November 21, 2010



Bill and LuAnn
setting up meds in Esperanza y Fe

Sunday, November 21, 2010



Casa Concordia



As I write this

entry people are relaxing around Casa Concordia.  Most everyone is packed and waiting for our departure.  As this group is full of introverts, some people are reading.  Others are journaling, crocheting, or blogging on their laptops.  This group of people worked very well together.  We worked very efficiently in the clinics.  There was minimal drama, if any.  Decisions were made quickly.  I am very grateful that I was given the opportunity to serve in El Salvador again.  I enjoyed working triage with Kathy Jordan.  She helped me improve my Spanish by leaps and bounds.  The most important lesson I learned this week, however, was about generosity.

Several people have displayed amazing examples of generosity that have moved me to examine my own sense of generosity and faith.  Kiké, Nelson, Glenda, and Ricardo feed the homeless on a weekly basis using their own money, kitchens, and time.  For us the food was very inexpensive.  But I am positive that Kiké and friends make quite a sacrifice to buy the food.  How many of us would be willing to shop for food, cook for 100+ people, load it in our vans at 9:00pm on a Saturday night, and drive to downtown Wilmington/Indianapolis to serve the homeless?  They are a wonderful example of Christ’s love in action. 

Marco was another example of generosity.  I’ve heard many stories about how he used his own money to help people in El Salvador with medical care, food, and other problems.  Every time we’d buy fruit from a vendor, he would add an extra dollar and tell them to keep the change.  Marco has a deep understanding of how blessed we are in the U.S. and how little people have in El Salvador.  I hope that I can take these lessons back to my daily life and continue to nurture this new understanding of God’s grace.

Grace and Peace,

Bill Reinger
 

November 20, 2010

Saturday, November 20, 2010

The final full day in El Salvador.  We have had a pleasant and restful day though more to do tonight.  We have our evening of food preparation and meals for the homeless.

This morning we ventured to the coast for a tour of the black sand beaches and fish market.  I believe this was my 1^st exposure to a black sand beach that people were visiting to play in the surf.  There were many folks on holiday and much as we would see in the States.  Differences included the horses which were ridden up and down the beach, the noticeable absence of shells, the frequent observing of rock which appeared as polished lava rock, and Central American commerce.  The photos we took are an interesting reflection on the day.

The fish market experience was also a good one for me.  The market has many similarities to others I have seen – the sales tactics were much more aggressive, however.  The variety of fish was also broader.  Seeing the boats and nets these folks use to fish was eye opening.  While they are not far off shore the experience must be harrowing each time they go out. I am certain there is no coast guard cutter or helicopter looking out for them either.

In the afternoon, we went to a touristy market where most found “unique” trinkets to take back to friends and loved ones.  The “Art of the Sale” is most certainly a book they have all read.

The last part of the afternoon was a stop at a large, modern mall.  There we saw everything one would see at any mall in the States.  Sobering, the contrast between the “haves” and the “have nots” here.  There are many in this country with extreme wealth, yet the overall degree of poverty seems greater than any place I have ever visited.  While the revolution most certainly changed the country for the better, it is hard to visualize a situation much worse.



Dr. Dave



The dinner was wonderful – fish across the board.  I haven’t eaten any better anywhere.

Finally, we spent the evening preparing and providing food to a few homeless groups in the city.  The experience was similar to before.  The second stop worked out much better, as the group was more orderly.  We got off to a better start with better order.  We also had a very respectful gathering at the front of their line who graciously waited for women, children, and elders to eat all the while helping keep the other gentlemen with a degree of order and camaraderie.



Glenda and Kike at Casa Concordia
after feeding the homeless

 At the end of the night Kiké honored us with a certificate acknowledging our support for the homeless of San Salvador.  It was a moving experience for me.  I am not able to fully appreciate the energy level it takes to provide regularly for these people.  It is, in some respect, a never ending mission.  But I suppose that is the point, our work here should not be considered a destination, but rather a journey.  A journey of highs and lows, but one of providing for those who cannot (and those who can).  Live one day at a time.  Do the next right thing.  Believe in God.  Pray.

Thank you to all who have shared this time with me.  I shall treasure it always.

Dave Heistand

November 19, 2010



Nelson and dad
Puente Azul, El Salvador

Friday, November 19, 2010

Last night was a late night.  We stayed longer at Puente Azul because lots of people came.  We had to send some back to Sonsonate to meet with the solar engineer and five stayed behind until we saw every person who came.  We had our most full day, 106 people.  It felt good that we could see everyone.

So we got back later to San Salvador.  Since it was late we ordered Pollo Campero fried chicken.  While waiting on the food Marco, Kiké, Kathy, Erin, and I went on a mission to find vitamins, aspirin, tums, anti-parasitics, and paper goods for feeding the homeless on Saturday night.  Our short trip to Price Smart and a pharmacy led to over 2 hours and 4 pharmacies.  No one had much aspirin or tums.  We got ice cream bars at one of the pharmacies and Kiké dropped some chocolate on the floor.  It melted, was stepped in and smeared.  Needless to say it looked like something else and we had a good laugh.  A late night…..



Dona Belina and baby

 And an early morning.  We thought we were going to leave at 7:00am so breakfast was at 6:00.  We ended up leaving at 8:00 which was a bit frustrating.  Upon arriving at Esperanza y Fe (Hope and Faith) we noticed that people were already waiting.  We were set up and ready by 9:30 and the crowd was growing.  Doña Belina told us the property was a refugee camp during the war.  Now it is a place of faith, hope, and healing where farmers are educated and there is an anti-violence program.  The people were very hospitable and helpful.  They were prepared with sweet cinnamon coffee, juice, and sweet bread.  With so many people we sought to see as many as possible and streamlined our process.  All were a bit tired and emotions were a little tense.  We had to make a hard decision about how many people to see and when to stop the clinic.  There was not total agreement but we chose a time and followed through. 
In the end we saw 139 people in about 5 hours – a lot for the doctors and a lot for our folks to send through to get meds, etc.  It was a blessing to be able to see so many and heartbreaking that we had to turn people away.  The most people on the last day was the opposite of what I was expecting – but as the group said “it is what it is” and we played the cards we were dealt.  God was among us in the smiles of the children and parents when we tried to make them laugh and be comfortable with strange people (us) who had to ask questions about weight, what hurts, etc…God was among us as we struggled to make a decision and tried to come to a decision as a community.  God among us as we talked in the vehicles on the way home about our day and our frustrations, blessings, and joys.  And God was among us as we relaxed a bit after a shower and worship and decided we felt called to return and do it all again. 

We topped off the night with an abundance of pupusas, lots of laughter and a magnificent view of the lights of the city.  A fitting ending to a day of challenge, blessing, and the light of God shining in God’s people and through God’s people.

Kike, one of God's people

Lance Perry

November 18, 2010



Marco with friends from Esperanza y Fe

  Thursday, November 18, 2010

Didn’t want to get up this morning but I felt it was important not to stay in bed.  First patient of the day was a woman that wanted a mole removed.  Pretty neat that we were able to help her.


Marco and Dr. Dave working



Frustrating evening.  Hard to please people.

Marco González


Marco, Dave and Kenny
on church porch with Napo



Inside Luthern church in San Salvador



November 17, 2010

Dale, LuAnn, and Scott in pharmacy

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Can’t believe it is Wednesday already.  Knew as the week went on things would go quickly.

Up at 6am, breakfast buffet at 7am.  Packed up our sack lunches and headed out to Puente Azul.

Getting used to the ride, but not sure if I will ever get used to the beauty of the sugar cane.  Tall, majestic, rising high in the field with beautiful tassels on the top.  We passed a river with women doing laundry on the rocks.  OK – WOW!  Another moment of appreciation!  Even if it is only for a washing machine.  It’s humbling how I often complain of loads of laundry at home.  What about the mothers that 5, 6, 7 children here and are doing laundry by hand – over rocks – beside the river? 

Got to the church at Puente Azul and set up quickly for the clinic.  After patients check in at the entrance to the church, they see the doctor.  Then they go back outside and around to the back door to visit the pharmacy.

Why are pharmacies always delegated to the back of drugstores or basements of hospitals?  Being a pharmacist, I always wondered…



Children at back door to "pharmacy"

Veronia and baby sister

Well, let me tell you – I happen to LOVE my little back door pharmacy here!!  The back door has seemed to become a gathering place for the children – Miguel, Ricardo, William, Everett, Veronica, Priscilla, etc….  I can always look up and see 4, 5, 6 faces standing at the door looking in.  They know they are not allowed to come in but they follow the rules and stand patiently at the door hoping for a smile from Scott, Dale, or me.

Migues

Priscilla

We saw 49 patients by lunch.  After lunch half of our group took 3 people from the village into town for a trip to the hospital.  I was not in that group but it sounds like it was a successful trip.

The other half of us stayed at the church and played with the children.  Actually, I became photographer; I loved getting photos of the children drawing, playing with play-doh, making and flying paper airplanes, playing soccer, and other games.  It was a fun and enjoyable afternoon.

Dinner again at Ban’s followed by worship in the hotel lobby.  I am really looking forward to going back to Puente Azul tomorrow to see our new friends one more time.

LuAnn Robertson, Lebanon, IN

November 16, 2010

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

First, and I think that this speaks volumes about what it is to be so far from all that is familiar, I had to look at Kathy’s entry date to be able to put the correct date for my own journal entry.

I have deferred my “turn” at the journaling for the past several days because I wanted an opportunity to reflect on all that I have experienced before putting pen to paper.  I now realize that for some of what I have seen and learned I will need much more than just a few days for reflection.  I suppose that this is rather the point for us to be called to any mission, God will continue to work through us and win us through all of our endeavors; overcoming all obstacles, most of which dwell within.

A few notes about today….. It was a lovely morning and we set off to Puente Azul, better rested and perhaps less nervous than we were on Monday.  Marco was pulled over by the Salvadoran Police and scolded about driving while talking on his cell phone.  Despite their intimidating appearance, they were actually quite benevolent in that no citations were given.

A word about Marco…I really don’t know how he does it.  Driving in this traffic, I mean.  Despite all the chaos around us I am at ease as he makes his way around hair-pin turns, faces down aggressive bus drivers and dodges an unimaginable collection of pedestrians, dogs, ox carts, street vendors, etc.

Marco, if you read this, and I doubt you will, thank you for taking such good care of us.  It means more than you’ll ever know.

We arrived at Puente Azul unscathed.  The morning “business” was rather slow at first.  This gave me time to chat with Pastor Luis, who truly is a gentle and unassuming man.

The patients came into the clinic in an ebb and flow pattern much like the Saturday morning clinic at work so in some ways I felt completely at home. 

How to describe the patients…Of course, it’s hard to speak with any authority, based on such brief interactions but I will jot down a few impressions.

House in Puente Azul

First, and I think this is important for those who imagine this to be a place of abject poverty, bereft of hope, there is hope here.  Despite hardships that I and many contemporaries would find daunting to the point of desolation, there is hope here.  Without exception, the patients that I saw had donned their “nice” clothes before coming to be seen.  Dressing up to be seen in a clinic, for us, that’s not such a big deal.  But only think what that means to these folks.  There is no electricity, so clean clothes mean that someone, usually the girls or women, had the back-breaking work of washing by hand, either in the creek or sink, the family’s clothes.  Since there’s no electricity, there’s no running water or indoor plumbing, so if there’s not a creek or river readily available, the water also has to be carried by hand.  Wet laundry has to be carried home and hung to dry and so on… the point being that slipping on your “church clothes” for a trip to the clinic (on foot, of course),is not a trivial endeavor.  And yet, that is exactly what they did.  What is that, if not hope?

The children come into the “exam room” shyly.  Smiling but quiet and subdued.  They mirrored the faces of their mothers, also very shy, especially at first. 

The second thing I would like to convey is that there is dignity in the sense that most associate with that word.  There isn’t dignity in living in such deplorable economic straits, but there is an innate dignity in how they comport themselves.  They are a well spoken, intelligent, if not well-educated, people.  The mothers are justifiably very proud of their babies.  Their hair is combed, they’re in nice clothes.  The babies are, it goes without saying, quite beautiful.

 If we can eschew our modern definition of productivity which measures tangible market value, then I think that today was one of the most productive days I’ve had as a clinician.  There were no ground-breaking medical advances to publish, no really 

Bill, Erin, Kenny, Lance

big diagnostic dilemmas, but it still felt productive.  I felt a kinship with the mission team and those that we served.  Bill Reinger pointed out to me today that in Spanish the words for “hope” and “waiting” are the same.  Like our brothers and sisters in Puente Azul Lord, we hope; we wait. Erin Whitehead

November 15, 2010

Monday, November 15, 2010

LuAnn, Erin, Kathy

I had a restful night and am enjoying my roommates, Erin and Luann.  We have laughed a lot and shared a lot too.  We’re glad we’re all readers so no one wants the TV on.

Breakfast at 7:00 is early for 3 women sharing 1 bathroom, but we make it work.  After eating we fixed our sandwich for lunch, packed the cooler, loaded the truck and van and headed to Puente Azul.

Driving through town is a feast for the eyes.  So many vendors crowded together selling almost anything you could want or need.  Passing by the vegetable and fruit stands – all the colors of the food.  I wish we could all get out and walk to experience this at a slower pace.  That sounds strange coming from me of all people!  I do not like crowds and try and avoid them when possible.  But this is different.  This is life; not rushing to get to the next store in the mall, or to hurry and get in line at an amusement park.  This is real life.

After passing by all the vendors a few more twists and turns of the road and there is no more paved road.  We’re on a dirt road now heading deeper into the country.  We pass rushing waters of a river and lots and lots of sugar cane.  A branch of the river has a woman washing her clothes on some rocks.  More buses and trucks are on the dirt road than I remember from 2 years ago.  Some paths lead back to the sugar cane fields for as far as I can see.  I would love to just walk on some of these paths just to see what there is to see.

Before I know it we’re turning into Puente Azul.  A boy is at the creek as we cross it and stares at us.  I look at the house on my left and see several kids looking.  Won’t be long now and everyone will know we’re here.  I see Pastor Luis and a few women already waiting for us.

Bill and Kathy triage station

We get set up as quickly as we can.  Bill will help me with triage and translating.  We’re both nervous but as he points out the people here to see us are probably nervous too.

Nothing to do (and no choice) but to dive right in!

I feel I’m moving too slow, taking too much time, but I want the people coming to see us to feel like we care and not like we’re rushing them.  Before I put the pulse oximeter on their finger I tell them it won’t hurt – they think I’m going to stick their finger – Bill tells them it is a machine to measure the amount of oxygen in their blood.  When I take their blood pressure most want to hold their arm out stiff.  I try and put their arm in a more relaxed position and rub their upper arm until I feel their muscle relax and then start the BP machine.

Most of the women wanted to take off their shoes before stepping on the scale.  When one of the younger ladies was with us I told her this and we laughed.  Another younger woman was hesitant to get on the scale.  I smiled at her and said I understood completely!

I have prayed a lot about my translating skills before this trip.  Faithful as always, God answered my prayers.  As far as I know my biggest mis-translation today was my understanding a mom to tell me that her son (maybe 8 years old) was unable to go to the bathroom.  I asked if he was vomiting or had diarrhea and she said no – so I figured he was constipated.  Well, come to find out at the end of the day – with Erin and Pastor Luis questioning them further, he had no problem going to the bathroom – his problem (or maybe his mother’s problem) was that he didn’t want to take a bath!!!  We have gotten some huge laughs out of this.

After a late lunch the Bishop came and dedicated 3 new members of the church and installed several women to help Pastor Luis run the church.  We received communion and prayed and sang.  I enjoyed the service quite a bit.

By the end of the service we were all tired.  I think I was a bit dehydrated and really wanted a shower.

Dinner was at a new (for us) restaurant – “Chicken and Steak”.  A nice devotional followed – short and sweet due to everyone being so tired.  Dale gave the devotion and prayer.  I am inspired by his prayers.  The words he uses are just right – don’t quite know how to phrase it but I like the words he uses and how those words fit together.  I feel very fortunate to be with this entire group.  We have all laughed, prayed, and loved – what more could we hope for on this trip?

Kathy Jordan