Peru 2011
Clinic days in Peru demonstrated what Project Compassion does best: bringing together medical and nonmedical people from different areas, different ages, different backgrounds to unite as one team sharing God´s love in a tangible way to those who are hurting - physically and spiritually. Blessed with excellent facilities, we were shocked to discover that far into rural Peru; the schools had flush toilets - something we have never experienced on other PC trips.
Porterillo was a community unknown to the government until missionaries arrived 5 years ago and advocated for improved community education and facilities. Now the newly erected school is beautifully equipped with desks and chairs, making it so much easier to set up clinic. (Since over 3500 species of orchids are endemic to this area, the school even had a greenhouse with orchids growing to teach the children horticulture.) Although no crowds initially greeted us, by the end of the day, we had seen over 250 patients with many of the usual concerns - worms, draining otitis, low back pain, gastritis, did I mention worms?... and a little Leshmaniasis to remind us that we were doing tropical medicine.
Scenes along the way included lush vegetation, with fern fronds 4 feet long, vines dangling from all the trees; cows, horses, and even pigs tied up with rope to graze alongside the roads; coconut trees abundant with fruit; colorful homes and store fronts - some topped with thatched roofs; and men, women, and children smiling and waving. Everywhere we went in Peru, we found the villages and countryside clean and the people very welcoming! San Miguel and its two story elementary school was the site for our second day of clinic.
Given the lovely facility, clinic was quickly set up with stations that included registration, vital signs, medical providers, dentists, eyeglass dispensary, prayer and counseling and pharmacy. We were blessed to have a local dentist working alongside our PC dentist - and rarely was any crying heard as the dentists pulled and filled teeth. Margaret, our PC dentist, had brought special quick set filling that would disperse fluoride over time, thus helping teeth to heal and revent further caries - such a great idea, especially for rural areas like this.
Jepalacio was the site for the third day of clinic - and you may actually have heard about this village earlier this year as it was struck by tragedy when a mudslide killed 5 children. We so wanted to bless this community and demonstrate our love to them - and hopefully did so by seeing over 450 patients. There seemed to be additional sadness in all 3 of these clinics as we saw many more children who had suffered birth asphyxia and had various forms of cerebral palsy, blindness, and mental retardation. Sometimes we just sat and cried with the families as we struggled to think of ways we could help.
Then there were the precious older men and women who were still farming, bending over, using machetes...and wondering why they had low back pain. One 76 year old man´s chief complaint was that he could no longer carry 100 pounds on his back, but instead could only carry 60 pounds.
We were blessed to also have Laura, a chiropractor with us, and you should have seen the smiles on people´s faces as they left her “office" saying they had never felt so good!
Our final day of clinic was in the church in central Moyabamba that was hosting our stay. Although we could only see patients in the morning, we managed to see over 150 people before we had to pack up. We had a wonderful time of debriefing each evening after clinic and learned stories that touched our hearts. Patients who had been lovingly touched by each person throughout the clinic process received Christ in prayer and counseling, confirming we were where the Lord wanted us. One gentleman came in with his 9 year old son, complaining that his son was rebellious. We had the opportunity to share some practical advice on discipline and pray with him. When he reached prayer and counseling, he gave his heart to the Lord. Having the local pastors working right alongside assures follow up for all those who were prayed for and seen in the clinics.
Leaving Moyobamba, we bumped over the roads back to Tarapota and then flew back to Lima. A brief overnight in a hostel in Lima, and then we went back to the airport for a flight to Cusco. Although not ideal, we had no time to acclimate to the 11,000 foot elevation, but went right out hiking, seeing the ornate cathedrals of the city and then visiting large archeological sites of the Incas. Cusco, meaning "navel" was the center of the Inca Empire - and the entire city was actually built in the shape of the body of a puma - with the head up at the archeological site on the hillside above the city.
Unfortunately several members of our team developed altitude sickness that evening, but with some ministrations from our medical team, everyone was ready for the Macchu Picchu experience the following day. The photos of this Inca sacred city barely begin to show the awesome majesty of the high lush Andes and the frightening plunge down the sides of the mountain. We arrived there after a 3 hour train ride - declining the opportunity to hike for five days on the Inca trail.
We all feel so very blessed to have the opportunity to serve together in Peru. We were blessed with a wonderful team, excellent weather, safe travels, and the acceptance by the people we served. Thank you all for your prayers!
