Thursday, June 12, 2014

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
    

No comments:

Post a Comment