Attitude of Christ

Laura had a wonderful wedding feast with over 500 guests on April 12th. It was a beautiful wedding with a two cow reception. We are still eating some of the barbeque here at the base. Everyone looked so beautiful and I forgot to take pictures. After the wedding, half of the clinic went back to the states. The dimension of the clinic team has drastically changed. This first week of change has gone very smooth. Dr. Angelica and Dan are here leading the team while Laura is on her honeymoon and in the states. Dr. Eder and his wife are moving into the clinic this evening. We have had meetings to talk about job descriptions. I am officially in charge of the pharmacy.
Pharmacy is not my favorite job but I am learning to have a servant’s attitude, the attitude of Christ. Even so, I am going to be able to help in other areas of the clinic too. I am excited about maybe helping with spiritual care by praying for the women that come to the clinic with Elisabeth and her helping translate. Because of my lack of Spanish knowledge, my ability to do other jobs is limited. I truly love having contact with people and praying for them. But being in the pharmacy puts a limit on the amount of contact I have with the patients that come in to the clinic.
When you choose to serve, you don’t get to always pick the area you want to serve in. Or necessarily even have fun doing it all the time. I thought I had somewhat of a servant’s heart and I know I still do but God is deepening my understanding of what it truly means to have a servant’s heart and attitude. Having a servant’s heart is having the attitude of Christ. His attitude was one of humility. He was God almighty in the flesh here on earth. He was mistreated, beaten, and crucified. This is the attitude we are suppose to imitate. I am sure that Jesus did not have fun or enjoy those moments. He did His father’s will regardless of what the outcome was. Jesus saw the big picture, the picture of the Kingdom of heaven coming to earth. Wow, I want to be more like Christ. I am so thankful that the Holy Spirit is at work in my heart and in all of ours. He continues to conform us into His image and even uses us during the process.

Here is a picture of me taking stiches out of the browline of the head mechanic on the base

This past Saturday, a pastor was having a conference for the crippled and blind in the town of Jameltapec. The clinic team was able to go and do consultations. So this past week I was busy getting the mobile pharmacy and supplies together and purchasing needed medications. On the outreach we saw over a 100 patients. The day went by so fast. Every patient got prayed for and free medical care. It was a day full of hard work but we felt like a lot got accomplished.

Arroyo Triste~Let it Rain

I experienced new things on the trip in the mountain village named Arroyo Triste. The village of about 20 people was beautiful. I had never been in a village were it was so green and pleasant. The atmosphere was very peaceful and quiet. The people were very hospitable and friendly. The team was made up of eleven members including; three doctors, three nurses, one paramedic, a translator, a driver, and a cook. We had a church service the first night and Dr. Ross gave the wonderful message. We saw 67 patients from Arroyo Triste and surrounding villages. The second day we saw about 20 patients. The natives that come to do spiritual care did an awesome job. Four people dedicated their lives to the Lord. Praise God! We weren’t as busy as the previous trips I have been on but it was more enjoyable.
One of the new things I experienced in Mexico was RAIN. Yes it rained one morning and the climate was so nice. I also learned new bathroom tricks that I had never utilized before. I was also in charge of the pharmacy. The people in this village spoke Spanish, which was really exciting because we could converse more easily. I felt like the clinic went very smoothly. We all slept in the church, with a tarp dividing the room. I slept on two wooden benches put together. After the two nights, I was looking forward to my air mattress on the cot. Here I am working hard in the pharmacy and Ralph assisting by counting medications!

We handed out toothbrushes to everyone and some candy. (Oxymoron huh) Little cutie excited about her toothbrush!!!

I feel in love with this little girl named Reina, which means “queen” in Spanish. She was 7 years old and had an obvious heart defect. You could feel the murmur by laying your hand on her chest. Her little body was frail and her fingers and toes were clubbing due to the lack of oxygen. She had such a sweet smile and kindness in her eyes. I prayed over her asking God to heal her heart and as I finished she said amen with us. How precious!

This is a picture of me and Reina!!!

This weekend, Laura (the leader of the clinic) is getting married and leaving until August. Many other American missionaries are leaving. Elisabeth and I will be taking more responsibility over the clinic and outreaches. We will have two doctors staying on the base as well. So the end of this week will be busy with wedding plans and lasagna making. There are about 400 guests coming. I am helping make food for the rehearsal dinner, which seats 60.
Prayer Request:
The grace for the transition of more responsibility
Laura and David as they become one
Finances for the clinic
Me to learn Spanish more quickly

Thanks to God for His answers to Prayer:
No more parasites
A smooth running pharmacy
Salvations
Thank you for your prayers and comments they truly bless me ~

More Animals & Tortillas

I thought once I got back to the base my adventures with strange animals would end. That has not been the case. I have had many more encounters. I had a scorpion in my room and there were three of us chasing it around with a stick. The next day there was a snake in the clinic, so we grabbed the stick now splattered with blood from the scorpion to kill the snake. The snake was not that big or scary but we did not know if it was poisonous or not. A few days after that, a bat flew within inches of my head. And I am now sick with parasites of an unknown origin. Rebekah calls me a present day Snow White.

This past week was fairly leisurely. All the students at the base left for vacation week and the patients were scarce. I did help with one minor surgery on the removal of a fibroid of some sort on an elderly lady’s elbow. She is supposed to come back this week for the removal of the other side. Several people are starting to come in to help for Laura’s wedding. Part of the team left yesterday for a place called Chiapas to do a mini ministry outreach. We are planning a trip into a close by village for April 6th-8th and I will be in charge of pharmacy by myself this time. At the end of the week I will be doing inventory and medication purchasing.

The highlight of my weekend was going to the Delilah’s house were we made homemade corn tortillas, tostadas, tamales, and cheese. They were laughing at me because it took me like 10 minutes to make one tortilla and then I would have to rest in the hammock for 10 minutes. By the end of making tortillas I was dripping with sweat. We then went to the river and cooled off. It was a wonderful fiesta full of food, fun, and friends.


Here I am making tortillas by hand and the placing them over the claypit oven!

Speaking of friends, I am so thankful that my friend Elisabeth is here. We have talked numerous times about how God really orchestrated this time. Before even knowing that Laura was getting married and leaving for four months or knowing the plans of each other, God directed our steps. His provision amazes me. Laura is so thankful to have nurses to help cover the clinic when she is gone. Elisabeth and I are so thankful to have a good friend to work together with and have fun with. She is such a blessing!

Here is a picture of Elisabeth and I shopping at the market for ingredients for rosemary & garlic potatoes!

Prayer request for this next week: health in my body, preparation and safety for the next village trip, wedding plans to go smoothly, money for medications to come in, and the hearts of the people that will be hearing the gospel. I really want to remember the 18 people who dedicated their lives to Christ and continue to pray for their discipleship.
Last night in the worship service, I was reminded of the faithfulness of God. He is my rock in whom I take refuge.
~Psalm 18:1-2
I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold