Whirlwind Summer

So I'm going to lay it out straight for all of you guys:

This experience has been amazing!

The ways that God has showed himself day in and day out on this trip to me still shock me as I reflect on my experiences and pack up to go back home (or, to college, actually).

On a personal level, I believe that this trip to Southern Peru has been like God's project to shape and mold me.  What I mean by this is that I can feel God preparing me for something exciting in my life.  He has been shaping me by each of the patients that I translate for and everyone I've come into contact with, increasing my ability to communicate, showing me how to care and reach out to people in diverse and sometimes surprising, unexpected ways; which all of course teaches me to be flexible and creative in serving and working.  Even though I may be done my trips (almost), I would ask that you pray that I would be able to have the wisdom, humility, and diligence in these upcoming crucial weeks, months, and years to seek out and follow God's will for me in this life.

Regarding the actual work at the clinic, it was fantastic!  Each of our patients was so grateful to be able to get physical and spiritual help in a place where this is not always readily available.  Those who could brought small gifts, and almost everyone gave hugs, kisses (kissing on the cheek is a common greeting here), and thousands of heartfelt thank yous.  It was an indescribable blessing to be able to relay life-changing knowledge, advice, and instructions to people who were many times hearing it for the first time.  Making sure patients understood their conditions and encouraging them in their recoveries and sometimes seemingly hopeless situations was a great responsibility that I am very thankful to have been trusted enough to have.  The physical therapy "knowledgees" and us translators/general handymen(women) were touched by our patients stories, and shared in their grief, laughter, and hope.  Being that the entire clinic (or "campaign," as the locals call it) was a huge, cohesive effort of an entire team, I would also encourage you to check out the team blog for all the daily details at sruinperu.blogspot.com!

I don't really know what else to say, besides I am so thankful to God for the opportunity to serve like this.  The experience and memories I've gained in these short two weeks will last a lifetime.  I am also extremely thankful to all of my supporters for reading my blogs, donating medical supplies, making this trip logistically possibly with your donations, and most of all, supporting me with your prayers.  

See you soon on the other side!

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So you’re probably wondering at this point what I’ve been doing this entire week in Southern Peru, and this is now the point where you’re about to find out!

Each day, five physical therapists and seven physical therapy students pile into a bus and head through the crazy, beep-happy downtown on our way to our Physical Therapy clinic.  For these two weeks that I am here, Medical Ministry International has launched a “campaign” to match the people of this Southern Peruvian city who are in most dire need of physical care with free treatment, evaluation, and medical equipment and supplies.  As an interpreter, I spend my time hopping from therapist to student breaking down the language barrier, making sure patients fully understand their situations and how to improve them, and writing up information sheets for our patients to take home.  However, because the work here with the community is so intimate, many times my job description sporadically morphs from translator to wheelchair repairman, to tent builder, to friend.  I also got the special opportunity to travel to a high-up mountain city for another special “campaign” to distribute wheelchairs to those who have no other options.

Every job and every responsibility is met with a laugh, a tear, and six and a half dozen pounds of adventure.  I would love to sit on here all day and type them all up for you, but being that I am with a team, this job is divided up amongst all of us (and computer time is limited).  So I would encourage you to also check out the team blog, where you can find all the minute and major details of the day-to-day adventures and tasks of this evermore fulfilling trip.

I would also ask that you keep a few things in your prayers.  For example, it seems like we’re all getting wacked pretty hard by some sort of cold/flu/plague, so if you could keep our health and safety in your prayers.  For me specifically, I want to ask you to pray for me that I would be able to put aside personal gain (in other words, the work I’m doing here is excellent experience and is ever-so-useful for personal advancement, but I need to have my heart solely focused on serving the needs of the people).

Oh, and we’re really high up down here.  When elevation is measured in the same units that you use to measure the distances between continents, you know you’re really high up (That would be miles, [or kilometers], ladies and gentlemen; 1.5 to be exact).

The Beginning... Of Part Two

Helloo thuuur!

So it seems like I’ve been in Peru for about a week, but I just counted the days, and it’s been two and a half days!  Our team has done so much in these two days!  We’ve seen cliffs, mountains, deserts, llamas, the mysterious Nazca lines, and the great Pacific Ocean (which looks and tastes just like the Atlantic)!  We finally made it to our final destination where we will be setting up shop for a Physical Therapy Clinic in Medical Ministry International.  Today we settled in, transported wheelchairs for distribution to those who can’t afford them, and got to see the local Plaza De Armas (Main Square).

Me, and my teammates are safe, sound, excited, and a bit tired.  Please pray for our health and safety, and that we would be able to be flexible and enthusiastic to serve God in whatever way He may call us to in the upcoming weeks!