Todavia, Estoy aqui!!

I know....I've been MIA.  And if you've noticed-then thank you for thinking about me and my ministry!  This may have been the biggest lapse I've had since joining the blog-o-sphere about 2 and a half years ago....losiento!!  Todavia, estoy aqui!  Sorry!  Still I am here!

We finished with teams on August 4th and then took the following week to recoup.  Man, I had no idea how truly exhausted I was!  Staff work hours with teams here are much longer as we have responsibilities at the base outside of our normal site hours....and for me that includes being the base doc (or PA!).  I see everything from minor wounds, bug bites, GI illnesses and parasites to more serious stuff....I even had a student this summer who needed an emergent appendectomy!  Things get a bit crazy when you have teams of 70 people staying in a foreign country!

During our week off, I started reading a fabulous book titled "Where There Is No Doctor."  It was so nice to finally read a book that talks a bit about what I'm trying to do!  Too bad it was written in the 70's....c'mon all you missionary doctors!  Start publishing your words of wisdom!  I was able to learn many new ideas for my clinics and the best way to reach patients.  It has been a joy to put these new ideas in to practice....such as medical slips explaining dosages for those who cannot read!

As a staff, we also enjoyed a two night retreat at the beach.  It was so nice to catch some R&R and be reminded that yes I do live on an island (we went to Puerta Plata for anyone who's curious)!

The "singles" on our staff
Chelsie (my housemate), me, Silvio (Physical Therapist),
Eric (microfinance), Jess (Women's Sports)

Upon returning, my PA school roommate came to visit and volunteer with me for a few days.  It was amazing to share with her my clinics and daily life!  We also were able to drive to Punta Cana (took us 7 1/2 hrs due to unpaved roads and no street signs....and its ony 110 miles away) to attend a close friend, Sharon's, destination wedding!  This truly was an answer to prayers to be a part of her day as her now husband is in seminary in Korea...who knows when we will get to share time together again!

Sharon and I at her wedding in Punta Cana

Me, Sharon and Meghan

Once Meghan left, I began planning.  I started meeting regularly with a mentor (who speaks only Spanish!).  And God continued to convict my vision of what a medical missionary looks like.  And so, I prayed, and planned and met with community leaders and took several weeks off from clinics.

And during that time I was blessed to receive two huge shipments of medical supplies!  Thank you Dick and Jane Godfrey and my Aunt's Lutheran church in Georgia!  My pharmacy is now stocked!

This week is my first week back in sites....all six of them!  And so far, it has been extremely encouraging.  I've spent the mornings holding clinic in my communities and doing house visits in the afternoon.  I always find home visits the most rewarding as I get to learn who my patients are and where they come from.  I also always get coffee and a bunch of fresh fruits and veggies from most visits.  :)  Yes, I will accept food as payment....hello barter system.

And looking forward- in addition to the above, I have started Creole classes once a week with the hopes of being able to communicate with my Haitian patients a bit better.  On Monday I will begin an intensive 5 week advanced Spanish class...with hopes of developing fluency one day.  I have also joined a bible study and will begin mentoring a teenage Dominican (in Spanish!) as she goes through a discipleship program run by my roommate Chelsie.  And I have two more supporters/PAs/friends coming to serve with me this month!  Not to mention preparing to begin preceptorship of nursing students from Bethel College in Indiana beginning in October.

So, perhaps now you understand a bit of my absence.  It's not for lack of God opening doors...it's actual life getting in the way.  I'm busy!  But, oh how I have longed for this day.  And, it is good.  :)

I promise I will bring you along in my thoughts and life better now that teams have left!  Enjoy those autumn leaves for me!  I'm already nostalgic thinking of crunching them with my boots!

Xo