Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Still praying

As we are home and still thinking about our dear friends in Peru, I find myself praying throughout the day.  For the child with seizures, or the parent with circles under their eyes from worry.  God be with our new friends your children and thank you for letting all of us serve.  Amen
Peace!

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

hello from Peru

We are leaving Peru at midnight tonight, so Thursday morning. We have had a great time! Working at the school was wonderful. I loved working with the kids & their parents. I hope I was half as helpful to them as they were a blessing to me. The sight seeing in Cusco & surrounding areas was beautiful & the chance of a lifetime. So much history here! I have missed my kids & family, but have had the chance to make many new friends. Excited to get back home & see everyone! Best wishes to all!!  Donna C.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

´Prayer requests Peru Clinic

Dad with Cancer
Sergio seizures stop
Antoinette peace in her family and new friends, new job
Kory med reduction goes well and that the family has rest, love and peace.
Steffanie seizures stop
Erick sleep better
Andrea seizures to stop
Mercedes pray for all the moms here, staff and Lilliana that she will know God´s help, blessings on her father and mother.
Alavarez new meds will work

Joshua new meds will help
Daniela change in meds will work
Jerson change in meds will work
Claudia seizures will be controlled
Yurico new meds will work
Fanny new med plan will work
David will sleep
Karla new med plan will help
Juan new med plan will help
Hector his family will have peace
Diego healing and more calm, family asks for peace
Nishmal sleep and health improved
Carlo seizures stop, new med plan will work
Aaron med plan continue working
Valerie med plan will continue to work, strength for mom
Carlos sizures will be under control, help with med plan
Andres peace
Cristina New med plan will work
Liliana sleep better
Susana peace
Miquel peace
Huayta sleep better, seizures will stop
Aldrea sleep better
Claudia new med plan will work
Josthin sleep better
Fiorella peace
Bryant new med plan will work
Laura peace
Jahary peace
Eduardo change in med plan will work
Jhon peace
Daniel new drug plan will help
Marco pray for strength for Marco´s mom and family
Gonzalo new med plan will work
Valeria health of her whole family

These are all the prayers from Clinic.  Please pray for these persons and families.  Pray for us as we continue to travel.

Friday, June 17, 2011

The end to a great week at CASP

I asked for the opportunity to write today, since it was the last day of medical consultations at Centro de Ann Sullivan de Peru.  We were more efficient each day, so that each day we were able to see more patients thant the previous day.  First some thoughts about the school and staff, then the people and the patients, then me.

I am amazed by the school and its philosophy.  Their motto is ¨Make the impossible possible¨.  They believe in teaching parents on how to teach their children, so that their children, who society neither helps nor expects much from, can contribute to the home and society.  In many cases, they are successful in helping children and adults gain meaningful employment.  I love seeing how patient and caring everyone is with each other and the students.  Everyone really feels and acts as family.  I said yesterday to the director, Liliana, that I have trouble distinguishing between the teachers and the parents.  That is because the teachers love and care like parents, and the parents have become experts in teaching like the teachers.  It is a wonderful realationship that I think we all could and should learn from.

The parents have an inner confidence and strength that is remarkeable and wonderful to witness and feel.  So many come from humble situations, but they have the same desires, worries, fears that you and I have for ourselves and our families.  From a medical standpoint, I know there is so much that could be done or should be tried to improve these children´s lives, and I often became frustrated in my unfamiliarity with the names of medications that are used here in Peru (it is not uncommon for names of medications in different countries to be totally different to those we use in the United States, even if the medication is exactly the same).  Also limiting was knowing that some medications are prohibitevely expensive or that some simply weren´t available in Peru.  Many individuals have been taught fears about certain medications or quantities of medication that we know are safe from use in clinics back home but it takes time to reteach and reassure that we can do so so that the health of their child can improve.  There is a particular need to develop a comprehensive strategy of education, counseling-training, and medications to help with inteferring behaviors associated with autism.

Finally, me.  I came to Peru with the expectation that I could give someing back to God for all the blessings he has given me, particularly to opportunity to study and learn medicine and to be in a position where I can travel and do service such as this.  That certainly was the case here.  But I didn´t expect that so quickly I would form a bond of friendship and family with everyone here -- staff, parents, patients, and my fellow VIM Peru team members.  It really has been an experienced that touched me deeply, perhaps because brought to the surface feelings similar to those I had as a missionary in Argentina 20 years ago.  I certainly now look forward to being able to return to CASP and continue to help in this small way those patients we were able to help this week.

I close now with the same scripture that I wrote in the guest book of CASP earlier this afternoon:  "Inasamuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."  (Matthew 25:40)

Chau, que Dios les bendiga a todos que han sorpurtado a nosotros aqui.  Le agradezco a Dios que yo tuveira la oportunidad de servirle en esta manera.

Dr. Darcy

Clinic Day!

The week has flown by.  Each morning we get up and walk the farthest was Wednesday we walked 3.5 miles and went and seen the ocean.  Today as I wait for my team members to walk down to the ocean together perhaps one last time as some leave late tomorrow for home, I give thanks for each one and the gifts they have shared.  Here are just a few:  Donna giving therapy to the children, adults and especially the moms, Darcy listening and paying attention to each parent no matter how tired he is, Mark allowing the children to lead him, Katie taking pictures and helping serve the parents visiting for father´s day, Sharon dancing with the children, Cathy helping lead the dentist in the field to 90 children, Alene listening to a mother´s heart and crying with her, Judy listening with her heart as a mother shares the story of her child´s death, and Georgia taking the time to find the funny, beautiful part of each child no matter how ill, trying to make their lives to be more than the seizures that impact their lives.

Thank you all for praying today,
God´s peace to you.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Team work

On a walk
Working together for CASP

Clinic day again

Today we have seen already many children and adults with different abilities.  Many come with different concerns but the common blessing is to share as parents, doctors, and friends what concerns we have.  There are many prayer requests.  We would like for you to know we will be posting them soon so you can see them and pray for all of them.  One mom in particular I would like for you to pray.  She only gets 2.5 hours to sleep in the evening.  She has to care for her 3 children, alone, and one of them who goes to school here takes about 2 hours to get here and 2 hours to get home.  She asked for just prayers for her children,but she also needs our prayers.  Peace to you, Pastor Georgia

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

June 14 & 15

Welcome from all of us here in Lima.   Yesterday and today we were very busy.  Dr Krueger has seen many patients, and they are so greatful to have him here for treatment.  Donna has been busy with physical therapy with both children and their moms.  Today she had a couple of men in the class as well.  Katie and Mark have been busy helping with the children as they go to the park for picnics.  They are so much fun to have with us on our mission trip.  Sharon has been very helpful in the music department with instuments she brought with her.  The children love it.  Cathy helped set up the pharmacy and teach how to do blood pressure checks.  Today Cathy went to a very poor part of Peru to assist with dental evaluations.  Alene has helped in so many areas like the pharmacy, physical therapy and also helped Judy with inventory of the school property.  Judy has been busy doing inventory with the help of Mark, Katie, and Alene.  Judy has worked on inputing the information on a spreadsheet for the school.  Georgia has been so busy with the patients doing paper work to help Dr Kruger.  Georgia has also done two presentations for the parents on how to care for oneself as caregivers.  Tonight Dr Kruger and Georgia did a question and answer session in the auditorium for the families.  We had a very good turn out and again the families were so greatful to have us here.  The people we have met with here are so loving and caring, they make us feel very welcomed.  Our hosts Gladys and Raul have been wonderful to take us to and from the school and also feeding us.  They are so much fun to be with.  Lilliana Mayo is the founder of the school and what a wonderful person she is.  All of the school personel have made our time here so rewarding with the help they give to us.  The children here are remarkable with all they have accomplished.  They are truly a blessing to all of us.

Monday, June 13, 2011

Mark's Travels

The first flight to Atlanta was a bit ruff, I sat next to two women from Switzerland who kept me company during the filght. When we got off the plane at 1:45 we had tell 5:30 till our next flight I felt somewhat quezzy in the stomach but then Georgia bought me some chewable tablets which calmed my stomach. Georiga, Katie and I then ate lunch and waited until our other members arrived. On the second 7 hour flight to Peru suprisingly it went pretty well, I sat next to a woman from Peru who spoke no english but I knew enough to get by. I watched two movies on the plane, Gulligers travels and The Green Hornet, somewhat of a dissappointment but it passed the time. When we landed in Peru and got all of our luggage I luckly got a green light it was basically 50/50, Raul then drove us to our hotel and we went straight to sleep. In the morning Georiga told us breakfeast at 8:00 so me and Darcy came down at 7:45. No one else from our group was their. They accidentaly set their alarms one hour off and didn't come down to eat until 8:30. End day 1

Today's pictures June 13 2011

Katie, Mark, Georgia, Alene
Juani, Georgia, Joshua


Team on our way to work

Tempe & Montana
Kids at CASP
Mothers of CASP greeting the team

We have made it

Just a quick note to let you know we made it safely.  Our flight from Atlanta was late but still we made it all well with suitcases in hand!  We are busy seeing just 3 patients today.  Hoping to see more tomorrow.  One prayer request so far from a mother in Florida who called her asking for help for her special need son who was beaten in a Florida school.  Please pray for healing and justice.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Meet Rev. Georgia Hale

I am so excited to be in Peru with this team working with children from all over Peru.  I am thankful to share our best and I want to go show the love of Christ to all we meet.
 
My favorite song is "Tu has venido a la orilla". 
 
Paz!
Juana and Georgia Peru 2010
GH

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Glacers in Peru

An Optimist

This article reads through the effects of the climate on Peru's glaciers. Peace!