Two-in-one blogspot

It has been a month since I blogged last and so much has happened. I have been busy with different teams and outreaches. I definitely do not remember the details of every trip but I am going to give you a recap of the two big outreaches that have been done in the past month.
The clinic takes a lot of teams to the Ixtyutla region. The month of May is the beginning of rainy season and the roads get really bad to travel back and forth so this was our last outreach to these villages for the season. It was one of the largest mission teams to be taken up there at one. There were about 33 people on the team. The team included ORU mission’s team, Seol Baptist Korean church, my wonderful boyfriend John, our local medical team, drivers, translators, and 2 cooks. I was concerned about taking a team this large might be overwhelming for the natives. To my surprise this was my favorite outreach thus far. I don’t know if part of it had to do with John being there too:)!

Our 33 team member group!

I felt like we offered so much more than just medical help. The Seol Baptist did a variety of services. They gave haircuts, took photos and printed them out as gifts for the Mixtecos, taught VBS to the children.
They also gave out toys to the children (possibly being the first toy for most of the children) and helped with the team devotions.

Picture of children in line waiting for their toy!

The ORU guys and my very strong John did manual labor. They helped with preparing the roads for rainy season. Then we did clinic in two different villages. I of course was in charge of pharmacy. We had three doctors with us.
They guys and their shovels!



John and I after hard day of work!

During our devotional meetings we would translate into four different languages. We had English, Spanish, Mixteco, and Korean. I was just amazed at how diverse the group was but we were with all one purpose of advancing the Kingdom of God. All the devotional times were so up lifting. Hearing everyone worship God in their own language really blessed me.
It reminded me of the verse in Revelation 5:9-10 “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” It was small taste of a few languages, tribes, and people groups worshiping the King together.

Two weeks ago Elisabeth, Joe, Eder, Paullina, and I left for a 14 hour drive to a village called Usiela for a medical and evangical crusade. We drove 12 hours to a city called Tuxtepec to meet up with the rest of our group. The next day we took a 3 hour bus ride to Usiela. On the way we had to switch buses because the rains and river caused a break in the road. We had to unload our luggage and supplies and carry it across were the other bus was waiting for us. Then we finally arrived to the town, we found out that the truck that had our things in it crashed. Everyone was okay and the luggage was recovered several hours later.

Here is what the mudslide did to the road on the way to Usila!


The week was really busy. During the day we had consults from doctors and dentist. In the afternoon youth rallies were held and then at night services were held in the town squares. We saw over 800 patients in four days. I was slightly sick the entire trip. I was able to go to two of the night services and pray over people. God’s spirit really fell on people.


Here is little Grace helping me fill prescriptions!




This is a pic of one of the night services with half the village attending, Praise God!!!


On our way back to Puerto we went to Oaxaca City. We went and saw the ruins and ate Rock soup. One of the families from Usiela started a restraint in Oaxaca City. They have a special tradition in the village of Usiela. When a person becomes a special friend of the family, the family shows their gratitude by cooking this special soup for them. The men cook it and no one knows the recipe. The men get these gourd time bowls and fill them with fish, shrimp, spices, vegetables, and water. They get this special rock and heat it. They then put the rock in the bowl with the other ingredients and cook it with the hot rocks. This is the only restraint in the world you can get this type of soup. The family blessed us with it for gratitude of the work we did in their village. It was a blessing. Here is the soup lined up with the rocks cooking it!

The Oaxaca Ruins!

Then when I got back I had the privilege of spending a few days with my uncle Brian and aunt Gisela. Oh I can’t forget my cute cousin Brendan. It was refreshing to spend time away relaxing and being with family. Gisela’s family was wonderful. They fed me very well. I think I gained 2 pounds in 3 days.
Well, I can’t believe I am coming home in about two weeks.
I can’t wait to see all of you guys. You are such a blessing in my life.

I have some more prayer requests:
~Trip to Amuzgos next week
~Safety for my trip home
~ Easing back into my job and US life
~God to continue to use me for His glory

Praise Reports:
~Safety on the roads
~ The amount of people coming to the outreaches
~ John being able to come and visit
~Time with my family

Thanks you all for your prayers and encouraging words!!!

Mi Madre en Amuzgos

Yes, I am finally writing a new blog entry. The past three weeks in May have flown by so quickly. I didn’t write for a while because I did not have any cool pictures or stories. For about the first two weeks of May we had basic clinic consultations, planning, prayer, and administrative meetings. Then this past week everything exploded with business and excitement. We just had a team of Koreans from New Life church come this past week. We did medical out reaches outreaches to the surrounding villages. But before I expound on the outreach trip, let me tell you the story of the weekend trip of adventures in Amuzgos.
Elisabeth and I got an invitation to go home for the weekend with one of the young ladies that works in the office at the base. Her name is Socorro. She is from a village called Amuzgos which is about three hours away from the base. The entire weekend was full on new experiences and adventure. It all started by waking up at
440am on Saturday morning to catch a bus ride. In the two hour bus ride while all three of us were asleep the driver decided to surprise us with blaring 70’s music. It was in English. Things like”Y-M-C-A” at 5 in the morning. It was hilarious. Then we caught a pasajera for a 45 min drive. A pasajera is one of those trucks that are open in the back with benches of people hanging on in the back. Then we finally made it there in a taxi for the last stretch.
The Almuzgo people really know how to celebrate mother’s day. Here in Mexico, mother’s day is on Saturday. That night after Soco’s mom gave us tons of food to eat, we went to the town square were they had dancing and live music for all the mothers. They had streamers and balloons decorating the town square. Then at the end of the celebration, people handed out buckets as gifts to all the mothers. Soco’s mother of course made sure her guest received a bucket, even though neither of us are mothers. Then we walked to several homes of Soco’s relatives and got offered more cake. The music for mother’s day celebration continued until 4 am and was heard very clearly outside the room Elisabeth and I slept in.
The next day we went to another fiesta, a quinceaniera. This was a birthday party for the pastor in Amuzgo’s daughter. She turned 15. They killed an entire cow to have barbecoa, which is Mexican style barbeque. They had like 10 cakes and who knows how much soda. It was a fiesta for sure. Soco’s mom continued to make sure we got soda and ice cream and as much food as we could stuff into out stomachs.
Then when were finished with that fiesta we went back to Soco’s house were here mother decided that Elisabeth and I were now here daughters and we need to look the part. She brought two hand-embroidered shirts and put the over our heads on each of us as a gift. Then she started fixing Elisabeth’s hair. Elisabeth said she saw her coming with a comb and oil dripping from her hands. Suddenly she poured the oil onto Elisabeth’s hair and braided her hair into two pig tails. She then cam and did the same to me. We were now her daughters. Soco was a little embarrassed and explained to her mom that we do not put baby oil in our hair like they do. It was hilarious.
Their family really blessed me. They we full of love and hospitality. They were so excited to invite us into their homes. The family had come to Christ within the last 10 years. Her dad took us to their old house which was falling apart as was their family before Christ changed it all. Her dad used to be an alcoholic and they lost all they had. He then gave his life to the Lord and each family member proceeded. They now have a nice Mexican house and her sister owns an internet café in the downstairs rooms. They we so proud of what the Lord had done and now want to rebuild the old house and land to be used for the ministry. Seeing their hospitality and thankfulness impressed me. Their new house was nice for a Mexican village but of course it did not have running water or air conditioning. It was also still the bucket shower and bucket toilet system. But they had beds and electricity and several rooms. I realized how much us Americans have to be thankful for. Their thankful hearts are a sweet aroma unto their provider, our Lord. As a child, I was so embarrassed to have friends come over because our house was messy and under construction. I now know how blessed I truly was. I mean we had running water, electricity, shower, and toilet. I wan to have more of a thankful heart and a heart of hospitality. So my new sergeant mom or mi madre and her family truly blessed me.


here is a picture of Me, Socco, Veronica(socco's sister) and their dad dreaming about the restoration of their old home and land.



This picture is Me and Elisabeth with our new madre, we are like her little girls!!




Here is a picture of me with my new greasy hair-do and traditional blouse!



After the weekend of advendure, we had moble clinic outreaches and New Life church put on VBS for the children . We had a good time this past week and many people came to know the Lord. I don't remeber exact numbers but I want to say aroung 15-20.


Here is a picture of the kids and the team playing a game.

I had several helpers in the pharmacy. The team was made up of one dentist, pre-med, pre-dental, and nursing students. I really enjoyed teaching them about medications and nursing. They were also so eager to learn. Here is a picture of the denist pulling out teeth. It was fun having his vibrant persnality around. Their are a lot more people in Oaxaca, Mexico with less teeth now.

Well this weekend we have been busy shopping and organizing for the next outreach. It has been crazy around here. We had a new team come in today and then the ORU mssions team has been here, and John is on his way as we speak. We will be taking over 30 people into the mountains to the Ixtuytla regin for four days. This will be the largest team I have every been to the mountains with. We will be doing medical outreach, construction, and childrens ministry. I of course will be leading the pharmacy :). This is the last trip up to this region before rainy season starts. In fact the roads might be a little challenging already.

So here goes my prayer requests:

~Safe travel up and down the mountains

~ John to arrive here safely and return safely oh and be blessed(His flight was cancelled today)

~Unity of the team

~The hearts of the Ixtuyutlta people to be open to God's word and the advancement of His kingdom

~Supernatural energy for those who are doing back to back outreaches

Praise Reports:

~FINACES for all the medications came in
~More salvations
~Spending time with Soco's family
~John coming here to visit and serve the Lord here
~The outreahes going well nd God protecting our teams

Please coment if you read this. I enjoy reading them all!

PSALM 44:8

In God have we made our boast all the day long,
And we will give thanks unto thy name for ever.
Selah

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

Back from the mountains….

We were in the mountains this past week in Oaxaca, Mexico. We went to three different villages. Not the villages we had planned to go into. All three villages we planned on doing medical outreaches did not allow us to enter in because of the political turmoil there and because we were protestant Christians. The Catholicism here in Oaxaco is mixed with a lot of witchcraft and superstition. There is a lot of fear of Americans and Christians in general. It is a very dark place and the people are fearful and violent. The place that we stayed at is in a village called El Mosco.
So, in El Mosco there are various animals; dogs, wild donkey, cows, mosquitoes, crazy dogs, and ravenous rats. Let me tell you about the crazy dogs. I counted eight dogs begging for food at one time. They all stare you down and act like they are going to bite you if you don’t share your food with them. The donkey made this hideous noise that startled me every time. The cows would run in front of the cars. The mosquitoes would attack you day and night. The building we stayed in is somewhat invested with rats. The rats got into the medications by eating through the plastic box. They also ate the cap of a water bottle that belonged to one of the doctors. I heard that on the last trip one of the cooks got bitten and another lady had a rat crawl over her face in the middle of the night. Therefore, I was afraid of sleeping on the cement floor where rats rule. The first 2 nights I slept in the back of a truck with a spare tire and piles of dust. I had a sore throat after that and decided to sleep in the cab the next night. That night my back and neck hurt so badly and my legs were cramped up all night. Finally I decided to live by faith and stay in the room with all the other girls. And I survived the rats.
Let me tell you about the bathrooms. So this year there were less peep wholes for the kids to peak in on you while you were taking a shower or going to the restroom. You can practically take a shower and go to the restroom at the same time. But this out house is awesome compared to cement hole in the ground at the other houses covered with maggots and flies.
The kids have become more loving and less violent over the years. It was so much fun playing with them and seeing them begin to be more open to us. The Mixteco culture is very harsh and violent. You can tell the kids are starving for love. As playing with the children, I was thinking …this is the next generation of Mixteco people and if we continue to come to these mountains and share the love of Christ, change has to take place because Gods word does not return to Him void.

Here is a little girl peeking in the buliding watching clinic with curosity!

This little boy is named Martine....He is a wild little boy that roams around looking for what kind of trouble he can get into. He has a big smile. He will sweetly hug you and then the next moment punch you and kick you! The sweet moments with him touched my heart.

I have been on several of these trips in the past but this one was different for me.
The trip felt like I was truely suffering and I had not felt this way on any prior trips. It was hard work and extreme living conditions. I had no energy and felt exhausted. I learned what the word persevere means. I was learning to be in charge of the pharmacy and what all that entails. Pharmacy includes tedious, repetitive, and non-relational work. I was also frustrated because I did not know the language and I did not have an extreme compassion in my heart to serve or joy in doing it. The work felt like work. But, I know the work I was doing made it able for the natives to minister more effectively in that region. They are the ones to continue the work and disciple the people. So it brings me much joy to know my bagging, labeling, and organizing medicine made an open door for Pastor Florentino, Maricella, and Carmella (native mixteco missionaries) to share the gospel. The door in these regions are either closed or cracked open. Bringing medical care to the Mixtecos has paved the way for the native evangelist to build relationships.
The plowing is a difficult task. I realized I want quick and easy results and I want to be part in the relationship building. The labor on the field is not always just seeing the ripe fruits and picking them but it is also sweating while you till the ground and continue to plow on through and hope for fruit to come.

Here is LeAnn and I working in the mobile pharmacy. She is teaching me how to take over when she leaves in April. What a job! She impresses me with her detailed and caring medication administration.

In El Mosco one person gave their life to Christ. In Chinniuba, 10 people made a decision for Christ and 7 in Ixtayutla. Thank you Jesus!!!
~So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only Godwho gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building. 1 Corinthians 3:7-9

I had so much the last night playing with the little girls who used to be so shy but are now willing to come up to us and play until we have to send them home. (they still don't sill in pictures :) )