El Salvador Day 2 - 2014

"I have to tell you something.  I've been watching you, and every time I look at you you have a smile on your face."  These are words that have not been spoken to me before.  It was great to hear them and they caught me off guard.  My official job today is "crowd control" and I am overjoyed at this opportunity.  As I escorted our patients from triage to their doctors I tried to converse with them and brighten their day.  My spanish has improved and I am overjoyed to be able to actually speak with the people on my own.  The people here are so very gracious.  They impress me by their gratitude.  We were reminded that if we did not have the words, smiles always translate, and they definitely do.

Our day began with planning the mechanics of the clinic.  We had a half day of clinic time.  As we arrived at the church and school, 300 patients were already waiting for us.  Applause breaks out and many of us get emotional.  I point to the sky and acknowledge our God who is always so good to us. Patience is needed everywhere as we try to manage the crowd.  We give out prayer cards, rosaries, and medals and ask them for their "oracciones por la mision"  or prayers for the mission.  Everyone shows remarkable flexibility and adapts beautifully to every challenge.  The calm and peace that exists in us must be supernatural.  Prayers answered.  There is so much outside the church grounds that could cause us to worry, but we don't.  We are told that the area we are working today is a rough neighborhood, but we don't feel any stress and never feel threatened or the slightest worry. Perhaps ignorance is bliss.  Although we have some logistical issues, especially in the pharmacy today, God has worked out every detail for our success.  We just need to trust that he will figure it out.

We are staying at a Jesuit retreat center called Central Loyola.  A picture is attached with the view from outside our Chapel.  God is so good. Praise Him!