El Salvador - Day 7 - 2013

We had an amazing day today, but also full of trials that would tests anyone's patience.  Although my angel in disguise translator could not be with me, it was an opportunity for me to witness to some of the other local translators and work with them.  They did very well and I am so very thankful.  Today was our last full day of the clinic.  The time has flown by.  I look up and it is 1:00 pm, and I look up again and it is 6:00 pm.  We will have a half day tomorrow, and then we are headed for some scheduled downtime.  I am proud of my spanish speaking skills even if they make people laugh.  It was very hot again today.  We saw 138 and had several with cataracts that we could not help.  That was a difficult conversation to have.  One woman who lives alone was crying, and I tried my best to comfort her.  She was scared to have cataract surgery because she knew people who had poor results.  She has no children to help her.  In the end, we had only a hug, comforting words, and a promise to pray for her, that I will do my best to honor.

We brought a yellow ball with us from home, hoping it would find some good use.  Looks like the ball will be well used.

One insight today was interesting to me.  We had line cutters galore today and it took a while for me to process why this practice is common here.  I believe that desperate people will do things like line cutting and justify their actions by their conditions.  They are in survival mode.  Because they have so little, they are fighting to stay alive.

Our adoration chapel here is so very beautiful.  a picture of the Divine Mercy mosaic from the chapel is below. Jesus I trust in you!

El Salvador - Day 6

Today was so very blessed.  We moved the clinic to another small town outside Sonsonate, called Izalco.  The setup was tighter and open air, but extremely hot.  It was a ten big water bottle kind of day.  My day was full of happy moments and we gave 150 people better eyesight.  Our three day total is 328.    A lady we turned away yesterday because time ran out was able to catch a ride and she came first thing.  She was so happy with her new glasses.  I hugged her and that started the day so well.


My angel and local translator who has been with me since day one is amazing.  She is so much fun and understands me very well.  She especially understands my desire to love all the people exactly as they are.  My angel kept telling the people waiting that I was a singing doctor and if they clapped I would sing a song for them.  She explained that just as I thought that singing in a foreign language sounded beautiful, they would find my singing in english beautiful.  So as they clapped, I could not disappoint, and I had to sing; so I sang amazing grace.  We had so much fun!

During a rare and very much appreciated lull in patients, I gave out some animal stickers to the children.  My angel told me that the children would be all too happy to teach me spanish, so I would just point to the animals and say "que es esto?" and they would give me the spanish name.

It was one of the most joy-filled and happy days of my entire life.  Really.

El Salvador - Day 5

We have so much to learn.  Today broke my heart because I had to tell about 10 people that we could not help them (either because of time or no Rx for their eyes).  It was so hard to tell them, but Jesus and the local interpreter (my angel in disguise) truly helped me!  The people had waited for hours, some perhaps 8 hours.  With the help from my angel interpreter, I looked them directly in the eye, put my hand on their shoulder and told in the most compassionate way I could, I wished I could help them and help them to see better, but I could not, and for that I was truly sorry.  I was prepared for the worst, but  because we delivered the message with God's love they understood completely.  They were appreciative any way. They know we traveled very far and are trying, so the authenticity, was the only thing we could give.  There is a lesson here too for all of us.  When God says no (and He is always compassionate), do we really understand?   We have many happy stories too of course, unlike some places in the world,  the people are genuinely happy: and mostly because they have their faith and perhaps because we care about them deeply.

Make friends with the doctor, for he is essential to you;

God has also established him in his profession.  Sirach 38:1

El Salvador - Day 4

As we begin our first full day of clinics, we recognize how great the need is for what we are doing.  The line has formed outside the clinic

Our ideas of what is really needed to be helpful is being constantly adjusted.  What happens when the line moves slow and there are so many? As a first time missionary, I focus on the lines.  As someone who is familiar with lines at amusement parks, grocery stores, and traffic, we worry a bit about those we are serving.  We seek to comfort them about the wait.  My local interpreter and angel in disguise accompanies me as go to each of them and ask them to use the time to pray for the mission.  As we do this we hear the stories of their lives and we sense their need to unload the daily burdens they face.  We provide compassionate ears, understanding hearts, and a reassuring message of love, and they respond enthusiastically, saying how they appreciate what we are doing.  The ground support network here is super impressive.  The local students lead them in an upbeat praise and worship song.  As they passionately sing, the joy of our Lord in their heart transcends any language barrier.  The look on their faces says it all.  Praise God from whom all blessings flow...

El Salvador - Day 3

It's Sunday.  A missionary needs inspiration and spiritual food for the journey.  Recognizing this we take time to reflect, go to mass and prepare ourselves.  One thought I take away from these guided reflections: God's love does not offend, it uplifts. As those who will be zealously bringing the gospel to others this week, we need to get over ourselves, our inhibitions, worries, and concerns about just loving others openly.  If we are showing God's love, we will only uplift, and we should have no fear in this.  This message is important as we prepare to go out and make home visits to the poor, bringing them only God's love, which will only uplift.  We are commissioned and sent forth.  We visit several houses, braving the rain, and even crossing a river on a two log bridge:

As we visit the very simple homes, many with dirt floors and few walls, we are struck by the happiness that pervades their lives.  Who is helping who here?  We now see how our complicated lives are an insane distraction from what really matters.  One man in particular testifies of his faith to us, and how he has overcome the civil war, floods, and the death of a family member, all through his strong faith in God who sustains and protects him.  We will never be the same.  Never.

El Salvador - Day 2

Any job will do.  Really.  A servant's heart, flexibility, and humility are all that is required.  I'm thrilled to have job helping with taking medical histories.  We are provided local interpreters.  My local interpreter is very perceptive; she reminds me of my daughter.  When I connect with an elderly woman because she reminds me of my grandmother, she notices this emotional connection and suggests that I take a picture with her.  Later when the woman has been seen by the doctor, my interpreter comes to me and explains that through the local effort they provide shoes and blankets for the needy.  She says that the local group has purchased some shoes and a blanket for me to give to the elderly woman.  They invite me to present the shoes, and then my interpreter, who is an angel in disguise, says "put the shoes on her feet."  Emotion wells up in me, words cannot describe...it is not lost on me: the washing of the feet by Christ!  Never would I have dreamed that I would have this opportunity.  God is so very good.

El Salvador - Day 1

Our mission is simple: help people and heal people while acting as Christ would.  On Friday, we arrive at San Salvador and our first stop will be an orphanage and school in Izalco.  We visit the school and orphanage called Hogar de Las Hermanas Inmaculado Corazon, Izalco, Sonsonate.  Many of us wonder if there are orphanages in the U.S. anymore and it shows how this  subject is somewhat foreign to many of us.  We are treated to a show with music: a pan flute tune with guitar accompaniment.  Many have brought treats, stickers, and simple toys for the kids.  In the clamor,  I see a boy who is not running around with the others, instead he sits there enjoying his lollipop.  I am struck by how he is happy with just his green lollipop and notice how he savors every moment.  There is a lesson here about not being distracted by the noise around us, and savoring every moment in life, especially the simple ones. 

El Salvador Mission

I've never done anything like this.  Never.  I'm trusting God in everything.  Whatever I see, whatever I do, will be completely what God wants me to experience.  I believe this fully.  I'm abandoning myself to His holy will for me.  I'm praying that by giving it all, giving 100% of myself that I'll really see the fruits.

As a first time volunteer missionary, and part of the team on a Medical Mission, we will be seeing some amazing things.  My friend Dr. Ron has been encouraging me to go on a medical mission for years.  I'm finally going.