CAST AWAY!

Monday, May 4, 2009

Four years ago today we landed in our new home country and began our adventure in Paraguay! We have totally enjoyed the journey! We decided to celebrate by….getting Joshua’s cast off. Ryan said, “It’s already time to get it off? It has only felt like he had it on a week!” Joshua was quick to disagree. Joshua said, “I like my cast and don’t not want it off.”

But at last the day arrived. We drove 5 hours to Asuncion and Friday morning we all took a taxi to the hospital. We noticed that the hospital was uncharacteristically quiet. Jeff called the doctor and he said, “I am out of town. I forgot about the appointment. Can you come back Monday?” Sure. Joshua was relieved. “I didn’t want it off anyway,” he said as we left.

Today we went back up to the hospital. I wish I could say that Joshua didn’t make a peep throughout the process of sawing and cutting the cast, but that would be a big lie. In fact, Joshua cried for a good 30 minutes after the cast was off and he screamed while they took x-rays. Next, the doctor pulled/yanked/jerked the pin out of his arm/bone. Joshua wailed and the rest of us moaned as we watched it….ouch! The doctor turned to Jeff and said, “You can take the stitches out later today. You will be more patient with him.” I wasn’t quite sure how to take that comment.

We celebrated with ice cream….a definite cure-all.


Joshua getting teh cast taken off


Joshua's face says it all....it hurt


Joshua showing off the pin that was in his bone minutes before


Ice cream - a cure-all

VACCINATION CAMPAIGNS

Monday, April 27, 2009

Over the next three months, the local nurses are involved in vaccination campaigns. Every year they are responsible to vaccinate not only San Francisco (5,000 people) but also 8 surrounding towns. They go to the schools and also door-to-door.
I joined them this past week. Monday we stayed in San Francisco, Wednesday I drove them to Maria Auxilliadora and today we went to Karaguata. In previous years the nurses had to walk to all these towns (some are 15 miles away) since transportation is hard to come by.

Today we went to Karaguata. I dropped the first set of nurses off at the town’s entrance, then two nurses got off at the school (the middle of town) and I was on my way to drop the next set at the far end of town. I was almost there when I got stuck. I was up to the bumper in deep sand. We tried to dig out, but it wasn’t working. The nurses walked on since the car wasn’t going anywhere soon and Hector went to get help. 30 minutes later, he came back with two oxen! How I wished I had had my camera! At first the oxen were pretty ornery and did not want to walk, but after 30 minutes of trying, they threw their weight into their job and pulled me out!

Hector (and I) walked up to a random house and asked if we could come in and wait. Can you imagine doing that in the states? They invited us in - Paraguayans are so friendly - and we sat under a big shade tree, ate oranges and drank terere. The mom of the house and I bonded while I helped her shell red beans.
At 11:00 the nurses who were dropped off last, made their way back to us. After we visited and drank more terere, we continued going door-to-door until we met up with the other nurses. One lady didn’t know how old she was but she was certain she was over 60 years and thus qualified for the flu vaccine. We saw a boy, who looked about 8 years old, running down the street. He said he needed to ask his mom how old he was because the nurses at the school wanted to know. Since these nurses do this every year, they know everyone and every house. Every kid remembers them too! Kids began crying and running for cover as soon as they saw the nurses coming. One 4 year old had to be chased all over his field and was finally caught 10 minutes later. A couple children had to sign for their parents who couldn’t even write their name.

I am glad to could go and get to know the nurses better and hopefully lighten their load a bit.

* Hector drove the ambulance when we had one and now he….well, I don’t really know what he does now. Every time I see him, he is getting paid to sit and drink terere.

April Medical Happenings

April 2009

Besides Joshua’s arm, there seemed to be a lot of broken bones this month. Unfortunately we don’t have an x-ray machine in town, so most of these patients have to travel to Caazapa for help.

A drunk man fell off his motorcycle and broke his shoulder.

Arsenio broke a few ribs climbing over a fence.

An elementary student was pushed on the play ground and broke his upper arm.

A motorcycle accident brought a baby with a gash on his forehead and his mother with a broken collar bone.

Two women collided on motorcycles. One of the ladies was sent to Caazapa (45 minutes away) with a possible broken leg. The second lady was 9 months pregnant and the crash started her contractions. When she came to the clinic at 9:00 she was 5cm. She wanted to deliver in Caazapa but since this was her 4th child, the nurses persuaded her to deliver at the health clinic. Most women want to deliver in Caazapa (can you imagine a 45 minute bumpy bus ride while in active labor?). Those who cannot afford a bus fare deliver in town with a mid-wife. Deliveries at the clinic are few that it stocks nothing to help in such a time. Thankfully Jeff had ordered a “birthing bag” from International Aid which had everything he needed….drapes, gown, multiple gloves, amniotic hook, pads, bulb suction. Jeff let one of the nurses catch the baby, but she was going to do it in her dress clothes. Jeff said, “Wear this gown.” The nurses were all in awe of this concept and they all wanted to feel it. After the delivery Jeff wanted to thrown the bloody gown away, but one of the nurses stopped him, “We’ll wash off the blood and re-use it for future deliveries.”

A lady was kicked in the ear by a cow. She is lucky that only her ear cartilage was damaged (it was split in two).

We were woken up at 6:30 for Jeff to stitch a man’s foot where a tree had fallen on it.

Jeff pulled out a moth out of a lady’s ear – alive! I asked if it was like pulling a rabbit out of a hat.

Jeff diagnosed twins while doing and ultrasound. This will be the lady’s baby #13 and 14!

Jeff and I gave physicals to about 60 school kids.

Jeff stitching up a lady's ear


Jeff teaching about the body of Christ to those waiting to see him

pictures and a video

I have posted pictures here in a file called April 2009. You may need to put in a password: paraguay

You can also watch our video on youtube here

PAINTING FINGER NAILS

April 25, 2009

“Let no one look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, and in purity.” I Timothy 4:12

When I was 7 years old I went on my first international mission trip. My parents had just completed a YWAM Crossroads DTS and the group planned to spend 3 months ministering in 4 Asian countries. Even though I was young, I have vivid memories of that experience. One memory is of painting the figure nails of children living in the dumps of Manila. As my mom (whose nails were always painted) and I walked through the little village, children of all ages pulled at my hair, ran their dirty hands over my white skin and tugged at my dress (I hated wearing anything but dresses or shirts). During that week, I meticulously painted their figure nails – numerous times. When I finished, they wore the biggest smiles of anyone I had ever seen before.

I am so thankful that my parents show me how I could be a servant even at such a young age. I learned on that trip that I had something to offer. I couldn’t give money. I couldn’t build a house or fix a roof. I couldn’t give medicines or dig a well. But I could make these beautiful children smile by giving my time and a little nail polish.

Today I (my finger nails are always painted) walked with my daughter, who is 7 years old, to a poor Paraguayan barrio. In one hand, Ginny (who insists on wearing a dress or a skirt) held a sack full of nail polish. As she sat on the grass, a bunch of girls gathered around to choose their favorite color. Ginny meticulously painted their nails and when she was done, the girls walked away smiling. I hope she is learning that even though she has no money to give or the strength to build a house, she can still be a servant with her time…and a little bit of nail polish.

FULL HOUSE

Sunday, April 19, 2009

“He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor.” I Samuel 2:8


Usually I have girls club on Saturdays.

Usually a bunch of kids flood my house Sunday to play.

This weekend because I changed the girls club to Sunday, I ended up with a full house! 13 girls came (we haven’t have that many since school started) which was very encouraging. And (a record) 13 kids came to play. The kid’s room looked like a day care! But I loved it. I love that we can offer our home to others and not worry about earthly possessions (the things mold and dogs can and do destroy!). Seeing all the Duplos scattered, the car box dumped out, the doll clothes miles away from their place, the stuffed animals hanging from the rafters…I am reminded how blessed we are.

I made pancakes with the girls (we 8 timesed the recipe!). After serving the kids on a blanket outside, the rest of us ate. I shared a story (from the bible) about a King who prepared a feast and invited all the wealthy and important people, but no of them had time to come and rejected his offer. The king then became angry and decided to invite all the poor, homeless, and sick. They all came and were given white robes and enjoyed eating the finest of foods. I encouraged the girls to make a decision now to follow Christ whole-heartedly. Jesus is inviting us to partake in his banquet and yet so many people have no time Him. One day, he will come back, I said, and I sure hope he can give you a white robe!

Making pancakes


Kids eating pancakes

KIDS CRACK ME UP!

April 2009

We have let our garden go because we won’t be here for the next harvest. I feel bad watching all the weeds sprout up after we try so hard during the year to keep them down. Apparently the garden looks great to the cows passing by. One cow in particular comes by around 10:30 every day and rams the front gate trying to open it. When he succeeds he enters and promptly walks to the garden to munch. The kids think it is great!

While Ryan and Joshua were arguing over the last piece of candy, Ryan says, “Joshua, I thought you’d be nicer after you broke your arm!”

While making Jeff’s birthday cake, Ginny exclaimed, “I want to hatch the eggs!”

Micah’s new words are “look”, “ah, man!”, “wait” and “cool” which he says a hundred times a day. He also says quiet often, “I hold you” (can you hold me?) and “lease I help you” (can you help me”. There is no end to what he gets into, eats, breaks, destroys, climbs, and messes with….

Joshua says that he likes having a cast on because now he gets to learn to write with his left hand….always a silver lining!

Tyler speak a form of Spanglish with his Paraguayan friends, “Put it aqui.” “Quiero the pelota.” “Mira at este.” Quiero mas food.” “We’re trying to get alla.”

We had a family celebration for Jeff’s 33rd birthday. He was pressured by five little ones to choose waffles for his birthday breakfast. He opened homemade cards and gifts. For lunch I surprised Jeff with one of his favorite meals - surubi (fish) and shrimp that I had brought in Asuncion last week. Chocolate cake followed.

I have a new baby. This baby doesn’t wear diapers or needs to be fed every 3 hours. My new baby has a flash and clicks. After 6 years of (healthily) obsessing over a Cannon Rebel digital camera, Jeff and I finally bought it. As if my picture taking didn’t border on an obsession before, I now have just raised the bar.

Joshua electrocuted himself plugging in the TV one afternoon. All of a sudden I heard the loudest scream I have ever heard in real life. You know those screams in movies where the video camera pans to the outside of the house, then to the neighborhood and then to a landscape shot of the city to indicate that the scream reached that magnitude…well, it was like that….and it lasted a full minute. I ran into the room and Joshua was limping, holding his non-casted arm and letting out short bursts (still very loud) of screams. After he calmed down he said, “I couldn’t let go of the plug, my whole body was dancing around and it really really hurt!”

Joshua reading to Reader Rabbit


Dyeing Easter eggs