A STORY TO TELL......

Well, I am half way home.  I have one foot in each culture, still speaking Spanish, using pesos, throwing the paper in the basket instead of flushing it down, but eating a (Mexican) Subway.    I have 4 hours in the airport in Mexico City following a beautiful flight on a sunny day up and over the green mounts of southern Mexico.

 Especially, following all the rains, the landscape is rich, lush, the verdant carpets of green rolling up the mountain and down again right into our laps.  The ride to San Cristobal in the combi was very pleasant, except for the severe aching in my right knee, and the inability to straighten it for 2 hours, without putting it across the legs of the little Tzeltal gentleman next to me.  He would have been horrified.  The ride to Tuxtla this morning in Pablo's truck was equally pleasant, with Pedro driving and ample room to stretch my leg!   The ride from San Cris is down, down, down to the capital, Tuxtla, a city of 440,000.   It is cold in San Cristobal, hot in Tuxtla.

I have time to reminisce again on my time here.  And the story I want to leave you with is about Antonia and Angel, an "elderly" couple, he 67 and she 63.   

They left their village, Huactemec in the jungle, near the Lacandon villages of Naha and Esperanza, at 1:00 in the morning.  They walked and made their way to the road where they connected with some sort of vehicle that took them to a main road, and on to the clinic in Ocosingo.   They arrived at 7 AM with a knock on the clinic door as Lidia and I were opening.  They are Christians, Presbyterians, even, and so had heard about the clinic, and wanted to come to

follow up on her "sugar".   They were dressed nicely, each carrying just a very small plastic bag.  She was barefoot, and later told me she didn't like to wear shoes because she trips and falls when she wears them.  They were very pleasant.  As we talked, she said she had not been feeling well, stomach, headache, bad vision, etc.  They had traveled a month before to a clinic in Palenque, only about 2 hours away from their home.  She had a blood test, and her sugar was very high.  No medicines were prescribed, and even if they were, they would not have been able to buy them.  

  Her blood sugar on this day was over 500, off the meter.  For those of you who do not know, normal is 80-100.   By rights, she should be comatose.  It had probably been this way for a very long time.  But the body, and the Tzeltal people, have a great ability to adjust.  Her body had adapted to this level of blood sugar, and she is still functioning, though weakened from all the damage the high sugar has done.   In the absence of the Doctor's counsel, I prayed and debated prescribing an anti diabetic  medication.  I certainly didn't want to cause more damage or perilous side effects from a rapid drop in her sugar.  In the end I decided to give her the medicine, using the lowest dose we had available.  

But for a little Pozole (a hard to digest corn drink), they had not eaten since the day before.  I fixed a little to-go bag, consisting of 2 apples, 2 platanos, a bit of cheese, crackers, and Glucerna.  Would you believe, Pablo,a diabetic, had Glucerna in his possession!  They were a gift from one of the Americans.

 

And so, we sent them on their way, with a prayer, medicine, a peec-neec, and instructions to return in 2 weeks to meet with the doctor.   They promised they would.  

There are so many stories like these in the hills of Chiapas.   These are what I think if when I am there and when I am home.  

Carolyn

DAY IS DONE.....

Day is done, gone the sun....    Actually, it has rained nearly the whole time here.  

It is rainy season, but the season started way early, and the weather patterns have changed considerably.   We saw the sun just a few times, and the usual hot, hot of April, May, and June never occurred.  It is warmish, very muggy, and even cool in the AM.  We saw the  large hurricane Adela hovering over southern Mexico and the Yucatan, adding to the moisture.

 Sometimes it is heavy and overcast all day, but sometimes the rain clouds move in and out rapidly over the surrounding mountains.  One has to be prepared for sudden downpours.   

But life goes on!   Sometimes the vendors move their goods in a little, or close up their open stands a little early.  People stand under awnings or in storefronts, etc until they can move again, dashing between cars and carts, sloshing thru deep rivers flowing thru the streets.  The people are gentle, strong, taking life as it comes.  They are patient, grateful, and non complaining.  

We worked on Plan B this week, God's plan!   OUR plan fell through.  The doc was sick.  He thinks it is Dengue fever, a mosquito borne, viral, flu like disease.  There is no treatment for it, just rest, fluids, etc. but it can be pretty brutal.   He has been gone all week.  We were not able to do our Caravana Mini in the village of Jardin, as planned.  The medicines and the team are waiting, and they will travel there in the next week or 2 when Doc Gerardo is well.  

In the meantime, this allowed me to run the clinic with Nurse Lidia, instead of having to close the doors for a few days.  We did the best we could without a doc!  

 We want the people to know we are here!   And they are coming.   The numbers have increased greatly since we officially opened with Doctor Gerardo Cruz in October of  2013, from a few patients per month to nearly 200 each for the months of April and May.   This week we have seen about 50 pts so far.   The weeklong caravan, separately, saw about 620 patients.  Please pray for funding, for the operation of the clinic, for medications, for new churches to come on board.  

Again, as God would have it, a fact finding group from Texas came to see the clinic, while I was here in the doc's absence.   It was headed by a lady who was a missionary here many years ago.  I was able to share my story and some of the history of Hebron and the development of the clinic.   They were able to see the clinic in action, and talk to Jan about her and Pablo's work here.   Pray that they may somehow  become involved.  They were impressed with the work here.  

But alas, it is my last day here.   Some random tidbits for you to ponder:

   Baby No Name still has no name.  He is a year old.  He lives in the house next door.  When I asked if 

He had a name yet his sister replied, "Ya, no."   (Not yet)

   Jan's cows are doing well.  Mama Paloma, Baby Feet, and new calf Latte'.  Feet had surgery to correct floppy feet that is common.  

The rains have been good for grazing.  We did not get to see them

   Our last day of walking the town...Jan first made a lovely, non Mexican lunch for me and Tanya.  Our friendship is special.   I will miss her, til next time, but the magic of technology will keep us connected!   In the park, a tacky sort of Blue Man Group pounded out rhythm on tin drums, large cans, etc. on one end , and the marimba band rang out at the other end.  Pretty eclectic.

    I will miss being simply, " Hermana",  (sister).   Buenos Dias, Hermana...a sweet greeting.

    One cloudy morning at dawn, following devotions, Dr. Castillo played the Beatles' Here Comes the Sun....    I thought of that this morning when there was sun.   How faithful is our God to bring the sun, every single day!  

     A typical medical story...the son of Antonia y Pastor Gaspar was acutely ill.  They took him post haste to Tuxtla, the capital for care.  In the emergency room they diagnosed acute gall bladder and advised emergency surgery.    They waited and waited.  He was in the ER for 2 days.  His lab work was lost, and on the fourth day when the surgeon finally came, he said no one had notified him.  The surgery now was complex, and his condition grave.   He had a massive infection.  He had not been given any IV fluids, no antibiotics, etc.  Thankfully,  he recovered despite the substandard care.  

    Babies were born last week!   Baby Elda, niece of Doc Gerardo.   Baby Bruno, grandson of Aurelia, Pablo's secretary.

 And Baby Matthew,

1st grandson of my "Hermana", Betsy!  God's way of assuring us that life should go on!  

     A lovely day trip to Palenque last week.   It is the town of the famous ruins, a little more urban, a little more touristy.  Tho anywhere you go in Mexico, one needs to visit the people's market.  I love it, but it is a treat for Jan NOT to go to the people's market.  

At one artisan area, situated under huge mango trees, we were literally bombarded and on the lookout for falling mangoes.  

We were invited to sample one and the vendor gave us a knife.  Unbelievably sweet and juicy.  

Well, dear Blog, what did I give?   Not sure...   A little time, a little skill, maybe.   But what do I take away?   Wow, hard to describe.  Big breath, ready for home.  I miss my family, but more, I wish they were here.

Please follow next entry as I have a touching story to share, about a typical Tzeltal couple coming to us for care.  

Buenas Noches,

Hermana Carolina

    

THE LADY FROM GUATEMALA...

She traveled 30 hours, alone, on various buses, over the border from Guatemala to Mexico.   She came to see her son who is in prison in Ocosingo.   She stayed 2 nights at Jan's house.  She stayed on the floor, as there is no room at Jan's inn.  She is a Christian.  Jan befriended the son during her visits to the jail.   He apparently was part of a gang and has been imprisoned for many years.  He was newly transferred to Ocosingo.  His whereabouts were unknown to his mom.  She had not seen him for several years.  Jan facilitated the reunion.  That first evening when she made her way to Jan's, there were tears and deep sadness for her son's situation, but without hesitation, she displayed unconditional love for him.   She was grateful for shelter from the pouring rain and the companionship of a sister in Christ.  We talked and prayed and even laughed.   

She went to the market very early the next morning to purchase a fresh chicken and fixings, and used Jan's kitchen to make a big pot of caldo to take to the prison.  She was nervous, but excited about the probability of seeing him.  There was, of course a possibility that she would not be allowed in.  

She apparently had a very good visit with him.   She was allowed to stay a long while, and went back again the next day.  She was beaming, and visibly relieved.   Her aching heart was satisfied, and she was calmed.  When we asked how things went, she was serious, but smiling, and stated repeatedly, "We talked."

We hugged, prayed again and she made her way through the crowded streets to the bus station to make the long journey home.  

Matthew 25:35-40.   "When I was in prison, you visited me.   When I had no place to stay,  you welcomed me...."

SAN CRISTOBAL

Well, the work week has finished.  The week was intense, but manageable and by the end of the week friendships had formed and all had "settled in".   The Bible School dorm, showers, kitchen was home.  The trek up and down the steep steps to the clinic never stopped leaving us breathless.  The altitude saps one's oxygen. 

 We survived the annual hatch of termites.  The rain brings them on, thousands of them, down your blouse, up your skirt, landing in your hair,etc.  They do not bite, but sure are annoying.  And we also got to observe the annual hatch of an insect called co cox in this area.  There are 2 kinds, red and brown.  They are large, and apparently delectable, as the people are out on the streets and any area under lights to gather them for roasting and eating.   We just tried to avoid stepping on them and crunching them...

We packed and piled into 2 vans for the 2 hour ride to San Cristobal, where the group would stay over in our historic, lovely, but austere hotel, the Fray Bartolome, to get ready for the early morning ride to the airport, an hour away, in Tuxtla.   The day was spent shopping, exploring, listening to music in the park, buying souvenirs of Chiapas coffee, chocolate, and beautiful textiles and art work.  

San Cristobal is a historic town high in the mountains.   There are narrow cobblestone streets, ancient cathedrals, and markets of all kinds.  It is also a popular place for Euopean tourists, old hippies, and back packers.  These mixed in with the traditional people coming in to sell wares make a fascinating place to stay or visit.  

The group left bright and early, and as I was not returning home as yet, I stayed behind to spend a delightful day on my own.  Pablo and Jan had business in Tuxtla and promised to return to pick me up later in the day.  I slept in..til 7:30, took a wonderful hotttt shower, and walked the streets for hours.  I had coffee in a little hippie coffe shop, and lunch in a courtyard restaurant.   I love prowling the hundreds of open air booths at the artisan market on the steps of the old cathedral for a block around.

I ventured to the people's market where a bit of bravery is required!  

It is noisy, very crowded, with tiny passageways this way and that, for blocks.  

There are no tourists here.  This is where the people go to do their serious buying and selling.  There are fresh chickens, some with heads on, next to underwear, trinkets, and fresh flowers.  

There are live turkeys, carried upside down flapping away.

 People are hawking all variety of wares:  buckets, frying pans, produce of all sorts, seeds, nuts, roots, and beans of all types and colors.  

 I read in the park, but had to scurry back under the overhang of the courtyard at the hotel when it started to pour.

 Pablo, Jan, and Pedro the driver were fashionably late (about 2 hours...), reminding me that they often run on tiempo de la selva (jungle time).   The worst that would have happened is that I would have had to stay over another night in historic San Cristobal....

Uneventful ride back to settle in to my corner room at the clinic, and look forward to the next weeks, wondering what adventures await me!

Love,

Carolyn

MEDICAL CARAVAN, BLOOMINGTON. MAY/JUNE, 2014

As always, the week sped by.  

The group has come and gone, many promising to return    

Many already have returned over and over.  An experience like this is life changing.  It is a cross cultural experience where the old and new collide,

where the traditional and the open minded meet, where the haves and the have nots come together.  Although it is not always clear who has, and who doesn't.   It is a spiritual adventure that hits you in the face, cementing your faith, or helping you find it.  It is a time of figuring out what God might have planned for you.  

The second half of the Caravan week was good!  We saw a total of about. 625 patients.  Two days were a little light, as it down poured much of the day and night.   There also have been Roadblocks, blocking all roads in and out of Ocosingo.  These are not uncommon here.  It is a means of protest.  You may be aware that Comandante Marcos apparently has resigned from his head position in the rebel Zapatista movement.   Don't know if this is really true, or why he would.  As a result, another person of high rank was murdered, the killer was caught and jailed, and thus the protests.  The common people are not informed.  There is no violence.   The roadblocks are to stop all cars and extract 50 pesos ($5) from each person.   The police and military are nowhere to be found.  They just allow it to happen.  The same thing happened last year with the countrywide teachers' strike.   The children are back at school, but nothing has changed.   The same ineffective teachers returned.  There was no government reform to improve the schools.  The kids were held back because of missing almost 3 months of school.   And now there is talk of more striking.  So sad...

We saw a mix of patients, as always:  

The old couple who couldn't remember how long they had been together.  "Phew..tiene tiempo.."  He said,  so long ago.  The man who received a single ampicillin pill for a UTI, from the govt clinic where they did not even do a urine test.   He came to us to see if that was ok.  Another gentleman was on the 2nd of 3 antibiotic injections for some unknown condition.  And just like at home, some people need reminding not to attend duplicate clinics or doctors.   People are trying us out!   Many people are returning.  They bring their papers from other caravans with them.   We are starting to see compliance with patients actually taking their meds, with blood sugars and pressures in control, and pts returning for follow up.

  Dr. Gerardo is building up a practice.  

We counseled an obese lady, who drank cokes every day.  And asked if other drinks (orange, or sugared mixes) were good.  She had tremendous varicose veins.  Next year Dr. Castillo plans to return to do laser vein procedures on the patients! 

We saw a lot of patients with cataracts, for whom our reading glasses are ineffective.  Some day maybe we could do cataract surgeries here.    As always, the Oculista was busy fitting the reading glasses.  

We saw a lady with a wound on the stump of her amputated leg, and another lady with a significant venous stasis ulcer on her lower leg.  Of course we saw the gamet of patients with parasites and skin conditions.   In carefully interviewing one family, the little boy declared he had not seen any worms in HIS stool, but had certainly seen them in the stool of his little sister.  We treated the whole family, of course.  We saw the little boy with the osteo chondroma. His abnormal bone growth seems unchanged.      .

Ladies at the window picking up meds and toothbrushes from Margarita.

Hermana Carolina and the ladies...

Dos Carolinas...

Elise and the cute family....all with scabies....

Phew....

And so the week ended.    With more questions than answers, a lot of peace, some soul searching, and a vow never to forget what we have seen and felt.  

Gracias a Dios

Carolyn

WELCOME HOME

Welcoming Countryside....

All is well here in the bush!   Safe travels.  The group met up, and tho we had to run for the Tuxtla flight in Mexico City, and were dead tired from the night flight, we are happy campers!  It's kinda nice to travel during sleep time.  That way you are at your destination in the daylight.     The 3 hour mountain ride is spectacular in the daytime and not so scary!

We caught up our days on Saturday, unpacked Tons of meds, met the doc and nurse, and settled in to our new home:  the toilet flushes, shower has hot water sometimes, and the blow up mattresses are wonderful.  It is hot and humid.   I am not sure if it is still yesterday or today..... But I feel at home.

Sunday was spent in a village named Cololte'el, where Pastor Pablo conducted an installation service for a new pastor.   The church, built over the edge of the mountain was filled.    

No less than 8 performing choirs and Mariachi bands, prayers, 1 hour sermon on the duties and responsibilities of a pastor, and the laying on of hands with vows taken on the new Tzeltal Bible (Sc'op Dios, word of God).  We were introduced, one by one, as we are honored guests.  We sang Abre Mis Ojos, O Cristo ( Open the eyes of my heart, Lord).   We weren't bad..., but, oh for Greg....      Even in a foreign language, we were all touched.  Each person (500, I would estimate ) filed by to give a hug, a blessing, and a pledge of support.  Each put a peso or 2 into the purse for the pastor and his wife.  

Would the old Lacandon guy in the sombrero be right for me??    He is a church goer....

We are a group of 15:  one doctor ( one had to back out for family illness), 6 nurses, 1US paramedic, 1 nursing student, 3 teachers, 2 college students, 1 Bible student,  and a Spanish Pajaro in a Pear Tree! 

We have Doctor Gerardo Cruz, Nurse Lidia, who are doing beautifully, and 2 Para Medicos, who are loyal participants of our caravans, and provide excellent, culturally sensitive care to their own people. 

There are many support persons, taking the proverbial village to put on this Caravan.  

We are planning a smaller one for next week  while I am here, to a remote village named Jardin (Garden).  We may also go to a high village named Matzam to provide physicals for 150 children in the village who are supported by people in the U.S.  thru an organization named Compassion, Int.  I was there 2 years ago.  It was a fun assignment.  I

We just completed our second day of clinic.  The group has been great!  Maybe a little less organized/more casual than the finely tuned Caravans that I usually am a part of, but efficient, filled with spirit, and providing excellent care for the patients here, despite!   We have seen 210 pts, so far.   The numbers will increase over the next few days.  We have seen a pastor who drove 4 hours for a rumbling stomach, many pts. with worms and cataracts, and blocked ears, including that of one of our own!

We have seen a lady with a giant ovarian cyst, and 2 others who probably have cancer.  There are many patients with unchecked diabetes. 

This will be a focus of Doc Jerry and Lidia.  It is so nice to be able to tell the patients to return.  

We have an hour of rest time now, to sleep, shower, walk , talk or read.  My favorite time of day!  I will do a devotion tomorrow morning on being a light.  It's what we must be!    We meet every AM and every night on the roof of our dorm building.  We are surrounded by mountains, and despite the presence of rebar sticking up all over, the view is spectacular:  the sunrises in the AM, sunsets in the  evening, and millions of stars at night.  Puts us in perspective...   How little we know, how little we do, how great is our God.   

Adios for now.   Thanks for prayers and support.  Both are in use right now!  

Carolyn and the ladies....

Love you all!

Carolyn

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