few more miles to La Hacienda village where we would be serving today.

As has been the case every day, the people know we are coming, and they are waiting around for us as we come in! We truly have seen patients across the entire lifespan. We have seen more women than men, and lots of children. 

Today, we went inside the old run-down building that we were supposed to be serving out of. There was great dis-repair and absolutely no lighting inside. We decided it would be most comfortable for everyone to set up our clinic outside in the back of the building. The dentists set up their station on a small, covered patio area in the front of the building. 

The weather was beautiful. We did set up under a mango tree for shade, with full knowledge that any of us could fall victim to the falling fruit! 

I felt like the people were a little more friendly here. Their smiles came faster and were more abundant. Some of the kids enjoyed hearing their heartbeat for the first time...as well as listening to mine. 

Dr Miller brought 10 or so packages of earrings, hooked into their own piercing systemr. He did babies, little girls, and adults. I also got to pierce the ears of a few kids. It was a special treat for them, and a fun new skill for me!

We cleaned out the rest of the kids' sunglasses, stuffed animals, and punch balloons that came over from the states. 

The balloons were a HUGE hit here. 

And they ran miles chasing one another around with them. I'm not sure how many hours those balloons may have lasted, but definitely long enough to provide hundreds of giggles and smiles.

One of the ladies that I saw had injured her hip. She has had a seizure disorder for decades. But because she has limited access, she has not been able to take her seizure medication. She had a seizure a couple weeks ago that she has been healing from. She had another seizure last week. Thankfully, Dr Morataya was going to be able to bring her the medicine she needs next Friday when he comes back to do a clinic. 

It seems that lack of medication compliance due to lack of resources is universal. I have many patients in the US that don't take their medications correctly because they can't afford it financially. Medication prices in the US are out of control. Though the medication prices in El Salvador are much cheaper, the majority of the people on this island make less than $1 per day. So limited access to medications, and limited funds make double trouble for compliance. 

As a side note, each of us got a packet of 6 pills before we left for the US. We were to take them when we got home to treat for any parasite that we may have picked up while we were gone. The six tablets of generic medications cost a few dollars at the most. When I looked it up in my medication resource at home, I found that, because it is in low demand in US, that it is considered "off label" and the cost for those 6 tablets was OVER THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS!! That discovery made me absolutely furious at our system of health care!! Problems like that...rooted in the fact that no one will make any money off of them otherwise...and at the expense of the people that need them...takes the joy out of my job!

One of the highlights of this trip for me was the simplicity of caring for people without all the beurocracy that we deal with here in the US. 

One woman sat down in the chair across from me and when I asked her how she was, she replied "You have descended upon us like angels from heaven. We are so grateful for the care you are giving us." That attitude was a blessing to my heart as well!

The week before I left, I turned around in my office to get something off of a shelf behind my desk. My little eye spied a English/Spanish translation book for medical words that I had scored years ago, but rarely have the chance to use. I held on to it for the week in case we needed to use it, but I promised Edwin that he could have it when I left so he could practice the words for interpreting. We did a small, official ceremony for the sake of a picture! ;-)

And then we staged a picture of Sylvita trying to steal it. HAHAHA!

They hired a horse and cart to take the three American providers back to Sister Magdalena's. While we were waiting for that to show up, this ox cart came by hauling green bean plants to the cattle since there isn't any grass right now. The cart had concrete wheels. It was an interesting sight. 

And on our way back on the horse cart, we passed a couple more carts in the road. It just struck me as funny, since it is so different than the life we know! 
I don't think we are in Kansas anymore Toto!!

This is the Island ambulance. A number of people actually have cell phones here, so if there is a medical emergency that can't be solved, one of Sister Magdalena's sons picks them up and takes them to the mainland in the boat.

We ate lunch, packed our things back into the boat, and headed for the mainland where our great driver Malchi was waiting on us to whisk us to the little medical clinic for our COVID tests. 

The tide was much lower than it was when we came in, so we had to separate from the rest of the team and go back in smaller groups. Bittersweet moments of goodbye. 

We were back in time to get settled in for the evening to our house that overlooked the beach. 

And we enjoyed a quick dip in the really warm ocean, as well as some amazing pictures as the sun sank into the sea. 

This was a picture of the pool at night from my bedroom door!!

Saturday morning we enjoyed a beautiful waterfront breakfast at La Pampa. Lydia left early in the morning, Steve left after lunch, and Rudy, Larry, Monica and I eventually ended up back at the mission house for the last night after we toured a huge cathedral and the historic National Palace in downtown San Salvador. The Palace was a place where they used to conduct the business of the country. It was absolutely huge, and we enjoyed the architecture and the green parakeets squabbling in the trees inside the courtyard! I saw ONE hummingbird the whole week. It was in that courtyard. I think it dove into the bush to roost for the night so the sighting was very brief!

So here we are...

At the end of a journey.

 It was a fast journey, with not much preparation. It was a busy journey, without much time to ponder what was going on. Because of the urgent way that God brought me into the journey, I allowed myself to believe that something huge was going to happen while I was gone. I believed that God was going to rock my world a little bit...or a lot....or that He might rock someone's world through my time there. 

I didn't see that though. 

In fact, I left wondering...and asking, "God, why me. Why then. What was so important that you led me right into that trip in a way that was completely YOU. What am I not seeing here?"

 I prayed over it for days. That God would enlighten me about the purpose of this trip. I worked hard. I loved hard. I served hard. I loved all of it. I learned from it. I was humbled by it. I would do it again and again...in a heartbeat. It was an amazing experience for certain...but I just felt like I was missing something.

It was beautiful to see the way God has used Larry and Monica to take ownership of this community in a way that is serving His purposes for the good of these communities. They are literally being the hands and feet of God in a tangible way--physically, emotionally, and spiritually. But my question to the Lord was this "where do I fit into all of this. What are the lessons that you had for ME Lord? How will this change my life? How does this affect You and I?

I went back to my old life Monday afternoon. Back to my family. Back to my job. Back to being the me that God placed in this community nearly 30 years ago. And Tuesday evening, in the quiet of my thoughts, the Spirit broke in. He reminded me of a song that I love. It's called "I'll go where you want me to go." 

The lyrics read like this:

1. It may not be on the mountain’s height,
   Or over the stormy sea;
   It may not be at the battle’s front,
   My Lord will have need of me;
   But if by a still, small voice He calls,
   To paths that I do not know,
   I’ll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in Thine,
   I’ll go where You want me to go.
   • Refrain:
     I’ll go where You want me to go, dear Lord,
     O’er mountain, or plain, or sea;
     I’ll say what You want me to say, dear Lord,
     I’ll be what You want me to be.
2. Perhaps today there are loving words
   Which Jesus would have me speak;
   There may be now in the paths of sin,
   Some wand’rer whom I should seek;
   O Savior, if Thou wilt be my guide,
   Though dark and rugged the way,
   My voice shall echo Thy message sweet,
   I’ll say what You want me to say.
3. Refrain
4. There’s surely somewhere a lowly place,
   In earth’s harvest fields so white,
   Where I may labor through life’s short day,
   For Jesus the Crucified;
   So trusting my all to Thy tender care,
   And knowing Thou lovest me,
   I’ll do Thy will with a heart sincere,
   I’ll be what You want me to be.
5. Refrain

Music has always ministered to my soul. After I heard this song a number of years ago, I printed it out and kept it my treadmill--periodically I would sing it as a prayer (I do a lot of prayer walking on my treadmill.). I have prayed this for years. Often I focus on the the second verse more than the others since I am always talking to people and counseling them--it's what God created me to do.

But Tuesday night, the chorus kept running through my mind...and I felt like the Spirit was whispering to me, "Child. For years you have told Me that you would go where I want you to go...and be what I want you to be. I took the path of short notice, faith walking, no months worth of planning. It's uncomfortable for you. I asked you to go. And you went. You have always said you would go on YOUR terms. I wanted to see if you would go on MINE. I asked you to go. You were obedient to the call I placed in your heart. The things that I did through you while you were there aren't to be revealed to you now. Obedience is what I desired."

Wow!! 

This trip to El Salvador was a beautiful gift from my Father. He was giving me the desire of my heart--to travel to the "least of these" and serve Him by serving them. 

And its true...in MY perfect world, I would have researched out all the organizations, all the possible locations, all the lengths of stay, the cultures, the food, the fun things. I would have picked the perfect dates...or put it off for years waiting on the perfect date and perfect set of circumstances before I would commit. I would have spent SIXTY dollars on a passport rather than $650 on one. 

He was right, I would have preferred it on MY terms...controlled by ME-giving credit to HIM. 

BUT...in His perfect plan...He tested me. He gave me a gift that blessed my socks off. On HIS terms. His trip, His way, His timing.

And that was it. That was the lesson. That was the thing. 

He wanted to know if I would obey His call.

I have no doubt that I impacted people in El Salvador as much as they impacted me. 

I have no doubt that I met needs there that no one else on earth could have. 

I have no doubt that God used me physically and verbally to touch lives. 

I have no doubt that God is going to use my written story to encourage others to trust in the great big God that we read about in the bible, and that still small voice of the Spirit that says things that don't seem to make any sense. 

I also have no doubt, that the Lord will continue to draw me into the next thing and the next thing, because of my obedience to this thing!!

Most of the time, the next thing is right out my back door. And I have no doubt that the next things will continue to be right in my own little sphere of the world--not across the seas!

The most profound moment, truly, of my whole trip, was going through customs in El Salvador. They asked what our business was in their country. Dr Larry looked at them and said, "We are missionaries." MISSIONARIES!!! 

In my mind, those are people who leave everything they know and never come back again. 

But in that moment, I realized he was right. 

Missionaries are those who are sent on a mission, especially to do religious or charitable work in a territory or a foreign country. 

And we were sent on a mission by God to the forgotten boys in prison...to the rural villages of El Salvador...and to the little forgotten Island of Calzada.
I. AM. A. MISSIONARY!! 

But as I pondered that over the next 10 days or so, I realized that truly, I am a missionary in my own community. God gave me the mission to bring His news to teenagers in my area. He gives me the mission to bring hope and encouragement into the lives of the people I serve in my work every week.  

And the fact is, anyone who has accepted Christ as their Savior and Master...Has. Been. SENT. already. They/we have been sent to take God's gospel of salvation through Jesus to the ends of the earth. In our homes. In our neighborhoods. In our counties and states and countries. My mission is different than your mission. And your mission is different than the person who sits next to you on Sunday. But we all have a mission, given to us by God Himself! 

If you have received Christ by faith, you are also called to be a missionary. Are you taking that call seriously??

And I'm here to tell you, this was a heck of a way to figure that out for myself. But I'm glad for God's lessons, and God's methods, in God's time!! 

Thanks for reading through my story!! If you have a question, drop it in the comment box at the end and I'll be glad to answer!! Make sure that you don't leave without clicking the last song link...it applies to all of us!!

                                                                   Won't Stop Now

El Salvador--Day 5

Dr Steve, Lydia, Me, and Monica

 This morning, we had eggs with vegetables, refried black beans, tamales, cafe and fresh fruit. We left for our next clinic at Oasis (Oh-ah-sees). They recently had a few young ladies paint new murals on the walls. The mural where we are standing says JESUS HEALS. It's next to the clinic exam room that they have there.

They had supplies for me to do some well woman exams. Several of the women hadn’t had one for many years. The table was a narrow gurney which had no brakes and no stirrups. They used a step stool to get on it, and there really wasn't access to good sanitation barriers-adequate to get the job done, but it wouldn't have passed the regulations in the US. The tools were archaic and took me a minute to figure out. I had a head lamp on to see (usually the lights are right in the tools we use to see). It was an experience to say the least, but the women were so grateful. One thanked me and gave me a big hug for taking care of her. I just hope that the pap slides that I  made were useable later!

Sylvita was the interpreter that helped me the most. She's a petite little thing!! She is in her late 20's or early 30's and super sweet. She works full time for Christ For the City International. She teaches English to the kids as well as some other things. 

We walked to the clinic today. It was only a few blocks. This lady lives next door to sister Magdalena. I happened to notice that she was drawing her water from a well. I didn't have the chance to ask anyone how routine that is, but I am going to guess pretty common!

Here is the set up at Sister Magdalena's. The shallow rectangular sink is also the "washing machine." We used it for hand washing. The procedure was to fill up one of those small blue pans with water from the circular vessel. Use the soap in the right hand corner of the rectangle sink, and then use the fresh water in the pan to rinse off. To the left of the rectangle was the eating area, and about 30 steps to the right of the circle was the kitchen. 

Here is a picture of the kitchen. There is a deep freezer in the back right hand side of the room, and a refrigerator to the left that isn't visible in the picture. She also has a large flat cook top (think Blackstone without the brand name) next to the red chair on the left. The dishwashing sink is in the back left hand corner. The picture looks bright, but that one light bulb up there doesn't light up much. It seemed really dark in there all the time. 

Here is a picture at the shower room. You can see that the tin roof fits only "loosely" onto the building. The shower is on the left and the toilet is behind the green curtain at the right. The girls bedroom was connected to the bathroom-to the left of the shower. 

There was also a cement sink in the bathroom area. 

This is the "lock" from inside the bathroom. The door was a wood framed piece of tin.

Now, back to the clinic. Again, people were already waiting on us when we arrived. This was a beautiful little place with a new, improved kitchen that they use to serve the community. They actually use it to supply meals to some of the most food-insecure people in this little community.

In the clinic room is a small air conditioner. It felt good for the half of the day that I got to do well woman exams. The rest of the time, Dr Miller and Dr Steve did lesion removals and benign tumor removals, and Lydia stitched them up. 

Dr Morataya and I saw clinic patients upstairs in the open air patio. There was another big tin roof over the top of it to keep the sun from us. It was BEAUTIFUL!! There was a slight breeze that felt SO good in the hot, humid climate.

In the extra suitcase I brought, between the plastic shoeboxes filled with eye glasses, I had stuffed snap bracelets, punch balloons, sunglasses, story books, and as many stuffed animals as I could shove in the crevices and dead space. The kids LOVED the snap bracelets. They had actually never seen anything like them. I could tell by the way their eyes lit up when I demonstrated it on my arm first. They were always willing to put their arms out to receive one for themselves. 

At the end of the day, Sylvita was looking through the suitcase of toys. She remarked at how cute the stuffed strawberry was. I told her she could have it if she wanted...She jumped at that right away. Edwin asked if he could also have a stuffed animal. He picked through them all and chose the little dog. He snuggled it up to his face in the sweetest way. When I asked if he had ever had a stuffed animal before he replied that he had never. My heart tugged at the thought of that. Most American kids have so many stuffed animals that they don't know what to do with them. And these young adults had never had the opportunity to love one! The little one on the right is Sister Magdalena's granddaughter. She also chose a little bear...and she carried it around for the next two days! If I ever go again, stuffed animals will for sure make the final cut for placement in the suitcases!

From the balcony clinic area, I caught a glance of a couple young boys. I had seen them the day before riding bicycles with these really long sticks. The sticks had a little enclosure on one end, we thought maybe to catch something out of the water. 

It turns out, they gather mangos with them. They were grabbing mangos down out of the trees with ease and piling them in a bowl. 

Here is our medical team--left to right

Edwin (translator), Francisco (dental assistant), Dr Morataya (medical director and doctor at the mission house) Raquel (pharmacist), Dr Steve from New York, Lydia, nurse practitioner from San Antonio, Sylvita (translator), Vanessa (dentist), Me, Monica (dental assistant, leader, Dr Miller's wife), Dr Miller (leader)

We walked back down the dirty roads to Sister Magdalena's. People were going by most of the day on bicycles or motorcycles. Sometimes there would be an old truck. Chickens were everywhere, being followed by millions of chicks. Someone counted, and a chicken we saw at the clinic that day had 28 baby chicks following her everywhere she went!!

We met this beautiful woman on our way home. She was happy to meet us. Teresa was her name. She was 78. 

A cashew tree!! It was the darndest thing I have ever seen!! The fruit (above the cashew shaped nut) turns a bright red.  Apparently they don't taste that good though. 

Here is a cluster of cashews!!

A picture of Edwin and I. He and I had a fun, teasing relationship. He was also good to translate things for all of us throughout the day--to patients or to one another on our team. 

Spanish was harder today. I can speak some basic things, but advancing it from there has been frustrating. Using the right word in the right sentence seems more difficult, and by the end of the day, I couldn’t even speak the things I know how to say. I was hoping that this experience would help my Spanish to improve, but I think it really only made me more confused. I am finding myself more motivated to get my Rosetta Stone system out when I get home and begin practicing. I hope tomorrow will be better as far as the language goes.

The people are grateful for the care. Several of them are taking medications. This is evidence that the sponsored doctors coming weekly is helping people to take better care of themselves. That is encouraging! I have had several kids over the last few days that are having pain in their feet, ankles, and knees that I am certain is related to the bad shoes that they wear. Another point of frustration for me. It doesn't matter how much medicine we have or don't have. If we can't fix the root of the problem (like decent shoes to wear), how can we effectively treat their problems for the long term. A lot of teaching went on about body mechanics and ways to stretch out their bodies to minimize the chronic pain that many of them experience. This will be something that I will have to sort through over the weeks to come...and a reminder to me, that, while I came to serve these people, the tension over helping in a few ways and not having the means to help in other ways is a real, real problem!

Francisco and I took a better picture earlier in the day with our medical garb on...but I was afraid I might never get it from his phone (mine was downstairs)..so we took another one before we left for the day

Dinner tonight was a hard-boiled egg salad with chunks of avocado, onion and radish slices. I hate radishes. But, not willing to pick things out, I ate them. They were pretty darn tasty. We also had fresh fruit, refried beans, and thick tortillas.

We have one more clinic tomorrow morning. Tonight was spent trying to rearrange my suitcase to get packed back up. After lunch, we will be heading back to the mainland to get COVID tests done to get back into the US..and to head for the Air BNB that we will spend the night in on the beach. It's hard to believe that our week is nearly finished!

                                                        All the Poor and Powerless