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

End of Summer 2013

"Yet our walk only begins where God's grace has laid the foundation."  

Oswald Chambers

Today ends 11 straight weeks of summer teams.  It has been an incredible season with over 350 students and adults serving within our sites.  We have been abundantly blessed by the gifts participants have brought and the encouragement they have given each of us long term missionaries.  Check out a video of one of our outreaches HERE This was our July 1st-July 13th outreach....when my church served with our ministry!  I am incredibly proud of our various ministry and community development sites and how they integrate short term and long term missions.

Our Incredible Summer Interns
Benjamin, Jesse, Morgan, Aubrey, Erin
Tyler, Zac, Rachel, Rebecca, Amy

With the closing of the summer also means our interns and volunteers are returning to the states.  I am so encouraged that each of them will be heading back to their own mission fields all over the US.  On Thursday I have to say goodbye to Helena who has been volunteering with me since early May.  It's hard to imagine proceeding with my site without her by my side as she truly has been an invaluable asset, but I know God has great plans for her as she returns to Boston University and a future career in medicine.

Me and Helena

The next week finds our staff laying low, re-energizing and then heading to the beach for a two day staff retreat.  We are not expecting teams again until October.  I am looking forward to spending the next two months changing my site to meet the needs of both Dominicans and Haitians in the communities.  This past week we had a three day clinic in a new community called Saboneta where we saw over 100 patients.  I am so excited to get to know my patients better and hopefully feed more into their lives.  I now have a presence in 6 campos (small, poor, rural neighborhoods)!

I hope and pray everyone is doing well as August has begun and autumn/school is beginning to come closer into sight.  May God continue to bless all of you as you persevere in each of your mission fields!

Check out SI's August Newsletter as they highlight the DR!
Students International August Newsletter

What kind of a healthcare provider do I want to be?

"Si a albino de ustedes le falta sabiduría, pídasela a Dios, y él la dará, pues Dios da a todas generosamente, sin menospreciar a nadie."  Santiago 1:5

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." James 1:5

Do you ever go through those times when you feel like God just doesn't stop talking???  He just continues to convict and convict and convict you of shortcomings, of ways to serve Him better and of who we are supposed to be in Him.

I have a confession.  Right now I am not practicing the kind of medicine I had dreamed of practicing. And this week, God reminded me of the dreams He had once placed so intricately in my heart.

Don't get me wrong.  I am grateful that He has led me to open clinics in five consistent communities.  That after months of working I have regular patients.  And that as each day goes by my Spanish continues to improve which enables me to speak more consistently and deeper with each patient.

Ok then.  I no longer have an excuse.  To not go deeper.

I spent Friday morning in El Callejon.  A predominantly Dominican campo filled with poverty, unemployment, alcoholism, single moms and hopelessness.  Within that community lives a couple Haitian families.

And we sat with one of those families.  And we listened.  And they shared with us their story.  Their hardships.  Their fears.  Their sadness.  Their concerns.  And we prayed.

They've lived in the DR for more than 5 years.  They moved here because in Haiti they were hungry.  They had no money or hope of making money.  And so they were smuggled across the border and took a job in a green house.

And now they are no longer starving, but they are poor.  And hungry.  And live in fear everyday from their neighbors.  You see, there is a long history of racism between Dominicans and Haitians.  Stemming from the oppression from various political leaders, unequilibrium of resources on the island, cultural and religious differences among other complexities.

One night, when the head of the household was walking home from work alone, he was beat up and de-clothed by a gang of Dominicans.  In his own neighborhood.  And each day, this beautiful family lives in fear of being hurt again.

And I was shocked.  I knew racial differences were heavy.  I knew things like this happened, but I never had a face to a story like this.  A person.  A family.  And so with tears stinging my eyes I thought about how long I have now lived in the DR (almost 1 year!) and never once have felt unsafe in that manner.  Why?  Because I am white.  Because of the color of my skin and the location of my birth.  Things I had zero control over.

After hearing this story, I asked them what would help the racial tensions between Dominicans and Haitians.  And they had one word.  The only answer.  God.

And I was convicted.  Convicted of how I have been spending the past 7 months bringing clinics to communities that have none.  And bringing medicines to those people.  And praying with them.  But, is that enough?  Is that truly what a community health care missionary looks like??  Simply supplying a clinic and medicine?

Do I care about the huge amount of people I help a little, or the little amount of people I could help a lot?  

When God placed the desire to help people in a developing country on my heart, I dreamed of sitting with people for hours.  Of teaching them about medicine and how to help themselves.  Of learning their children by name.  Of listening to their hardships.  And have I done this?  Yes, some.  But not nearly enough.

I admit that my desire to have a well and smoothly run clinic has trumped living deeper into my patient's lives.  I haven't loved them as deeply as Christ does.  I haven't always walked to their houses to follow up on their high blood pressure when I haven't seen them at my clinics in a few weeks.  Instead, I have been overwhelmed by the patients sitting and waiting to see me outside my clinic.  Yes, partially there is not enough of me to go around.  But, I wonder if instead of adding new communities to my schedule, I focus more on the communities I am already in?  

And live deeper into those patient's lives.  And walk with them.  And learn why they don't understand how to take their medicine.  What deep seated problem has caused them to be alcoholics?  To talk to them.  To truly care.  And speak about how the only true solution to all of our problems is Jesus Christ.

And so, stay tuned as God continues to change my heart and my clinics become more personal.  And my patients stories become real life.  And, hopefully I become more like the medical missionary God has called me to be.

HRC in Jarabacoa!!

I admit it.  I have been dreading this post.  To write this entry means they have left.  HRC.

I had been looking forward to the past two weeks for a year.  To the time when my home church would take their yearly trip to Jarabacoa and serve with Students International.  

Only this time they would be coming to my home and I would be a welcoming missionary. 

PT, Dental and Medical Sites from Hopewell!
Alex, Dr. Fernando, Me, Oscar, Chrissy, Joanna, Jeff
Lourdes, Andres

To say I was excited and anticipating their arrival is an understatement.  I was counting down the hours.

And the two weeks of service together was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.

Hopewell came with servant's hearts.  14 youth led by four adults (two of whom are occupational therapists) filling our sites with love, humility, kindness, grace, encouragement, and service.  I was so proud that these incredible people were from my home!

Hopewell team spending team time in my house!

These youth fund raised, worked and gave up part of their summer to further God's kingdom in the DR.  You could find them serving at Genesis (our special education school), women's social work site in Los Higos, Men's Sports, Physical Therapy, Microfinance, Medical with Dr. Fernando, and Dentistry.  

Both as a site leader and host of many different mission groups throughout the year, it is so easy to forget how impactful a short term mission trip truly is.  I only see what's going on in the lives of the students at my site, not behind the scenes.

But, the past two weeks Hopewell embraced me and allowed me into their family.  And I remembered.  

During team time and down time, this incredible team allowed me into their lives.  The good, the bad and the ugly.  They showed me their faith, doubts, fears, struggles and joys.  We shared inadequacies and hindrances.  We laughed, shed tears and stood amazed at the work Christ has done for us.

And.  I was encouraged.

These incredible youth will be our leaders.  And they have passion.  And huge hearts.  And want to help.  But, above all, they love the Lord.  And they want to serve him.

So, thank you...Lourdes, Jeff, Sharon, Fran, Oscar, Andres, Justina, Jenny, Meghan, Chelsie, Tyler, Shawn, Tyler, Mason, Chrissy, Jessica, Joanna and Alex.  I so appreciate how you let me live life with you, if only for a couple weeks.  You amaze me!  I am beyond grateful for the joy you each gave to myself, other missionaries and Dominicans.  I know God has huge plans for each of you.

Miss you all so very much already!  Until next year.....hint hint hint

Meet Caroly Trinidad!

"And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:19

Caroly and I in Angosto with our students

It's official!!  I have an assistant!  Caroly Trinidad is a Dominican from Jarabacoa.  She just turned 18 and recently graduated from high school.  She was valedictorian and has spent the past four years playing volleyball for VC Revolution which is the varsity team run by Jess Gates at Students International's women's sports site.  She recently accepted Christ into her heart, speaks some English, loves American music and hopes to be an orthodontist some day!

For the rest of the summer you will find Caroly volunteering with me in the communities and if we both enjoy working together I will hire her full time in the fall which will provide the funds for her college education!

Caroly has been invaluable as students volunteering at my site have a difficult time understanding the names of my patients, performing crowd control in the communities, collecting money and taking patient histories!  Caroly has certainly taken stress off of me as I can concentrate more on my patients and less on logistics!

Just another tangible example in my life of how Mighty the God we serve is and how he provides in ways we can't even imagine!

Update on Julian Hock and the incredible journey of his leg

"Because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." 

James 1:3-4

Catalina and Julian

A journey that began two years ago when little Julian was only two years and he fell.  A faith filled mother who wanted only the best for her dear son who fractured both the tibia and fibula in his left leg.  A Dominican orthopedic surgeon who only casted Julian's leg and then recommended waiting until he was five for it to correct itself.  Time passing as progressively Julian's lower leg deviation became worse.  A mother at her wits end who planned on moving to Germany where Julian's father's family lives to receive better medical care.  Though the financial strain was a heavy burden.

An American PA who was fundraising to move to the Dominican Republic (me!).  Her mother's college roommate who became a faithful supporter and connected her with an American physician who works in the capital of the Dominican Republic as a pediatric orthopedic surgeon.  That same PA who relocated in July 2012 to the DR and needed a Spanish teacher.

And God worked the intricate weave of bringing people together that only he can do.  And in August 2012, Julian received the surgery he needed with an American surgeon at a very reduced price in the DR.

And on July 1, he returned to Santo Domingo for his 10 month follow up.  Miraculously, Julian's leg has almost completely corrected itself!  Only 15 degrees left to go.  In other words....the surgery worked!!!  The rod placed in his little leg continues to correct the deviation, and he is growing, CORRECTLY!

After a year of waiting, of praying, of questioning whether the surgery was a success.  A year of follow up appointments every few months with various surgeons who gave differing opinions.  And yet, Catalina remained faithful.  And prayed.  And hoped.  And trusted her precious son to our precious father.

And He listened.  And answered our prayers.

Thank you to everyone who lifted this little boy up over the past year.  Every single pray was heard!  Rejoice with us in this incredible news!!!

Know I am God

"Be still and know I am God.." Psalm 46:10

My brother Jamie and I

This was the bible verse given to us at our staff retreat one month ago.  A verse very well known to many of us.  A verse I'm fairly certain I've written about in the past.

Yesterday, at our staff meeting, Brian (our director) asked if any of us have stories of how God provided a time of rest for us since our retreat.  A time in which we were able to be quiet and still.

It was then that the significance of the past week dawned on me.  I returned to the States for a 5 day conference in Washington D.C. followed by a four day visit to NY.  And when I was there I realized that I was tired.

I don't think I knew how exhausted I truly was until I re-opened my site today.  As I sat with patients in Coracito this morning and then welcomed our second team of students this summer in the afternoon, I felt more energized than I have in months.

God knew exactly what I needed.

He knew I needed to be in D.C. at a medical conference surrounded by other PAs and Docs.

He knew I needed time with my previous roommate.

He knew I needed time with my PA friends.

And I needed time with my dear friend's new baby.  Oliver.

And say goodbye to a big part of our family.  Maggie, our dog of 14 years.

 

And spend time with Grandma, aunts and cousins.

And even get out on the boat.  Something I was sure I couldn't do while living in the DR since summer trips home were not in the plans.

I didn't know.  But He did.  

For a week I needed to be Rachel, plain and simple.  Not doctora.  Not missionary.  Not speaking Spanish.  Not taking care of Americans, Dominicans or Haitians.  But just Rachel.  The friend, daughter and sister.

And now I am ready.  I am rested and rejuvenated and energized.  I am excited to pour into my patients.  I can't wait to continue working with Helena.  I'm pumped to welcome new students into my site and feed into their lives.  I can't wait for Caroly to begin!

And so, as I bask in my renewal, I pray each of you may also find your time to be still.

Please pray for Students International as we have more than 70 students staying at the base on two week rotations until August!