Medical Team....

I am excited to write that a few weeks ago I was able to go out with a Medical Team to help some rural communities. It was a bit of a surprise that I was able to go with them and such a gift to me. I used to be a Registered Nurse in B.C. and worked up until I had Rachel (my second child). Since that time I have wondered when or if I would go back one day and if I would remember any of the skills or knowledge I had back then. Well, during the week I realized that it would be good to go back one day and that I truely love to help people when they are sick or in pain.

The team was here for the first time from New York. It was the first time I met them, and yet we got along great and they were such kind people. Each morning we left around 8am and drove to a little village and spent either the morning or the whole day there. We had a triage area, where we took their info, vitals, and weights. Then the people met with either a Pediatrician or a Doctor, for further help, advice and prescriptions of medicine. The people we met were such friendly and appreciative people and I just loved meeting them. So many of the problems were related to bad water, hard work/labor, smoke from the fires they cook over all day long....most things we don't face at home. So many women suffered from headaches, shoulder/back, knee pain, which is most often related to huge piles of wood that they carry either on their heads or on their backs with fabric holding it in place on their foreheads. They work so hard! We met one man who was 86 years old and he still works everyday, lond days, in the fields. Hard to imagine that back home....but that is the reality here. No retirment plan, pension, or social assistance in any of these areas, let alone medicine or medical help nearby.

It was an honor to be out there, trying to help, and listen to each person and what they were going through. The team helped approximately 60 people each day, with much attention and care. A great way to tangibly show Christs love to people. I hope to have the chance to do this again one day and look forward to seeing the people from the New York team again. Blessings to all who read this and remember how blessed we are to have access to medical care if needed. Love ya!