Internet seems to be working a little better this evening. This post will be about our first medical/eye clinic. We worked in a part of the city called Leticia. Turns out the street name is actually Leticia. I've lost my bearings in this city and I really can't seem to grasp what direction we're headed anytime we head out. Our entire team is set up as Team A and Team B. Each team approximately has the same number of providers as well as nurses and others who will be running the eye clinic, triage, children's ministry if applicable, and spiritual counseling. We arrived at Leticia shortly after 0800. As we were coming off the bus, the line of patients had already formed down the street with maybe 50+ patients. The medical and eye clinic at Leticia was set up in what looked like a garage. Next door was a dental clinic with whom some of our team members were working to learn about cleaning and extracting teeth. Steven Kent, one of my roommates, and I were delegated to the pharmacy which was set up a few attached buildings down the street. We actually set up in someone's house along with the spiritual counseling team. We both imagined this assignment to be fairly easy. How hard could it be to pass out medications the providers had prescribed? For the first hour, Steven and I were sharing his translator. I know now my assigned translator is probably not going to show up for the rest of the week. Initially we managed with just the one translator, however, as the lines backed up with patients standing out in the hot sidewalk we needed help. Fortunately, Haley Harmon, had come by to ask if we needed help. Without hesitancy we accepted and requested another translator so Steven and I could each have one. Haley came back with another translator, Martin. I ended up at some point taking Steven's translator, Daniel, and he Martin. It all worked out and within a couple of hours and we had that pharmacy up and running full speed. We worked nonstop until 1400 when there was a little break and we realized we had not eaten a single bite or hardly a drink of water. The rush came back and in and we continued on with our jobs until 1600. The clinic had distributed about 200 stickers for patients to be seen. By the end of the day, we probably ended up seeing about 250 patients.
I can only speak of the pharmacy as were separated from the main clinic and housed with the spiritual counseling team. We became quite proficient in dispensing medications along with instructions and any other pertinent information. We also became accustomed to making formulary substitutions due a shortage of certain medications. Steven and I along with our translators worked extremely with each other and our patients. It was so smooth and readily available to collaborate with each other regarding any changes. Our two translators were so funny and we got along so well that it made the long day such a memorable experience. We were practically pharmacists by days end and felt fully confident for Tuesday's clinic. We headed back to the hotel at about 1600 for a little dowtime before our next meeting at 1830.
In our group meeting you could tell by the noise and interaction that it was a pretty exciting day as everyone was talking and laughing about the days activities. There was a smile on everyone's face. Each team was debriefed and the evaluation was shared among the entire team. Team B had gone out across the river and worked with some of the sickest people in the region where signs of poverty were prevalent.
My post doesn't seem to describe how awesome this day was. It was the chemistry of each member, our relationships with each other that we had built in just two days. This transformed into the successful relationships built with the people we served that day and the success in spiritual counseling via the Evangicube, I Am Second, and personal counseling. We headed out to dinner at a local restaurant about 3 blocks down from the hotel. We had a prepared meal of baked chicken and fries along with bottled Coke and bottled Inca Cola. The chicken was delicious. Arriving back at the hotel, I believe most people went on to bed after 2 days of long travel and a long first day of clinic. No one complained !
Let me just talk about a few people. First our team leaders, Anne Lucas from e3, who you will find dancing on one of the first videos I have posted. Melody Jones and David Chism from e3. Curtis Sargent...I'm not sure of his title though he is as I was informed the expert or the man to go to in church planting projects. The other providers are Dr Handley and Dr March from UA, Robert (?last name) who works for Harmon and is heading up the water filtration project. There is also Roarke (?last name), Dr Cindy Lassiter (OB), Dr Coldiron, Harmon's PA Mandy, and most importantly Dr Chris Harmon. I cannot say enough about these people as I don't think my word would do them justice. They are such an inspiration to me and they lead us well and help us in facilitating God's work which seem to come so naturally from the young participants as Libby, Anne, students, and teenagers, and two younger children of the Coldirons. Dr Coldiron brought his wife and two young children. Dr Lassiter brought her two sons Judson and Baker and daughter Camille along with two of their friends. Roarke brought his wife and two children Ford and Beverly, who I had the pleasure of working with in Tuesday's clinic. And Dr Harmon brought his wife and two daughters who have been coming to this region for the past 10 years. Many people on this trip are on their first mission trip ever. Some are on their first trip out of the country. Some have come here alone without knowing a single person. It is amazing the relationship we have developed with each other, all set on a common goal of serving the people of Iquitos, Peru in mind, body, and spirit. I feel we really are a family now and it definitely showed in Tuesday's clinic.
I'm sorry if this post did not convey the "awesomeness" I so excitedly referred to in my update. I'm not a great speaker or great writer, but you must believe me, that is what I felt. If you ever have a chance for such an experience you WILL know what I am talking about.
Peace
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