I
n early November 2001, I was privileged to be a part of a medical mission to Peru with the Christian organization Immeasurably More based in Austin, Texas. We went to Chiclayito on the outskirts of Piura, a large city near the coast in northern Peru. There we spent a week operating a general medical clinic in answer to the prayers of a small local Church of Christ which had helped arrange for the mission effort in that area.The mission team consisted of about thirty people, including six physicians, four dentists, three nurses, one pharmacist and several non-medical people serving as support staff. The local people coming to the clinic could choose whether they wanted to see a doctor, have dental care, or get fitted with eyeglasses. Most had multiple needs, but they had to make a choice. All the services, including any medications prescribed and given, were provided free of charge.
In the five days there we saw and ministered to more than 3,400 people. The types of medical care provided were general medical, obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics, and dermatology. The dentists did mostly extractions of rotten or impacted teeth as well as treating such things as abscesses. The staff providing eye care were lay volunteers trained to use a piece of equipment and eye chart to prescribe lenses. The people were able to choose a frame they liked from those available and our staff would then put the lenses in the frames. Of all the care given that week, I think the people who got glasses were the happiest and most excited. I particularly remember an elderly couple who both got glasses. As they left they were excitedly pointing to everything, obviously ecstatic over being able to see things clearly they hadn’t seen in years.
The other two nurses and I were assigned the task of triage. As the people seeking care came in, a translator helped us interview them in order to assess their medical problems. We then helped them determine their most pressing needs and directed them to the appropriate caregiver. One of the hardest things to do was to get them to limit their list of complaints to the three which were the most important or problematic. There is no free health care in Peru and they naturally wanted to make the most of their visit with an American doctor by listing every ailment they had and to have them all addressed. Sadly, the large volume of people needing care required us to limit the time spent with each patient.
There were many chronic health problems, particularly hypertension and diabetes, which we could not effectively treat in one week. But we also saw lots of acute problems like bladder/kidney infections, skin lesions and diseases, upper respiratory infections and parasitic infections which we were able to treat.
The unemployment rate in that area is sixty percent, so most of the people had no access to health care; some had previously diagnosed conditions but did not have the money to get the needed medications or treatment. In spite of their poverty, they were some of the most gracious, appreciative, and cooperative people I have ever met.
After about 720 patients were seen on the first day, the word spread and the streets around the clinic building we used were lined with people every day wanting to be seen. Many of them waited in line all night and until late the next day to be seen, yet when they arrived they were not grouchy or complaining. Instead they were smiling and thankful for whatever we could do.
Each morning as we arrived by bus, the crowds would be there already, waiting. And they would always be waving and smiling and cheering. One of our group stated that they felt like a rock star must feel with adoring fans surrounding your every move. As we left each day to get on the bus to return to our hotel, again the crowds would surround us, often just wanting to reach out and shake our hand or have us touch them in some way. The mothers of babies and small children especially seemed to want us to touch their children, frequently lifting them up to the window of the bus for us to hold or kiss. They had little, but their expressions of gratitude flowed freely. One elderly gentleman insisted on giving me his rosary beads. (0ver)
Again, I was overwhelmed by the thankfulness and graciousness of all the people we met, even when we could not really "fix" their medical problems. Sometimes I felt that all we could really do was to "give a cup of cold water in the name of Jesus." Many of them kept saying that they couldn’t believe that doctors from the U.S. would come to their town to help them for free. We tried to help them realize that it was because of the love of God and the desire to share what He has blessed us with that motivated our trip.
One of the children we saw was a young girl, about ten or eleven years old, who had a large neurofibroma (tumor) of her face. The entire left side of her face was enlarged by the tumor to about twice the side of the right side, yet she was smiling and friendly and seemed as happy as the other children. The strange thing was that her mother did not bring her to the clinic because of the tumor (diagnosed three years earlier but untreated for lack of money). Instead, the mother brought her because of a fungal infection on her feet, a cough and a sore throat. Her conditions were treated; however, the pediatrician who saw her was touched by her condition. He believer he can make arrangements through some colleagues at a Shriner’s Hospital to bring her to Texas for the needed surgery. We are all praying that will happen. Another similar situation involved a baby about a year old with a severe cleft lip and palate who also needed surgery. Again the pediatricians with the team are hoping to make arrangements for that child to have surgery in the United States.
In addition to the medical care the mission team provided, the local church members were at the exit of the clinic offering to meet with anyone interested in learning about the gospel or in having Bible study. They met with about ninety people during the week and are hoping to have ongoing contact with most of them.
Each morning at 6:15, there was a devotional time for the team members who wanted to attend. One of the things that surprised me the first morning was that not everyone attended. I learned, however, that there were a variety of church backgrounds and affiliations on this team, and not everyone was interested in early morning devotionals. For those of us who did attend, though, it was a very uplifting and inspiring time and we grew closer to each other as praised the Lord together in song and prayer.
As we prepared to leave, there was concern violence might erupt because many who waited patiently for days would not be seen. After staying later than planned, the announcement was made that we could do no more. Instead of violence, the crowd erupted with shouts of "Gracias!" exhibiting once more their appreciation for the love shown to them.
That image is etched in my memory. This was the first mission trip of any kind I’ve made (I’d never even been out of the U.S.) and I was told that once you’ve gone, you’ll be "hooked", and I can now testify that is true. I do want to go on more trips and minister in whatever way I can. Aside from what we were able to offer those to whom we ministered, the Lord also used the trip to remind me of His blessings (such as toilet seats - for some reason very few places I visited in Peru had toilet seats or toilet paper!), to reinforce His mercies to me and to remind me what is truly important and meaningful in life. Those are the benefits I pray I can remember all the time.
Please pray that the seeds which God has planted in so many lives will bear fruit to His glory in the days to come. Pray for the people of Peru and elsewhere in the world that the light of Christ will permeate their culture and bring healing to the nations, physical and spiritual.
Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus, and may God=s peace be ever with you!
I returned from my mission trip to Peru full of thanksgiving for the opportunity to serve the Lord by ministering to the health needs of others. Please accept my gratitude for your gifts which made the trip possible, and for your prayers which provided much needed support. It was a busy and physically exhausting time, but it was also a time filled with blessings.
There were actually two teams from Olive Branch Ministries which went to Peru on this trip; one went south to Cusco (close to Machu Pichu) and I returned with the other group to Piura where I went two years ago. After a two hour plane trip to Piura (north of Lima), we went to the smaller town of Sullana, a 30 minute bus ride. One of the local churches in Piura started a congregation there and, knowing of the need for medical care in Sullana, asked us to go there. Our team consisted of one physician, one physican assistant, one nurse practitioner, two dentists, one dental hygienist (who functioned almost in the same capacity as the dentists on this trip), four nurses, one optometrist, and about fourteen other non-medical people who performed various tasks.
My assignment was to work with the dentists this year; I have only three words to say to everyoneBbrush your teeth! The experience gave me a new respect for the physical demands of dentistry. I have never seen so many dental caries and rotten, broken off teeth in my life: from the very young to the very old. The main function of the dentists was the extraction of those teeth. Apparently the genetic makeup of the Peruvians includes extremely strong bones which made pulling those teeth a real work out. The dentists had anesthesia but no dental drills, so removing the teeth was the only option and it left them physically exhausted. However, the need was great, and they responded valiantly every day. I was constantly amazed at how cooperative and compliant the children were, with a few exceptions. Many were obviously frightened, but they got right up in the chair and opened their mouths (and eyes!) wide and followed instructions without a whimper for the most part.
There were of course, many people that touched my heart; I=m always especially drawn to the young children and the very old. Two different infants, a one month old and a three month old, were diagnosed on different days with severe problems that required immediate attention and hospitalization. I thank God that he provided medical care at the right time to intervene in those young lives. The PA and one of the nurses even made a house call one afternoon to an elderly paraplegic woman who was very ill and could not get to the clinic. She most likely does not have long to live and they were able to give her some real comfort, both physically and spiritually.
The area we were in is really like a desert B very dry, little vegetation, and lots of dirt. I really did not see any gardens or source of sustenance or way for them to make a living, other than the Amototaxis@. which are sort of like rickshaws except they are powered by a small motorcycle. There are hundreds of them everywhere and that seems to be the principle means of transportation as well as occupation in that area. There were also some occasional herds of goats. However, when I asked my translator about how the people earned a living, she said it was by Aagriculture.@ She said there were large plantations with coconut trees, bananas, corn, potatoes, rice and other crops nearby. That was hard to believe considering where we were, but toward the end of the trip, I got to see what she meant. We were blessed to observe the baptisms of fourteen of the local people who made professions of faith in Christ that week. During what we thought would be a short break one afternoon, we rode a bus about 6-8 miles away to the river for the baptisms. The break turned into a two hour outing. On the way, the countryside did indeed change into lush green vegetation and the crops my translator had told me about. After finding a suitable place to enter the river, we had to wait for the bloated body of a dead goat to float past before we could begin. The baptism ceremony itself was a very uplifting time. There were several men as well as some women and a few children who were baptized and the joy radiating from them was so obvious. We all sang and prayed together (even though most of the mission team does not speak Spanish). It was a time of great blessing.
Another highlight of the trip was the opportunity to minister at a small orphanage in Lima. Two physicians from the other team as well as those on the dental team I assisted were not going on the sight seeing trip to Machu Pichu. So we were blessed to spend Saturday at the orphanage. The story of this orphanage is remarkable in itself. It was started by a man named Miguel (I don=t know his last name) who, with the help of his wife still tends to the needs of the children.
It is in the suburbs of Lima, in a densely populated slum. He and his wife lost a child at birth several years ago, and he began taking in homeless street children he saw in need of care. He has no support from either the government or any church, but he just has such a love in his heart for these needy children that he does what he can for them.
He has over 200 children now and has built four buildings to house them. Four more children arrived the day we visited. His goal is to raise them to be God-loving, productive citizens. In addition to their regular schooling, he tries to train them in a trade in the carpenter shop, bakery, ceramics shop and hydroponic garden he set up. All the children who are old enough must participate. He told us he wants them to be able to contribute something to their community, and maybe even become doctors and dentists and be able to help their people as our mission team did.
The two five-year-olds you see with me in this picture were taking their turn guarding the only television the day we were there. Just the fact that they can call for help is enough to deter most thieves and vandals. Note how clean and orderly the room is. In the midst of poverty, they are learning to care for what blessings they have. There is a big need for everything there; most of the buildings are rickety wooden structures, but Miguel is trying to replace them with brick ones like those at the right. So far he has two brick dormitories for the girls. The children are obviously loved very much, but are also taught discipline, respect, honesty, love of God B all those things we teach our own children. I cannot begin to really describe everything about the orphanage in the short space I have, but know that there is a great need there: even for such basics as indoor plumbing and running water, as well as clothing and supplies. Miguel tries to feed them well, but they often have only one meal a day. Please keep him and Ahis children@ in your prayers. He is doing a tremendous work there.
Surely you can tell I am truly blessed by being able to participate in these trips. I again thank all of you for your support. I also encourage any of you who feel a tug in your heart to go with me next time to please contact me. You don=t have to be a Amedical@ person to go B there are lots of support tasks to be done and we can use as many hands as possible. I can assure you, you will never regret going and having the opportunity to share the good news of the gospel as well as some of the blessings the Lord has given us in America.
The peace of God be with you, and may you have a truly thankful heart all year.
Greetings to All in the name of Christ! Once again our medical mission serving the people of Piura, Peru proved to be a blessing which far outweighed the small amount of aid we were able to give. It was a special blessing for me this year to have my dear sister-in-law, Keri Reynolds, as a team member.
Keri is not a medical person but, as you know, many non-medical people are needed on the team for various functions, and she played a vital role. The woman who planned to provide the children's ministry had to cancel at the last minute. Keri blessed us all by stepping into that role and leading the little ones. She did a great job sharing Bible stories and their life application with the many children who passed through the clinic.
The medical team actually divided into two groups this year and went to different locations. I stayed with one group in the city of Piura, while the other group took a bus to a small rural community near the coast, about an hour away. Between the two groups, we were able to help over 5,000 people. Like our previous trips, we again provided medical and dental care, as well as prescription eyeglasses. A licensed professional counselor joined us on this trip and had the opportunity to counsel several people with various emotional problems.
Our group was actually located in a Peruvian Red Cross clinic, so the facilities were somewhat better than those to which I=ve become accustomed in third world countries. Though we had a lot of room to set up clinic, there were really no supplies except those which we brought. As with any complex project, there were some "glitches." One day we needed to start an IV on a patient (which we very rarely do in our clinics). In dividing the supplies between the two teams, the other group wound up with all the medical tape, so we improvised and used duct tape to secure the IV needle and tubing. There were several instances which demanded creative use of supplies. One of the physicians dubbed me the AImprovisation Queen,@ and I was frequently challenged to contrive substitutes for the supplies or equipment we needed. We were usually able to make things work.
Part of the preparation for a clinic is getting past all the Apaperwork@ and Ared tape@ imposed by local officials. Scott, the trip organizer, had things all arranged with both the mayor and the director of the Red Cross clinic. However, one of the concessions he had to make meant allowing the mayor's wife bring a group of Aher old people@ to be seen first. They arrived by 8:00 a.m. the first day of the clinic and we had lines of people already waiting to be seen. We had no idea she would bring 250 of her Aoldest friends,@ the youngest of whom was about seventy. Nevertheless, we did see them first. Most of them really did benefit from getting in and being seen without having to wait a long time in the heat. Still it was hard to see other elderly people who waited in line wait even longer. We all agreed to stay late that day so that we could see more of the people who had waited so patiently.
One interesting difference I noted this trip was the number of physically handicapped and/or mentally retarded children we saw. I was impressed at how well their mothers managed to care for them, and how much love they, and their whole family, showed them. One of the first children we saw was a thirteen year old boy, Paulo. He had what seemed to be cerebral palsy as well as mental retardation, and could not walk unassisted. He was almost as big as his mother, who essentially carried him by standing behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist and lifting him along. My first thoughts were the mothers of these children might think we had a cure for their condition. I soon realized most of them just wanted their children to be seen by an American doctor and get them some vitamins. Paulo's mother was concerned about his hearing and wanted us to check it. Of course, we had no equipment to do hearing testing, but the doctor did examine him. We discovered his ears were packed with wax, so we spent a little bit of time irrigating them an got copious results! After that, we were able to find a place which could test Paulo=s hearing for about fifty dollars American. We "passed the hat" to the team and collected enough to be able to arrange for the test.
As always, we saw many people who touched our hearts. Most all of them were so patient about waiting, even in the heat. They were so grateful for the smallest thing we could do, even if it was only giving them vitamins. It is always humbling to be reminded of the many things we take for granted which are either unheard of and/or unavailable to them.
Keri told me about a young girl who saw her about to throw away some small nibs of broken crayons, and asked if she could have them. When Keri gave them to her, she treated them as a treasure. Then, she stayed to help Keri sweep and clean up the room as a thank you. Keri said she has never seen a young child clean so energetically.
One reason we go to the locations we do is because local churches. The church in Piura asked Olive Branch Ministries to come and they use the clinic as an opportunity to spread the Good News of the gospel to their neighbors. The church is small, but very committed to evangelization. Because of their efforts, the rural town of Sullana (where we were last year) now has a growing group of believers who are also reaching out to others. It is the local church members who meet with anyone interested in Bible study, once they have received their medical care. There were not enough of them to be at both clinics, so they choose to go the rural clinic most of the time. Many people there responded to the offer of Bible study and several were baptized.
Once again, I thank you for your support, both financially and in your prayers. God has been so gracious to me, as He has been to all of us, and these trips are one way I feel I can share the blessings of His grace and mercy with others. May you have a Christmas filled with His peace and may we always give glory to His Name.
