wherever it may lead: Health Care Fair

Mission accomplished....first health care fair in a rural community has been completed.

"And how did it go?" you ask.

Well, that is a marvelous question.

I have been working on this project with my three nursing students; Lauren, Renee and Lauren for the past four weeks. We brain stormed about ideas, we read about how effectively to teach the uneducated, we cut and pasted posters, we copied advertising fliers, we bagged vitamins and medicines and they spent time with Vanesa (our dentist), Silvio (our physical therapist) and Fernando (our ob-gyn) to learn about key problems in the communities related to these specialties.

And, this week we welcomed two of my student's professors from Bethel to join us. They wanted to observe the ladies in action and see my sites and the program I've put together for them. It was exciting to share the hard work we've done, but this did add a certain element of pressure.

Naturally, the week before the fair was spent making final preparations. We walked throughout the community of Sabaneta and advertised and spoke with many of the people who live there. We went to colmados and asked if they could hang our flier on their walls. And what normally would take half an hour to do took 5 hours! Because people were pumped! And so were we! I just knew in my hearts of heart that this was going to be a phenomenal week of ministry with an awesome turn out! And so did my partners in crime.

my clinic in Sabaneta

it's a community center of sorts also used for mass

my consultation area

a typical patient's house

Imagine our dismay when on day one we had one patient. All day. Three nursing students. Two nursing professors (one of which is an NP). A doctor. A PA. And hardly any patients. Or anyone desiring to be patients.

My students were utterly defeated. All their hard work. Their desire to improve the living conditions of our patients. To help them take care of themselves.

And, even after spending a year and a half doing community development, I felt myself right there with them.

Welcome to community health in a developing country I found myself saying. Where we care so much and our patients don't even know enough to care because they have so many other things to think about....like putting food on the table. Or they don't think prevention matters bc they aren't educated enough to realize it does. Welcome to working so hard for something that just doesn't seem to work. Welcome to trial and error. Welcome to an occupation (medical missions) that none of us have perfected as of yet.

And then, I thought of that one patient who was at our fair. Who maybe will make changes that will enable her to live a longer healthier life. Or help others. Wasn't our presence there worth it for her?

Our first day was a heavy lesson in community development, but an incredibly valuable one. Who's to say our efforts weren't worth it for one person? After all, we can only change one heart at a time.

Don't worry. The rest of our week was busy, and, what we in the Western world would consider successful. But, when I look at this past week I am so thankful for Monday. For my young nurses who aspire to be in missions one day to taste the challenges. For their professors to also understand how difficult what we're trying to do can truly be.

The week ended well with my students teaching about blood pressure, dental hygiene, back care and nutrition. They worked hard and I believe their professors are leaving more than a bit satisfied with their progress and my program. I am more than a little proud!

So check out below for some more snapshots!