VISITING NA TUINA

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Several of the students went with me to visit Na Tuina. She is an old lady with a twinkle in her eye. 1 ½ years ago a church member brought up her needs at a leaders’ meeting and asked if Jeff could do a house call. Jeff confirmed that she had suffered a stroke a few months earlier which left her crippled on the left side. She cannot walk and has to scoot herself around the dirt floor. Her left hand is contracted and basically useless. She lived with her grandson in a small shack and we were worried that her basic needs were not being met. Through a lot of encouragement and a little financial help, the grandson built a better house for the two of them. It is still small but at least now she can cook under a covered area. A couple church members helped install a toilet in her house so she wouldn’t have to drag herself outside to the outhouse.

I warned the TIME students before we saw her that I can only understand about 20% of what she says. She talks fast and slurred (probably because she always is chewing tobacco) and doesn’t always make sense. She has really taken to me and when I come to visit she holds me close, throws her arms all over me, and begins to inspect my face and then my clothes. She twists every button, admires my wedding ring and watch, and plays with my shoes and all the time grinning a toothless smile and throwing her head back in laughter.

NO MORE DOCTOR

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Jeff took his “shingle” down today. Hours later when Ryan came home from a friend’s house, the first thing he said when he barged through the door was, “Where’s your doctor’s sign?” Jeff said, “I’m no longer seeing patients.”

“Well,” he said. “You better tell that to Aunt Jean because she’s bringing a sick lady over right now.”

When Jean arrived, Ginny announced to her, “My dad is no longer a doctor.’

MOBILE CLINIC in JACUBO

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Today we had our last mobile clinic (last for the students and for us). We went to Jacubo, a town we had been to twice before for clinics. It is the town where Pedro, one of our San Francisco believers, grew up. Seeds of the gospel were planted and took root years later when he moved to San Francisco. It is such a joy to watch Pedro give his testimony and preach to the crowd. There is urgency in his voice, wanting all “his people” to know about the change in his life.

Jeff saw about 15 people and the students were able to do several labs. Three San Francisco believers gave incredible testimonies of God giving them hope and peace after a traumatic childhood. In Jacubo there us a sweet pastor and his wife (she gave me a live chicken today as a thanks). He is willing to do the spiritual follow up of those seen in the clinic. How encouraging to hear that a lady who received Christ the previous time we were there has been faithfully attending church and now her husband has been coming.

After the mobile clinic we came back to our house for lunch. It was a big crowd – 15 adults and 12 kids. The Stirlings, team mates from Villarrica came up last night. They brought with them three short term English teachers. Over dessert, it was wonderful to hear all their testimonies. The TIME students have now met all but one of our colleagues.

Pedro sharing his testimony


David helping the pastor find a pair of glasses


Paul drawing blood

FAREWELL DINNER

Thursday, June 25, 2009

The church leaders gave us a farewell dinner. I felt very blessed that they wanted to do something like that for us. The meat was great, there was tons of mandioca and sopa, and it was very very cold.

RAINY DAYS

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Yesterday vaccination campaigns were called off due to rain (which continued all day). The students were over here after lunch for class and then Dave spent the night.

Group A was at the clinic with Jeff and finished early because the weather was still bad. This afternoon the students practiced suturing on pig skins.

MOBILE CLINIC in SANTA URSULA

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Gray clouds threatened rain as we sat outside for church this morning. We were all praying that the rain would hold off for a few more hours, not just so we wouldn’t have to interrupt church, but also so that the mobile clinic wouldn’t be canceled.

Church


After church, the TIME students plus the Terhaars and the Floyds, ate lunch at our place and at 12:15 we all loaded up and headed for Santa Ursula. We’ve had the mobile clinic there twice before and it is always a blessed time. The mother of two San Francisco believers lives there (Na Irma) and has a nice big property with lots of animals. The kids enjoy exploring and trying to capture the animals.

Jeff saw about 10 patients – a fair amount considering that it was Father’s Day and it was either grey skies or raining the entire afternoon. Jeff presented the gospel and challenged the patients to attend the Bible study hosted by Na Irma every other weekend. A couple of the San Francisco believers gave their testimonies, which is always nice to see. As Jeff was treating physical needs inside the van, we were signing, reading the Bible and listening to a Bible study outside the van.

After the last patient, the family fed us a snack of cake, fried meat, mandioca and bread. By the time we left at 4:30, it was pouring rain and we had to slosh our way back home.


I love where they chose to hang the announcement of the mobile clinic


Drinking terere before clinic started


Bible study under the tarp


Hanging out with kids



Our goal has been to start Bible studies (with a believer from San Francisco leading it) in each town where we hold a mobile clinic. Jeff invites all the patients back for a 6 week evangelistic bible study, but (sadly to say) we have seen such little fruit. Although the mobile clinic has been great for the San Francisco believers to grow in their faith, we have learned that “casting the net wide” in this culture isn’t as beneficial as one on one relationships over the years. However, we realize that seeds are being planted and God is orchestrating things behind the scenes. Our job is to be faithful to the task he has set before us.
Two weeks ago when we went to Verakue, a young man was interested in a Bible study. When Jeff and Higinio went back that afternoon he wasn’t there. They left the MP3 player and instructions to listen to the message before the following week’s study. Last week they went back to study not knowing what to expect – would he be conveniently gone again??? – and to their surprise the young man had listened to the message and was ready to share what he learned.

SATURDAY

Saturday, June 20, 2009

At 9:00am, a 40 week pregnant lady came to our house and wanted Jeff to check her because she had been in labor (with her 5th kid) since 5:00 that morning. She and her husband were waiting for the 12:00 bus to drive them to Caazapa. After and exam, Jeff was sure that she could not wait 4 hours till she arrived at the hospital. Since they weren’t from San Fransisco, they didn’t know anyone who could drive them, so Jeff offered. He made the mistake of asking our kids, “Who wants to go to Caazapa with me?” I have never seen all five kids get their shoes so quickly. Within seconds they were sitting in the car ready. Having a house all to myself does not happen too often. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I cranked up the music and cooked without interruptions.

At 2:00 we had girls’ club (I am not really sure what to call it) at my house with both Paraguayans and the TIME girls. First we played spoons (always a favorite) and then we made pancakes. And then we just goofed off – making pyramids, doing camp-like activities and most of all laughing.

During all this, our team mates, the Terhaars, arrived. Bret (a veterinarian), Rachel, and their three kids (16, 14, and 9) just moved 1 ½ from us after completing a year of language school in Asuncion. At 5:00 we had a devo time with all the students. Bret and Rachel shared their testimonies and led us in worship.
After the devo, the students went to another San Juan festival (see previous post) to party.

Pancakes


sliding


Silly games