Clinic – Day Three

Wow – I can’t believe it’s already Thursday – the week has gone so fast!!  I’ll be glad to get home and take a break!  This trip has showed me though that it is possible for me to stay awake past 8:30….so I’m going to try really hard and do that!

The clinic was packed yesterday.  I may have said that in every posting since Monday, but yesterday was packed!  We saw 390 yesterday – every day since Monday we’ve broken a record for that.  Lucky for us, it was only 108 degrees in the tent, so it felt like a day at the beach!  Lots of great things happened yesterday – a woman found out she was pregnant, various minor surgeries, and lots of affirmation that the “small” children are growing just fine and are strong and healthy.  More importantly, though, there were 50 people that went through the spiritual clinic yesterday that have decided that Church Is Where It’s At.  They have decided to dig deeper into their relationships with God, and the people of the church are just ecstatic.  I’m sad we can’t be here on Sunday to see how many extra chairs they have to put out!  I also had the opportunity to work in the optical clinic again – the black market glasses came through, and the job is so much easier when you actually have the right perscriptions to give out!  To see their smiling faces when they put on a pair of glasses that works is completely priceless! 

We had a great time last night – after the clinic was closed, we had the opportunity to just hang out with the people in Condevilla.  It was really fun to be there for them – they’re so excited that we’re here, and they just want to talk to you and ask questions.  A few kids in the past few days have asked me if we eat “solamente grasa” (only grease) in the U.S.  I was SO confused, but started throwing out things us Americans “normally” eat….and sure enough – they think we only eat grease.  Yikes – we might all learn something from that!  The church people set up a band last night, complete with drumset, keyboards, and guitar, and we basically rocked out for a couple hours.  It was awesome!  Spanish, English – praise is the same in every language!  The Peruvians expressed again their deep appreciation for us being there and for the love we have shown this week.  It has been great!  PS – no jenga or pictionary. 

Today is our last day of clinic, and we’re only doing a half day.  This afternoon, we are having a worship service and another jam session that we have invited the entire community to come to.  I have personally invited so many people, and they seem thrilled to come.  I talked to one woman yesterday who rode 8 hours on a bus just to come to the clinic.  She’s staying here through the end of the week, so it will be neat to be with her this afternoon. 

PS – Dinner last night was 20 Dominator pizzas from Dominos….”solamente grasa”.  It was delicious! 

Many blessings to all of you – thanks again for all the notes, I love them! Have a fantastic day!

Saludos,

Meredith