Takin' Care Of Business.
¡Hola a todos!
Our second day in Perú has been stressful on many levels, but continues to be lots of fun. As mentioned yesterday, we began our work here today and it was quite the adventure. The morning started with breakfast, which might seem an insignificant detail until you understand that this was, to a degree, an adventure in itself. Those staying at the hotel were met this morning with a nice roast - yes, for breakfast! Those of us staying at the Vargas-Silva household were treated to a typical Moyobamban breakfast, the most exotic element of which was plátanos al horno - literally, baked plantains. Victor (the father) recommended slicing the plantain lengthwise, inserting a piece of cheese, closing it back up, and proceeding this way. I am ashamed to say that I did not try this particular technique, but it seemed to go over well with the rest of the group.
I can't believe I spent that many words on breakfast.
After breakfast, all of us met at the hotel, where we chatted with one another and with the High Point group as we waited for the vans. Then, it was off to work in a small town named Yantaló, where the aforementioned Victor is the vice-mayor. Mostly, High Point folks worked to mix and pour concrete for flooring in a church facility for the local iglesia presbiteriana and Burlington folks ran the medical clinic. Don, Luke, and Andres did join the cement crew, however, and one High Point nurse joined us at the clinic.
Running the medical clinic was a trying but fulfilling experience. The patients arrived before we did, and when we had arrived, each had given his/her name and age. For some of us, then, the job was to call out the names and screen the patients, asking them questions about their conditions in order to help the doctor and nurse treat them. We are blessed with Noé, Laurie, and Andres, all of whom speak Spanish fluently. Dawn, Megan, and I have studied Spanish in school, and Genie has picked up some useful frases in her experiences here. For those of us who, after spending the night in a home where father and mother and grandmother don't speak English, felt reasonably confident about wrestling with the language barrier, it was quite the reality check. After interviewing a couple of patients, those of us who are less-than-fluent were exhausted, I think. Eyes were examined and reading glasses were distributed, medications were prescribed and distributed, gifts were given, games were played - all of us worked together, with varying levels of Spanish proficiency, to get the job done, and we did quite well. Eighty patients signed up to be seen today. Thirty-two visits to Dr. Jorge were made, with some families visiting as a unit. It was a success. Progress was also made at the Presbyterian Church, where I believe I understand that half the floor has been laid.
Those of you who have previously traveled with FPC to Perú might like to know that Pastor Calvin had some surgery and is staying here in Moyobamba with his brother, as he is in a lot of pain and is not in a position to serve the church in Soritor. His role in Soritor is being filled by itinerant preachers and it seems that Pastor Calvin, whose operation was only a week ago, will return when he is feeling well. Also, Dora mentioned that the Yantaló church was essentially a box made of bricks last summer. It now has doors and and iron "windows" and is beautiful. I decided that I would be quite proud to worship in a church that looked like that.
I am afraid that this entry will also have to be without pictures - I am about to run out of time and they won't have time to upload. Not to worry, though: today included a performance of Karlean Davis' famous ballet dance (perhaps this is only familiar to youth), an effort to sing "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" in Spanish (fyi, this would be "Cabeza, Hombros, Rodillos, y Dedos" ), and a massive tickle attack on me instigated by some precious - if aggressive - Peruvian boys. I can't guarantee that pictures of all these exist, but cameras were brought out during the entertainment. I'll do my best to get them for tomorrow.
Okay, time's about gone. Tomorrow we return to another day at the clinic. More stories are on the way, I am sure. Grace and peace.
Happy trails -
sch
Our second day in Perú has been stressful on many levels, but continues to be lots of fun. As mentioned yesterday, we began our work here today and it was quite the adventure. The morning started with breakfast, which might seem an insignificant detail until you understand that this was, to a degree, an adventure in itself. Those staying at the hotel were met this morning with a nice roast - yes, for breakfast! Those of us staying at the Vargas-Silva household were treated to a typical Moyobamban breakfast, the most exotic element of which was plátanos al horno - literally, baked plantains. Victor (the father) recommended slicing the plantain lengthwise, inserting a piece of cheese, closing it back up, and proceeding this way. I am ashamed to say that I did not try this particular technique, but it seemed to go over well with the rest of the group.
I can't believe I spent that many words on breakfast.
After breakfast, all of us met at the hotel, where we chatted with one another and with the High Point group as we waited for the vans. Then, it was off to work in a small town named Yantaló, where the aforementioned Victor is the vice-mayor. Mostly, High Point folks worked to mix and pour concrete for flooring in a church facility for the local iglesia presbiteriana and Burlington folks ran the medical clinic. Don, Luke, and Andres did join the cement crew, however, and one High Point nurse joined us at the clinic.
Running the medical clinic was a trying but fulfilling experience. The patients arrived before we did, and when we had arrived, each had given his/her name and age. For some of us, then, the job was to call out the names and screen the patients, asking them questions about their conditions in order to help the doctor and nurse treat them. We are blessed with Noé, Laurie, and Andres, all of whom speak Spanish fluently. Dawn, Megan, and I have studied Spanish in school, and Genie has picked up some useful frases in her experiences here. For those of us who, after spending the night in a home where father and mother and grandmother don't speak English, felt reasonably confident about wrestling with the language barrier, it was quite the reality check. After interviewing a couple of patients, those of us who are less-than-fluent were exhausted, I think. Eyes were examined and reading glasses were distributed, medications were prescribed and distributed, gifts were given, games were played - all of us worked together, with varying levels of Spanish proficiency, to get the job done, and we did quite well. Eighty patients signed up to be seen today. Thirty-two visits to Dr. Jorge were made, with some families visiting as a unit. It was a success. Progress was also made at the Presbyterian Church, where I believe I understand that half the floor has been laid.
Those of you who have previously traveled with FPC to Perú might like to know that Pastor Calvin had some surgery and is staying here in Moyobamba with his brother, as he is in a lot of pain and is not in a position to serve the church in Soritor. His role in Soritor is being filled by itinerant preachers and it seems that Pastor Calvin, whose operation was only a week ago, will return when he is feeling well. Also, Dora mentioned that the Yantaló church was essentially a box made of bricks last summer. It now has doors and and iron "windows" and is beautiful. I decided that I would be quite proud to worship in a church that looked like that.
I am afraid that this entry will also have to be without pictures - I am about to run out of time and they won't have time to upload. Not to worry, though: today included a performance of Karlean Davis' famous ballet dance (perhaps this is only familiar to youth), an effort to sing "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" in Spanish (fyi, this would be "Cabeza, Hombros, Rodillos, y Dedos" ), and a massive tickle attack on me instigated by some precious - if aggressive - Peruvian boys. I can't guarantee that pictures of all these exist, but cameras were brought out during the entertainment. I'll do my best to get them for tomorrow.
Okay, time's about gone. Tomorrow we return to another day at the clinic. More stories are on the way, I am sure. Grace and peace.
Happy trails -
sch
posted by Stuart Hill @ 7:28 PM
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