Back to Pucallpa for two days, and I get welcomed back by two teenage boys stealing my wallet. Yep, the excitement never dies down around here. Kristin and I were buying meds at dusk for our next campaign, and as we rounded a corner, bumping and jostling between some people, a young guy stopped right infront of me, forcing me to stop. His friend was right behind me, and slipped my wallet out of my back pack. Of course, all this occured without me even realizing it, and when I discovered a couple hours later that the back zipper of my backpack was open, the plan those two crooks put together became all to clear and perfect in my mind.
So, after getting the run around from my bank for having my wallet stolen on Thanksgiving Day of all things (how dare I), I finally got my debit card cancelled so at least the thieves won't be able to use more then the 200 soles cash I had (about $60), some Bible verse cards in English, and some nice pictures of my gorgeous sister that I'm sure they'll enjoy pouring over almost as much as they like hooting and hollering at us girls as we walk by.
The really funny thing about all this is I had just realized that everything here in Peru has finally become completely normal to me. Life here is just what I do, and I have made a complete transition from thinking that life in the USA is normal. What a nice celebration of that realization. Oh, well, like the policeman who I filed the police report with who asked me whether I was married or not said, there's bad people all over the world. And, like I told him, that's true, but here in Peru the bad people look for people who look like me: tall, blonde, American, and innocent. :)
Moving on to what's been going on in my life over the past few weeks, since these recent occurances are just a part of the many adventures I've been enjoying while in Peru. The past 6 weeks, Kristin and I along with two Bible workers from Pucallpa, Manuel and Domingo, have been in Ciudad Constituccion. Now we're back and on Sunday jump into a mini campaign of about 2 weeks before Christmas vacation and travelling!
Doing our first full length program for the kids and families was challenging, but very rewarding and we learned a lot. We started out with 20 families in our program, but by the end only had 10 due to families having to travel and work in their chacras. But the 10 we had were quality. They showered us with many gifts of fruit, crackers, and cold treats, and always listened and encouraged us when our Spanish was terrible or our charlas were a little on the ridiculous side. We had a lot of fun getting to know them. The programs itself needs a lot of work we've discovered, and the next full length campaign, after vacation, we will be trying a new approach, starting in the homes with the families like we are doing now, but only for the first week, and then moving into a classroom setting. I think it will be much better for the families and us. We talk about a such a wide variety of topics that we need to have more time to do more then just scratch the surface of them, and having to walk all over tarnation trying to visit these families takes up a lot of time we could devote to teaching.
The kids program went fine, I just get really sick of singing the same old songs and having clingy, loud, whining kids hanging off of me constantly. 6 weeks of kids is a lot for me to handle! But, they are really cute. That helps me hang on to my patience until about the last two weeks. Then I really start to lose it. I've realized I am not made to be a kindergarten teacher! Give me the adults and I'm fine, but kids are just another story. Oh, well, I'm sure God is using this to help me grow in some way. Patience, maybe???
So, for the last 6 weeks we've been living in the adventist church of Ciudad Constituccion, in a tent. Camping for six weeks, woohoo! Actually, it really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. We ate all our meals with a really sweet, equally crazy lady named Rosita, who would go on funny little sprees with our food, serving us all potatoe stuff one week, all platanoes another, and so forth...but all came with the never ending fountain of rice. Of course. Rosita owned two parakeets, both of which she called Piwichu. She would paint them with pink nail polish and hack their wings off with a knife (one of which lost a toe as well when she got a little knife-happy) to keep them from leaving her side. After a few days of watching her chew up food and spit it into her hands to feed her "babies" we arrived for breakfast one day to discover a tragedy had occured. Her pregnant cat had needed a supplement to her regularly sparse diet, and feasted on parakeet. We think they couldn't handle all the love and commited suicide by jumping into her cat's mouth.
While in Ciudad Constituccion, we encountered many more experiences...all of which I want to write about, but, I am needed back at km 38 at this moment, so, this will have to be continued with part two in well, an indefinite amount of time, because, as anyone here will tell you, nothing in Peru is ever a sure thing...
Thank you all for hanging on and hanging in for this ever crazy, changing, bumpy ride. I am so thankful for all the prayers and support. Happy late Thanksgiving! Hope you are all still enjoying the left overs, eat some for me!
Friday, November 23, 2007
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Hi all! I'm finally back where the internet sun shines! (and doesn't take 15 minutes just to open my email!) We made it back to Pucallpa, and now I need to actually sit down and spend some time filling you all in on what has been happening in the adventure that is my wonderful life here in Peru. But, that will have to be another time, because I have a million things to do right now get ready for the next campaign, starting this Sunday if we don't get a strike. Love you all. God bless.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Hey, it has sure been awhile since I wrote anything for my pitiful little page. Hope I still have people checking it once in awhile! Sorry to desert everyone. Good news, I will be back to better (aka faster) internet in a week, and will be sure to put a beefy update up here for all. I love and miss everyone, and am doing very well. Cant wait to fill you all in on what has been happening here in Ciudad Constituccion. Our programs have been going really well, and I am learning more everyday. Thank you for your prayers and support!
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Monday, October 1, 2007
Reflections
As Kristin and I entered the tent, I was surprised by the number of children running up wanting hugs and kisses. As they energetically threw their little arms around me and lifted their faces to mine for a kiss, my heart was heavy. This was our last night of the kid´s program, and they all knew it. With more volume and excitement then usual they sang the songs we sang every night, Cancion de Creacion, En El Arca de Noe, and Yo Tengo Gozo, a few of their favorites. As we talked about heaven, and how much Jesus loved each of them, I hoped with all my might that I would see their precious faces again in a place much, much better than this old world. I pray that the seeds we planted God will watch over, and see that they start to grow in their tender little hearts.
The next day, Sabbath, marked the end of the evangelistic meetings as well. Our faithful bible workers have toiled and the Lord has blessed. They baptized about 50 people, and started a new church in this community. Very exciting!
Today Kristin and I made our last visits to the families in our health program, as well. Everything is coming to an end, and we are now looking forward to the next campaign, starting this Sunday, 18 hours southeast of here in a little jungle town. That will be our home for the next six weeks!
As this campaign has now come to a close, I look back on it and am so thankful. We have learned a lot already about how to communicate and teach, but more importantly I have learned so much about the importance of reaching out to others. That is truly what this life is all about. We will never know just what these families do with the information we shared with them. Sure, some will disregard it completely (after all, what do gringas know about Peru?), but I pray that the Lord will use the interactions we had with them to touch even one person. I have realized that if we were in the right place, said the right thing, for that one person, it is all worth it.
The next day, Sabbath, marked the end of the evangelistic meetings as well. Our faithful bible workers have toiled and the Lord has blessed. They baptized about 50 people, and started a new church in this community. Very exciting!
Today Kristin and I made our last visits to the families in our health program, as well. Everything is coming to an end, and we are now looking forward to the next campaign, starting this Sunday, 18 hours southeast of here in a little jungle town. That will be our home for the next six weeks!
As this campaign has now come to a close, I look back on it and am so thankful. We have learned a lot already about how to communicate and teach, but more importantly I have learned so much about the importance of reaching out to others. That is truly what this life is all about. We will never know just what these families do with the information we shared with them. Sure, some will disregard it completely (after all, what do gringas know about Peru?), but I pray that the Lord will use the interactions we had with them to touch even one person. I have realized that if we were in the right place, said the right thing, for that one person, it is all worth it.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Finally, some more pictures!
Cheva and Lola, our faithful friends at km 38
Kristin and I, the travelling nurses!
The girls! This is our first night in Peru. Can you believe we´re all crammed in the back seat of a taxi?! Good thing we´re small!
Here´s the vampire bat Kristin found sleeping above her bed.
This is a picture of the man we are sponsoring. His intestines are literally in a bag.
And, here is the newest addition to the family.
The girls (minus Laura) before boarding our plane to Pucallpa.Friday, September 21, 2007
News
Kristin and I followed the mother along the sidewalk that wound along the buildings making up the Hospital in Yarina. Entering the pediatrics ICU, she led us into a small room where three babies lay in basinets. One was clearly very ill, and it was hers. As we peered down at the tiny 23-day old preemie, my heart broke. Skin and bones except for a big, bloated belly, the baby had been in the hospital for nine days and couldn´t keep anything down. The family didn´t have enough money for the medicines and treatments it needed, so Kristin and I had filled a prescription for it. I could see the weariness and worry written all over the woman´s face as she leaned over her little one. I wanted so badly to help this tiny life. To find out what it needed and fix it. But, it was out of my control, and all I could do was fill some prescriptions and pray. I am realizing this is a constant struggle in the mission field. There is really only so much you can do, and then you have to trust God and pray. This is very hard, especially when there are no gaurantees things will turn out well or the way you want them to. Thankfully this baby is getting better. He is now nursing and able to keep it down. He still has an uphill battle ahead of him if he is going to regain the strength he lost, but I am praying, and I know prayers work. Prayers do things we are unable to do humanly. I am realizing when I feel hopeless or like things are totally a mess, I can always pray. God has the power to make any situation, any life, any problem all better, working in ways we aren´t even aware of. That´s why I am so happy to be able to do the little bit I can. I may be limited, but the God of this universe who loves and cares about each of us more then we can even imagine, and knows our needs better then we do is only limited to the extent that we ask.
I forgot to mention in my last blog, that if anyone chooses to donate the surgery for the man with his intestines in a bag and we end up with multiple donors, we will be creating a fund for future people in need with any money left over. So, if you would like that money returned to you if we meet this need, just let me know. Thank you.
Our programs are going well. We went through the community and did an evaluation of the letrines. They are all above ground, and many are not even fully enclosed or covered. This is a real contributor to disease and diarrhea in the families here. But, it is very difficult to come into a community and tell them that something they all practice and believe is just fine needs to be changed. It is a good challenge, and we are learning more everyday.
I forgot to mention in my last blog, that if anyone chooses to donate the surgery for the man with his intestines in a bag and we end up with multiple donors, we will be creating a fund for future people in need with any money left over. So, if you would like that money returned to you if we meet this need, just let me know. Thank you.
Our programs are going well. We went through the community and did an evaluation of the letrines. They are all above ground, and many are not even fully enclosed or covered. This is a real contributor to disease and diarrhea in the families here. But, it is very difficult to come into a community and tell them that something they all practice and believe is just fine needs to be changed. It is a good challenge, and we are learning more everyday.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
The Front Lines
Hello!
Kristin and I are now located in a cute, clean apartment in Yarina, a few minutes from Las Brisas and Teodora Vinder, the two communities where our campaign is currently running. For these last two weeks remaining of the campaign we will be focusing on building sanitary letrines with our families, a real need we´ve noticed. It is important to dig a pit to bury waste, and every home we´ve visited has an above ground letrine. This means the pile of waste sits on the ground, and rats, chickens, and other creatures run through it and eat from it, contributing greatly to the spread of disease and infection. Not to mention the many flies that lay their eggs and travel from letrine to the kitchen and back again.
One of the latest discoveries we made while visiting km 38 for a few days was a vampire bat happily sleeping above Kristin´s bed. David kindly rid us of the nasty looking thing, and I was once again so thankful for my mosquito net. It and I will be inseparable, I´m sure, by the end of this trip.
A while back I wrote about a man who came through our clinic with his intestines in a plastic bag, and said that we were going to look into raising money for the surgery he needs to put them back in. We are still trying to raise the money he needs for the surgery and would like to help him with it as soon as posible. The surgery will cost $500. I know a lot of my friends have been putting up information about this guy on their blogs, too. If you are interested in donating money to help this man, please let me know. He is a member of the SDA church in Las Brisas, and is a fisherman by trade. However, he can´t fish because of the strain it puts on his stomach, so he is doing odd jobs for members of the church in exchange for food and money, earning enough to live, but no more. He has been faithfully attending the meetings, and just yesterday as Kristin and I sat under the tent for Sabbath school, I looked over and saw him eagerly reading his Bible. When you look into his eyes, you can see the pain he´s in, but he keeps going, smiling and remaining true to the Lord. Why else are we here but to help those who can´t help themselves? I was impressed that if we could show him God´s love by meeting this need, his faith will be strengthened in such a tangible way.
I want to thank you all for the many prayers said daily for me and the project here. I believe prayer is powerful, and we are on the front lines. Satan is not happy to see the people here responding in love and gratitude to the Lord for the joy He is bringing to their lives. He is working hard to weaken the efforts here in any way he can. Please continue to pray for the people of Las Brisas and Teodora Vinder, that the Holy Spirit would move on their hearts and use us in whatever capacity He sees fit to bring the precious gospel of love to their thirsty souls.
Kristin and I are now located in a cute, clean apartment in Yarina, a few minutes from Las Brisas and Teodora Vinder, the two communities where our campaign is currently running. For these last two weeks remaining of the campaign we will be focusing on building sanitary letrines with our families, a real need we´ve noticed. It is important to dig a pit to bury waste, and every home we´ve visited has an above ground letrine. This means the pile of waste sits on the ground, and rats, chickens, and other creatures run through it and eat from it, contributing greatly to the spread of disease and infection. Not to mention the many flies that lay their eggs and travel from letrine to the kitchen and back again.
One of the latest discoveries we made while visiting km 38 for a few days was a vampire bat happily sleeping above Kristin´s bed. David kindly rid us of the nasty looking thing, and I was once again so thankful for my mosquito net. It and I will be inseparable, I´m sure, by the end of this trip.
A while back I wrote about a man who came through our clinic with his intestines in a plastic bag, and said that we were going to look into raising money for the surgery he needs to put them back in. We are still trying to raise the money he needs for the surgery and would like to help him with it as soon as posible. The surgery will cost $500. I know a lot of my friends have been putting up information about this guy on their blogs, too. If you are interested in donating money to help this man, please let me know. He is a member of the SDA church in Las Brisas, and is a fisherman by trade. However, he can´t fish because of the strain it puts on his stomach, so he is doing odd jobs for members of the church in exchange for food and money, earning enough to live, but no more. He has been faithfully attending the meetings, and just yesterday as Kristin and I sat under the tent for Sabbath school, I looked over and saw him eagerly reading his Bible. When you look into his eyes, you can see the pain he´s in, but he keeps going, smiling and remaining true to the Lord. Why else are we here but to help those who can´t help themselves? I was impressed that if we could show him God´s love by meeting this need, his faith will be strengthened in such a tangible way.
I want to thank you all for the many prayers said daily for me and the project here. I believe prayer is powerful, and we are on the front lines. Satan is not happy to see the people here responding in love and gratitude to the Lord for the joy He is bringing to their lives. He is working hard to weaken the efforts here in any way he can. Please continue to pray for the people of Las Brisas and Teodora Vinder, that the Holy Spirit would move on their hearts and use us in whatever capacity He sees fit to bring the precious gospel of love to their thirsty souls.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Newest Addition to the Family
Hi all.
I´ve had so much more internet access lately, I just don´t know what to do with myself! It doesn´t feel like I have much to tell. Kristin and I have been working really hard on creating a program for our health program, since discovering there really wasn´t enough of one for our limited spanish to make work. It is tedious, but rewarding.
The group got back Sabbath from their exciting adventure on the river, and brought a new addition from deep in the jungle to join our little family. Yes, you guessed it - el mono. It´s a really cute, tiny little spider monkey, with a first, middle, and last name, making up for his small size. His first name is Franc. The girls fell in love with him despite his inability to be potty trained and bad habit of wiping urine all over his little hands to ¨clean¨himself.
I´ve had so much more internet access lately, I just don´t know what to do with myself! It doesn´t feel like I have much to tell. Kristin and I have been working really hard on creating a program for our health program, since discovering there really wasn´t enough of one for our limited spanish to make work. It is tedious, but rewarding.
The group got back Sabbath from their exciting adventure on the river, and brought a new addition from deep in the jungle to join our little family. Yes, you guessed it - el mono. It´s a really cute, tiny little spider monkey, with a first, middle, and last name, making up for his small size. His first name is Franc. The girls fell in love with him despite his inability to be potty trained and bad habit of wiping urine all over his little hands to ¨clean¨himself.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Posts
By the way...
I didn´t realize I could check and reply to posts on my site! (Thank you Shawn, for helping me figure that one out!) So, please feel free to leave postings - I love them, and will be sure to reply...now that I know they´re there! Love you all, and thank you for the prayers. They make a big difference.
I didn´t realize I could check and reply to posts on my site! (Thank you Shawn, for helping me figure that one out!) So, please feel free to leave postings - I love them, and will be sure to reply...now that I know they´re there! Love you all, and thank you for the prayers. They make a big difference.
Amazing
Hello all. I wanted to write a little bit about the spiritual experiences I am having over here as well as the physical ones. They have been just as exciting, in a different way.
The Lord has really been working in my life, and I am realizing what I have heard every person involved in any type of mission work say: to give is to recieve, and so much more. I feel that although I am working hard and giving some time for service, I have never been more blessed. It´s hard to explain, but being over here, away from the business and stress of the States and school is just amazing. When I get up in the morning, I just love being able to spend time in the early morning hours with the Lord, reading the Bible, praying, and being rejuvenated, recharged for another day of service.
When you´re in the mission service so actively, everyday, it´s so easy to see what life is truly all about: living for others. Well, not just living for others. Giving of your life so that whatever you do, whatever difference you can make, will be an effort to let God work through you to show them how much better life is with Him then without.
The lesson I have learned very quickly here is that it is impòssible to give and keep giving when you don´t have a connection, a relationship with the Lord. The more time I spend with Him, the more I am overwhelmed with His amazing love, and how perfectly He knows just what I need.
I know the Lord has led me to Peru, if for no other reason, to really show me His love and desire to be a part of my life and help me to serve Him. The lessons I am learning each day are more valuable and precious then any class or lecture I could take, and they´re straight from the best professor ever!
I know in a few short months this wonderful chapter in my life will end, and I will jump back into our crazy but comfortable North Amercian lifestyle. Although I will leave many things behind, I want to hold onto and never let go of the life changing, life saving lesson that I have learned: I can´t live without the Lord. I want to make time for Him, and never let go of the special relationship I have begun to allow Him to develop within me. I can describe it as nothing less than amazing.
The Lord has really been working in my life, and I am realizing what I have heard every person involved in any type of mission work say: to give is to recieve, and so much more. I feel that although I am working hard and giving some time for service, I have never been more blessed. It´s hard to explain, but being over here, away from the business and stress of the States and school is just amazing. When I get up in the morning, I just love being able to spend time in the early morning hours with the Lord, reading the Bible, praying, and being rejuvenated, recharged for another day of service.
When you´re in the mission service so actively, everyday, it´s so easy to see what life is truly all about: living for others. Well, not just living for others. Giving of your life so that whatever you do, whatever difference you can make, will be an effort to let God work through you to show them how much better life is with Him then without.
The lesson I have learned very quickly here is that it is impòssible to give and keep giving when you don´t have a connection, a relationship with the Lord. The more time I spend with Him, the more I am overwhelmed with His amazing love, and how perfectly He knows just what I need.
I know the Lord has led me to Peru, if for no other reason, to really show me His love and desire to be a part of my life and help me to serve Him. The lessons I am learning each day are more valuable and precious then any class or lecture I could take, and they´re straight from the best professor ever!
I know in a few short months this wonderful chapter in my life will end, and I will jump back into our crazy but comfortable North Amercian lifestyle. Although I will leave many things behind, I want to hold onto and never let go of the life changing, life saving lesson that I have learned: I can´t live without the Lord. I want to make time for Him, and never let go of the special relationship I have begun to allow Him to develop within me. I can describe it as nothing less than amazing.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Week One of Our Six Week Saga
Hello all. So much has been packed into this past week, it´s crazy. Kristin and I truly fontiering it, going where no student missionary has gone before! Pretty exciting.
On Monday and Tuesday we came down with watery, mucousy diarrhea. After telling the people we lived with, they promptly responded that it was because we were drinking “agua cruda.” In other words, they don´t drink that water until they´ve boiled it. So, we are now taking Metronidazol TID and chlorinating our water.
The people we live with are really very sweet, and when Mariza (the lady of the house) heard we weren´t feeling well, she whipped out her jungle remedies on us. She practiced some rock therapy, covering our bellies in rancid olive oil and massaging them with rocks for about 30 minutes, and then grabbing our heads with her oil covered hands and praying in a whisper for about 5 minutes. Then we were told to leave the oil on until it dried. She also had me drink some jungle honey for my sore throat and tried to give me some blood from a jungle plant, but that was where I drew the line. We have to have some boundaries!
We have begun our kid´s program and surveys, and today enrolled 11 families in the health program. At one of the homes the lady invited us to have a seat and enjoy some of the “refresca” she and another woman were drinking. The pitcher was sitting on the table and its contents looked like green slime, but we didn´t want to refuse. So, two tall glasses were poured, and I smiled and took a sip. And almost spit it out. I really don´t want to know what was in it, but I can tell you whatever it was had been rotten and fermenting for quite awhile. So, I´ve had my first alcoholic drink as a student missionary! What´s next?! Needless to say, I couldn´t drink anymore.
God is good, and it is exciting to be involved in His work. Please continue to pray for us and the participants in the program, as it starts officially this Monday.
On Monday and Tuesday we came down with watery, mucousy diarrhea. After telling the people we lived with, they promptly responded that it was because we were drinking “agua cruda.” In other words, they don´t drink that water until they´ve boiled it. So, we are now taking Metronidazol TID and chlorinating our water.
The people we live with are really very sweet, and when Mariza (the lady of the house) heard we weren´t feeling well, she whipped out her jungle remedies on us. She practiced some rock therapy, covering our bellies in rancid olive oil and massaging them with rocks for about 30 minutes, and then grabbing our heads with her oil covered hands and praying in a whisper for about 5 minutes. Then we were told to leave the oil on until it dried. She also had me drink some jungle honey for my sore throat and tried to give me some blood from a jungle plant, but that was where I drew the line. We have to have some boundaries!
We have begun our kid´s program and surveys, and today enrolled 11 families in the health program. At one of the homes the lady invited us to have a seat and enjoy some of the “refresca” she and another woman were drinking. The pitcher was sitting on the table and its contents looked like green slime, but we didn´t want to refuse. So, two tall glasses were poured, and I smiled and took a sip. And almost spit it out. I really don´t want to know what was in it, but I can tell you whatever it was had been rotten and fermenting for quite awhile. So, I´ve had my first alcoholic drink as a student missionary! What´s next?! Needless to say, I couldn´t drink anymore.
God is good, and it is exciting to be involved in His work. Please continue to pray for us and the participants in the program, as it starts officially this Monday.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Clinic Week
A lot has happened in one week. I am now a seasoned clinician after our first clinic. Ok, maybe that’s stretching it a little. I know longer shake in my boots at the thought of clinic, because I know what it involves and it’s not all that bad. Sunday we packed all our meds and supplies into the truck and headed to Los Brisas (sp?), a community about 20 minutes from Pucallpa. Clinic was set up as quickly as possible in a new house in the community. Dental took the campaign tent where evangelistic meetings were held at night, and Medical took the house. There were two rooms. The smaller one was the consult room for the doctor and OR for the minor surgeries we performed throughout the week. The other one was the pharmacy/everything else. We had five tables lining the walls and grouped analgesics, antibiotics, antihistamines, shots, creams, vitamins, and BP meds together for greater ease and fewer errors in dispensing meds. Then clinic began.
The first day was crazy because no one really knew what we were doing. We had to rely on Jenni a lot to explain meds and answer questions. But, by day two we had the process down pretty well, and every day improved more. Here´s the way our days went: Up at 6 to take down our tents which we set up inside the house and pack everything into the truck for safe keeping. Breakfast, worship, and then triage began. I took blood pressures and then headed back to help in pharmacy. Kristin took complaints, kid´s weights, and temperatures, sorting out people who only needed Abendazole for worms and vitamins from those who really needed to see the doctor. The rest of us (minus the dentist, Laura, Manuel, and Brent, who were in dental) were in pharmacy, filling prescriptions as patients filed out of the consult room. We also gave shots, pulled out stitches, and bandaged wounds. This week we also got to give a couple Lasix shots IV for sky high BPs and an IV for major dehydration. Medical alone treated 70 patients in the morning and 70 in the afternoon, and dental averaged about 50 patients a day. By the end of the day we were all exhausted, but the work was very rewarding. And it was evident that the people appreciated it and needed the medical attention.
We saw some sad situations this past week as well. A few stand out. A lady came through with her kids, and was standing in line for pharmacy. I noticed tears in her eyes, and I wondered what had happened in the consult room. As she waited for help, Jenni filled me in on her situation. She has terminal liver cancer, and doesn´t have much longer to live. She has five little children. One is still breast feeding, but she can´t breast feed it, so it is lacking nutrition it needs to survive. We were able to buy the vitamin supplement the baby needs and give it to her, but it will take a miracle to stop the cancer. Another man came through who had had some type of colon resection surgery performed by a local surgeon. The doctor had simply left what was supposed to be a temporary stoma after the surgery, and now that mans intestines are literally hanging in a plastic bag outside his body. It’s horrible how a doctor who is supposed to make people better could leave someone like that. We are trying to raise money so he can have surgery performed to fix the stoma. We also removed a golf ball sized tumor from the head of a young man. It was just hanging off his head on his left temple, and it looked like a large melanoma. He took it to have it biopsied, and I don´t know the results. Even though it was nice to removed it for cosmetic reasons, it ´s sad to know that it could be cancerous, and if he had access to medical help sooner, it might have been prevented.
My favorite part of clinic was actually taking blood pressures. I got really good at taking them, which is a good skill to have (thank you Southern for that stupid nursing skills bag I never used in school – the BP cuff has really come in handy in the mission field). It was not as high stress as pharmacy, and I actually got to communicate and interact with the people more, which is what I enjoy the most. I felt like even though I wasn´t doing a whole lot, just being able smile and ask how they were doing was really nice. It was nice to see the different faces, ages, and poverty levels. It made me realize that no matter where you go or what people you come in contact with, everyone is alike in that we are all the children of the Lord and loved so much by Him. These Peruvian people are all hungering and searching for the love of the One who loves them more then they can comprehend, and they deserve all the love and kindness we can give them. They are no different then you and I in that respect, and I am learning to truly love them as a people.
Well, that´s all for now, folks. On to our next big adventure. Well, at least for Kristin and I. For the next six weeks we will be immersed in our Healthy Families program in the community where we did the clinic. Please keep us in your prayers as we continue to grow everyday in our new jobs. God bless!
The first day was crazy because no one really knew what we were doing. We had to rely on Jenni a lot to explain meds and answer questions. But, by day two we had the process down pretty well, and every day improved more. Here´s the way our days went: Up at 6 to take down our tents which we set up inside the house and pack everything into the truck for safe keeping. Breakfast, worship, and then triage began. I took blood pressures and then headed back to help in pharmacy. Kristin took complaints, kid´s weights, and temperatures, sorting out people who only needed Abendazole for worms and vitamins from those who really needed to see the doctor. The rest of us (minus the dentist, Laura, Manuel, and Brent, who were in dental) were in pharmacy, filling prescriptions as patients filed out of the consult room. We also gave shots, pulled out stitches, and bandaged wounds. This week we also got to give a couple Lasix shots IV for sky high BPs and an IV for major dehydration. Medical alone treated 70 patients in the morning and 70 in the afternoon, and dental averaged about 50 patients a day. By the end of the day we were all exhausted, but the work was very rewarding. And it was evident that the people appreciated it and needed the medical attention.
We saw some sad situations this past week as well. A few stand out. A lady came through with her kids, and was standing in line for pharmacy. I noticed tears in her eyes, and I wondered what had happened in the consult room. As she waited for help, Jenni filled me in on her situation. She has terminal liver cancer, and doesn´t have much longer to live. She has five little children. One is still breast feeding, but she can´t breast feed it, so it is lacking nutrition it needs to survive. We were able to buy the vitamin supplement the baby needs and give it to her, but it will take a miracle to stop the cancer. Another man came through who had had some type of colon resection surgery performed by a local surgeon. The doctor had simply left what was supposed to be a temporary stoma after the surgery, and now that mans intestines are literally hanging in a plastic bag outside his body. It’s horrible how a doctor who is supposed to make people better could leave someone like that. We are trying to raise money so he can have surgery performed to fix the stoma. We also removed a golf ball sized tumor from the head of a young man. It was just hanging off his head on his left temple, and it looked like a large melanoma. He took it to have it biopsied, and I don´t know the results. Even though it was nice to removed it for cosmetic reasons, it ´s sad to know that it could be cancerous, and if he had access to medical help sooner, it might have been prevented.
My favorite part of clinic was actually taking blood pressures. I got really good at taking them, which is a good skill to have (thank you Southern for that stupid nursing skills bag I never used in school – the BP cuff has really come in handy in the mission field). It was not as high stress as pharmacy, and I actually got to communicate and interact with the people more, which is what I enjoy the most. I felt like even though I wasn´t doing a whole lot, just being able smile and ask how they were doing was really nice. It was nice to see the different faces, ages, and poverty levels. It made me realize that no matter where you go or what people you come in contact with, everyone is alike in that we are all the children of the Lord and loved so much by Him. These Peruvian people are all hungering and searching for the love of the One who loves them more then they can comprehend, and they deserve all the love and kindness we can give them. They are no different then you and I in that respect, and I am learning to truly love them as a people.
Well, that´s all for now, folks. On to our next big adventure. Well, at least for Kristin and I. For the next six weeks we will be immersed in our Healthy Families program in the community where we did the clinic. Please keep us in your prayers as we continue to grow everyday in our new jobs. God bless!
Friday, August 17, 2007
Firefighting and Earthquake
A lot of excitement has happened in the last couple days. We did feel the earth quake that I´m sure you all heard about, but it was nothing where we were. Pretty cool to feel it, though. It happened while we were all sitting around the dinner table getting ready to eat supper. We started praying and all of a sudden it felt like the house was moving. By the time the prayer was said it was gone, but everyone was like, did you feel that? And then as we were still trying to figure out what it was, another one came, and we could see the walls and doors moving. Weird. Then it was gone. Manuel had a little radio that he listened to and started telling us how bad it was and where it hit. Crazy. We wanted to go do relief work, but it would be too much right now, and we don´t really have the skills to do search and rescue.
The same day the quake hit we did a little firefighting. The Peruvians had used their burn method to clear the land, only it was really windy, so the fire spread quickly, and was headed toward one of the buildings. We didn´t have water at the time either, so we used boards to beat out the flames in the grass. Thankfully no one was burnt. The Dr just thought it was hilarious to watch me fight fires becauseI would beat the grass in front of me that wasn´t burnt on my way to the fire to scare away any snakes that might be escaping from the flames. :) So after we saved the building and a lemon tree we thought our day was done. Until after supper Kaitlin noticed flames way on the edge of our land. So, we all loaded into the truck with a few shovels and headed in the direction of the fire. We got there just in time. The flames were only about 6 meters away from a house that a little old man was house sitting for. The roof was thatch and the entire building was wood, which would have gone up like kindling. We woke him up, and he seemed totally unconcerned. He told us Jesus was coming soon, and he wasn´t worried about it. He said it wasn’t going to keep coming toward the house! Needless to say, both Jenni and Manuel tried convincing him that he needed to be more aware, but he didn´t care. We threw dirt on the flames and got them out.
I have been running since midnight last night, and I am so tired, hungry, and thirsty. Kristin and I went into Pucallpa last night with Jenni and stayed in a hostel so she could show us where to buy all the meds we need for clinic. It took us until almost 1am to make the list and all. I was so tired because my body is used to going to bed at 9! Then we got up early this morning and went to 5 pharmacies to get prices, then returned to four to get meds. Plus we had to take out and change money. Thankfully all the pharmacies are on the same strip, but it still made for a ton of running around. I am looking forward to Sabbath - the last restful one for awhile I´m afraid, because on Sunday we start our clinic and 6 weeks of health/kids programs. Every Sabbath I think we´ll be helping the bible workers. And today isn´t over yet. We still have to go pick up all the meds with the truck and pack for clinic back at km 38. Where are the peaceful days?? It’s nice though, because I feel like now we´re finally doing what we came here to do.
The same day the quake hit we did a little firefighting. The Peruvians had used their burn method to clear the land, only it was really windy, so the fire spread quickly, and was headed toward one of the buildings. We didn´t have water at the time either, so we used boards to beat out the flames in the grass. Thankfully no one was burnt. The Dr just thought it was hilarious to watch me fight fires becauseI would beat the grass in front of me that wasn´t burnt on my way to the fire to scare away any snakes that might be escaping from the flames. :) So after we saved the building and a lemon tree we thought our day was done. Until after supper Kaitlin noticed flames way on the edge of our land. So, we all loaded into the truck with a few shovels and headed in the direction of the fire. We got there just in time. The flames were only about 6 meters away from a house that a little old man was house sitting for. The roof was thatch and the entire building was wood, which would have gone up like kindling. We woke him up, and he seemed totally unconcerned. He told us Jesus was coming soon, and he wasn´t worried about it. He said it wasn’t going to keep coming toward the house! Needless to say, both Jenni and Manuel tried convincing him that he needed to be more aware, but he didn´t care. We threw dirt on the flames and got them out.
I have been running since midnight last night, and I am so tired, hungry, and thirsty. Kristin and I went into Pucallpa last night with Jenni and stayed in a hostel so she could show us where to buy all the meds we need for clinic. It took us until almost 1am to make the list and all. I was so tired because my body is used to going to bed at 9! Then we got up early this morning and went to 5 pharmacies to get prices, then returned to four to get meds. Plus we had to take out and change money. Thankfully all the pharmacies are on the same strip, but it still made for a ton of running around. I am looking forward to Sabbath - the last restful one for awhile I´m afraid, because on Sunday we start our clinic and 6 weeks of health/kids programs. Every Sabbath I think we´ll be helping the bible workers. And today isn´t over yet. We still have to go pick up all the meds with the truck and pack for clinic back at km 38. Where are the peaceful days?? It’s nice though, because I feel like now we´re finally doing what we came here to do.
Update 2
Hey Everyone,
A lot has happened since I last wrote! Here’s the latest:
We took a trip down river about two hours to a Shipibo Village along the Ucayali River. The village makes money off tourists by making beautiful beaded jewelry and Shipibo clothing. We played a futbol game with the kids and were amazed by their skill – they kicked our butts! The children are very sweet, and love having their picture taken. They swarmed Laura, and had to look at every picture she took. As we left, a little girl shyly placed a beautiful bracelet she had made into my hand, as a gift. It was so sweet. I will definitely be getting some souvenirs there before I leave.
We had a new experience right here at km 38 last week too! We have some sheep that eat our grass to keep the land fairly clear, and one morning before we let them out of their little pen a ewe gave birth to a little brown lamb. It was so cute! The miracle of life is always so wonderful to see, and it amazes me how tender animals are to their young. The lamb is growing quickly and enjoys jumping around and exploring every little tuft of grass. This morning while Mauro was painting the sheep’s hooves with violet (it keeps the parasites out and kills the ones that are already in their hooves making them lame) I discovered that the lamb is small enough to fit through the fence as well.
This past weekend we traveled up the Ucayali to Masisea, a town about 4 hours from Pucallpa by boat. That was an interesting experience. We arrived Friday afternoon and played a game of futbol with the kids. It’s a very good way to make our presence known (we always have a large audience), and shake the stereotype all Americans get: stuck up, rich, and above interacting with the natives unless absolutely necessary. Then we had a meeting to welcome in the Sabbath a home that the brand new church there meets in. The church was planted only a few weeks ago, and this was their first Sabbath without the Bible workers there.
Next day we had church service and then it began to rain. We were supposed to leave for the boat back to Pucallpa by 1pm, but the rain never let up. So, we settled for plan B. The next boat would leave at 5am. We hadn’t slept very well anyway the night before, between the techno blasting from club a few houses up through the wee hours of the morning, and the roosters who started making noise at 1am. So, getting up at three to catch the moto to the river was fine. Except for one thing. At 3am there really are no motos making rounds in Masisea. So, four crammed into the one driven by our hostel owner, one rode with Domingo, the Bible worker, who had brought his motorbike, and Jenni, Tara, and I waited in the dark for a moto. It was a little unsettling, but we did our best to blend in, and finally a moto came for us. Next came the bumpy, slippery ride down the very muddy road to the river. When we got there we paid our driver and started walking what we thought would be a few feet to the river. Only to discover he had decided the road was too muddy to go farther, so we had to walk the rest of the way. Now very late for the boat, we hurried along as best we could in the dark, and came upon the motorbike, with Domingo and Margy. They had wiped out on the road and were waiting to be towed. Thankfully in the end it all worked out and we all made in onboard about two hours later, thanks to the nice boat driver who waited for us all. Not like transportation in the US!
I think I will write a small book about advice on Peru when I get back. I’ve come up with two entries already:
1. Don’t inspect your surroundings, wherever you are, because chances are, you’ll see things you really didn’t want to see! For example, I used our outhouse at the hostel in Masisea and began to look around. Hanging a few feet above my head were huge spider skeletons caught in webs (when I say huge I mean 3-4 inches wide). As I stared at them I realized if those spiders were dead, then something much larger then them was eating them! And I really didn’t want to see whatever that was!
2. Never complain about what you have, because it can always get worse. For example, I was rather shocked by our transportation from Pucallpa to Masisea. For some reason my idea of public transportation by boat was a bit different then the real deal. I had envisioned a clean, roomy, fairly new boat with a bathroom. Not so in Peru. Our boat was old, rickety, very dirty, and smelled like rotten meat. Boards on the floor covered some of the water and other liquids that were sloshing in the bottom, and everyone piled their belongings, including trees, live chickens, bunches of green platanos, and cases of Inca Cola (a local soda) on top. If you have to pee between the plentiful stops between villages along the route, if you’re a guy or child you’re lucky and pee over the side (children also take care of other business over the side, which I was unfortunate enough to witness on this trip), and women bring pee basins (pee in the basin, then dump it over the side). While all this was rather uncomfortable, the trip back was much worse. The boat was half the size with the same amount of people, and the roof was so low I couldn’t sit up straight. Plus, we got a boatload of smokers. Lots of fun, especially after getting up at 3am to get to the boat, only to sit there waiting to leave for three hours!
So, my adventures continue. This Sunday if the strike doesn’t happen we will be starting our first clinic. Please keep us in your prayers. We’ve been doing inventory of our meds, and it’s tedious, but now we’re ready to buy what we need and finish up preparations for the clinic. Feel free to email me with questions or just to say hi! emilym@southern.edu. God bless!
A lot has happened since I last wrote! Here’s the latest:
We took a trip down river about two hours to a Shipibo Village along the Ucayali River. The village makes money off tourists by making beautiful beaded jewelry and Shipibo clothing. We played a futbol game with the kids and were amazed by their skill – they kicked our butts! The children are very sweet, and love having their picture taken. They swarmed Laura, and had to look at every picture she took. As we left, a little girl shyly placed a beautiful bracelet she had made into my hand, as a gift. It was so sweet. I will definitely be getting some souvenirs there before I leave.
We had a new experience right here at km 38 last week too! We have some sheep that eat our grass to keep the land fairly clear, and one morning before we let them out of their little pen a ewe gave birth to a little brown lamb. It was so cute! The miracle of life is always so wonderful to see, and it amazes me how tender animals are to their young. The lamb is growing quickly and enjoys jumping around and exploring every little tuft of grass. This morning while Mauro was painting the sheep’s hooves with violet (it keeps the parasites out and kills the ones that are already in their hooves making them lame) I discovered that the lamb is small enough to fit through the fence as well.
This past weekend we traveled up the Ucayali to Masisea, a town about 4 hours from Pucallpa by boat. That was an interesting experience. We arrived Friday afternoon and played a game of futbol with the kids. It’s a very good way to make our presence known (we always have a large audience), and shake the stereotype all Americans get: stuck up, rich, and above interacting with the natives unless absolutely necessary. Then we had a meeting to welcome in the Sabbath a home that the brand new church there meets in. The church was planted only a few weeks ago, and this was their first Sabbath without the Bible workers there.
Next day we had church service and then it began to rain. We were supposed to leave for the boat back to Pucallpa by 1pm, but the rain never let up. So, we settled for plan B. The next boat would leave at 5am. We hadn’t slept very well anyway the night before, between the techno blasting from club a few houses up through the wee hours of the morning, and the roosters who started making noise at 1am. So, getting up at three to catch the moto to the river was fine. Except for one thing. At 3am there really are no motos making rounds in Masisea. So, four crammed into the one driven by our hostel owner, one rode with Domingo, the Bible worker, who had brought his motorbike, and Jenni, Tara, and I waited in the dark for a moto. It was a little unsettling, but we did our best to blend in, and finally a moto came for us. Next came the bumpy, slippery ride down the very muddy road to the river. When we got there we paid our driver and started walking what we thought would be a few feet to the river. Only to discover he had decided the road was too muddy to go farther, so we had to walk the rest of the way. Now very late for the boat, we hurried along as best we could in the dark, and came upon the motorbike, with Domingo and Margy. They had wiped out on the road and were waiting to be towed. Thankfully in the end it all worked out and we all made in onboard about two hours later, thanks to the nice boat driver who waited for us all. Not like transportation in the US!
I think I will write a small book about advice on Peru when I get back. I’ve come up with two entries already:
1. Don’t inspect your surroundings, wherever you are, because chances are, you’ll see things you really didn’t want to see! For example, I used our outhouse at the hostel in Masisea and began to look around. Hanging a few feet above my head were huge spider skeletons caught in webs (when I say huge I mean 3-4 inches wide). As I stared at them I realized if those spiders were dead, then something much larger then them was eating them! And I really didn’t want to see whatever that was!
2. Never complain about what you have, because it can always get worse. For example, I was rather shocked by our transportation from Pucallpa to Masisea. For some reason my idea of public transportation by boat was a bit different then the real deal. I had envisioned a clean, roomy, fairly new boat with a bathroom. Not so in Peru. Our boat was old, rickety, very dirty, and smelled like rotten meat. Boards on the floor covered some of the water and other liquids that were sloshing in the bottom, and everyone piled their belongings, including trees, live chickens, bunches of green platanos, and cases of Inca Cola (a local soda) on top. If you have to pee between the plentiful stops between villages along the route, if you’re a guy or child you’re lucky and pee over the side (children also take care of other business over the side, which I was unfortunate enough to witness on this trip), and women bring pee basins (pee in the basin, then dump it over the side). While all this was rather uncomfortable, the trip back was much worse. The boat was half the size with the same amount of people, and the roof was so low I couldn’t sit up straight. Plus, we got a boatload of smokers. Lots of fun, especially after getting up at 3am to get to the boat, only to sit there waiting to leave for three hours!
So, my adventures continue. This Sunday if the strike doesn’t happen we will be starting our first clinic. Please keep us in your prayers. We’ve been doing inventory of our meds, and it’s tedious, but now we’re ready to buy what we need and finish up preparations for the clinic. Feel free to email me with questions or just to say hi! emilym@southern.edu. God bless!
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Update 2 Postponed
Hey,
I wasn´t able to get my jump drive to work on this computer, so i´ll have to wait to put my up`date on here til next time. Bummer. I´m doing well. God bless!
I wasn´t able to get my jump drive to work on this computer, so i´ll have to wait to put my up`date on here til next time. Bummer. I´m doing well. God bless!
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
My Peruvian Life
Hola! Como esta? I am doing very well, and keeping busy learning many new things everyday in my new home at km 38 in Peru. It’s called km 38 because it is 38 km from Pucallpa, the nearest town on he map. However, it is only 4 km from Campo Verde, a little village where we buy a lot of our food. In Peru buying food is very different from the States. I think most are familiar with farmer’s markets. They are the US equivalent to the grocery shopping options here. It makes it fun, because you can barter for things and the fruit and veggies are seasonal, so there’s pineapple, mango, and papaya seasons. Here a dollar is equivalent to three soles, and things in general are much cheaper then in the US, making it kinda nice for poor SM’s like me! We spend about five soles a day on food for each person here, and we eat very well; at least relatively. Ansley was here the first couple days and we ate like kings and queens, but we have had some trouble figuring out how to cook so well. Her cooking spoiled the Peruvians we live with, and working on watery oatmeal and a small banana doesn’t go far in the hot sun. But, we’re learning quickly, and the meals are improving. As is our Spanish! Praise the Lord, I can see progress, slow but sure, even since the first couple days. I understand a bit more and communicate pretty well, broken and incorrect though it may be. Margy, a Peruvian who is a good friend of Jenni, is living with us and giving us daily practical Spanish lessons, which are very helpful. I’ve also been making flashcards of the never-ending verbs.
So, now that I have shared bits and pieces of my life in Peru, let me give you an over view of what is going on over here (Down here). Arriving here was not such a culture shock as I was expecting. I think attitude and flexibility has a lot to do with adjusting to new surroundings and culture. I am really enjoying experiencing all the new things Peru has to offer. We (Laura, Tara, Kristin, Kaitlin, and I) arrived late (1 am) Tuesday night in Lima and stayed in a youth hostel. We were in a rickety old two-story building with damp drafty rooms and large statues throughout the vaulted hallways. I also noticed some rotting skulls with hair still semi-intact behind some glass next to the desk as we were checking in. Evidently it’s some Incan thing.
The next day we flew to Pucallpa where Ansley and Carly, the two SM’s, picked us up in the project truck. We loaded our many bags into the back and headed through town to km 38. That was fun! The traffic in Peru is insane, especially in the city. Drivers are generally very good, because they have to be. In the city there are many one way streets, and on any two way road there are no lanes. Motos (motorized rickshaws), bicycles, motorcycles, motorbikes, taxis, and combis (buses) all wind their way to wherever they’re going. The horn is just as important as steering, as it is used almost constantly to get people and traffic out of the way. Pedestrians have no rights in the road, so watch out!
The next few days were spent settling in, learning our way around Campo Verde and Pucallpa, and getting to know the group. Brent, the only guy here so far arrived Friday. We have four Peruvian friends who live with us. Manuel, Edwin, Mauro, and Nitia. Edwin and Nitia are married. Nitia is 17 and Edwin is 30. Quite an age difference, but it is common here. Mauro is 17 too, and Edwin’s brother. They are all a lot of fun, and we have a great time trying to communicate and laughing.
We also have some pets. Lola and Cheva are our watchdogs and Joey the cat prowls the house for cock roaches. We are thinking about getting el mono (monkey) because there are many for sale in Pucallpa and they are fairly cheap (50 soles), but we’ll see.
Sabbath we attended the little iglesia (church) at the end of our drive way. It’s small, but the people are very nice. At the afternoon meeting I had an experience with the common bathroom scenario in Peru. Most poor families have a building with boards covering a pit that they move aside when they use the bathroom. I like to call it the squat and pee method. Needless to say, it takes a special talent that I don’t have.
When we arrived we had only a pit with a toilet cover over it and maggots in the bottom and a bucket shower surrounded by a tarp, but within a couple days we had a beautiful bathroom and shower attached, curtesy of our Peruvian friends. We even have a homemade toilet paper holder! It took me a few days to learn to put my toilet paper in the trash can. Here the sewage system can get stopped up very easily if you don’t.
Anyway, on to the present. We have started going over our job descriptions and responsibilities, and are now working on planning and preparation for the clinics and health/kids programs. Yesterday we went swimming in a lake down the road, but I couldn’t stay in for long. I kept thinking about alligators and piranhas. We’ve also made a trip to the Natural Park, like a zoo in the states. The animals were in small cages, which was sad, but it was really neat to see the big cats and el monos. And, one thing is for sure. We gringos and gringas make a commotion wherever we go. I feel like a celebrity here! Children, guys, and really everyone watches and follows, trying to talk to us. We took pictures with strangers at the park who wanted to take pictures with the Americans. I thought afterward I should have charged some soles! We were interviewed by a local TV station as well.
Although I may feel like a celebrity, our living conditions are quite rustic. We have no electricity and sleep on hard wooden bunks. But it is home, and I have adjusted to it for the most part. It’s all part of the experience. That’s it for now, I will write more next time about what my nursing and teaching responsibilities are over here, and the new stories as they develop.
So, now that I have shared bits and pieces of my life in Peru, let me give you an over view of what is going on over here (Down here). Arriving here was not such a culture shock as I was expecting. I think attitude and flexibility has a lot to do with adjusting to new surroundings and culture. I am really enjoying experiencing all the new things Peru has to offer. We (Laura, Tara, Kristin, Kaitlin, and I) arrived late (1 am) Tuesday night in Lima and stayed in a youth hostel. We were in a rickety old two-story building with damp drafty rooms and large statues throughout the vaulted hallways. I also noticed some rotting skulls with hair still semi-intact behind some glass next to the desk as we were checking in. Evidently it’s some Incan thing.
The next day we flew to Pucallpa where Ansley and Carly, the two SM’s, picked us up in the project truck. We loaded our many bags into the back and headed through town to km 38. That was fun! The traffic in Peru is insane, especially in the city. Drivers are generally very good, because they have to be. In the city there are many one way streets, and on any two way road there are no lanes. Motos (motorized rickshaws), bicycles, motorcycles, motorbikes, taxis, and combis (buses) all wind their way to wherever they’re going. The horn is just as important as steering, as it is used almost constantly to get people and traffic out of the way. Pedestrians have no rights in the road, so watch out!
The next few days were spent settling in, learning our way around Campo Verde and Pucallpa, and getting to know the group. Brent, the only guy here so far arrived Friday. We have four Peruvian friends who live with us. Manuel, Edwin, Mauro, and Nitia. Edwin and Nitia are married. Nitia is 17 and Edwin is 30. Quite an age difference, but it is common here. Mauro is 17 too, and Edwin’s brother. They are all a lot of fun, and we have a great time trying to communicate and laughing.
We also have some pets. Lola and Cheva are our watchdogs and Joey the cat prowls the house for cock roaches. We are thinking about getting el mono (monkey) because there are many for sale in Pucallpa and they are fairly cheap (50 soles), but we’ll see.
Sabbath we attended the little iglesia (church) at the end of our drive way. It’s small, but the people are very nice. At the afternoon meeting I had an experience with the common bathroom scenario in Peru. Most poor families have a building with boards covering a pit that they move aside when they use the bathroom. I like to call it the squat and pee method. Needless to say, it takes a special talent that I don’t have.
When we arrived we had only a pit with a toilet cover over it and maggots in the bottom and a bucket shower surrounded by a tarp, but within a couple days we had a beautiful bathroom and shower attached, curtesy of our Peruvian friends. We even have a homemade toilet paper holder! It took me a few days to learn to put my toilet paper in the trash can. Here the sewage system can get stopped up very easily if you don’t.
Anyway, on to the present. We have started going over our job descriptions and responsibilities, and are now working on planning and preparation for the clinics and health/kids programs. Yesterday we went swimming in a lake down the road, but I couldn’t stay in for long. I kept thinking about alligators and piranhas. We’ve also made a trip to the Natural Park, like a zoo in the states. The animals were in small cages, which was sad, but it was really neat to see the big cats and el monos. And, one thing is for sure. We gringos and gringas make a commotion wherever we go. I feel like a celebrity here! Children, guys, and really everyone watches and follows, trying to talk to us. We took pictures with strangers at the park who wanted to take pictures with the Americans. I thought afterward I should have charged some soles! We were interviewed by a local TV station as well.
Although I may feel like a celebrity, our living conditions are quite rustic. We have no electricity and sleep on hard wooden bunks. But it is home, and I have adjusted to it for the most part. It’s all part of the experience. That’s it for now, I will write more next time about what my nursing and teaching responsibilities are over here, and the new stories as they develop.
Friday, August 3, 2007
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Counting Down
The days are ticking by, eating away at July. With every one that passes I am brought closer to my departure date. The excitement is beginning to mount, along with some aprehension toward the unknown. Very soon my life will be changing drastically!
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