December 30, 2008 Peru Amazon Medical Trip Day 4

Amazon Medical Team, 12-30-08

Today's [very upbeat :)] report was given by Annie (McLorn) Carpenter:

The Chosen Vessel remains anchored at the same spot. Because of continued low water level, the team again took the skiff to today's village, Vanilla.

They woke up this morning, and had breakfast: "really good food, awesome food." The dentist went over Vanilla around 6 am, the rest of team followed later at 7 am. This village has about 500 people, but again, many are off visiting relatives during the school hiatus. The team saw about 200 people, although, because of word-of-mouth, many seemed to be repeats from yesterday. Hannah Ong and Bryan Woosley manned the eyeglasses station. Jessica Suen and Lois Yeh were at the toothbrush station. Eric Feltes, Annie Carpenter, Tanya and Barry Jeong were on the evangelism team. Eric speaks Spanish and translates for the team. Annie read some books in Spanish, and Barry was taking pictures and videotaping. Paul Poy directed traffic. He doesn't
speak Spanish, but apparently certain gestures are universal! Christine Shih, Steve Yeh and Anne Poy, along with a Peruvian doctor comprise the medical team. They saw, amongst other medical conditions, a child with cerebral palsy, one with seizures, some with cataracts, many with scabies and a host with other parasites (including worms).

The stations finished up around noon, and then at least some team members went off with the villagers to see some of the locally grown fruits, including mango, lime and cocoa. Some of the more adventurous members (Annie being one of them) sampled some of these fruits.

The team then returned to the boat for lunch (empanadas, described as "really, really good"). Rain during lunch seems to be the continuing theme. They debriefed, and got organized for their evening program.

They went back to the village, where they were joined in the worship by the local church. The songs were the same as yesterday, but the drama was "the best it ever went." This has been videotaped (hopefully for our later viewing pleasure!) The evangelism program tonight also included videotapes of testimonies (not shown yesterday) of Alex and Marguerita Higgs, Louis and Raphael (sorry, I didn't get the last names). Most of the adults stayed for the evening program.
Annie said that "a lot of them seem to be getting it" and Bibles were also handed out. Many of the villagers were asking for Bibles. While the evangelism program was being presented to the adults, some of the team members played soccer and volleyball with the children. The pictures and drawings from Pui Tak students were handed out to the children.

Annie requested prayers for:
-cooler weather. She didn't know what the temperature was, but it has been very hot and humid and they are in long clothes.
-the evangelistic outreach

Thanks be to God that:
-the outreach seems to be having an impact on at least some of the villagers
-Bibles were requested
-those team members who were feeling ill are much better