Mission blog 10/21/2010

Our morning devotion today was centered on a theme based on a quote from Mother Theresa, who once said, “Greet everyone you meet with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love. Peace begins with a smile.” This week, we have had so many opportunities to share God’s love through smiles. Each day our group has become closer and stronger in fellowship.

Our mission clinic today was a short drive away in San Pedro in a local church. Along the route, the children (and I) got a kick out of seeing a desiccated cow head hanging from a tree outside a local market. Beautiful weather, exotic plants, and curious people met us on arrival. Our team started off with some challenges, with some cases of gastroenteritis and down one clinician. We were assisted by Pastor Henry, a missionary from Haiti who traveled 11 hours by bus to meet for the day. The progressive heat was another significant challenge for Americans accustomed to air conditioning. But the challenges were easily forgotten as the people came to be seen. We have encountered a lot of good people with some routine medical problems (at least routine for the US) and many with problems unique to poverty in a tropical climate. Many men and women here work outdoors in the heat, subjective themselves to dehydration presenting with headaches and “mareo,” which generally refers to dizziness or malaise. One ebullient, middle-aged woman with these symptoms happily and proudly told me that she had been on hypertension medications until last year, when she had been cured by God in response to her prayers. She now visits neighbors who need cures for their maladies. Most of the people have been kind and grateful for the opportunity to see a medical professional, be fed nourishing food, and hear the Word of God.

After a brief lunchtime lull, the pace picked up again. Our team was stressed as the red line on the thermometer climbed (Do they even make those thermometers anymore?). We discovered, too, that we would attempt to see about 50% more patients in the afternoon in order to avoid turning anyone away. And it got BUSY!. Despite that, there remained opportunities for humor. I spoke with the young mother of a 1 month old boy; as she rubbed his abdomen in a circular motion, she said, “He cries whenever I do this.” My reply: “Well, then don’t do that!” Similarly, a 15 year old girl with an itchy leg rash said, “It hurts whenever I do this” as she scratched the itchy area. You can guess my reply. In each instance, I received a happy laugh. Then five hours after the afternoon session started, we wrapped it up. As we headed for the bus, several team members were surrounded by excited, laughing, beautiful children wanting to have their photo taken with us. It was a great way to leave. As I write this, a boisterous game of dominoes keeps me entertained as the players loudly taunt each other. We anticipate a trip tomorrow to a local market and an orphanage. Until then…or, “Hasta mañana.”

-Juan Dumois