Tales of a Mission Blog
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Monday, February 21, 2005
Friday, February 04, 2005
The Clinic
This is Millie. I wanted to tell you about the clinics where I worked for the third year.
The mothers are fabulous about bringing their children in. They take fabulous care of the children, always bringing them for check ups at the first sign of something.
There's one three year old that was born hydrocephalic. The father did not want the child; wanted the mother to let her die. The mother chose surgery to put a shunt in, but it hasn't worked out too well.
The mother carries the child all the time. This year when I saw her, she was getting ready to leave the clinic when the child went into a seizure. It was very disturbing for those around her. But the tears just rolled from her mother's eyes.
The seizure happened because she had run out of medicine and money to pay for it. She had come in that day for medicine, but meanwhile, she didn't have any.
She lives in a "rented room" with several unrelated men living in the other rooms. The only bathroom is an outhouse. But if the horses and donkeys are out, they just have to wait to get to the outhouse, with no heat or electricity.
The nurse at the clinic and her aide try to gather up food for her. They say it's the saddest case that they've seen. The mother is devoted to this child and at the same time is raising two other children.
The mother does housework when she can, just to make a few pesos. She takes the child with her. While she's working, she constantly has to watch the daughter. It was so sad to see that she didn't have money for seizure medication for her child, but she's never given up on her. We hope and pray that in some way, she will find a way to afford medicine, control the seizures, and find a better life.
The mothers are fabulous about bringing their children in. They take fabulous care of the children, always bringing them for check ups at the first sign of something.
There's one three year old that was born hydrocephalic. The father did not want the child; wanted the mother to let her die. The mother chose surgery to put a shunt in, but it hasn't worked out too well.
The mother carries the child all the time. This year when I saw her, she was getting ready to leave the clinic when the child went into a seizure. It was very disturbing for those around her. But the tears just rolled from her mother's eyes.
The seizure happened because she had run out of medicine and money to pay for it. She had come in that day for medicine, but meanwhile, she didn't have any.
She lives in a "rented room" with several unrelated men living in the other rooms. The only bathroom is an outhouse. But if the horses and donkeys are out, they just have to wait to get to the outhouse, with no heat or electricity.
The nurse at the clinic and her aide try to gather up food for her. They say it's the saddest case that they've seen. The mother is devoted to this child and at the same time is raising two other children.
The mother does housework when she can, just to make a few pesos. She takes the child with her. While she's working, she constantly has to watch the daughter. It was so sad to see that she didn't have money for seizure medication for her child, but she's never given up on her. We hope and pray that in some way, she will find a way to afford medicine, control the seizures, and find a better life.
Thursday, February 03, 2005
Banners, Murals, and Warmth All Around
The best news is that Karla is feeling better and could be with us today. Evie went with Millie to the medical clinic. She was impressed by the way that the mothers interacted with their children. She now has a new insight into the medical side of Faith Ministry.
This morning the rest of the team went back to the church. The murals are 98% done. During the service we carried the mural into the sanctuary where everyone could see it. The banners are completed. The banners were hung around the walls of the sanctuary and lent a really delightful atmosphere to the service.
The praise service once again included enthusiastic singing and a wonderful sense of unity. During the chorus of one song, as is their custom, people walk around and shake hands with each other. There's a warmth to this activity that is not matched in any other place that we have been.
After the praise service, Roman, a young bilingual Mexican, took us to see the home of one of the women who worked with the 2004 mission team. Her home has been enlarged by Faith Ministry. She did a year of volunteer work, including the time she worked with us. It was amazingly well furnished in some ways, but with concrete block walls and a very primitive bathroom There were no closets, but a large armoire in one of the bedrooms. Clothing was simply piled into boxes. She and her four children are fortunate to live where there is electricity and sewers. The streets, however, are incredibly rutted, with top speeds of 2 miles per hour.
We stopped on the way home to buy canvas bags for the women who had worked with us this week. One of the children, a 12 year old named Karen, made one of the banner and did some painting on the mural. We'll give her the leftover paint and brushes.
We had dinner at Joe's Crab House. Dad (Frank) celebrated his third birthday this week and received free cheesecake while the waiters sang Happy Birthday, backwards. (!knarF, yadhtriB yppaH) Oh, not what you think. They simply turned around, and sang with their backs to us.
Back at the hotel, we had devotions and reflections on the day, and the week as a whole.
This morning the rest of the team went back to the church. The murals are 98% done. During the service we carried the mural into the sanctuary where everyone could see it. The banners are completed. The banners were hung around the walls of the sanctuary and lent a really delightful atmosphere to the service.
The praise service once again included enthusiastic singing and a wonderful sense of unity. During the chorus of one song, as is their custom, people walk around and shake hands with each other. There's a warmth to this activity that is not matched in any other place that we have been.
After the praise service, Roman, a young bilingual Mexican, took us to see the home of one of the women who worked with the 2004 mission team. Her home has been enlarged by Faith Ministry. She did a year of volunteer work, including the time she worked with us. It was amazingly well furnished in some ways, but with concrete block walls and a very primitive bathroom There were no closets, but a large armoire in one of the bedrooms. Clothing was simply piled into boxes. She and her four children are fortunate to live where there is electricity and sewers. The streets, however, are incredibly rutted, with top speeds of 2 miles per hour.
We stopped on the way home to buy canvas bags for the women who had worked with us this week. One of the children, a 12 year old named Karen, made one of the banner and did some painting on the mural. We'll give her the leftover paint and brushes.
We had dinner at Joe's Crab House. Dad (Frank) celebrated his third birthday this week and received free cheesecake while the waiters sang Happy Birthday, backwards. (!knarF, yadhtriB yppaH) Oh, not what you think. They simply turned around, and sang with their backs to us.
Back at the hotel, we had devotions and reflections on the day, and the week as a whole.
Reflections on the Week
Hi this is Barbara. I just wanted to say that it has been a blessed experience. We’ve all had fun together and enjoyed our interactions with people in Mexico. It's been a blessing to us to work with them and to see their joy and hope that they have a good life when they have so little. It reminds of how much we have.
This is Evie. I echo everything Barbara said. I'm glad for the opportunity to be here. There's been some bumps along the road, but we've been blessed and had a really positive experience.
This is Karla, the children are amazing in Mexico. It's a joy to see how the mom's and dad's take care of the kids even though they have so little. They can still put a smile on their faces and that's truly is a blessing. It has been an uplifting experience.
This is Joyce. I really echo what has been said. It's been a wonderful week. As they said, there's some bumps in the road, figurative and real. It's just been great the way the team has come together. We really have been enriched by the whole experience.
We're so happy we could be here for Frank's birthdays.
This is Evie. I echo everything Barbara said. I'm glad for the opportunity to be here. There's been some bumps along the road, but we've been blessed and had a really positive experience.
This is Karla, the children are amazing in Mexico. It's a joy to see how the mom's and dad's take care of the kids even though they have so little. They can still put a smile on their faces and that's truly is a blessing. It has been an uplifting experience.
This is Joyce. I really echo what has been said. It's been a wonderful week. As they said, there's some bumps in the road, figurative and real. It's just been great the way the team has come together. We really have been enriched by the whole experience.
We're so happy we could be here for Frank's birthdays.
Tuesday, February 01, 2005
Tuesday in Mexico
Wes, Karla, and Evie made great strides on the mural.
Frank joined the mural painters and (to the surprise of many) painted a wicked bull, a cow, and two realistic, fluffy (?) llamas. The Mural is 3 feet high and 16 feet long (on Masonite, you might recall). Everyone is having fun painting the parade of animals leaving the ark under a beautiful rainbow. Any resemblance between Noah and Deantin Guerra is said to be completely unintentional. To the disappointment of some, Noah will not appear in a Philadelphia Eagles jacket.
Barabara, Joyce, Millie, and eight Mexican women are working on banners to be hung in the Reynosa and Miguel Aleman Presbyterian churches. They've completed 17 banners so far this week.
Language barrier makes in depth communication difficult, but Joyce reports a "conversation" of gestures, Spanish, and English about the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit that was primitive, but very effective communication between two people who share one Christian faith. The woman with whom Frank was speaking summarized the conversation by pointing to the Cross!
Wednesday - crafts with children all afternoon.
Frank joined the mural painters and (to the surprise of many) painted a wicked bull, a cow, and two realistic, fluffy (?) llamas. The Mural is 3 feet high and 16 feet long (on Masonite, you might recall). Everyone is having fun painting the parade of animals leaving the ark under a beautiful rainbow. Any resemblance between Noah and Deantin Guerra is said to be completely unintentional. To the disappointment of some, Noah will not appear in a Philadelphia Eagles jacket.
Barabara, Joyce, Millie, and eight Mexican women are working on banners to be hung in the Reynosa and Miguel Aleman Presbyterian churches. They've completed 17 banners so far this week.
Language barrier makes in depth communication difficult, but Joyce reports a "conversation" of gestures, Spanish, and English about the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit that was primitive, but very effective communication between two people who share one Christian faith. The woman with whom Frank was speaking summarized the conversation by pointing to the Cross!
Wednesday - crafts with children all afternoon.
Good News and Bad
First, of course, the bad:
It's cold. 50 degrees and showers since arrival.
The stop at Kinko's for blogging is draining after a full day of working in a new location where we don't speak the language.
The van driver (Karla) isn't feeling well. But it looks like our intrepid backup driver (Barbara) is willing to compete with Tex-Mex motorists who know no fear.
But also good news!
Our team has truly become one, supportive of each other and dedicated to serving our Mexican neighbors.
There have been many light moments filled with laughter. Joyce has laughed harder this week than at any time in years.
The devotions written by Covenant members back in Pennsylvania have helped direct the team's thoughts each evening to various aspects of the mission. Thank you for your prayers.
It's cold. 50 degrees and showers since arrival.
The stop at Kinko's for blogging is draining after a full day of working in a new location where we don't speak the language.
The van driver (Karla) isn't feeling well. But it looks like our intrepid backup driver (Barbara) is willing to compete with Tex-Mex motorists who know no fear.
But also good news!
Our team has truly become one, supportive of each other and dedicated to serving our Mexican neighbors.
There have been many light moments filled with laughter. Joyce has laughed harder this week than at any time in years.
The devotions written by Covenant members back in Pennsylvania have helped direct the team's thoughts each evening to various aspects of the mission. Thank you for your prayers.
Happy Birthday, Frank!
Frank has become "Dad" to the team, because he pays for everything! Last night, Barbara, Evie, and Karla celebrated Frank's 35th birthday with cake and song. It's possible that they were wrong about more than the month and day of Frank's birth.
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