Dec 10, Monday
Today our team worked from dawn until dusk at our first outdoor mission. Jeff P was our only medical provider today, so we were extremely grateful for the arrival of the rest of our team, which included two more nurses and two extra translators. Ate Melissa arrived today with her sister, Kaye, friend, Marshi, and hubby, Mark. What a blessing to have them jump right in after their 4 hour drive!
With translators on both sides speaking to patients, Jeff P took the time to smile and care for and tease each patient. It is quite a challenge to make connections quickly with the patients, and yet, with the help of the team, each patient is cared for and listened to by volunteers.
Each day we are joined by the hard-working Sankey staff and many church volunteers. They are the behind-the-scenes cogs that keep us all organized and help the medical missions go so smoothly. They make meals, coordinate the feeding programs, get supplies, drive the team to the missions, work each station, keep the lines of patients moving, and smile, smile, smile!
We have also been blessed to have Nate, a missionary from Santa Cruz, here with us as well. He has been a great help to us on the medical missions and has a wicked sense of humor that keeps us rolling at meal times!
Two more of the students joined us today as well, and we enjoyed laughing and working alongside Maricar and Raymart. Raymart is becoming an expert at giving eye exams and Maricar counted medications and wrote labels all day with us. It is so good to reconnect with the kids and to spend some extended time with them. What lovely young people they are becoming!
Please pray for our patients, as so many of them are struggling with terrible skin diseases, strong fevers, and chronic illness. Please pray that the medicines we gave would be effective. Please pray that those who heard the gospel message would understand the hope that it brings. Please pray for our team as well, as we touched each patient, held each child, and washed each wound.
As the week stretches before us with more long and fulfilling days ahead, please pray that our bodies remain strong, that our minds remain sharp, and that our hearts would overflow with love.
