Harrison and Isaiah

Wow – Happy Monday again!  AMAZING….that about sums up the whole trip!  It was a week full of laughs, tears, inspiring moments, and abundant God sightings.    I realized today that I’ve never been to a country and seen so little and yet left with so much.  I generally go on “vacation” running from one attraction to the next, and I need to go home to have a vacation from my vacation.  This was far from vacation, but it has left me feeling completely filled up….overflowing….and recharged.  Of course I’m physically exhausted, but I can deal with that.  The rest of me feels super charged and ready to go.   On the bus ride from Chicago to Stevens Point, we had an opportunity to share with the group some of our thoughts of the trip.  One of the most profound comments came from a 17 year old student on our trip who said “I’ve been on mission trips before, and they have always opened my eyes.  This one has opened my heart.”  I couldn’t agree more.  The people of Condevilla Peru will live in my heart forever, and I can only hope that I will have an opportunity to serve them again.

Thank you to everyone for everything during my travels!  Your prayers and support of Mike and the boys while I was gone are greatly appreciated!  Seven photos later, here’s the best one I could get of our boys in their new soccer jerseys. 

Keep reading the blog – we’ll try to write something interesting now and then!! 

Saludos,

Meredith

I can´t believe this is the last day already!  It has been crazy busy, but it sure has been fun!  We had a ¨half day¨  of clinic yesterday from about 10 until 2:30, and still saw 253 people.  We’re also very proud that we reached a new record temp of 128 in the clinic.  Sorry for those of you who just got done shoveling!  We have a pretty full day today – we get to be real tourists today!  I’ve never been in a foreign country where I’ve seen so little!  We we did see was better than any tourist trap on the planet, but I am looking forward to checking out some of what Lima has to offer today! 

Before we head out this morning, my new friend Doctor Bob is going to give me an ultrasound – wahoo!!!  Doesn’t everybody just have an ultrasound machine laying around???  ha, ha…..

We are leaving our hotel tonight aroud 7:00 for the airport, and our flight leaves at 11:50.  We arrive in Miami around 5:30 in the morning, and then we get back to Stevens Point sometime around 4.  It’ll be a long day of travel, but this week has shown me that I can endure far more than I otherwise thought!  I’m sure we’ll be in touch soon to share stories and pictures!!!   Have a great weekend!!!

Saludos,

Meredith

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

Yesterday was a good example of how life doesn’t always go how you necessarily plan it.  Without divulging all the gory details, I’d highly suggest that if you ever desire to get killer diahrrea and naseau, I’d highly recommend doing that in the presence of 5 doctors and two pharmacists!  Needless to say, I needed all the expertise they had yesterday.  I tried to hold out as long as I could, but ended up going to the pastor´s house down the street and sleeping for three hours.  I came back, and felt like a million bucks!  I spent the afternoon working in the optical clinic, and fitting people for reading glasses and sunglasses.  As a side note, I never knew what the Lions Club did with collected glasses, and now I do!  All that we have came from the Lions Club.  The pastor of the church was going out to the black market last night to try and buy a bunch more too – there are  a few different perscriptions we’re running out of, so hopefully he found some!

Today is the last full day of the clinic.  When we’re done tonight, we’re having a party with the locals at the clinic – not totally what’s in store there, but I think I saw Jenga and Pictionary in the luggage!  Should be a good story for tomorrow!  Tomorrow is a half day of clinic, and another shin dig in the afternoon, and Friday is a day for us to be tourists for awhile.  The time is really going fast!!! 

Just think….when I come home, it will be 100 degrees cooler……. seems like enough to make a person sick!

Have a great day! 

Saludos,

Meredith

First – thanks to all of you that have sent notes, I love reading them!!!

This has been an amazing experience, and there are still four days left!  Never in my life have I been with a more intelligent, spiritual, moving group of people.  It’s good affirmation that there is a God in this world, and all of us are here to do something much bigger than what are minds can generally fathom.  Yesterday, we had a question in the morning to reflect on all day, and that was “How has God worked in your life today?”.  Let me tell you, the Guy has been busy!  I know I couldn’t have done yesterday without him.  The clinic was packed.  In previous years, they have seen 100-150 patients on the first day.  We saw 370 yesterday, and there were 20 that didn’t show up for their appointment.  On top of that, the “official” temperature recorded in the clinic at noon was 118 degrees.  Gotta love that!

Yesterday I worked in medical triage, taking in each patient, recording their name and age, and then deciphering what it was they needed the clinic for.  I think I may have heard everything under the sun, and there are no limitations!  I was glad I got the heads up from previous years that there are a number of mothers concerned for the size of their little son’s male parts.    That was my third patient yesterday.    That’ll get you some new vocabulary words!!!

I also had a great experience with my brother yesterday – we were both speaking Spanish to some little kids and even talking to each other in Spanish, and we understood each other!  He goes more the way of Spanglish, but it was still awesome to have that experience!  Together we learned the word for “boogers” (moco if you’re curious) and the kids thought it was hilarious that we said boogers were food for kids – that totally got more than one smile!

The people here are so grateful for our service, it’s unbelievable.  I’ll share pictures when I’m home, but it’s amazing to think where they live and how it corresponds to their attitude.  By our standards, you’d think they want for nothing – they’re so happy!  And they think WE smile a lot!

One other quick blip about yesterday – part of our clinic is a photo ministry where families can have their pictures taken.  I was invited to be La Rubia (the blonde haired girl) in a number of photos! It was pretty funny – sometimes you feel more like a zoo animal, but if it makes their day, I’m more than happy to do it!  The two working in the photo clinic didn’t get past about the first hour or so without being in nearly every photo!  It’s a pretty cool ministry!

Gotta run – thanks again for the notes, the prayers, and the support!  I FEEL THE LOVE! 

Saludos,

Meredith

What a great day yesterday!  We attended church which was extremely long by any Catholic or Lutheran standard, but the two hours flew by like two minutes, and it was exciting to be able to worship and understand in a different language!  There were about 25 people from the town there yesterday, so our group doubled the size of their congregation.  They set up a special tent outside just to to have churh.  Silly me thought I was ” out of the sun” until I got back and saw the beautiful shade of red on my arms and chest!  I had an opportunity to meet a number of people from Condevilla, where we’re having our clinic, and they are so excited for us to begin today.  My Spanish skills have never felt so useful or so fulfilling.  Words really can’t describe translating prayers – it’s a very powerful and moving experience.  I did find out quickly that I’m not sure how to begin or end a prayer in Spanish, but I have been taken care of and added all the appropriate words to my vocabulary! 

We’re leaving the hotel this morning at 8:00 to drive to Condevilla, and set up the clinic to start at 10:00.  We found out yesterday that we have 1,470 appointments set.  The quick math turns out to 1 patient every six minutes per doctor over the next four days.  Amazing by any standard, so if we can keep it up, it will be awesome!  Our medical team is fantastic – two family practice docs, two ER docs, an orthopedic surgeon, and a GI doc.  We should have most concerns covered, although we still have no good way to explain that sickness DOES NOT come from drinking cold drinks or sitting in front of a fan.  This is a common concern here. 

Quick weather update – it’s hot, hot, hot.  No idea how hot, but I’d guess in the upper nineties.  Combine that with the comforts of our tent, and we should be well into the hundreds.  Not to worry, my hotel room has air conditioning, but I’ve realized that I’m going to spend very few hours there in the next couple days!  It rains about an inch per YEAR in Lima….and it rained last night.  It certainly didn’t last long, but it was like the oasis in a desert. 

I scored some great finds at an Indian market yesterday, and found out the hard way that the money changer will not take my American dollars if they are torn or have any kind of markings on them.  I had a $20 bill with a black line on it that he wouldn’t accept – - which was solved by wheeling and dealing with a purse vendor to buy something in American dollars.  Yes, Mike, this means I bought a purse.    It’s great.  Jill H. – you’re going to like it, I thought of you right away!

Last note – this computer is in the lobby of the hotel, and it’s got great quick access.  However, the music selection overhead is quite odd.  At the beginning of this posting, I was listening to a pan flute version of the Beatles hit Let It Be.  Hmm……now I’m listening to a breathy lounge singer do her version of Hey Jude.  Both good songs, but I can’t say I ever thought of either as mood music. 

Ok – on with the day!  Yikes – I just realized this was another super long posting.  Sorry, but I hope you enjoyed it!

Saludos,

Meredith

On to immigration we went and then headed to customs.  All of our luggage made it, and all of our storage totes with all of our supplies made it.  Each person had to go through the security checkpoint with one storage tote and their luggage.  Some are searched, some are not.  About half the group made it through when suddenly we were directed to get out of line and go to “The Office”.  Yikes….immediately this evoked feelings of the great TV show Locked Up Abroad.  My Spanish skills were put to the test – given the stressul situation and my pure exhaustion, I think I passed with flying colors.  Apparently they were irritated with us that we had medical supplies, but since the totes with the actual medications had already been put through security, all we had were a bunch of miscellaneous supplies.  He was most concerned about our 1,000 toothbrushes, and told us we’d have to leave everything there until Monday.  We kept talking – and somewhere in all the talking, smiles, and head nods, he finally looked at me and said in Spanish I’m “I’m just going to believe you”.  I couldn’t believe it!  I cheered.   

We finally left the airport at 2:00, and arrived at the hotel about 2:45 am.  It was the best bed I ever slept in.  The weather is fantastic by Wisco standards, and we have a good day planned ahead.  I might even catch a nap.

Sorry for the long e-mail, but it was quite a crazy story.  I’m sure words don’t make it nearly that exciting, but just imagine how I’ll be when I tell you this story AGAIN.   Take care everyone!!

Saludos,

Meredith

I’ll try to keep you posted as best I can as our trip goes on.  Thanks to everyone for all your love, support and prayers – it’s going to be quite a ride!  Don’t forget – - if you want to receive automatic updates when a new post is made, you can register on the website.  Just click on “Register” on the right, lower side of the page. 

Saludos,

Meredith