Medical Team visit 2010!
Well, we had another absolutely blessed and wonderful time with Dr. Norbert's medical team from the states.
You will enjoy the slide show "video" below, if you have a few minutes to watch it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQn5j0LzBdY&fmt=18
You can also see all the pics here:
www.norbiespics.shutterfly.com
Sunday morning our adventure began. We left before sunrise in 3 vehicles to drive to PFM's Tagbanua project, 4 hours north of here on the other side of the island. We saw a whirlwind of patients--over 450--many with breast cancer (I'm not sure why--some say it's from the nearby Nickel mining). One had stage IV cancer and will be treated in Puerto Princessa. It was fun to see our whole team of 11 (plus two missionary children) in action--joined with the 7 from Dr. Norbert's group and one nurse from Palawan Adventist Hospital. The rain began to pour in the afternoon and soon the tarps were leaking onto our pharmacy table and makeshift area where I had also started to see patients. We relocated as best we could into the crowded church and finished the patients without too much delay.
Sunday night we spent by the beach in Quezon so we could get an early start for Abo Abo medical mission on the way home the next day. Monday morning was cloudy and threatening rain, but God held it off 'til we made it up the hike to the village to hold clinic. We had fun with the primitive, needy, but friendly people there. Many had Malaria. The Doctors kept teasing with Michel and I because we would be shouting back and forth from the registration to the pharmacy things like "Just give the patient Malaria meds if I write "Malaria"! And then every once in awhile we'd hear a snide remark from a doctor (teasingly), saying "why is there already a diagnosis on this patient?" What fun.
This was the same group that came last year, with one addition of one new one (Bill) who took most of the pictures and did a great job. They are such a great group. So easy going and easy to work with--and so much fun!
The dentists saw over 250 patients in 4 days--most of which were multiple extractions! I was impressed.
The rain started pouring right as we were finishing up which made for a very slippery trail back to the trucks! Everyone figured out eventually that it was best to just take off your flip flops and let the mud squeeze through your toes so you could stay upright.
Tuesday we saw several hundred more patients in Maiinit (which means "hot" in Tagalog--everyone sweat buckets and proved the name true) Again, we saw alot of Malaria, worms, and dental extractions. We were able to hand out children's and adult vitamins and worm medications to almost all the patients.
Wednesday was our last medical day and we held it out at our hangar. We had a good turn out again and by then we were getting more efficient. I was very happy this year to have so much help that we were able to do continuous health lectures throughout the medical missions (every patient was required to listen to a lecture before getting their medicines).
Thursday morning we left bright and early to head to Puerto and show the group our beautiful beaches, coral and fish. They had a great time and the weather was perfect! It was a great way to relax after a very busy week.
A BIG Thank YOU to the Stevensville SDA church in Michigan through Dr. Norbert and his Global Village Ministries for another successful trip, for taking your vacation time to come and help the people of the Philippines, for the generous donations of thousands of dollars worth of medicines, supplies, toys, clothes, Felt set, school supplies, and more! We were blessed once again beyond words. We look forward to your next trip!
We're back at AIIAS now. Our new SM girls arrived and are all trained in now. (see their dialy adventures on their blog link under "blogrolls on this site) We're heading up north next week to start the Luzon project! Thank you for your continued prayers for this project.
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