EARLY BIRD GETS THE WORM

Around here, the early bird gets a medical consult.  Jeff has been swamped with patients this past week.  Jeff sees 15 patients each day – handing out numbers to those who arrive first.  Each day he has had to turn many people away and each day, it seems, people arrive earlier and earlier to receive a number.  Three times this week the person who received #15 arrived at 5:30.  That means that 14 patients arrived before 5:30AM!  It isn’t unheard of for someone to arrive at 4:30 and wait till Jeff opens the gates at 8.

Patients waiting to see Jeff.

MEDICAL PATIENTS

Patient #1

“Doctor, I need my blood checked!”

“Why?” I asked.

“Something is wrong.  Whenever I take a cold shower, well... I shake all over.”

“Me too!” I said.  “That’s why I take hot showers!”

 

Patient #2

 

One particular day while trying to see a myriad of patents, Jeff was constantly disturbed by a 4 year old banging on the metal clinic doors, trying to look in the clinic widows, and yelling outside.  When it was finally his turn to be seen, his mother said, “Can you give my son a pill; I think he has angry worms.”  Jeff replied, “Your son doesn’t need a pill; he needs a spanking.”  Jeff actually hears quite often from patients that they think their child or they themself have “angry worms”.

 

Jeff sees patients from 8-12 Monday through Friday in our mobile medical clinic parked right next to our house.  Since Jeff only sees the first 15 people, patients begin to gather at 5:30 in order to get a number.  Last week a man arrived at 4:30!  On most days Jeff ends up turning several people away because there are just too many who need medical attention.  Pray for Jeff as he attends not only the physical needs of his patients but also their spiritual needs.  Each morning before he begins clinic he tells a Bible story and then engages people in a discussion over it.   

AUDIO BIBLE DISTRIBUTION

Saturday, May 25, 2012

How excited it was to be a part of distributing audio Bibles all over San Francisco (our town) and a few surrounding areas.  Thanks to the effort of 20 believers from Asuncion, 20 believers from San Francisco and other communities, and 10 missionaries, 800 families can now listen to the Word of God in Guarani. 

EIGHT HUNDRED! 

I cannot even begin to image all the fruit that will come from this. 

JEFF'S NEWEST TOY

  For these I am thankful (#19).....

an EKG machine

and all the other wonderful equipment we’re able to provide for the people of rural Paraguay.  Jeff has the only EKG, ultrasound, and basic lab work within an hour’s drive.

I have been reminded again these past couple weeks that medical care here just isn’t the same as in North America. 

Our dear friend’s child has been in the hospital 5 hours away for close to 2 weeks.  The doctors think he has a tumor in his intestines, but because the doctors are all on strike, no one has come in to interpret the CAT scan findings.  Please be praying for him and his family.

Jeff attended to a 3 year old with cerebral edema from diabetic ketoacidosis.  He ended up going unconscious at our house while the grandma was out trying to find a ride to the hospital an hour away.  Our town ambulance has been broken for quite a while now.  They were able to get a ride in a police truck.  We were very worried for him, but he came back home after a few days full of energy.  The family has no idea what tests were run on their child while in the hospital and what any of the results were.  They were sent home with no information, medication, or anything helpful.

The doctor in our town did not renew his contract, so as of this week, Jeff is again the only physician for 3,000 people.  The doctor in the neighboring town (where we have been going weekly) also did not renew his contract.  Several thousand depend on that health post.  We’re praying that the government puts other doctors in their stead, but there is no guarantee.

A 17 year old in her 8^th month of pregnancy came in with really swollen ankles and high blood pressure.  Because of signs of pre-eclampsia, Jeff sent her to Caazapa (an hour away).  A week later we were playing volleyball outside and heard buzzing sound that.  Everyone immediately stopped the game and ran into the street.  Word trickled down to us that the young gal had died.  While the young girl was in Cazaapa, she had received no treatment.  Finally they sent her to Asuncion where they took the baby by c-section.  The following day she went into shock and died.  What we were hearing was the sound of wailing.  Mourning had begun 2 blocks away.  . 

The following day I found myself crying at the burial and hugging the mother tight.  The baby, praise God, is strong and healthy and will be raised by her grandmother.  

NOVEMBER VISITORS

For these I am thankful (#17)...

visitors

We really do enjoy having people stay with us whether it is missionaries from Paraguay coming for a weekend or interns or families from North America coming for a month or more.  It is encouraging to have people take an interest in what we are doing. So if you have any inkling....COME VISIT US...you never know what kind of adventures you will have in our neck of the woods!

The first weekend in November, our team mates came for a visit.  The kids had a blast setting off firecrackers together. 

Danielle (a short termer) holding a chicken for the first time!

The 2^nd weekend in November, the Salinas’ (missionary family from Paraguay) came to visit us.  They pruned my trees, worked in my garden, and brought us Dr Pepper.  It was pouring down rain on Sunday when they left.  It took them FIVE hours to drive what takes us 45 minutes to drive on a good day! They got stuck SEVEN times – once they were close enough for Jeff to help them out, once they were pulled by a passing tractor and the other times Gayna and her 13 year old son pushed them out! 

Ginny and their daughter working on Christmas crafts. 

The 3^rd weekend in November, we picked up a medical intern from Canada who will be with us for a month.  She will be shadowing Jeff in the mornings, having classes, doing house calls or visiting with us in the afternoon, and learning how to clip chicken wings in her spare time (photo below).

It doesn’t get more Paraguayan than this – attending a patient in a hammock while drinking terere

The 4^th weekend in November a team mate came out to visit us.  She has been serving in Paraguay for many years, but had never visited us.  We all had a great time.

SHARING GOD’S WORD and SEEING PATIENTS (my husband at work)

For these I am thankful (#12)....

Ease-dropping on my husband

Each morning before Jeff sees patients he shares a bible story with the waiting crowd.  I love to ease-drop.  I can’t help it.  I absolutely LOVE hearing my husband teach God’s word (especially in Guarani).  Usually I am finishing my quiet time when he begins his story on just the other side of the window. I am amazed at his boldness in teaching stories that contradict their beliefs and flies in the face of this culture.  It never ceases to amaze me how confident he seems to be in this language; moving swiftly between Spanish and Guarani.  God has given him revelations and insights about the texts and the ability to craft a story.         

MOBILE CLINICNS in JATAITY

For these I am thankful (#6)....

New ministry opportunities.

November 17, 2011we made our 7^th mobile clinic trip to Jataity, a town about 15 minutes away. 

I am thankful for the lady that allows us to park the clinic in her yard each Thursday. 

I am thankful for the believers from here that have gone with us to give their testimonies to the patients who are waiting.

I am thankful that we're able to take our neighbor with us.  She is from that area and a natural bridge between communities since she is related to everyone there.

I am thankful for the times Jeff has finished early so we can go visiting.  Pray that these new contacts will lead to bible studies.

EMERGENCY TRIP

For these I am thankful (#4)...

A reliable car.

This is something I probably took for granted before we had a lemon of a car our first 4 year term.  After breaking down almost every time we drove anywhere, it is so nice to have a reliable car this term.  We praise God for His provisions each time we arrive at our destination.

November 14^th Jeff (with Ryan and Tyler) made an emergency trip into Acuncion.  While  at ultrasound clinic in Jataity last week, Jeff accidentally plugged his ultrasound into the 110 power outlet instead of the 220.  It popped and smoked and turned off.  Jeff was rather embarrassed having to tell all the patients to go home.  He decided to try to turn on the machine one more time.  To our surprise, it worked!  He was able to see all the patients.  We thought it was a miracle...and it was....it was a short lasting miracle.  As Jeff was seeing patients on Monday, it started acting up.  He immediately drove to Asuncion to have it looked at in hopes of having it back before our intern arrives Sunday.

NEW BEGININGS in JATAITY

The Floyds have been our team mates. They moved to San Francisco 10 years ago and began what is now an exciting, growing, and maturing church. Now God has called them to move to another town and begin another church plant. These past few months as they have visited other places, we have been a sounding board as well as praying with them for God’s direction. They finally narrowed the places down to Jaguaete Cora and Jataity and we began even more fervently praying for their decision. Things in Jataity weren;t very encouraging – there was no man of peace, no housing options, people weren’t friendly, and the town, they felt, was spiritually dead. Everything was, however, falling into fell into place for them to move to Jaguaete Cora, which is where they will be headed in a couple months. Jeff and I realized that sometime while praying over these towns, God had given us a burden for Jataity. Now, we are constantly hearing about Jataity. Jeff treats more and more patients from there, we’re realizing just how many of our friends have family living there, Ryan’s soccer team only plays Jataity’s team, and we are getting to know the doctor of that town because I am teaching him English. While Jeff and I were talking one day with him after English class, he mentioned that there was such a medical need in his town and he wasn’t able to handle it all. Isn’t it funny how God works? We never really know how he will stir our hearts. Our job is to be ready when he speaks and to be obedient to his calling. We aren’t planning on a move any time soon, but we have set “working ourselves out of a job” as a goal. As the church leaders continue to mature and rely less and less on us, we should not do for them what they are capable of doing themselves. What we have decided to do is commit one afternoon a week to Jataity where Jeff will give ultrasounds. The whole family will go in hopes people will be interested in beginning bible studies in their homes. Please pray for us as we venture beyond our town.

MAKING the MOST of EVERY OPPORTUNITY

By Jeff McKissick

September 16, 2011

I recently learned that a dear patient of mine passed away at 45 years of age.  Ursulina started coming regularly to my clinic about 4 years ago.  She used to come on horseback but a broken leg which healed badly and left her limping mandated someone now bring her by motorcycle.  I had recently diagnosed her as having a molar pregnancy, which in a nutshell is a chromosomal disaster resulting in clusters of fluid filled sacs instead of a normal baby.  It can rarely spread like cancer to nearby or distant sites.  Her uterus rapidly enlarged causing pain and bleeding.  On her very first visit during her pregnancy, it was far too early to tell by ultrasound that anything was awry.  Only her pregnancy test was positive.  She was none too happy with the news and she said her husband wished her to have an abortion.  They could not afford to feed an eleventh child.  I counseled her to not proceed with an abortion and I seized the opportunity to share the gospel with her and pray with her.  Then I gave her a tract full of Scriptures- God’s promises to us who believe in his Son and how we can know him as Lord and Savior.  There is also a short example prayer at the end which one can use as an example to receive Christ as Lord. 

This practice of sharing my faith with patients, according to my secular humanist medical training at a state medical school, is unethical and frowned upon.  It has been deemed inappropriate, in the North American climate of political correctness, religious pluralism and tolerance (except of course for the growing intolerance of biblical Christianity), to “force” one’s beliefs on another.  I don’t force anyone to do anything.  I present the Bible’s perspective, and on that issue there is no shortage of misinformation and distortion from the culture, so that they can make an informed choice.  I call it “the persuasive winning of souls” and I do it as frequently as I can (2 Cor 5:11 - Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men); ( Pro 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.).  One part of that persuasion is telling Bible stories each workday to the waiting patients.  It was after one of these storying and teaching times at one of her follow-up visits  that Ursulina and I got to talking in depth about her eternal destiny and she told me she had recently accepted Christ an trusted him.

…)       She eventually had a procedure done to evacuate the molar pregnancy before it grew larger.  As the months went by, her symptoms returned, and her obstetrician was not appropriately following her pregnancy hormone levels to detect a recurrence of the molar pregnancy.  I performed another ultrasound and found the uterus still very enlarged and a mass adjacent to her ovary on one side.  I referred her to the obstetrician again for further evaluation.  She was eventually transferred to the national hospital and a hysterectomy and tumor removal  which was performed successfully.  She received many units of blood and then suddenly passed away several days after the operation. 

Valerie Inchley said once, “Perhaps we should not ask whether it is ethically right to witness during a consultation, but whether it is spiritually wrong for the committed Christian not to do so when prompted by the Lord?”  I have no regrets from having shared the good news of my Lord with Ursulina during working hours (Rom 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes).  I never ran in to her outside of my clinic hours.  Had I waited for a more opportune or “appropriate” time, I would have never had the chance to speak the name of Jesus to her at all.  As a physician I realize that 100% of my patients, and even the doctor himself, will eventually die.  I can bring temporary relief and comfort, but I can’t stop death.  I believe God can work through me to delay it sometimes, but I cannot stop it.  Only He can.  In John 11:25 Jesus said to Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”  I feel honored that God gave me the privilege of bringing Ursulina closer to himself.  May we all be looking for more opportunities as the days pass and the Lord’s return draws ever nearer.   Col 4:3 says, “And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ… Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.  Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.”

DOCTOR ESSENTIALS

Stethoscope,
Prescription pad,
and
terere.

MEDICINE and the GOOD NEWS

Last term Jeff volunteered 2 days at the local health outpost and worked 2 days at our house (the mobile clinic van is parked in our yard). He was the only doctor for our town and the surrounding towns (about 5000 people). While we were gone on furlough, the government sent a Paraguayan doctor and a Physician’s Assistant to our small town. This was a nice answer to prayer because Jeff had been praying about spending more time on his own turf, but he didn’t want to let the staff at the health outpost down.

Since being back Jeff has been attending patients each weekday morning at our house. It didn’t take long for the word to get out that “doctor Jep” had come back. Each morning he sees about 10-15 patients plus scheduling some procedures for afternoons. Of course, people come at all hours seeking medical attention. This morning – Saturday, he has seen two minor emergencies and it isn’t even 10:00.
Each morning Jeff shares a Bible story with those who are waiting on our front porch to be seen. More often than not, the patients speak up afterwards, sharing about what the story meant to them. This has generated some great life applications. Once, after Jeff told the story about the Pharisees asking if a man born blind was because he sinned or his parents, a lady shared that she had always wondered why her child was born with “special needs”, but now she felt encouraged knowing that God really does have a plan for his life. On another day, after hearing a Bible story Jeff told, A lady said “I want to follow that God.”

I know that the nurses and staff miss him at the health outpost. Several of them have come to our house specifically to ask him to come back. But Jeff tells them that he doesn’t have the freedom to preach about Jesus at the health outpost. At home, he can do whatever he wants. He goes over to visit them from time to time to trade out medical supplies, just to communicate that we still love them and that we’re all working together on the side of good health.






Some interesting medical cases:

A lady in a diabetic coma was brought to our house. Her blood sugar was 30 and she was unresponsive. Jeff and Pete tried to give her sugar water but she wouldn’t swallow. We had no IV glucose (the health outpost doesn’t either), so Jeff sent her to the nearest city (45 minutes away). The following day we heard that she was doing well.

A guy was in his field chopping wood with his “homemade” axe – a blade and handle attached together by wrapped cloth. He hit a hard knot in the wood and the axe head flew off and cut him very deeply in the face. He was bleeding profusely. We were afraid that he would have to drive the 5 hours to Asuncion to have his face sewn, but (praise God), there was a surgeon just 45 minutes away who was willing to help.

A 10 year old boy came with a 3 inch piece of wood stuck in his groin. Ouch!

A 20 year old swallowed poison in an attempt to kill herself. She was unresponsive and Jeff sent her Caazapa (45 minutes away). Not much else to be done, really.

We went to visit a friend of mine and while we were there their 4 year old daughter stuck her hand in an electric corn grinder. Her middle finger tip had been cut through the bone and was hanging on by very little. Jeff brought her home and did the best he could to stitch it back together. 3 weeks later, it’s looking great.

A 65 year old lady came with a very rapid pulse (about 190/ minute) with extreme fatigue and very low blood pressure. Jeff tried several maneuvers to slow her heart down, including massaging her neck over the carotid artery, squatting down while blowing air against her closed lips and nose, rubbing the sides of her eyeballs, plunging her face in ice water. Nothing worked. Then he started an IV and gave her a shot of Amiodarone, an antiarrythmic medication, and her heart rate returned to normal in less than a minute.

One lady had a blood pressure of 270/ 150 with no symptoms!





ON A LIGHTER NOTE:
After clinic hours a couple arrived with their son. When Jeff asked them what the emergency was they said, "We think our son's nose meat is growing." Jeff said, "That's not really an emergency. You need to come back during clinic hours."

FOR YOUR GLORY

GUN SHOTS
October 17, 2010

At 11pm last night I was awakened by a woman yelling in desperation, “Doctor! Doctor!” Jeff and I reached the front door about the same time. In front of our house was about 20 people and a maroon car. Jeff bolted out of our gate, looked in the car and immediately back toward our yard yelling at me to get the mobile clinic keys and wake up Pete (our doctor friend from the US who is visiting).

Jeff frantically attended a man who was laying in the backseat of the car. I had no idea what had happened, but I could see blood dripping onto the ground and heard labored breathing. His wife and a few other women were wailing and falling on the ground. The men stood around in clusters. I brought the wife a blanket (it was a cool night) and sat by her side hugging her and praying over her. I was very thankful that Pete was able to help. He was running back and forth from the road to the mobile clinic bringing Jeff equipment. It wasn’t until I was called to hold the light that I got a look at the man. He was shot twice in the head. He was unresponsive with blown pupils. Jeff tried to put in an endotracheal tube but with so much blood, it was impossible. Next he began to cut an airway. Jeff worked for about 30 minutes until there was no pulse. The family was told that the man had died. Immediately heavy wailing began and more people began arriving to comfort and grieve.

EARLIER IN THE EVENING

This man was playing cards at a local bar and left with a debt of 20mil (about $4). Sometime later the man who he owed showed up at his house and called for him to come out. When he did, the man shot him. Jeff heard the four gunshots a few minutes before all the people arrived (we live a block and a half away). The shooter left his motorcycle at the man’s house and fled into the woods. We were afraid the man’s family would kill him before the police found him.

The man who had been shot was the high school principal’s husband. He was the brother in law of the richest and most politically connected man in town and has many, many relatives in town. He leaves behind three daughters, ages 16, 12, and 9. His oldest daughter, “M” has been over her several times and I had told Jeff just earlier in the week that God had laid her on my heart to begin praying for and I hoped to get to know her better this year.

THE WAKE
October 19, 2010

When crises come, the community bands together. There must have been over 400 people who filed into their house to help, comfort and grieve. Shops were closed, the schools were out, and the men didn’t work in their fields. Mid-morning we walked to the house which was abuzz with people. The older gentlemen were setting in the yard, teens and young men loitered in the street, and the middle aged men were busy constructing a wooden awning for shade. The women were inside. We greeted those outside and then made our way through the simple living room filled with familiar faces. The man’s body was lying in an open coffin on a table. We hugged the family and said....well, what is there to say in a time like this? I just kept repeating the words that had been in my head since the moment they brought him to our house, “God knows.....it’s for his glory.” What a comfort there is in knowing that the God who created this entire universe is the Great I AM. I not only know him but I am known by him. He knows my every movement and thoughts, my emotions and each hair on my head.

Next, I waded through the sea of people and found “M” in her room. Oh, how I wish there wasn’t such a language barrier! I guess tears are pretty universal though. My heart breaks for her! She told me that her heart was heavy, that she had cried so much that there were no more tears. She also told me about hearing a gun shot and thinking it was thunder at first. She looked outside expecting to see an impending storm and saw her father get shot again and fall to the ground. We hugged and cried together for a long time.

THE FUNERAL

At 4:00 over 300 of us began a processional to the graveside (about a mile away on the outskirts of town). That mile, however, took us 25 minutes. The narrow dirt street was thick with people walking, motorcycles coasting and the occasional car. Stacey (Dr. Pete’s wife) and I were had back row seats on Nilsa’s (my friend) motorcycle. If the event wasn’t such a somber one, it would have been fun to pretend to be a part of Hell’s Angels (with my tattoo I’d fit right in, I’m sure).
Because there is no way to preserve a body here, the burial must take place within 24 hours. As soon as he hears word, the carpenter comes to measure the body and begins to build the coffin. Construction on the mausoleum is also begun. At the graveside, the coffin is slid into the mausoleum. An assembly line of a few men is made to carry buckets of cement to seal the end. As soon as it was closed people began leaving. The family stayed huddled around the tomb. As I gave the family a hug, both the wife and “M” told me to thank Dr Jeff for attending to their husband/father.

A sea of motorcycles heading to the graveside


Passing the cement bucket to seal the grave


"M" in the middle, her sisters on either side and her mom on the far right. PRAY FOR THEM!


Grieving with "M"


Nilsa, Stacey and I ready to go.

SAYING GOOD-BYE

Saturday, July 11, 2009

During these last few days in San Francisco we have been overwhelmed. Not only with trying to pack up our house and keep our suitcase under 23 kilos, but also by the love demonstrated to us by our Paraguayan friends.

Two families have invited us over for a meal. With one, Jeff was able to share a bible story with the family. He really had them captivated as he started by asking if any of their animals ever talked. Then he told the story of Balaam and his talking donkey. They laughed at the end.

The town council and the medical staff gave us a dinner on two separate nights. Both groups honored Jeff’s service in the town and presented him with a certificate of appreciation.

When the town realized that we were leaving, they petitioned the district for another doctor and the district delivered! At the town council dinner she asked us why we would come to San Francisco and work without pay. So, with everyone listening, Jeff had the opportunity to share the testimony of God calling us to serve and plant churches in rural Paraguay.

During the day, we’ve been interrupted a few times by friends stopping by to say good-bye and bring gifts.

Jean has kept our kids which has been a blessing since their toys are packed and it has been too cold and raining to play outside. In fact, weather underground actually was predicting snow (it has NEVER snowed here).

So, today we begin our last full day in San Francisco…..

The president and secretary of the town council


the medical staff


Some similarities in all our good-bye dinners:
1. The TV on (Spanish soaps)
2. Even though it was a bit chilly, doors and windows were open.
3. Because the doors were open, the host spent a good part of the time shooing away the animals (dogs, cats, chickens and pigs).
4. Our menu was the same: grill meat (no complaints there!), manioc root, and cold rice salad
5. Every table had a table cloth (very cultural).
6. Our children were so content. Even though none of these house have toys, but always find something to do together, whether it be playing with old tires and scraps (usually very plentiful around houses here) or chasing the animals or exploring.

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

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