Two Days of Clinics

Despite the irritations of modern travel and unfamiliar food and living conditions our team was ready to serve the Lord in Pedregal.

Our team: David (Team leader) and Walker Millsaps, Juanite Hoffman (Nurse), Ginger, Meagan, and Lindsey Isenhour, April Finney, Dawn Morton, Catherine LaHaye, Angela Bennet, Emily Wilburn, Judy (Nurse) and Kurt Lawrence, Pastor Pablo (Peruvian Team Leader), Gaby, Jose, Andrea, Adrian, and Jesus were ready to go to work.

Two groups from the team were given nicknames that fit them well and will cut down on repetition: there were 'the kids'-Walker, Meagan, Lindsay, Andrea, and Adrian (Lindsay and Andrea were both 13; Walker, Meagan, and Adrian were older teens within a year of each other, Adrian is a guy) ; Catherine and Angie know each other from work and call each other 'Buddy,' they became known as 'the Buddies.' Everyone worked together well as needed.

The plans for Sunday and Monday were to set up a morning medical clinic in a church, and an afternoon one in a different church; when the patients ran out, have a worship service. We alotted one and a half hours for each clinic. In each location, the patients just kept coming so we quit registering patients after two hours. The worship didn't happen. But evangelism did.

Each church was set up when we arrived, either the pastor had partioned off treatment areas in the building with sheets for privacy, or if the church had Sunday School rooms they were designated for the medical personnel that served in the clinic. Some one would walk the streets with a megaphone announcing the services available and the start time. Patients checked in at the waiting area near the front door and were directed to the doctor, dentist, psychologist, physical therapist or to the pharmacy or to Pastor Pablo who fitted people with donated glasses.

A Peruvian nurse named Nelly arrived at every clinic to receive patients and write records; Juanita took blood pressures there as well. Ginger worked at reception helping to direct patients. After Sunday Ginger became seriously ill and couldn't continue. She stayed at the hostel and Juanita stayed with her to give her care. At that point Emily took over patient direction and Dawn took blood pressures. This is only one example of the flexibility of the whole team. When Satan took out a team member, someone stepped up. We were stretched, but did not snap. When it looked impossible, God made a way.

Volunteer medical personnel were found through a Peruvian Christian volunteer agency. Some were members of local churches. Judy worked the pharmacy with Peruvian volunteers.