Medical Mercy: Caring for the Forgotten Children

India Clinic Costal Orissa wrap up 2012

2012-01-14T16:19:00.001-07:00

Something seems to be out of sorts. We finished up the last 2 days of clinics, and we are feeling lost. Not because of what we weren’t able to accomplish, but because we couldn’t do more. The last day of clinic was probably the reason for this. We had a usual day of clinics on Thursday, seeing several hundred children, no issues, straight forward. Then Friday came. About an hour drive from Puri, is a small fishing village, population 25-30,000, all contained in within a 2 kilometer square parcel of land. About 30% of the population are children, or so we suspect. That’s around 900 children. Now consider this. All, and I mean all are malnourished, sickly and isolated. There is room for about 370 children in a school, and the rest of them have nothing. You ask why? This village is a village of “displaced” people, lower caste, unwanted by the general population, wanting for much, but given nothing. We came upon this place due to a change in plans. Divine intervention perhaps, but it was good that we did. By seeing what was, and knowing what was not, we all came away feeling that we had to make this fishing village a priority. And that is in the works.

The 17 ream members, Kelly, Michael, Sue, Jeremy, Tyler, Simon, Heather, Lauren, Marlene, Anne, Peggy, Sarah, Justin, Amanda, Lara,and Carleen worked hard and without fanfare. Pharmacy, data entry, nutritional assessment, medical examinations, crowd control, and pastoral care ran without a hitch. It was all because of the coordination and implementation of the India team: Judith, Sudip, Daniel, Kevin, Mark, John and Raju. We saw close to 1400 patients in 4 and a half days, and left with a sense of well being knowing that we did what we were asked to do. Serve. It wasn’t what we brought but what we left behind. A dose of grace, a pinch of love,and a teaspoon of compassion measured a thousands of times over. The ingredients of His love for us.

In all things give thanks,

David

India Clinic day 3

2012-01-11T14:08:00.001-07:00

It’s not over. At least not for us. But the 3 days that we’ve spent in this small fishing community is. We have been holding clinics in this fishing village in the town of Puri, from which many of the children come from. The village has a population of 25,000 and is considered the poorest of the environs of Puri. The poorest of the poor. And that is what MoM does, finding and caring for the children who are far from the common place. We saw another 250 patients today, most of whom were children, sick, but still full of smiles. They perhaps know no better. For what they have is what they have and they wont for not. I sometimes wonder if I could be like that. What spoke today, was the story told about Pastor David, by Pastor David (it isn’t me). 39 years ago he was an alcoholic, a hit man for a mobster organization and a worshipper of the monkey god. That is the monkey god tattooed on his arm. He fell off his bike one day after drinking way too much, and woke to find a piece of paper next to him with a scripture verse on it that said “Jesus is God.” He wondered who could this one man be who claimed to be god, when there were so many other gods like his monkey god. Pastor David went to a church the next morning and again the next day, and then the next, and for 365 days he went to church, studying the bible, listening to bible classes and found the way. He began pastoring in this fishing village and today he ha a congregation of over 900 people. He tends to the MoM children and served with us. What is it that made him change. He really could not put his finger on it, but he did say one thing. “A monkey god is simply that. A monkey god. But Jesus is a god that was man, who came to earth to carry our sins. How could I not believe in that?” He spoke in his broken English as the children ran and played around us. He looked at them and quietly said, “they too one day will hopefully see that the monkey is just a monkey.” I took his hand and we prayed together. And the children played.

In all things give thanks,

David

India: Orissa Clinic Day 2

2012-01-10T08:32:00.001-07:00

Expect the unexpected. Plan for the worst, hope for the best. It’s never what we think. And that is what the day was like. Not the flow of the clinic, nor the attitude of the team, or the dynamics of seeing another 300 patients today, but it was the patients. Smaller in stature than yesterday, a little sicker, and their stories that were far from the norm. There were a lot of wonderful ones, children being seen, hugged, sung to and with, prayed with, and played with. That was the majority. The evidence of compassion and love for the children we saw was everywhere. But like it or not, it is the occasional unexpected encounter, the worst case scenario, that puts the whole day into perspective. That things happened and whether we like it or not, we are faced with it to deal with. 3 children stood out. One child whose only complaint was that he was depressed. He lives in boarding house for children who are single or double orphans (one or both parents having died). He received news in the manner of a letter addressed to him that his father died recently. Another child had with him a picture of his parents taking a while back. He was 10 years old. He showed me the picture and asked me if I had seen them or knew anything about them. He hadn’t seen them in 5 year. He woke up one day and they were both gone. He lived in the street until he found a home in the village that we were in. He was taken in by a kind family. I looked at the picture and couldn’t find the words to speak. I simply shook my head no. He shook his head as well as he silently cried. I hugged him and prayed with him. He left, the picture still clutched in his hand. And the third child 6 years old. I asked her if I could take her picture and if I could show others to witness to her that she was as much a child to be valued and recognized by all. She was hesitant at first, but then said yes. Burned by falling into a pot of boiling water at the age of 3, she survived as you see her here. She told me that she won’t look in the mirror. She is the daughter of a fisherman and his wife, the lowest class of a caste system in this region. Poorer than poor. She was not a MoM sponsored child, but one of the children in the village who came to us for medical care. I realized that if she wasn’t embraced and surrounded by a loving community she would be lost to the world. Never marrying, being ridiculed, and maybe even worse. Being taken advantaged of, or even taking her own life later on. MoM has a vision and mission to care for those children who are less than fortunate. That one child matters. This child is one of them. She is now a MoM child, and sponsored. I am humbled to be able to be part of her life from now on.

In all things give thanks,

David

India: Orissa clinic day 1

2012-01-09T05:05:00.001-07:00

Sometimes we’re focused on the big picture….and lose sight of the details. 300 patients today, day one of clinic was the big picture. We set in motion a medical clinic with both old and new members getting into the swing of things very quickly due to the incredible pre-planning of the India support staff having everything up and ready for us. Dental hygiene, water filtration, first aid education on one tract. Nutritional assessment in another tract. Medical exams in a third tract, and pharmacy dispensing meds in their tract. a total of 50 people making this happen. US team, Indian support team, interpreters, teachers, and helpers all working together to see 300 children. That was the big picture. Now focus. Stunting affects over 60 million children India. Stunting is when the child’s height does not match the age. Short, small, little growth, and nutritionally depleted. Jeremy, a healthy US boy is 13, The Indian boy next to him is 13 also. Focus. He is one of 60 million children in India who are stunted. Can we help? Not in the sense of getting him to grow anymore, but we can simply assure him that despite his size, he is as valuable a member of the community as anybody else. We did that. He smiled, became animated and we focused. On him.

Polio is still prevalent in India despite the availability of vaccines. Poor compliance and a lack of awareness and education yields what we see here. A brace, old style, bulky, uncomfortable, worn for life. No physical therapy. She asks if there is a way to make her leg stronger. The hard answer is no. What we can do is make her life more comfortable by getting here a new brace, one that is light weight, comfortable and less obtrusive. We’re working on that. Focus.

We did alright for the first day. The big picture is clear. There are a lot of children here who need to be cared for. MoM is doing that. It is the details of the picture, the areas of the picture that are difficult to see unless you focus a little sharper, that Medical Mercy is looking at. The individual child, their needs and lives as it relates to their health care. We’ll stay focused the rest of the week and look closely at those who we come to serve. Our eyes will be strained as a result, but our hearts will be filled.

In all things give thanks,

David

India

2012-01-05T03:46:00.001-07:00

We leave in 24 hours for India. A team of 18, medicines, equipment and excitement. We’ll be in the southern part of India along the coast off the Bay of Bengal based in a small town called Puri, population 150,000. Puri is well known as a pilgrimage site for Hindus with their many gods. That will tell you something. We’ll be going to 4 projects seeing the children and the villagers, expecting about 500 patients a day, diseases and illnesses common to the areas in an underdeveloped country. We’ll be running simultaneous “tracts of care” in each: nutritional assessments, first aid training, implementing a water filtration system, medical examinations and treatment, and vitamins and de-worming medicines for all. It’s amazing to see the “tracts” running in parallel, patients moving from one tract to the another, and finally exiting with an opportunity for spiritual counseling.

We all know the saying “what are we bringing to the table” when we talk about negotiations and relationships. What is it that we “bring” that will be valuable to the other person. In this case, it’s obvious. Medical care, pure water, vitamins, first aid kits, and prayer. But here’s where I like to go a little off the path. I am always aware of “what we bring”, but I am more acutely aware of “what we leave behind.” It is the memories, the interactions, the changed lives, the improvement of what sometimes is just an existence for those we meet. It is the power of prayer, the introduction to a God who is singular in His reign, and at times the new believer that we leave behind. And so it begins tomorrow. We’re bringing much….I’m excited to see what we leave behind. Be with us.

In all things give thanks,

David

Bangladesh...purpose and will.

2011-10-24T12:07:00.001-07:00

9000 miles and a left turn east from Phoenix is where we were for a week. Bangladesh. A Muslim country, one of the poorest in the world, close to 25% of the children under 5 years old never making it to their 6th birthday, and an average daily income of $2 for most of the working poor. Medical Mercy came to see the children. We did that and more. 21 team members: Sarjita, Lara, Vic, Bob, Kelly, Deanna, Anne, Heather, "Parks", Diane, Celia, Doreen, "Tico", Dave, Michael, Bill, Jill, Sue, Darlene, Blair and I.

In 3 full days and 2 half days of clinics we saw 918 medical patients, 88 dental patients

installed water filtration systems in 5 projects

taught comprehensive first aid and left an advanced first aid kit for each of the 5 projects

did nutritional assessments on all of the patients

did dental hygiene education

and collected all the information on all of the patients in a comprehensive computer database with pictures of each child seen.

Not to say that all of this was easy. Getting to Bangladesh was a trip we won't soon forget (Kuwait and Pakistan were unscheduled countries we visited). Getting back to Dhaka on the last day of clinics is also a trip we won't forget: of the 6 vans we had, 4 broke down during the 10 hour road trip back to Dhaka from Khulna. That said, the clinics ran well, pharmacy

was dynamic and we worked hard.

So here are the final thoughts. When we are in a country that has values different from what we believe in, we need to begin to understand our purpose: to serve, to be humble and to be compassionate. To all. Regardless. We were in a village where the imam of the village came and chose to sit with his entourage to observe the activities of our medical team.

He had the power to make trouble for us or not. I introduced my self, spoke with him, and we shared blessings on each other. His to me was Mohammed based, I to him was Christ based. We smiled at each other as we clasped our hands together, and then touched our hands to our hearts. mutual respect, mutual understanding, mutual acceptance for who we each were in God's eyes. He saw our children praying.

He saw how we took care of, cared about and cared for the children in his village. He came to me later and said thank you. I couldn't have asked for anything more. Perhaps he saw a little of what we did as a reflection of

of who we are. Perhaps he saw our purpose. To serve. Perhaps he saw the will. The will of our God who sends us out to serve. Perhaps we too saw what we were supposed to see. Children who are vulnerable, hungry, poor, and at times forgotten looking for a place in this world to experience life. In the few short days that we were there, I pray that we were able to do that. To give them a chance to experience a life that will be filled with God's love and grace. We gave them medicine, dental, first aid, clean water, and above all, we gave them love. Something I hope they never forget. For that is our purpose and will. To serve humbly, with compassion and love, giving and never taking, and remembering that we leave behind a chance for a better life.
In all things give thanks,

David

Bangladesh clinic day...when we think we've got it bad...

2011-10-20T08:35:00.001-07:00

Not much to say after one sees a child like this.

We drove about 2 hours to a very remote village where we spent the day seeing over 200 children, and fair number of adults. Medical, dental, water filtration, public health education, and first aid training all done under the sun, heat unbearable, no wind, and some relief from the shade. A large Muslim population lead by an imam, were wary at first, then open to exams, then becoming increasingly anxious as the time approached for us to leave, knowing that many who had been waiting would not be seen. It is difficult to say "no more patients" today. The children were malnourished, sickly overall, tired and lacking any semblance of a happy emotion. I looked at their faces and realized how little they have to be joyous about. And we think we have it bad sometimes. I wonder just how much I could take living the life they live. Not much I bet. I probably would hope for the best, and expect the worst.

So the question posed is this: just how bad does it have to get for us before we throw in the towel and say I give up? From what I saw today, there were a whole lot of people who had thrown in the towel a long time ago, accepted the hand that had been dealt them, and learned to live with what they had. They had nothing. Not much to learn to live with. Did we make a difference today? Yes we did. Not by giving them medications, pulling teeth, bringing in a water filtration system, nor by teaching them first aid. What we did is validate those we saw as worthy of being recognized as human beings, worthy of being loved and cared about, and giving them a sense of dignity. One person even said as much. A mother of a disabled child knew that we could not do much for him. Small head, injured brain, unable to walk, nor sit. But the smile he gave us when we reached out to him and held him without shying away from his inadequacies, gave his mother validation as how ell she was caring for him and how much he meant to her. And how much he means to us. Life is what it is and face it; we don't really have it that bad, even on our worst days.

In all things give thanks,

David

Bangladesh...is it all that we expect?

2011-10-19T08:33:00.001-07:00

In a country predominantly Muslim, we came and shared.

Some listened, some accepted, some walked away. A woman with 3 husbands, one of whom beats her. A mother of a young girl with a heart defect. A mother of a child with disabilities. A few hundred patients seen. All that we expected.
Another day and the clinic was the smoothest we've ever experienced. We drove a short hour to Jogipol where the Pastor had the clinic set up and ready to go. Individual exam cubbies were ready for us. The children came, we examined, we treated, we cared. Another day where the usual tracts were run: medical, dental, hygiene, first aid and water filtration. And here is where the story begins to stand out. Two weeks ago, the leadership of the project and church met and prayed for a water filtration system. They did not know we were bringing anything that resembled that. We pulled out the filtration system, attached it to a huge drum, and filtered water that was pure as our water in the US. Are prayers answered? You decide. We already know the answer.

In all things give thanks,

David

Bangladesh clinic day...when it all comes together

2011-10-18T09:17:00.001-07:00

(internet is slow and cannot upload much; a picture now and more when I can; sorry about that)

And it did come together...

Six vehicles, 30 people, one and a half hour ride and a river crossing by ferry, is how we started the day today. Chalna project is an isolated community that hasn't seen medical care in over 15 years. The children were malnourished, some sickly, but all were laughing and smiling nonetheless. Prayer was the order for the children.

It was for us as well. A Hindu woman came to Christ, others heard, and wondered if we really were who we said we were. Servants. And we served. 200 medical patients, 19 dental patients (it takes a while to extract teeth; Dr. Bob and Diane were at it constantly).Public health education, dental hygiene, water filtration system, first aid training, nutritional assessments, medical examinations,and dental work were all being done simultaneously, the team taking on all facets of health intervention and training in a distant remote village in the southern part of Bangladesh. A ballet of sorts, one continuous act, and an encore. We came to a village and within 6 hours left them with a chance for a better life. A bold, ambitious undertaking, and perhaps a little glorified, but it worked. There is nothing better than the see the smile after something is given freely and taken freely as well, no strings attached. Unconditional love I believe it's called.

In all things give thanks,

David

Traveling isn't easy....to Bangladesh

2011-10-17T09:22:00.001-07:00

Dhaka. Final destination via a scheduled stop in Dubai and a change of planes, but we were treated to an unscheduled stop in Kuwait City and Karachi, Pakistan. Strong headwinds across the northern hemisphere slowed us done considerably, bucked us from left to right and up and down, and ate up our fuel. Kuwait was a refueling stop. An hour and a half out of our way of route, then another hour and a half on the ground, and of course you guessed it...we miss our connecting flight out of Dubai. So on to Karachi, Pakistan, a 6 hour lay over then on to Dhaka. But there is someone in control of all this, isn't there? He intervenes, moves, chooses, and makes it all work because...well, because He can. We have miles behind us and many miles ahead of us, with lots to do, and still a long way to go once we get to Dhaka. Not much to do about it. No choices. We do what we can. And that is pray and have a positive attitude.
(24 hours later):
We are finally in Khulna. I stayed behind to wait for all the boxes of meds that never made it with us last night, the team went on ahead and ran a half day clinic seeing 100 patients and 15 dental. We are all finally together, meeds and equipment in hand, and full days of clinics ahead. The purpose? To ensure that the children we care about have a life they can enjoy and experience.

In all things give thanks,

David

Bangladesh and the troubles begin..

2011-10-16T20:03:00.000-07:00

So much for blogging good news. This will be short just to give you an idea of what has happened, what is happening and what will happen. Short synopsis: we left Phoenix for Chicago, picked up the rest of the team, left Chicago for Abu Dhabi, drained the fuel tanks on the plane there due to head winds, stopped in Kuwait to refuel, got to Abu Dhabi late, missed our connecting flight to Dhaka, got a flight to Karachi, Pakistan in order to catch another flight to Dhaka, (or we could of stayed in Kuwait overnight...who wanted to do that-not!), got to Karachi, connecting flight to from Karachi to Dhaka delayed, spent 10 hrs in a transit area in Karachi, finally getting to Dhaka after leaving Phoenix 42 hours earlier, and got all our luggage but none of the 15 boxes of meds and supplies (almost 800 lbs of needed stuff). That's it. Done. Nothing we can do about it. Team spent the night in Dhaka and left early this morning for a 6 hour drive to the first clinic with the dental stuff, public health education stuff, nutritional assessment stuff, a few pills here and there that team members had in their personal belongings and stethoscopes and blood pressure cuffs. They are going to run a clinic as best they can. I on the other hand am still in Dhaka waiting to go back to the airport this afternoon to see if the meds come in on the next flight. If they do, I make an 8 hour drive to the south of Bangladesh to catch up with the team sometime very late tonight. If the meds don't arrive....well, I don't really know what I'm going to do. The troubles we've seen. The anxiety of it all. The unexpected. The not knowing. It is what it is. And with all that I still say, in all things give thanks.
David
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

It begins tomorrow….

2011-10-13T14:17:00.001-07:00

Tomorrow at 1:30pm we being the 36 plus hour trek to the southern part of Bangladesh, to visit 5 village projects and provide medical care to children who have never seen a physician or nurse in their life. A team of 21 servants are ready, over 800 pounds of medicines and medical equipment are pack, and we will start our challenge by trying to get through customs. So, let the prayers begin! First, that we are escorted through customs with no fees, confiscation, or hardships. Second, for safe travels in the air, on the dirt roads, and yes, on the skiffs and ferries that we will using to cross the rivers to get to the villages. Third, for God’s guidance in showing us those who seek Him. And fourth, for patience, health, and bonding between team members. I’ll be posting to the blog as often as internet availability allows, tweeting and posting short snippets on Facebook from the clinics using my trusty BB if I get service, and many of the tea m members will be doing the same. This will be one of the more challenging missions. Distance, no down time, little rest, and a lot of patients will be what we face. Nonetheless, we go, we do, we serve. Can’t ask for anything better, now can we? Come follow us.

In all things give thanks,

David

Haiti Wrap up…for now

2011-01-09T21:24:00.001-07:00

Most of the team are still in Haiti, seeing children in 5 more clinics and working at the orphanage washing clothes, doing construction and caring for the 46 children that we have there. I had to return to give some scheduled lectures at the medical school where I teach the Ethics and Humanism curriculum. The picture above is of some of the orphans that I saw before I left Haiti yesterday. They are a little sicker than the other children we saw, but should do well.

We did what we came there to do: cholera education, nutritional assessment and rescue, and physical exams. We will have seen over 1600 children by the time the rest of the team leaves. Interesting how we go with expectations of things gone sour due to the cholera and come back with satisfaction knowing that all the preparation, intervention and implementation of the prevention and education programs we put in place worked. I’ve been one for cauti0n over confidence. We were cautious in what we did, never getting too righteous about what we did. What was striking was the humility that each team member had. Too many times I’ve seen superiority complexes glazed in a thin veneer of concern. Not this team: Kelly, Michael, Tanner, Dave, Danielle, Allison, Annelyssa, Thelma, Michelle, Trisha, Lon, Deanna, Anne and Yolie. Each had a pervasive concern for human welfare. So does MoM and Medical Mercy. Things will move slowly in Haiti as it does in many countries that suffer a poor infrastructure, a government that is far from stable and a physical country that is broken. I expect it to be many many years before we see significant changes overall. But…and this is the “but” that will make you smile. Our MoM children are far from that stagnant recovery. They are progressing at a fast rate, remaining healthy and growing. A few are outside the norm, but we identified them, and began efforts to begin moving them into the fold.

We’ll go back. Not right away, but sometime.We’re headed to Ethiopia and Bangladesh later on this year. In the meantime, we’ve achieved a sense of “sustainability” of the medical care that the children need, the nutritional support they need, and the cholera education and prevention that they need. Sustainability. Leaving in place a process that insures a long and healthy life, physically and spiritually. And so it ends, for now.

In all things give thanks,

David

Haiti Day 5

2011-01-07T18:34:00.000-07:00

Just when you think all is well, something grabs your attention and you realize there is trouble out there. Today got my attention. We went to 2 projects, both on the way towards the border with the Dominican Republic, seeing about 200 children. Yesterday was easy. No drama, no significant illnesses, no attention grabbers. Today we saw sick children and it got my attention. Not many malnourished children, but more with chronic illnesses. I thought we had those children under control. Not so. There is a new wave of illnesses that have cropped up and we attacked them. Skin infections, pneumonia, and pustules. Did we miss something a year ago? No. Illnesses happens in some places more than others. That's why we go back again and again to make sure we're doing what needs to be done. The great majority of the children are doing well as you can see from the picture above. The thumbs up sign. But the child in the picture below is one of several that we spent time with. Medical Mercy does what it does because of these children. They got our attention today. We dealt with it and gave them a chance to live a better life. Trouble. Not anymore.

In all things give thanks,
David
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Haiti Day 4

2011-01-06T19:03:00.000-07:00

You would think that there would always be something dramatic to write about, some miracle story, or a child who stood out because of some special need or story. The truth is, it's not always the case. Today was one of those days. (Well, except for one child. More on that later.) Two projects, one in the morning, one in the afternoon, and a total of 180 children seen. No drama, no issues. Just a lot of beautiful children and a lot of love. So there is not much to report really. And that is just fine, isn't it? Having 180 healthy children, with only 2 under the age of 5 years moderately malnourished, no cholera, all smiling and playing is alright. It means that what MoM and Medical Mercy are doing for these children is working: spiritual teaching, education, preventative medicine and assured physical growth.

And now about that child. Dr. Dave a physician who came with us on this trip saw his last patient who wasn't a MoM child but a child of a MoM worker in the project. This young child has cerebral palsy and was already showing signs of significant arm and leg stiffness. He explained in gentle terms to the mother the reason why the child was like this and followed with genuinely compassionate words of encouragement and support for the mother. God's love for all regardless of who or what they are was his message and how blessed that child was to have a loving mother like her. It struck me that those words are the words that our God speaks to us: He loves us unconditionally with compassion and grace. And so when I reflect back on today and see how the children of MoM are doing I realize it's because of that unconditional love. From Him and us. It was a good day you see. Unconditionally loved and blessed. I'm looking forward to tomorrow.

In all things give thanks,
David

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Haiti Day 3

2011-01-05T18:44:00.000-07:00

The filth is overwhelming. The stagnant water, algae and garbage filled, surrounds the children. They live in it, play in it, and sleep in it. I wonder how they make it from day to day. From the picture above with the team at today's project, you can see what I'm talking about. I've been here 4 times in the past 15 months and it hasn't changed but the children have. With our aggressive cholera education and prevention program, we saw only a handful of children who had had cholera and did well, and saw no active cases. Our quick response and initiative paid off.

And what a difference food makes. A few calories, a little protein, carbohydrates and unsaturated fats, gives a child an opportunity to grow and live. That's what we've been seeing. Well fed children. A testimony to the MoM program of feeding children in the projects at least once a week if not more. I expected no less since we were aggressive last year in pushing nutrition as a priority.

That is not to say that we didn't see any children who were malnourished. We did. Not many though. The picture above is of a 4 year old boy who we identified today with our rapid nutritional assessment program and started him on the nutritional rescue program. Medika Mamba and of course vitamins.

We came, saw, treated, prayed, and loved. We ran 3 parallel tracts as planned: cholera education, nutritional assessment and rescue and physical exams. We had pharmacy running too as well as a streamlined registration process. All for the children. We are blessed to be where we and to do what we do. I hope that the children whom we saw today, will one day do the same for others. Our God has asked that of us. To be servants to others. He's asked that of me and I'm happy to be doing so. Today, tomorrow and always.

In all things give thanks,
David
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Haiti Day 2

2011-01-05T05:38:00.000-07:00

He is 11 years old. Short, skinny, eyes that see little and withdrawn. He looks like he's 7. He is what we call stunted. Malnourished during the most important growing years, 6 months to 5 years. No chance now to catch up, no chance to make up the difference. What we could do is give him some high caloric Medika Mamba and hope he gains weight, feel better, and feel like a person again. Severe malnutrition does that to children. We have an aggressive program to prevent that in our children 5 years and younger and it is simply giving a balanced meal to the children each time they come to the project. Since we started this last year, the number of moderately or severely malnourished children under the age of 6 years has dropped significantly. We've identified just a handful out of the 226 children we saw yesterday.

We traveled a quarter of a mile up a river wash to get to a project, saw patients in the rain, and served those who came to see us. The team is doing well. Dave, Lon, Tanner, Michael, Kelly, Thelma, Allison, Annelyssa, Michelle, Deanna, Danielle, Yolie, Trisha, and Anne are serving. We're finished in Limbe and headed to Cap Haitien. The cholera is well controlled in our projects thanks to the program we put in place a few months ago when cholera hit. We are re-educating and reinforcing the information in each project. The nutritional assessment and rescue program is working and we are training key members of our projects to continue the assessment and treatment of the malnourished children we identified. Serving. It's a wonderful feeling. I wouldn't want to be without it.

In all things give thanks,
David
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Haiti Day 1

2011-01-03T18:17:00.000-07:00

With considerable effort, the twin engine 30 passenger plane lifted off the runway in Fort Lauderdale. Fully loaded, and short on fuel. One sacrifices fuel for passengers and baggage. That's the law of lift and weight in an airplane. We landed an hour later on a small island in the Bahamas to refuel and made our way to Cap Haitian. 3 hours later we were at our first clinic and in 2.5 hours saw 108 children, did physicals on them all, nutritional assessments, identified those who were moderately or severely malnourished, did cholera education, gave out vitamins, de-worming meds and other medications and finished up the day. It's all good. We saw some wonderful smiles, some very malnourished children and a community of children who loved being loved on and cared about. There is nothing more satisfying than doing what God tells us to do and we did that today. Sleep is calling. He is calling. I'll answer to both.

In all things give thanks,
David
David H. Beyda, MD
Medical Director
Medical Mercy
Mission of Mercy-"One child Matters"
www.medicalmercy.blogspot.com
www.medicalmercy.com
cell: 602 228 8983

Haiti: Again…

2011-01-01T13:31:00.001-07:00

It’s an odd thing getting a glimpse of something you know well from a time somewhere in the distant past. That distant past for me was 32 years ago, when I spent several months in a refugee camp in Cambodia as medical director of pediatrics. I was a senior resident in pediatrics and had 6 months to go before I started my fellowship in critical care at Johns Hopkins. And here I was in Cambodia. How I got there, and how I got to finish my residency in a refugee camp is a whole different story. But happen it did.

I look more or less the same after 32 years (“more” round, and “less” hair), and have been traveling the world doing third world medicine ever since. But what does all that have to do with the fact that tomorrow, a team of 14 of us leave for Haiti? Again? It’s the cholera thing. We had 2 epidemics in the Cambodian refugee camp while I was there: measles and cholera. I actually got measles encephalitis and was evacuated to Bangkok where I was in the ICU for a week, comatose with cerebral measles. I woke up, had lost 15 pounds (it’s all back now thank you very much), and went right back to the refugee camp to keep working. That aside, it was the deaths that we saw. On day one of the refugee camp opening (around Christmas day 1980), I lost over 100 children. Every day was the same as waves and waves of refugees came over a mountain range being chased by communist insurgents. It finally slowed down, then the epidemics hit. Measles first. Hundreds of deaths from measles pneumonia, never seen here in the US. Then it was the cholera. Close quarters, hygiene issues (150,000 refugees cramped into about 10 acres), and poor control. I learned about cholera quickly, and how to treat it. I’ve never had to use that knowledge again until a few months ago. Haiti brought back the memories. The glimpses of those times, offer a valuable reminder that things sometimes don’t change. Poor sanitation, hygiene and dirty water, brings cholera to the forefront and with it its devastation. And that’s why we’re going. After my assessment trip a few weeks ago, it became clear that we needed to go back and reinforce the education and prevention programs we put into place. We’ll be doing that, examining all the children again, and doing a nutritional assessment on all of them. We’ll put those who are moderately or severely malnourished into a comprehensive nutritional ruse program using Medika Mamba (a peanut butter paste). We’ll go to 15 projects and see about 1700 children.

Glimpsing the past does change the way you look at things in the present. I know what needs to be done. I’ve seen it and have lived it. The team is ready, and we are off to face the battle. Bring it!

In all things give thanks,

David

Haiti cholera assessment day #5

2010-12-03T16:21:00.000-07:00

The questions asked were interesting: if cholera is in the water and in fish, should we not swim in the ocean; why are the dead burned and not buried; where did cholera start; can you get cholera more than once; and what does cholera look like? These were just a few of the many questions asked by the 65 participants at today's training. Pastors, teachers and volunteers from all 15 projects attended. I spoke on the cause of cholera, prevention, treatment, and assessing the sick patient. We had a "show and tell" on how to make chlorinated water, ORS and how to wash our hands. We ended the week of assessment with a powerful take home message: no one should die of cholera and no one should get cholera. Hygiene and sanitation is the key to prevention, and fluid, fluid, fluid are the mainstay of therapy: stay hydrated.

We will be back here in less than a month. I'm bringing a Medical Mercy team of 15, 8 medical and 7 lay. We will be working at a cholera treatment center taking care of the sickest of the sick and doing a comprehensive nutritional assessment of all the children in the projects to identify those who are moderately or severely malnourished. There will be a lot to do, but if it hadn't been for Edrice (our Haiti country facilitator) who put in place the protocols we sent for chlorinated water, the use of ORS and hygiene, we'd be way behind this cholera epidemic. Edrice did an incredible amount of work without complaint or question. He is a true servant. And thanks to Jack for his preliminary assessment of the children and identifying those that I needed to see and for his logistical support and for everything else that he does that goes under the radar but is so important.

The intervention and implementation of our cholera prevention and treatment program served the children of MoM well. I leave tomorrow morning, tired but comforted that what we did worked. And for that I say,

In all things give thanks,
David

Haiti assessment #4

2010-12-02T15:00:00.000-07:00

It's all good. At least for our children in our projects here in Quanamenthe. We saw children from 7 projects, and the orphanage, and I examined about 150 of them who looked sick. Thankfully only a few needed referrals to a clinic, and none needed urgent attention. All in all, cholera has met it's match, at least in our projects. The chlorine is being used, soap is being lathered up and the children are happy. We visited the local hospital and spoke to the organization that was setting up a cholera treatment center. I was very pleased with what is available for our children if needed.

Tomorrow I speak to about 65 of our project representative who will become our "prevention specialists" responsible for continuous cholera prevention education. I'll be going over the physical findings and how to assess dehydration in children in addition to reviewing the use of chlorine, soap, and the water filters. I can't say it enough. Our projects are in good shape and the children are receiving the best that we can give them.

And so if you're wondering why all the fuss, if you could see what is happening outside the "walls" of our projects, you would see devastation and despair that is never ending. It is hard to imagine.

So for now, we push forward and in all things give thanks.

David

Haiti cholera assessment #3

2010-12-01T16:45:00.000-07:00

I am at the border of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Cholera travels. We visited 4 of our projects today and I examined over 100 children and found them all to be healthy! A few had chronic illnesses, but there were no signs cholera in our children! What wonderful news! The chlorine, soap and education is making a difference I believe even though the projects are in some very remote places as a picture above shows. Filth everywhere.

The little child shown was sitting in his mother's bed. She was critically ill with cholera. The face says it all. I could not walk away without making sure that the fragile woman lying there was going to make it. I spoke with the medical team caring for her and went over their plans. A few suggestions, a slight change in therapy and we all agreed she would make it. I can't accept anything less.

We go to 5 more projects tomorrow. I'm hoping to see children who have not been hit by cholera. If that is the case, I'll begin to finalize the plans for the Medical Mercy team that will be coming here January 2-10, 2011. One year after the earthquake. We were here then to help the earthquake victims. We went to India and Kenya after that. Now we'll be here again to help the cholera victims. Then onto Ethiopia and Bangladesh. Because one child matters.

In all things give thanks,
David

Haiti cholera assessment #2

2010-11-30T17:19:00.000-07:00

When you think everything is under control and is going smoothly, something grabs your attention and takes over. An 8 year-old boy did that today. We went to 3 of our projects to look at a group of children who were identified last week as needing a more thorough "look-see". Jack and Edrice had done a very nice preliminary assessment of the children and identified those who looked moderately or severely ill and dehydrated. It was my turn to look at them now. Jack and Edrice had also handed out chlorine, soap, and education material to get the projects up to speed on cholera prevention. And from what I saw it was working. We saw about 100 children from the 3 projects, referred 14 of them for further care and transported 1 child urgently to the cholera treatment center. He was the one who got my attention. 8 years old but looked like he was 5, severely dehydrated,but also severely malnourished, more than likely from being ill for a while. He was lethargic, pale, weak pulses, and to be frank, looking to collapse permanently in just a few more hours. We rushed him to the CTC and he was immediately treated after I consulted with the physician there. By the time we left, he was getting IV therapy and was on a comprehensive fluid resuscitation protocol that the local physician and I put together. We also planned out a 1 week nutritional rescue program for him that would insure his recovery. He will do well.

We established a relationship with 2 hospitals that will take our children and care for them when needed. We meet with several physicians and discussed long term plans for cholera prevention and intervention. Cholera is here to stay for awhile, but I will tell you, that our projects are way ahead off the game, by having the chlorine, soap, and education in place. I am very encouraged with what I've seen and with what we've been able to do for our children.

As we move through the country, there is still evidence of the toll that cholera takes. I came across a young woman sitting in a wheel chair, an IV In her arm, and a blank stare. She was dripping the classical rice water stool from her wheel chair, unaware of the pool of diarrhea that she was leaving below her. People walked around her. I did too, but stopped briefly to touch her arm, to tell her that I was not ashamed to be there next to her, to let her know that she too should not be ashamed. I turned and left and knew that she may not make it. I could only hope that she felt my touch and knew that I was not afraid of her or her illness. Cholera in Haiti carries a stigma, no different than AIDS did many years ago, with people afraid to be near those affected. She deserves more than that.

I am so thankful for what we've done in our projects to prevent and avoid what I saw in the CTC tents. We move on tomorrow to 5 more of our projects. I am ever thankful for what we have in our lives, no matter how bad things may seem for us. Look at the pictures above. I think you'd agree.

In all things give thanks,
David

Haiti Cholera assessment pictures

2010-11-29T19:45:00.000-07:00

Pictures of cholera treatment center.

Haiti Cholera Assessment #1

2010-11-29T17:10:00.001-07:00

(Hard time up loading pictures)

There is never a shortage of things that need explaining and what is happening in Haiti is one of them. The election for a new president was yesterday and there were 19 candidates running,15 of whom have now said that there has been fraud and the announcement of the winner will be within the next 24 to 48 hours. Demonstrations and perhaps even worse is expected. And here I am. Assessing what the cholera epidemic is doing to our children in our projects. There is never a moment in this country that is without hardship. Poverty, and earthquake, TB, slow recovery, and now this, a cholera epidemic. It's been said that even a mouse will kick an elephant when it's down. Well,kick away. This elephant, this country is staying down for a while.

We have 15 projects here in Haiti, with over 1600 children under our care. Jack from MoM HQ's and Edrice our country coordinator have been busy this week. They got supplies from the DR, visited all the projects, did a quick assessment of the children using an algorithm table I developed and began teaching the projects how to prevent cholera. I arrived several hours ago, and within 15 minutes of landing, was at the Justinian Hospital meeting with physicians that I have known, Nate from Konbit Sante, and off to a cholera treatment center (CTC). Within 2 hours we established the referral pattern for our sickest children and collaborated with the Baptist Hospital in Carrefour La Mort run by the Haitian Hospital Appeal. A CTC was being established there. I made quick rounds and saw extremely dehydrated and sick patients getting treatment. Rows and rows of them. A triage system is established with "A" for oral rehydration, "B" for oral and IV rehydration and observation,and "C" for seriously ill and dying patients. Chlorine basins are everywhere. Our shoes are sprayed with chlorine when we leave the area. Patients are coming by the hundreds.

But what about our children and the projects? I begin a comprehensive assessment of all projects tomorrow. I wanted to have the referral process in place before I went out so I could be able to send children somewhere if I needed to. Here is what we are doing for the projects:

1. Each project has 2 people identified as "prevention" specialists who are being trained by us to teach hand washing, hygiene, waste disposal, and assessment of signs of dehydration.
2. Each family (1600 of them) have received a gallon of chlorine for their water, enough to last one month with more to come
3. Each family (1600) have received 5 one pound blocks of soap
4. Each project now has a water filter
5. Each project has enough ORS packets to treat at last 50 children until they can be sent elsewhere
6. We will be assessing latrines, sewage, and waste disposal next

It's been a long day. I am hoping for calm tomorrow with no civil unrest. We have so much more to do. I feel like time is slipping away, and I wonder if it will ever slow down. I will rest little tonight, knowing that there are many who will slip away. The humiliation of laying in your own diarrhea, dehydrated, and passing away, is what I see even with my eyes closed. I wonder what they see.

In all things give thanks,
David

Haiti emergency relief trip

2010-11-24T09:08:00.001-07:00

I’m leaving for an urgent trip to Haiti in a few days. Jack from MoM is arriving today. Several of our children are critically ill, some have passed away, parents, church members, and pastors are all affected. We are urgently traveling there to assess and assist. Jack, myself, and our wonderful partners on the ground in the DR and Haiti are going to do our best to bring some semblance of health care and prevention to those who are suffering. There is civil unrest, riots, an election coming up and danger. I know that we are protected. Without Him we are nothing.

For the past week, Jack and I have been planning, implementing and assessing what our intervention can accomplish. We have ordered a lot of supplies from the DR that are being transported to Haiti. Here is what we are doing:

1. Evaluate all the projects for:

· Water sources, supplies, cleanliness, utilization and potential for wells and/or filtration systems: we are taking a supply of water filtration systems with us

· Hygiene and sanitation protocols

· General health conditions of the children and families

o Nutritional

o Infectious

o Document number of people with cholera

o Degree of illness

2. Ongoing treatment

· Plans for referrals to hospitals or clinics for medical care

· Meet with our local MD who we are working with to coordinate efforts

· Visit Justinien Hospitals and Milot Hospital

o Evaluate their ability to care for more patients

o Evaluate supply needs

3. Evaluate collaborative efforts with Konbit Santé and the local hospitals

4. Establish a plan and priorities for our January medical team dependent on the findings from this trip

5. Reinforce aggressive education to prevent any more child deaths.

a. Invite all mothers/children to come to the projects each day: They will get a bowl of porridge and ORS

b. Training for making ORS, hygiene, sanitation, water purification will be done at separate teaching stations that families will rotate through so that each mother/family can clearly see the importance of each and not get overwhelmed.

6. Following the list of registered children each project will keep attendance records each day and follow up with the families that haven’t come.

7. Home visits will be conducted frequently to follow up on assessing sanitation, use of products, and additional education.

8. Any child/family member identified as being at risk in any of the above steps will be either moved to the project for observation and ORS treatment or taken to clinic/hospital for IV treatment.

We have a lot to do. We are anxious, yet comforted by the fact that we will be doing what we know He wants us to do. I’ll be posting to the blog and tweeting as I can starting on Sunday evening (November 28^th). In the meantime, during this time of thanks, remember what you have and what you don’t have, and…

In all things, give thanks.

David

Update November 2010

2010-11-12T04:02:00.001-07:00

A team leaves in a few hours for Cambodia. I unfortunately will not be going with them, so there will be no blogging at this site. Michael, our pastor will be blogging from his site http://developingworkers.com so please follow them there, and on our Medical Mercy Facebook page. This will be a very special trip.

Some of you may be wondering about Haiti and what Medical Mercy and Mission of Mercy has wand will be doing there. Medical Mercy is taking a team to Haiti on January 2, 2011 and we’ll be up north near Cap Haitian and in the areas most hit by the refugees and in our projects. We’ll be working at an orphanage as well. When the cholera endemic hit, we put in to place an aggressive educational and prevention program. Here is what we know and what we have done so far:

• The two areas in the North where the cholera is present is Cap Haitian and Lembe

• MoM has gathered all the data on the living conditions of registered children.

• Each partner has identified two members in there church that will help with the follow once the training is done. They will make sure that each household understand what the necessary steps to prevent cholera. They will also make sure that the items MoM will provide is being used properly.

• MoM has identified who is using the water filters and the ones that are not using. Additional water filters are being purchased and will be sent.

• We have a doctor there who is helping with the training and has also with him enough oral rehydration kits to teach them on how to prepare and when to use it.

In January we will be working on education, prevention, nutritional assessment, assessing residual complications of those affected by cholera, and doing ongoing medical care. I expect that we will be busy.

Pray for the Cambodian team. They have a long way to travel and a lot that will be done. Be with them as they do what they do for whom it is most important.

In all things give thanks,

David

Kenyan Health Care workers

2010-08-28T04:56:00.000-07:00

Let me introduce you to the graduated Health Care workers from Kenya, trained by Medical Mercy:
Peter, David, Reuben, Shadrack, Boniface, Jackson, Ruth, Wilson, Nuru, Priscilla, Simon, Pastor Daniel, Nathaniel, Esther, Elvis, Joyce and Josphat.
Well done and congratulations!!
David
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Kenya Medical Mission Final Thoughts

2010-08-28T00:12:00.001-07:00

As it began, so it ended. With excitement and gracious giving we finished 5 days of clinics in Kenya seeing 1476 patients and completing the training of 17 Health Care workers. And this morning I had breakfast with Pastor Daniel, one of the HCWs we trained and who is the pastor of a community where we have about 200 sponsored children. He affirmed that what we did here this week is God given, and God driven.

I came to Kenya 1 year ago exactly to give a 1 week course to these pastors and teachers that worked with us this week. It was the first part of a 2 week program I developed several years ago to train them to be Health Care workers. To be able to recognize a sick child, start basic treatment, and know when to transfer to an advanced health care facility.. This week was the second week of their training, their “practical” or “skills” training, where they actually worked with us seeing patients and putting into practice what they learned in class. The training was intense. The learning curve steep. The excitement and the commitment of the HCWs solid. The US medical team members (Lara, Melissa, Sarah, Heather, Deanna, Aimee, Anne, Glenda, Stephan, Michael, Kelly, Sue) were instrumental in the success of the program. They worked tirelessly, teaching patiently and slowly, taking time to explain what the HCWs were seeing. By the end of the week, the HCWs were seeing patients on their own. They also learned how to dispense medications, and to do a nutritional assessment. Last night, we had a graduation dinner and ceremony, handing out their certificates and each received a medical bag filled with medical supplies and medicines that they were now going to use in their projects. It was a wonderful end to a wonderful week. Pastor Daniel shared with me this morning that he saved a woman’s life a few months ago because he had learned the Heimlich maneuver last year in the course. He had in turn taught it to his community members, and 2 of them had used it on family members who were choking on food. Pastor Daniel said that he and the other HCWs stayed up late last night and talked about all that they had learned and did this week. He shared that many of the parents of the children seen this week were touched by the fact that one of their own, their community pastors and teachers, were giving of themselves to help others in ways that were never expected. The patients and parents were comforted by the fact that the hands that were touching them, were hands that were known to them and part of their culture. Pastor Daniel said it finally made sense to him and the other HCWs what I have been sharing with them all this week: the most powerful tool or medicine that they will bring to their patients is themselves. Affirmation given that what we did was blessed and bountiful. The children of MoM are better for it. The villages and the communities are better for it.

What is it that brings us back to countries like Kenya? What is it that brings us to a place of humility in our hearts when we see what we have and what we are blessed with, and how we are sometimes not good stewards of our given gifts? For me it is the realization that all that I have is meaningless unless it is used for a greater purpose. The purpose for which it was given: to serve and to be His light. We did that this week. There is no greater reward than to give and know that it is given freely without need for anything in return. The great irony in it all is that I do so more readily in the countries we go to, than I do in the US. Hypocritical yes. But I am trying to do better, and openly confess my shortcomings. This week, being with the forgotten children and the HCWs have shown me once again, that I am not really all that I make myself out to be. Being humbled is a hard taskmaster and one that I am not very good at, but I am getting more used to it.

So how about you? I trust that the gifts and talents given you are well used and freely given. Look in the mirror with me. Do you see “what” you are, or do you see “who” you are? You may be surprised.

In all things give thanks,

David

Kenya clinic day 4

2010-08-26T05:32:00.000-07:00

And so it began. We stopped to buy more meds, having run out of some that we expected would be needed where we were going, and we were right. Over 200 patients later, we were glad we did.
Greeted by singing children, we expected an easy day of it. It was for the most part. A minor emergency here, a procedure or 2 there, and patients lined up for what looked like blocks, kept us busy. The HCWs became more comfortable with their roles as servants to those who came to them for help. They became comfortable with their physical examination skills.
The US team has been remarkable. Each a teacher, bringing with them their experience and knowledge, freely shared.
There are many things in this world that gives us satisfaction. Being in the countries MoM serve, caring for the children, teaching HCWs who will stay on and make a difference in the children's lives, and serving Him, is satisfaction guaranteed. I can think of no better way to live my life.
In all things give thanks,
David
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Kenya thoughts

2010-08-25T23:02:00.001-07:00

A different type of entry this time. Sleeping can wax and wane, then receding into wakefulness for hours. All this may be due to jet lag, or just a sense of searching for questions asked. We're here after months of planning, the date set a year ago, a lot of coordinating, emailing, purchasing, and organizing. Kelly has lead the charge in all of that and has shined through once again.

Now here's the issue. When we arrive in places like Kenya, how do we center ourselves on what is important, or more importantly who is important. Prayer, being ever vigilant of whose we are and why we are here, and obedience to a calling. Medical Mercy is about all of that. Do we do a good job of it? I would think we do. So here's the question. When we go back to the US, we have our families, friends, jobs, activities, hobbies, and everything that we put into our lives to make ourselves happy. There it is: "Make us happy". What would it be like if we went back home with the same mind set that we have here, obedience, giving, charity, kindness, love and grace...all the time, never ending, always present. Being here in Kenya is bringing out the best in us. It feels nice and warm, heart filling and rewarding. We head off to another clinic in a few hours. We'll feel loved and will love back, caring for those less fortunate. I wonder, just wonder, if I am like that all the time in the US. Silly me. I'm not. And that is what keeps me awake. Trying to understand how easy is to be so wonderfully giving to the children and families we see in the countries we travel to, and how hard it is to do the same in the US. I say all this out of open confession. I am not always who I want to be. These trips do however reinforce the fact that I am perhaps a little better because of them. Humility remains paramount in my life. For without Him, I am only who I think I am and not what He has made me. All that said, maybe I can catch a bit of sleep now.
In all things give thanks,
David
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Kenya clinic day 3

2010-08-25T10:12:00.000-07:00

A much better day. Really. Almost 300 patients today, all outside with the wind blowing and the tarps a'flying. The clinic ran smoothly, the HCWs made significant progress, and all was good in the world. We were gifted with traditional Kenyan ware and with love from the children. I'll say it again. A wonderful day serving those who asked for nothing, except acceptance and love. Short message tonight. Time to recuperate.
In all things give thanks,
David
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Kenya clinic day 2

2010-08-24T19:40:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, things just don't seem fair. And today was one of those days. We saw just over 200 patients, in a village far from any paved road, about an hour and a half outside of Malindi. It was remote, a few mud huts and a lot of vegetation. The Kenyan HCWs and the US medical team worked together seeing patients, with light drizzles of rain and bursts of sunshine taking turns throughout the day. We saw lots of malnutrition and a host of other diseases, and we all agreed that the children we saw today were sicker than those we saw yesterday. There was also a clear difference between the health of the sponsored children and those who weren't sponsored. The sponsored children were sick, but the others were much sicker. Gives some affirmation that what MoM does for their children gives them at least a much better chance at life. And so what about this "life isn't fair" issue? Without getting into details, we saw 2 children who had significant medical issues which could have been addressed and the children made better, but due to circumstances, they were not going to be able to be helped. They were un-sponsored children with complex medical issues that would involve a great deal of resources, time and commitment. The sadness of it all was that if done right, both would be able to go on and life better lives. We struggled with the questions of should we jump in and start the process of diagnostic tests, referrals to specialists, and recommending advanced medical care, or leave well enough alone, knowing that unless we did this right and committing to see it through all the way (years of specialized medical care, etc), we were only giving false hope for a better tomorrow. To start a process and then abandon it half way through just doesn't make sense and just should not happen. There is a right and best way to do things. And the right and best thing to do here was to leave well enough alone. Sounds cold and uncaring doesn't it. But here's the question I pose of you: would you have done anything different and if so would you have been able to make a 100% guarantee of full commitment? Because if you couldn't, that child living in the bush of Kenya, will be waiting for the promise of cure and a better life, becoming more and more disillusioned with life than he was before. There is nothing more heart breaking than a broken heart from a broken promise. So we decided as we did and that is the reality of third world medicine. There are just some things we just can't do. You turn away and hope that they don't see the tears in your eyes. Life isn't fair is it. Today was bitter sweet. We helped a lot of children, were gifted with colorful T-shirts from the village and walked away from 2 who needed more than we could give. And I'm so sorry for that. Can 2 children with very special needs find it in their hearts to forgive? I hope so.
In all things give thanks,
David
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Kenya clinic day 2

2010-08-24T19:20:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, things just don't seem fair. And today was one of those days. We saw just over 200 patients, in a village far from any paved road, about an hour and a half outside of Malindi. It was remote, a few mud huts and a lot of vegetation. The Kenyan HCWs and the US medical team worked together seeing patients, with light drizzles of rain and bursts of sunshine taking turns throughout the day. We saw lots of malnutrition and a host of other diseases, and we all agreed that the children we saw today were sicker than those we saw yesterday. There was also a clear difference between the health of the sponsored children and those who weren't sponsored. The sponsored children were sick, but the others were much sicker. Gives some affirmation that what MoM does for their children gives them at least a much better chance at life. And so what about this "life isn't fair" issue? Without getting into details, we saw 2 children who had significant medical issues which could have been addressed and the children made better, but due to circumstances, they were not going to be able to be helped. They were un-sponsored children with complex medical issues that would involve a great deal of resources, time and commitment. The sadness of it all was that if done right, both would be able to go on and life better lives. We struggled with the questions of should we jump in and start the process of diagnostic tests, referrals to specialists, and recommending advanced medical care, or leave well enough alone, knowing that unless we did this right and committing to see it through all the way (years of specialized medical care, etc), we were only giving false hope for a better tomorrow. To start a process and then abandon it half way through just doesn't make sense and just should not happen. There is a right and best way to do things. And the right and best thing to do here was to leave well enough alone. Sounds cold and uncaring doesn't it. But here's the question I pose of you: would you have done anything different and if so would you have been able to make a 100% guarantee of full commitment? Because if you couldn't, that child living in the bush of Kenya, will be waiting for the promise of cure and a better life, becoming more and more disillusioned with life than he was before. There is nothing more heart breaking than a broken heart from a broken promise. So we decided as we did and that is the reality of third world medicine. There are just some things we just can't do. You turn away and hope that they don't see the tears in your eyes. Life isn't fair is it. Today was bitter sweet. We helped a lot of children and walked away from 2 who needed more than we could give. And I'm so sorry for that. Can 2 children with very special needs find it in their hearts to forgive? I hope so. I'm asking for it.
In all things give thanks,
David
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Kenya day 1 clinic

2010-08-23T05:51:00.000-07:00

Amazing day. About 1.5 hrs out of Malindi, all dirt roads, we set up a clinic, examined patients (almost 300) outside under a tent canopy, and dispensed pharmacy from a mud building. The HCWs worked with us, using what they had been taught in class, and seeing patients. We weighed and assessed the nutritional status of every child we saw, identifying 50% of the children we saw as malnourished. The usual diseases, malaria, pneumonia, skin rashes, TB, a few suspected cases of HIV, and parasites, made up the most of what we saw. Children got a meal of rice and beans at mid-day, and off they went. The afternoon clinic was much the same. Another day of practicing medicine in Kenya. So different that what I was doing just a few days ago in the US. Taking care of severely ill and injured children in a 10 million dollar pediatric intensive care unit, with everything I needed. Today, it's dirt and sand, medicines out of boxes and baggies, a generator driving a computer we're using to input the nutritional assessment data, mud huts, mosquitoes, no bathrooms, children who haven't seen a doctor ever, and the life expectancy of these children of about 35 years. Go figure. Is one place better than the other? Of course the technology and the immediate availability of things needed that I have in the US would trump what we have now. Not so. What we have here is not always available in the US. Acts of giving with wanting nothing in return. Covenant relationships. No insurance forms, no billing, no co-pays. Just agape. The act of giving love without need for anything in return. The HCWs are showing it. Their first time holding the hand of a patient who has come to them for help. And they have taken that hand and held on tight. Unafraid, graciously and caring. It is so wonderful to see. We will leave behind a group of dedicated teachers and pastors who have accepted the role of caring healer openly and selflessly. It's really has been an amazing day.
In all things give thanks,
David
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Kenya Day 1

2010-08-22T06:33:00.000-07:00

We arrived in Malindi and went right into teaching the review course for the Health Care workers. 4 hours of lectures and practicing physical examination skills. We're all tired. Clinics start tomorrow. More tomorrow. We all can barely stay awake.
In all things give thanks,
David
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Kenya arrival

2010-08-21T13:54:00.001-07:00

We made it to Nairobi. Midnight here. 1000 lbs of medicines and suitcases and team members. 1 suitcase and 1 med box lost. Sleep for a few hours then catch a plane to Malindi. We have just begun.
In all things give thanks,
David

Kenya: August 20-39, 2010 - -It begins.

2010-08-19T10:45:00.002-07:00

Somewhere, there are children who haven’t really had a good night’s sleep, possibly because they are hungry, sick, alone, or scared. And that somewhere could be anywhere. The US, Europe, southeast Asia, and Africa. Tomorrow, Medical Mercy leaves for Kenya to be with those children. It’s been an interesting process. The team came together, a few had to drop out, medications ordered, some didn’t arrive, 100,000 vitamins are tied up in shipping somewhere here in the US, we found 100,000 vitamins in Kenya that we are purchasing last minute, we found out that extra luggage will cost a lot of money, flight connections coming home are tight, we hired a truck to take all our stuff from Nairobi to Malindi due to the small aircraft that we’ll be flying with that truck driving 10 hours to get stuff to us on time to start clinics (hopefully), packing over 6000 unit doses of prescriptions, preparing for 5 hours of lectures to be given to the Health Care Workers for review, and…the list goes on. But, is all that important? Not really, because from where I sit, the team that is going, has everything they need. Him. I have always said that the most powerful tool, the most powerful medicine that we bring to the bedsides as caring healers is…ourselves, and what we have in our hearts. Grace, compassion, empathy, understanding, trust, integrity, and love. We are silent servants taking hold of the hands that have reached out to us for help. We leave tomorrow. We’re privileged to be able to go and hold those hands.
In all things give thanks,
David

Kenya Medical: August 20-29, 2010

2010-08-08T15:42:00.001-07:00

I just heard the news. Medical missionaries killed in Afghanistan, reasons given by the murderers: evangelism. So very far from the truth. So very far from any understanding of how such hatred can make people do what they do. But so it is. We, team members of Medical Mercy, have found ourselves on some occasions (Cambodia, Egypt, Mozambique, Haiti), falling within the boundaries of such hatred, within the boundaries of danger, but thankfully protected by common sense, trust, planned security, preparation of the team with clear instructions for evacuation, code words to be used, and faith. Yes, faith. No different than the medical missionaries who were murdered. And so how is it different for us? It isn’t really. We open ourselves up to danger, understanding that it is there, praying that it doesn't happen, and thankful for when it doesn’t. I make every effort to make sure the team is safe and protected. Many of the members on trips have seen that. Many too, are unaware of what is happening behind the scenes, without their knowledge, to keep us safe. And yet, even with all that, anything can happen.

With all that, we depart for Kenya August 20th. Right now the team stands at 14 members. The team members are caring souls, who give of themselves to serve others. We will be working along side the 16 Kenyan teachers and pastors who I trained last year to be Health Care workers. We will be seeing over 2000 patients in 5 days. We will be traveling to the coastal area of Kenya, Malindi, going to more than 8 projects, all of which are desolate, isolated, poverty stricken, and burdened with disease. Over 1200 forgotten children. Forgotten for now, but not for long. We’ll be there to make sure that they are given every chance to live a long and cherished life.

This will be quite a journey. Just wait and see.

In all things give thanks,

David

New Delhi, India: Day 6

2010-05-07T05:29:00.001-07:00

We finished our last day of medical clinics, and in 5 days saw 2000 patients, dispensed over 10,000 prescriptions and prayed a whole lot. And with all this comes a sense of remorse for not being able to do more. How silly is that. Okay…perhaps not so silly.

When I look back at the 5 days we spent working in some of the worst slums in the world, I see a little speck of light in the otherwise dark cloud that hangs over the lives of these people. The smiles of the children, the glisten of tears of thanks from the parents, and the soft touch of a calloused hand that has felt nothing but garbage all of its life, gives me solace in knowing that at least for now, for even a brief moment, they feel worthy of being valued. They feel the warmth of dignity, the pride of being recognized as human, and the love that they may not have felt for a very long time. We in turn, felt saddened, angry, frustrated, and confused at the indignities they suffer. But now, we must let all of that go, and realize that it is not easily fixed. What we did do, is leave behind a memory for those who choose to remember, the short time we spent together. The “slum dogs” and us. A memory of being valued and loved. No pity was shown, for that is not what they need, nor I would guess, is what they want. But empathy, compassion, and caring, all of which is sometimes very hard to do and give. This team, this group of 12 servants, did all that. Erica, Greg, Amy, Grant, Ashley, Kelly, Anne, Heather, Jesse, Gretchen, Sarah, and Cammie. Well done silent servants.

There are no pictures this time. I want you to close your eyes and see yourself in what I’ve described to you. I want you to see yourself living in a slum and being called as dog. I want you to make your own picture. And then burn it. You’ll not want to look at it again. But do one more thing for me. Every time you feel like you’ve been dealt a bad hand, give thanks for it, because it will never be as bad as what has been dealt to the “slum dogs” of India.

In all things give thanks,

David

New Delhi, India: Day 5

2010-05-06T10:21:00.001-07:00

Sangam Vihar is one of the largest unauthorized colonies in Asia and has a population of close to 2 million. We only saw a very small part of it. The” Rag pickers” slum is one of the many slums within this unauthorized colony and the rag pickers slums have some of the poorest people I’ve ever seen living in absolute inhumane living conditions.

There is no potable water for people to drink. Slum Clusters (houses) are made of plastic and low cost materials. People go to the city very early in the morning to collect garbage and bring it back to their slum and sort the garbage into plastic and metal, for re-cycling. The schema of how this works is beyond comprehension. A wealthy landlord owns 1/8th acre parcels of land. He hires a “contractor” to manage theses properties. Rag pickers rent a 1/8th parcel of land to live on. The rent is about $300 a month, much too expensive for one just one family. So 9 families share that 1/8th parcel of land, and share the monthly rental cost. Once the garbage is sorted, a bushel bag of let’s say plastic is sold to the contractor for $1. The contractor in turn sells the same bushel to a recycling plant for $50. A large portion of that goes to the land owner, the contractor keeps some, and the rag picker gets a dollar. You can begin to see how many bushels of garbage needs to be picked and sold to the contractor for $1 in order to pay the rent and live. Parents do not want their children to go to school as they are needed to go out and collect garbage in order to add to the income of the family. This is one of the neediest areas for medical care as almost 20% children do not see their 5^th birthday. These people are from West Bengal and speak only Bengali which makes it difficult to get jobs to earn any better income. This is where we spent the day today. This is where we saw 346 children. This is where we began to understand that no matter how hard we try, we’ll never know why life is dealt out the way it is. The haves and the have not's.

For now, we just keep going, waiting to see what tomorrow brings. And hope that it is a little better for those who live here. It is a difficult time for us. Asking questions, knowing that there are no answers. Why young girls are sold to the sex trade. Why people are kidnapped, drugged and operated on, only to wake up and find that both of their kidneys have been removed and sold for a great deal of money, and they now will die unless they can find the money to pay for someone's else's kidneys. I know that I will close my eyes tonight to go to sleep , but will find sleep illusive, as the questions are posed over and over again all the same. And if I do fall asleep, I pray that I dream that those whom I saw today, find a better life. It’s been said, that dreams can come true. Will you dream with me?

In all things give thanks,

David

New Delhi, India: Day 4

2010-05-05T08:18:00.001-07:00

Once in awhile we realize that all things are possible especially if you believe it. And today was one of those days. An incredibly gifted US Medical Mercy medical team, working with an incredible India team from MoM project 253, saw 600 patients. In one day. Without fanfare, thorough medical examinations done, prescriptions handed out, patients prayed with and for, and with not one…not one complaint, excuse, or question. I saw silent servants giving of themselves for others. I believe.

We came back to the same slum community that we were in yesterday. There are as you remember, over 2000 children who are cared for by the ministry of Pastor Koshy and his wife Joicy. 600 of those are MoM children. We decided to see as many of the the children as possible, and between yesterday and today, we saw 1000 of the children. We must move on to another slum community tomorrow, but we will be back. Soon.

This slum community is rift with evil. Drug addicts, parents selling their children for $500 to gangs never to be seen again just to feed the drug habit, girls as young as 12 years old being married off and having children at the age of 13. I examined a 26 year old woman today, who had 5 children, the first one at the age of 13. Her husband is a drug addict, abuses her, and sells her. Pastor Koshy and I spent a lot of time with her. 1 of her children is a sponsored MoM child. she never looked at us, wringing her hands, never shedding a tear as she told her story. She had lost her emotions. We examined children with dark make up on their eyes to ward off the evil sprits. They were Hindu and Muslim. We looked past the things we didn’t understand or agree with, and took care of those who came to us. Judgment is left for another time and for someone greater than us.

This slum, this place called home for the many who live here, is beyond description. The pictures may help you see it. But the feeling, the closeness of living in a small 4x8 foot room with 9 other people, can’t be shown. It has to be felt by standing in that room as I did, and feel the darkness bury my senses until I had to escape. The little boy however knows no other life.

So, it is really true that all things are possible. 6 of the teachers that work in this MoM slum project and who worked with us today, were once themselves slum “dogs”. They were taken in by Pastor Koshy and Joicy, at the age of around 12 years old, and were sponsored by those who cared enough to love from a distance. They all “graduated” from this MoM project, went on to get their teaching degrees and came back to be with those who came from the same place they themselves once escaped from. And one day, maybe that little girl who was saved from being sold and is cared for here today, will be a teacher also. Caring for those who are no longer forgotten. Sometimes you’ve just got to believe all things are possible.

In all things give thanks,

David

New Delhi, India: Day 3

2010-05-04T10:35:00.001-07:00

After a 45 minute drive we came to a main street packed with tuk-tuk 3 wheel taxis, over crowded buses, people carrying a variety of goods on their heads, bicycles loaded with merchandise and cows. Several cows. Each of which had a command of the traffic and ruled the right of way. It’s India. Where cattle are sacred and people are dispensable. Across the main street was slum that was to be our place of work for the day.

Kalkaji is situated at South Delhi and Navjeevan (New Life) Camp is situated right within the city. This is one of the largest slums in New Delhi. It has a population of over 150,000 people with as a large population of children: 40,000 children under the age of 14 years. The slum is known for its drug addiction, prostitution, and rampant crime. The population consists of people mainly from the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar where being illiterate is the norm and consists of a labor class people who earn less than $2 per day. As most of the men are drug addicts or alcoholics, the income they receive is just enough to pay for their habits and as a result the women have to work as servants or prostitutes. The children stay at home to take care of each other or their siblings and rarely attend school or venture out of the slum community.

There is no water facility. The children have to carry water from the water trucks that come in and fill centralized water tanks. The children eventually get caught up in the cycle of poverty and illiteracy and become that which they have been born into: untouchables. And it those children who we cared for today. We saw 400 children today, with many more to be seen tomorrow. The team worked hard and without complaints. A few members of the team were feeling a little under the weather and a little IV fluid helped get them through the day.

Malnutrition is rampant. Over 70% of the children we saw today were grossly underweight and were moderately or severely malnourished. We saw children 12 years old who weighed 35 and 44 pounds. One child whose name is “Rocky” captured our hearts. That is his real name. “Rocky”. He is 12 years old and weighs 35 pounds and is 44 inches tall. Standing next to me, gives you a striking visual of his size. “Shamu” and “Rocky”.

Just as were were packing up to go a 10 year old boy was brought in seizing, We quickly went into resuscitation mode, but unfortunately did not have the right drugs to stop the seizures, so we gave him fluids, IV antibiotics, and sent him to the hospital. We hope to find out tomorrow how he’s doing as we are going back to this area.

From those who have to those who have not, there but for the grace of God go we. I can’t imagine living like this. I wrote about our time in Haiti and how devastating that was. And I also mentioned that it is like that in many places that we go to. It is times like these that give me pause to give thanks for what I have and more importantly for what I don’t have: a life like what these children have. We left them with a little bit of something I hope. A certain sense of comfort knowing that no matter what they are, poor, destitute, dirty, sick, and malnourished, it is who they are, a child,that matters most.

In all things give thanks,

David

New Delhi, India: Day 2

2010-05-03T05:15:00.001-07:00

We began our 5 days of clinics with an unexpected treat. We came to care and we were cared for. Before we even started the day’s clinic, each of us had a garland placed around our neck by the children that we were to eventually see. Grace. Freely given, humbly received.

We were at The Life Center Academy which is a Christian run school located in at Satya Nikethan in New Delhi. It is located in an urban area but surrounded by many slums, that comprise of Ardak Pur Gaon, Nanakpura, Vasant Gaon, Bapu Dham, Sanjay Camp, Indira Colony, Tank Jhuggi and Shastri Market

The total population of the area is approximately 50,000 consisting over 10,000 families. More than 25% of the population in these slums falls below the poverty line and of these approximately over 40% of the children have no access to any kind of education.

The Life Center Academy’s primary aim is to cater to these children and help provide them with an education which they would not be able to avail of under regular circumstances. The Academy also has a special school where they take care of children with special needs. These children who are in the special school have certain disabilities like mental retardation, hearing disabilities and speech disorders, autism etc. Due to these disabilities, these children are not able to attend regular classes and the special school tries to help the child develop so that in future they can be integrated into the main school. This is one of the few projects in our 22 countries where a formal special needs program is established.

We worked long and non stop, breaking for 45 minute to grab a Chinese lunch, then back to work. The team worked together as if they had been doing this over and over again. smooth, cooperative, collaborative, and supportive. This clinic is to be the easiest of the 5 that we are going to run. The children for the most part were relatively healthy, but malnutrition effects almost 40% of them, We did a comprehensive nutritional assessment using a computer program on each child calculating their nutritional status. We learned that visual impressions are not what they seem. The most healthy child, turns out to be moderately malnourished. A fact that can go missed, giving that child the chance of delayed development, and possibly an early death. As a result of the assessment, I'll be putting together a comprehensive nutritional rescue program that will make as diffidence in the childrens lives within 6 months of taking part in it.

And the stories. Most are happy ones. Abandoned children who were found, rescued and cared for. Then there are the sad ones. To share the sad stories time after time, makes it seem like I single them out, but they do tell the harsh reality of life here. Like the 11 year old girl, who was found in a part of the city known for prostitution, and brought to MoM. She came to us today complaining of abdominal pain, and was seen by one our medical staff. I took her aside, and with a female interpreter, gently asked her some questions that would help me in determining if she was sexually harmed, and if she had a sexually transmitted disease. She tearfully shared her story, not one that I need to repeat, but simply to tell you that she is now being treated and will be counseled and loved as she should be. I held her for a very long time. She will do well. Grace. Freely given. We start again tomorrow.

In all things give thanks,

David

New Delhi, India: Day 1

2010-05-02T05:58:00.001-07:00

After 24 hours of flying, we arrived in New Delhi to start 5 days of clinics in 3 poverty stricken slums. We’re expecting to see about 300 patients a day, perhaps more, mostly children from MoM projects that are centered in the slums. Landing at 6:15am, we were met by Satya our country director for MoM, and his 2 staff, Kevin and Mark. They had travelled 18 hours by train from Calcutta, bringing with them 300 kilograms, over 600 pounds, of medicines that we had asked for to run the clinics. Checked in to the hotel, a 2 hour break to shower, then up to a conference room to package and label over 10,000 doses of medicines. That’s 10,000 prescriptions that we’ll prescribed in 5 days. And we’ll probably run out of medicines before the 5 days are up, and will be running back to the pharmacy for more…it happens every time. The reason being is that as we move into the week, more and more people hear that we are here, and the clinics swell, and we see more patients. We can never predict just how much medicine we’ll need. But…and here is the real important but…what we can predict, is that the most important thing we bring never runs out. And that is grace and compassion. For the most important tool we bring, the most powerful medicine we bring to the clinic and for those we serve, is ourselves. Holding a hand, praying, hugging, laughing, and simply showing and telling those who come to see us that we care about them, is sometimes all the medicine they need. Between us all, the 13 members of the team: Greg, Erica, Amy, Jessie, Cammie, Heather, Sarah, Kelly, Ashley, Grant, Gretchen, Anne, and myself, we’ll bring all that we can through our actions, our smiles, and our touch. And His love. It begins tomorrow. May we be prepared. Let it be so.

In all things give thanks,

David

Haiti March 2010 Day 6: Dubuisson

2010-03-27T18:29:00.001-07:00

Our last day here was one of fun and sadness. We finished up in the camp that we found had the most need and where we found true comfort in being. After 6 days here in PaP (I’m waiting to hear from the team in Cap), we saw 1300 patients, pastored/counseled over 500 people,built shelters, taught and delivered water filtration systems, fed over 300 people enough for a week, taught basic hygiene to children like brushing their teeth, had a question and answer session with mothers about their babies, danced and sang with the community, and witnessed a strength in faith that we rarely see. We had no expectations of what we were going to do, no preconceived notion of how it would all turn out, and no pretense of thinking that we were going to make a significant difference in what has happened to Haiti. But we did make a difference. To those who we cared for, those we cared about and those we took care of. We believed in the direction we were sent and we gave. And received.

A question was asked last night during team time: are we giving enough. The answer turned out to be relatively simple. It depends on what you give. Materially, we don’t. Medically, we don’t. Food, we don’t. Shelter, we don’t. But what we do give is everlasting, never ending, always there and remembered, and once given will be passed on to others. And we received it as well. It’s called agape. The unconditional selfless love of one person for another. With agape there is not need for thanks, for recognition, for praise. It is freely given without question, without asking and without conditions. Sounds familiar doesn’t it? He gives it to us all the time. The beauty is that agape is never ending, never short, and always there. Did we give enough? Agape given and received. It is there always.

In all things give thanks,

David

Haiti Marcy 2010 Day 5: Ave Fouchard and GLA

2010-03-26T15:08:00.001-07:00

It rained last night. We thought of those in Dubuisson and how wet and miserable all those people were living under sheets. We’ve decided to go back there tomorrow for our last day. We’ve found a place that has touched our hearts. But today, we went to a new place, Ave Fouchard a community that is city based, and although devastated, seemed to be moving in the direction of recovery. We found ourselves in an empty lot, down a one way path, with one way in and one way out. A steel gate separated us from the crowd that grew outside. Dustin and Kevin stood guard (no picture sorry).
Brad (no picture sorry) and Trish in the pharmacy.Aaron guiding patients.

Vicky, Vic, Lara, Sara, Fitz seeing patients. And me…well, watching over things. We saw 120 patients in a very makeshift clinic and then left for God’s Little Angels orphanage.We came to know of them when we were here after the quake. A small newborn, Baby Jude, had been brought to us by his mother asking us to care for him. He was severely dehydrated and in dire straights. We put in an IV and resuscitated him (go back to my blog of that time). We gave him to GLA to care for and he thrived for a while, pictures showing him chunky and growing. We saw him today and he had developed an intestinal infection and had lost a lot of his weight. He is back on IV fluids and meds and recovering. The children there are all doing well. We saw a great ministry.

And now for the thoughts. It isn’t getting any easier, doing this every day. Our team up in Cap has had a rough day. They counseled over 100 people, many of them children, with stories of loss and grief. Refugees from Port au Prince. We see and hear the same down here in PaP. It’s all over. Think about what we have and what we want and what we really need. All we really need is His love and grace. And we have it. So do those who are here. They may not see it or feel it, but they have it. Unconditionally. Now and forever. So, if you can, for a moment, just a short moment, pretend that you are them. Here in Haiti with nothing. A sheet for a shelter. No food, no water. Orphaned children around you. And all you have is His love and grace. Isn’t that enough? God speed your love to us.

In all things give thanks,

David

Haiti March 2010 Day 4: Dubuisson camp

2010-03-25T15:01:00.001-07:00

Half the team left this morning for Cap Haitian to check on our MoM children and the projects there. There are about 30,000 refugees who have migrated up there from PaP and the need is increasing there for medical help and counseling. Our team will primarily do counseling and interactions with our children and families there. The other half of the team stayed here in PaP to finish out our 6 days of medical clinics, pastoral counseling, and clothing distribution. We went back to Dubuisson camp and saw 130 patients. We limited the number due to the fact that we are running low on medications and we wanted to do some prayer walking.

All of the 351 people living in this camp have been displaced from their homes that collapsed during the earthquake. Many are without family members, and are living in the make shift dwellings you see. It is stifling inside. They sleep on cinder blocks covered by sheets. They actually try to cook inside those dwellings, and I can only imagine what would happen if one of them caught fire. The cook what little they have, and today all were cooking the rice and beans we gave them yesterday.

We were able to bring with us baby formula, powder and clothes and blankets. We packaged them up and gave them out to the mothers with the infants they were carrying ,some of them only 17 days old.

In the afternoon after we were done seeing patients, we gathered and broke into pairs and walked the camp with a translator and prayed with each of the people who were living there. Many tears were shed, many hearts were opened. And it was not only them, but us as well.

I wonder if I could endure living like this. I can’t imagine I could. I can understand how they have became almost catatonic in their emotions. Tearless. Empty. At the end of the day however, there was the slightest hint of a smile, a look of hope, and a genuine expression of thanks. They believed they had been forgotten. We came, and proved it not to be so. I only hope that more will continue to come. They deserve nothing less.

In all things give thanks,

David

Haiti March 2010 Day 3: Dubuisson camp

2010-03-24T20:12:00.001-07:00

Can you imagine what it would be like if you woke up one morning and found yourself homeless, with no food, no water, and your family gone. You’ve got no place to go. You have nothing. You feel nothing. Dubuisson camp is home for 351 displaced people, about 90 families, who lost their homes, their loved ones and had no place to go. They live here in make shift shelters made out of sheets, plastic tarps, gunny sacks and string. This camp is where we spent today. We saw 360 patients, built shelters, counseled, prayed, taught waster filtration and left 2 water filter systems, and distributed food to the camp. And we ran out of medicines. We’ve seen 890 patients in 3 days, more than we expected and more to come tomorrow and the day after and the day after that. I’m not sure what we will do. The pictures will tell their own stories. It’s late, and we’re tired. Some of the team are pictured but some are missing. They were the builders and the counselors and the pastors.

What would you do if you were one of these families?

In all things give thanks,

David

Haiti Marcy 2010 Day 2: Fort National

2010-03-23T15:11:00.001-07:00

You’d think we’d be just a little depressed after what we’ve been seeing, but look at the smiles on these faces. It’s because of what we been able to do, feel, share and accomplish. All good. So we came back for more.

We went back to Fort National this morning and saw another 170 patients by lunch time. We held our clinic right in the middle of where those how had been displaced slept and lived. They gave up their beds and tables so we could serve.

Dr. Fitz did some minor surgery removing a cyst and for what it’s worth, the procedure went well despite scrambling to find what we needed. It was all there, but a hunt was needed to find it all.

All it took to remind us of why we were there, was to simply look around us and see the devastation.

Everyone from these homes were living now outside under tarps, and that is where we were. With no water or electricity, Cori, our water engineer (really that is what she does) taught the leaders of the camp how to use the water filters we brought.

And in the mid morning into the afternoon, Michael and his pastoral/counselors went to the Tabernacle community and spent time with about 80 people…a lot of children, most with significant emotional trauma. And the children you see below, are the ones who escaped the nightmares, the recurring dreams of the earthquake.

And I’ve been watching this women for 2 days. She is alone and has stayed in that spot every day since the earth quake struck. She has no family, is mentally handicapped, alone and withdrawn. I talked to the camp leader and asked him to promise me that in exchange for what we were doing there for them, that he would personally care for her. No one even knew her name. We are so quick to run to the children, the ones with the pretty smiles, the adorable faces, the ones you want to hug and never let go. But do we, can we, do the same with her? Or is she too grotesque, too much out of our comfort zone, to hug her without letting go, to take a picture with her, to try to get her to smile….I tried once and she pulled away. I wanted to try again, but she seemed so far out of reach…emotionally and physically. For a day and a half, we walked and worked around her. I’m asking myself how we let that happen.

I think of why we came, and for the sacrifices we made to do so. I think of the being a servant to those who are in need. I look at her and wonder how good a servant I really am. And I remain committed to remembering that it is things like this that remind me of my need to be humble, to feel unashamed to be round those who are less like us, the so called normal people. I will remember her often and wonder if she felt the touch of my hand if for only a moment.

In all things give thanks,

David

Haiti March 2010 Day 1: Fort National

2010-03-22T14:55:00.001-07:00

Fort National is at the bottom of a hill, a community of about 700 people. The area was hit hard by the earthquake, and there still hasn’t been any significant relief there.

We left this morning and found ourselves among many who were sleeping outside, sheltered only by tarps, surrounded by rubble. What we saw was a re-building of the community by those who took it upon themselves to make a better place for themselves.

Within an hour of arriving, we had the clinic up and running, the pharmacy running smoothly, patients moving from registration to the medical examiners, then to counseling and pastors then to pharmacy. We even had water purification lessons.

In less than 5 and a half hours see saw 360 patients. We go back tomorrow. The stories:

-a father who is wearing his son’s shirt that his son had on when he died in the earthquake; he wears it every day.

-a grandmother who is caring for the last of her eight grand children, 7 who died with her daughter, the children’s mother

-a man who asked for counseling and prayer who on the night of the earthquake, gave up his bed so his cousin could sleep, and he slept outside that night; the building collapsed and she died; he is ridden with guilt

So for what it’s worth, it was a good day. Among the devastation, there is a ray of hope, a smile or two, a laugh heard among the tears. The team felt it all. The team saw it all. And they were touched.

In all things give thanks,

David

Haiti March 21, 2010

2010-03-21T16:01:00.001-07:00

Medical Mercy team has arrived in Port au Prince. We have 23 team members, 12 medical, 8 pastoral/counselors and 3 lay people. We have 1 person from MoM HQ for admin and 2 local country reps and our driver. We brought with us 2100 lbs of meds and supplies. Hot, humid, and more hot. Driving in, things sure are different than just a few weeks ago when we were here after the earthquake. The airport has cleared out, the streets are for the most part passable. There are still a lot of shantys around. Yolie (our admin from MoM) said she saw a line of people 18 blocks long waiting for food....okay things are still bad.
We are meeting soon to get the meds in order, have an orientation and prepare for tomorrow. We expect to be up long into the night.
So, it begins. Grace, compassion and hard work. And in all that we give thanks. Now and always for what we have.
David

Haiti Medical/Counseling Relief: March 20-30, 2010

2010-03-19T08:35:00.001-07:00

It will be our 3rd trip back, our second after the earthquake. In 24 hours 23 members of the Medical Mercy team will be leaving for Port au Prince: 12 medical, 8 pastoral/counselors, and 3 lay people, all of whom are servants to those we are going to help. Almost 1000 lbs of medical supplies, equipment, talking bibles, tarps, etc. are being brought with us. We’ve had an advanced administrative team there putting in place things for us so that we will be safe and ready to go. Some of you remember where we were a little over a month ago…in the torn down streets of Carrefour taking acre of patients and in a fallen hospital. This time we will be in a few more places:

The majority of our time will be in Fort National which is a large camp and an area hard hit by the quake. There are roughly 700 plus people living there under sheets and tarps but we expect that once the word gets out we are there many more will come.

There is another small camp – only 361 people but they’ve had no care at all since the earthquake. It’s called Dubuisson and we’ll spend one day there or so.

There is a third location called Tabairre68 where about 500 people are staying together afraid to go back to their homes. Our counseling team will go there.

Then towards the end of the part of the team leaves for Cap Haitian. The rest of the PaP team will go to either Fort National or to one of the other camps during the rest of our stay in PaP

The biggest medical needs are upper respiratory, malnutrition and accompanying complications, diarrhea, infections, diabetes. Conditions are very rough and simple things like tables and chairs will be rudimentary at best. Transportation will also be an issue as Fort National is on a hill and roads are bad that our admin team is looking into additional transportation to get everyone up the hill. It is doubtful busses will make it. Some may need to do some walking.

Whatever international aid is being sent is slow to reach these areas. People are suffering a great deal – staying under blue tarps and often with no bedding at all, only sheets. When it rains people get wet and can’t sleep. Food is very scarce.

We will going into some rugged places, and have security with us. I will be assessing the ongoing needs of the areas we are in ,and Mission of Mercy and Medical Mercy are working to insure that resources such as food, shelter, medical, counseling, spiritual, and safety continues to get to Haiti.

So, I’ll be tweeting, blogging, praying, crying, wringing my hands, and sometimes even laughing and smiling when we see the faces of those we touch, smile…smiling for perhaps the first time in weeks. I look to see the glimmer of God in their eyes as our pastors reach out and pray with them, and the pain relieved as our medical and lay teams tends to them. And I look to you for prayers, and love. Be with us…

In all things give thanks,

David

Haiti....again

2010-03-12T14:11:00.002-07:00

One would think that going back to a place of destruction would be farthest from my mind, but think otherwise. I'm headed back March 20th with a team of about 20, okay 21, maybe 22...the number keeps changing...but a big team none the less. Half medical, a few lay support and the rest pastoral/counseling. We're going to Port au Prince to work in the camps, then towards the end of the week, part of the team heads up to Cap Haitian for continued work there. When we return, we leave for India 6 weeks later.

So what do we expect? Cholera, dysentery, infected wounds, malnutrition, and post traumatic psychological issues. We'll be doing medical clinics in the camps, where people are living under sheets and tarps with no toilet facilities and the rainy season starting. The pastoral/grief counseling team will be doing just that: pastoring and counseling. But for right now, I need your help...there are a lot of loose ends still to be tied and things to come into place. So, if you have a second or 2, close your eyes and say a little prayer for us. And if you are so inclined, feel free to keep going for as long as you like. Because after all, there but for the grace of God, go I...you...us. And as always,

In all things give thanks,
David

Reflections and updates

2010-02-25T11:01:00.001-07:00

It’s been several weeks since I returned from Haiti and India, and the thoughts keep coming, the visions becoming more blurred, the memories still clearly present. And I reflect on the purpose, the intent, the meaning of that time. I learn little from my successes, but much from my failures. When I think of what we were able to accomplish in Haiti and what we left behind, I struggle to sit still and not get going again, back to where life remains dismal and people are perhaps being forgotten. It is just not in Haiti and India. It’s in all the countries we go to, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Swaziland, Egypt, and on and on. But, when the experience is fresh in one’s mind, like that of Haiti, and the slums of India, we tend to focus on that and use the older experiences as a way to feel like we will one day be okay with what we did. But the fact remains that there is much to be done yet in Haiti. There is much to be done really, everywhere. So we are looking to make a trip or 2 back to Haiti soon, sometime by the end of March and perhaps in July. I need to make sure that plans are solid, and that the implementation of those plans are assured and successful. That takes time. I’ll use our experience in Haiti from a few weeks ago and new information that is coming in daily, to make that happen For me, every time I glance behind me, I look twice to the future. That way, I hope to never forget.

In all things give thanks,

David

Thoughts

2010-02-04T17:17:00.001-07:00

I'm on my way back from India after doing an assessment trip for the medical mission we'll be doing here the end of April. Slums and poverty were the mainstay of the assessment, with medical needs noted not too drastically different than what we see in many other countries: malnutrition, worms, rashes, chronic pneumonias, TB and vitamin deficiency. One thinks that after all the countries that we've been too that even though the disease are the same, the living environments are not that much different from place to place, that we would find this quite easy to do. What is different. From country to country is the people. Who they are and how they cope. Why they live the way they do and how they try to find a better way of life. The medicine aside, it's the interaction that we have with those to whom we are entrusted to serve. Each culture, each person, each community is different. The antibiotics we give are the same regardless of where we are. It's how we interact with those who come to us for the antibiotics that is uniquely different. And you may ask why. Shouldn't we be gracious to all regardless? Does compassion change from one culture to the next? No, it shouldn't. But what does is out understanding of the reasons why people live the way they do. Without that understanding, we have a tendency to miss the most important part of a covenant relationship with those who come to us: understanding, acceptance, trust and honesty. We can find it easily to take for granted that we know what is best for those who are less fortunate. We are very often far from being right. Like it or not, we put our own value systems into place, based on our own lives and our own circumstances and find ourselves sometimes making decisions for others that may leave them worse off than they6 are now. I come to this simply because of what I've seen: trying to make lives better for those who are less fortunate, when really they are very happy with what they have, and to put them in a different place than where they are accustomed, can cause them angst and confusion.

My parents and their parents, and their parents were all from Egypt and Syria. My parents immigrated to the US and I remember vividly traveling to Egypt with my father to get the extended family out of Egypt to the US to a better life. My great uncle, my grandfather's brother, was 80 years old when we got him to the US. He lived in San Francisco for the remaining few years of his life, living on Egypt time: he kept his watch on Cairo time. He was heart broken and missed his life and his country. He may have been less fortunate, but I believe we compromised the last few years of his life by trying to give him a better life than what he had. Less fortunate. By whose standards. I make not pretense in suggesting that those who live in the slums should be allowed to stay there and that it is not up to us to move them and give them something better. I am suggesting that we need to begin to understand that the life they have, even though it is hard and difficult, is in fact their life. We can make it better by helping them within their own community and make their lives where they live a little better. Displacement, moving, and suggesting that a better way of life is what they need, may be pretentious. It may be t he simply things that may make all the difference in the world for them: clean water, toilets, and electricity. But they can continue to live in their community, surrounded by those they know, in a country they love, and feel like they are better for it.

The harsh reality of Haiti remains. The confusion of distribution of food, medicine and housing. The devastation of lives and families. The harsh reality of the slums of India remains. Different, not as acute and traumatic, but harsh reality all the same.

Medical mission work is serving. I am reminded of the Anglican missionary motto: TRANSIENS ADIUVA NOS: "I go overseas to help." Medical Mercy does just that.

In all things give thanks
David

India: Faridhabad-Ram Nagar Slum

2010-02-03T14:43:00.001-07:00

This slum is about an hour and a half south of Delhi. Ram Nagar is one of the biggest slums of Faridabad. This slum is located near the Faridabad Thermal Power Station and right behind the New Town Railway Station. Around 50,000 families live in this area under sub-humane conditions. These individuals are migrants from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Most all of them are daily laborers in the power house or other factories. Some are rickshaw pullers and rag-pickers. This place has a big dump yard and many of the children between the age group of 4 to 17 years work in these dump areas which have a lot of toxic material from various factories in Faridabad picking out items to be recycled.

There has been some opposition from dump yard gangs and Hindu fundamentalist groups who have damaged the school property a number of times in the past where the children go to learn and eat. We went to that school which was just barley in the slum area, but were advised not to go any further into the slum area. It is currently under review as to whether we will go there to hold a medical clinic or not due to the undertone of resistance from other factions. The children there are not as healthy as I have seen elsewhere. There have been reported instances of child kidnappings.

I hoping to be able to bring a team here, but one must be careful.

In all things give thanks,

David

India: Sangam Vihar Slum

2010-02-02T17:07:00.001-07:00

Sangan Vihar is considered one of the largest unauthorized colonies of Asia and has a population close to 2 million. Yes, that’s right, 2 million. 2 million people living in an area beyond comprehension. This slum area has in it a sub-division of a slum if you can imagine that is called the “Rag picker” slum, and that is where our MoM children are. The Rag picker slum is only one of the many sub-slums within the large Sangam Vihar slum colony, and the populations is about 200,000 people, all of whom are rag pickers, or garbage collectors. It has a striking resemblance to “Garbage City” in Cairo where we where several years ago (go back in the archives to see that). There is no potable water, no toilets, no sewage. The Slum clusters or the dwellings they live in are made of plastic or other material picked and found during the garbage collections. People go to the city every morning to collect garbage that they later sort though to recycle. They make about $1/day doing this. Children are not allowed to go to school because they are needed to go and pick garbage in order to sustain the family.

They live in small parcels of land owned by wealthy individual who rent the parcel to several families living in there. It is usual a small piece of property, no larger than perhaps a 1/16th of an acre, and rents for about $300/month, which is split by the families living there. There is a middle man, or a contractor who is hired by the owner of the property who collects the sorted garbage and pays around 25-50 cents for a bag of plastic and then turns around and sells it for $5-$6 giving the owner a cut. The Rag pickers are essentially slaves.

Here’s what you need to know: 20% of the children do not see their 5th birthday due to the illnesses they contract living in the garbage squalor. MoM is there to pave the way to a better life and better medical care by bringing in Medical Mercy. Pastor Koshy and sister Joicy have been there for 14 years and have a remarkable educational, nutritional and spiritual program going all with the help from MoM. Medical Mercy will be there in April of this year. We’ll look to do the best the we can.

In all things give thanks,

David

India: Kalkaji Slum

2010-02-02T16:41:00.000-07:00

Kalkaji is situated in the southern area of New Delhi, and is one of the largest slums there. The populations is around 150,000, of which 40,000 are children under the age of 14 years. It is known for it’s high drug addiction rate and gang related activities. almost all the dwellers are illiterate and

are labor class people who earn les than $2/day if they do work. As most of the men are either drug addicts or alcoholics, the money they make goes to their addiction and leaves nothing for the family. The women try ot work as servants in nearby houses. The children stay home to care for the needs of the their younger siblings. Or…the girls are sold by the parents to gang like sex traffickers in order to get money to live on. The slum area has no water facility and the children have to carry the water in buckets from water trucks that arrive in the slum on rare occasion. Few of the children go to school. They fall into the circle of illiteracy and the cycle of poverty never leaving the slum area. The small rooms that they live in are no bigger than 5x8 with as many as 9 people living in there. There are no toilet facilities except for a small communal area that has a line that can take 2 hours before one gets their turn to go to the bathroom. The alley ways are easier and quicker. Need I say much about the sanitation?

There are those who have and those who have not. Take a moment and look around at what you have…and in all things give thanks,

DAvid

India medical assessment

2010-01-31T08:57:00.001-07:00

I'm in London awaiting my flight to New Delhi. It has just been one week since I've returned from Haiti. Be assured that Haiti is not forgotten and plans are being made to return to continue our medical mission. MoM is dedicated and committed to Haiti and we are moving forward to make sure that Haiti is not forgotten.

But there are other places we need to go to. India has thousands of abandoned and forgotten children who MoM is responsible for and for whom Medical Mercy will care for their medical needs. I'm going to assess 4 projects in the slums of New Delhi. I'll be taking a team there the end of April to care for over 1000 children. A daunting task but one that Medical Mercy does time and again. For me it's about being part of something greater than myself. What we do is simply that which is needed and done without question. The time spent with those less fortunate make up large and defining moments in my life.

I'm on my way to India and expect to see squalor, filth, poverty, and suffering. Different than Haiti? I'm not so sure. The circumstances may be, but the end results are the same. My heart is still heavy from Haiti. I expect it to be so for a very long time. India, Cambodia, Swaziland, Egypt, Mozambique and all the countries we go to, weight heavy on my heart. I keep close to me a latin phrase that reads: "After the shadows I await the light". I trust that it will come soon.

In all things give thanks,
David

Haiti Medical Relief team-the last few days

2010-01-23T20:26:00.002-07:00

From where I sit the reflections seem so distant yet the memories are firmly cemented in the recesses of my brain. The reflections of the children, the ones with the amputated arms and legs, the adults with the same, the large lacerations, the crushing injuries, the blank look on the faces of those we served, and the destruction of the buildings, the homes, the roads, and lives, fade quickly. They are reflections after all. But the images, the memories, remain forever. And so do the stories.

He is ten years old. As I dressed his amputated left arm, he winced only once, and turned his head away afraid to show emotion. He had lain under the rubble of his house for 3 days with his mother laying on his shattered left arm. He said she died there on the second day. I bandaged his arm, hugged him and watched as he walked away cared for by a neighbor. His father and 2 siblings had yet to be found. No tears, no emotion.

A 24 day old baby that we had cared for the day before, came back. His mother said that she couldn't care for him and asked us to look after him. We found an orphanage and he is there. The mother came back the next day and just followed us around. Her first child. A decision she has yet to come to grips with.

We arrived at a local hospital that was destroyed by the quake. The only thing standing was the outpatient clinic. The courtyard and the rubble was filled with patients and family who were living under tarps, sheets, and waiting for help. 7 days after the quake, there had not been any food or emergency medical care. 2 young Haitian doctors and a few nurses had spent the days after doing the best they could with the little they had. We set up a make shift clinic and saw over 300 patients in 5 hours. The hospital had a sign that identified it as a public hospital. The sign had "Food for the poor" on it as well. Think what you will.

The homes and buildings that had been destroyed right next to our field site in Carrefour, were being cleared of rubble. The smell of those who were still in there was strong. I watched as the large bucket of the bulldozer, lifted up tons of concrete and saw the flutter of the corner of a dress. I turned away, not wanting to see what may be next.

And on this last day, we had some time to play with some children, singing, dancing and sharing the crackers and cookies that we had brought with us. They smiled, laughed and danced. But a few days ago, they had been frightened and wondering. And tonight they will sleep in the street again, afraid to sleep indoors. It was refreshing to see that for a moment, an hour, the children forgot the events of the past few days, and became children again.

I often ask the questions and wait for the answers to come to me. I sat with many victims of the quake this week and heard them ask the questions as well. They told me that they would wait for the answers to why this happened and what will become of them. I look to the answers as well. To try and understand or to at least begin to accept that there may never be an answer. I can only wish that the hearts of those who lived this, of those who lost whole families, will someday find understanding in their own way and live a life that is rich in love and grace. We came here to find a way to help, and in small way, a very small way, felt that we did. Maybe it was simply the show of love and grace that we brought. No more, no less. We were privileged to be able to do so.

In all things give thanks,
David

Haiti Relief Medical team: Days 1-3

2010-01-20T17:30:00.002-07:00

Technology leaves us begging formore and more, all the while giving us a reliablity on machines that leave us helpless when we don't have them or they don't work. This is one of those times. I have not had anything that works and have been begging tech time from those who do have technology that works. Smoke signals are more reliable.

We arrived at the airport after boarding the charter flight, with only 30of us on board and a whole lot of cargo. The airport at P-a-P was chaos. We parked on the tarmac in between C-130's and helicopters, charter jets and rpivate jets, all crowding to together like people on a morning rush subway. We unloaded our cargo and waited on the tarmac for our ride which eventually came and off to our base. An ahour and a half later we arrived, passing by a mass grave, with thousands of passed souls, piled under the bright lights, watched over bybulldozers who moved them without feeling. The smell was horrific. We met 3 other teams atthe base: a gorup of doctors who wereworking in hospitals providing post op care ,and an ob-gyn doc who did an emergecny C-section without anesthesis, losing themother and the baby. We went to bed early and rose early...to a 6.1 afterschock. The building shook, we ran and got out without damnge to us or the building we were in. We drove to Carrefour, a poor community in the town of P-a-P and set up a field unit at the end of a small street surrounded by collapsed buildings and the smell of rotting bodies. Just 300 yards from us a person was pulled from the rubble.We saw alot of trauma: fracture femurs, ankles, arms, legs, lacerations, concussions and a comatose woman. 2 baibeis, both under 24 days of age were brought in severly dehydrated. The mothers had not eaten since the original earthquake and had no breast milk left. We placed IV, poured in IV solutions and one baby recovered and the other remainded marginal when we left. We'll see them both tomorrow again. We certainly had a different experience than usual. The devastation taht we saw is what you see on TV, but the feeling you have, the look in the peoples eyes, the smells, the atmosphere can onlybe felt when you are here. And it is not a very good feeling.

We return tomorrow. More will come. We will place casts, sutrue, debride wounds, clean abrasions, give IV fluids and pray. And wonder just why...why this has to happen at all. No questioning, just wonder. The answers will not be there for questions asked, but we will wonder all the same. And give thanks for what we have....

David

Haiti medical relief-airport

2010-01-19T09:00:00.002-07:00

We got ALL of our stuff on the plane! Almost 5000 lbs of cargo being loaded (not all ours) but a good chunk of it. We will be boarding soon. Still working on getting out. I was on the phone during the wee hours and found that we will be partnering with some other medical folk out of Mission of Hope and go to hot spots in town. That's all I know. That's all I've got. Gotta go...

In all things give thanks,
David

Haiti Medical Relief-the night before departure

2010-01-18T19:24:00.001-07:00

We made it to Miami. Yolaine a Haitian who works here in the US as an RN, and Fitz a Haitian who works in the US as an MD joined us, so the team is complete at 10: Yolaine, Fitz, Sarah B, Sarah C., Heather, Carleen, Vicki, Kelly, Michael, and myself. We are meeting up with the other members of the plane in the morning and will work on getting all the cargo on board. There is so much cargo, that the passenger list is only 30 people: our team of 10, a number of nurses from another organization who will be going to an orphanage, and a group of US security personnel. We aren't so sure we are going to make it through TSA without some hassels especially since we have to take all of our stuff through the scanners, etc, rather than checking it. It's a long story better as to why we have to do this and left for another time.

We've been watching the news and I have been getting reports from the ground. Still a little unsettled. Okay...a lot unsettled. We'll take things as they come, and go where we are pointed. I won't be able to send any blogs while we are there as you can imagine. But I promise to update as soon as we return. And as far as returning goes...we don't have a way back yet. Honest. True story. So we are counting on all of you to pray our way home. A magic carpet ride so to speak. I'll know Thursday or there about. And if I can get word out somehow, I will.

So give thanks for what you have and for what you've been given, and for that which you have been protected from. We go to a place less fortunate with heavy hearts and spirits. But if we look at those who are suffering with a smile, with encouragement and with grace, we may see a smile or two. What a privilege it is to serve. To serve those who reach out to us. To hold the hand of one who is suffering and looking, asking, begging for help...to be the one to offer all that. It will be done with grace and love. No more, no less.

In all things give thanks,
David

Haiti Medical Relief

2010-01-17T11:26:00.001-07:00

We leave tomorrow morning. We hook up with a chartered 737 out of Miami on Tuesday that is filled with cargo from many organizations. We’re sharing this charitable flight to Port au Prince with a host of other organizations, We have 8 members from Phoenix, a Haitian doctor from U. of Virginia who is meeting us in Miami and an ABC reporter for a total team of 10. We will be adding 2 more doctors when we arrive there who will meet with us, giving us a team of 12. The supplies, meds, bags, etc are all coming together. Just yesterday, I counted 135 emails, 56 phone calls, and 45 texts that I’ve send and/or received getting things ready to go. Big issue now is that the cargo hold of the charity 737 we’re taking out of Miami is so full we have to take our suitcases on board and take them through TSA security. Expect that that will be interesting. We are working on getting TSA to let us through due to our medical mission relief status. We are now on Face Book, so go there and look for “Medical Mercy” and follow us. I’m also tweeting and that is also linked to this blog and to Face Book. So go to twitter and follow that as well: www.twitter.com/davidbeyda. I’ve got a satellite phone since there is no cellular service nor internet. I’ll do my best to give updates somehow. Be with us…but more importantly be with those who are there and hurting. This is never about the team, never about each of us individually. It is never about “look at me”. I’ll tell you the stories, show you the faces and share the thoughts and feelings. We are servants to those who reach out to us for help. Serve with us in your prayers and in your hearts. It will be a blessing to have you with us.

In all things give thanks,

David

Haiti Medical Relief

2010-01-15T15:06:00.001-07:00

Over 100 emails, an hour and a half teleconference with key players last night, ordering medications, satellite phone, contacting medical team members, pulling in favors, over 100 phone calls made to different people and for the most part, our medical team will be tentatively leaving either Sunday afternoon or Monday morning. Right now we are working on a charter jet, either directly to Haiti from Phoenix or from Florida to Haiti. We will be at the Mission of Hope Haiti location and clinic (www.missionofhopehaiti.org) and follow links to “disaster Haiti”. We have a long standing relationship with them and will be assisting/relieving medical help already there. We will be a very short distance from Port au Prince. We’ll be there for a week.

All of this will be with His blessings and guidance. There is still things that need to fall in to place. We are a “go” until the last minute. We may cancel if the unrest gets worse (it’s pretty bad already) or the charter jet falls though. All team members are “seasoned” and have accepted the risks inherent in doing something like this. I’ll list the team members as we get closer.

This is far from anything that we have done before, but we believe in who we are and more importantly whose we are. We follow where He points.

In all things give thanks,

David

Haiti update-team preparing

2010-01-14T15:08:00.001-07:00

Medical Mercy is in the midst of discussions and preparations regarding taking a medical team to Haiti very soon. Mission of Mercy is a long time partner with Mission of Hope Haiti (www.missionofhopehaiti.org) which has a clinic and is only a few miles from Port aux Prince. There is a medical team there now and they have been working nonstop for 2 days now. We are close to finalizing our team here to go to either relieve or assist the team already there. We should know within 24 hours. Be with us and all of those who are there in prayer. We seek to find an understanding and some comfort for all who have been affected. Come back here soon and look for updates.

In all things give thanks,

David

Haiti earthquake

2010-01-13T09:27:00.001-07:00

Here is what we've gotten from our country director in the DR:

"This is the current situation relation to the earthquake in Haiti and DR:
1 - First thing in Haiti projects not reported any damage because our projects are located in the northern part of the country, we have made recommendation to suspend the activities in the project only for security reasons.
2 - Very early in the morning we speak with the facilitator in Haiti and said they felt strong tremors, but these do not cause any harm to children or in projects.
3 - Communication is almost zero in some places but we have contacted a reporter in Juana Mendez and Cap Haitien and keeping us informed and no damage reported.
4 - DR just felt strong tremors and suspended activities in the project for safety reasons, we have two sponsors of children who are here with us but are well cared for and have already been provided with their families in the U.S., at my house that is quite safe and have sent a project very close also for security reasons. At the moment is all we are for Haiti in Port Au Prince is a real disaster, we sent a map where it was the earthquake and where are located our projects so they can see that are out of danger.
Blessing!! Lic. Wellington ClementeMofM DR Country Director"

Haiti Day 5: The Slums

2009-11-04T20:39:00.003-07:00

Another 228 children seen today. Another image of poverty that took our breath away. The clinic itself was not that unusual. The road was bad enough that we had to park the bus several blocks away and walk, due to the ruts, the water and the poor condition. The 2 security police that were with us, called for back up support due to the area that we were in. Once you see the pictures you'll have a better idea of what I'm talking about. That aside, what we saw should never be. No one should have to live in the filth that we saw. No child should have to play in the garbage. But then again, who are we to judge. When I look back at the week, I saw some definite changes in the team. We realized how fortunate and yet vulnerable we are. We realized that life passes us too fast and if we don't slow down, we'll run out of time to experience all that is given to us. We believe we made a difference...for others, but also for ourselves. We're different becasue of what we did and who we've become. The hard taskmaster is to stay that way and not go back to who we were. As for where we go next, we'll see. For now I'm thiniking of today and wondering if I could ever live in a place like that. I'm not really sure. But then again, the children that we saw, had smiles on their faces, as they played barefoot in piles of garbage. Maybe they know something about life that I don't know. I'd sure like to find out. I'll let you know when it do.

In all things give thanks,
David

Haiti Day 4: Oaunaminthe

2009-11-03T20:30:00.003-07:00

About 350 children seen, one emergency, and a long ride back and forth. The day went well, with a lot of children seen. We had 3 Haitian pediatric residents with us and a local doctor as well.

Here's the story of the day: a woman comes to the clinic carrying a limp child, about 1 and a half years old, large head and with cerebral palsy. She says she found the child yesterday in the street in a pile of garbage. We take the child, rush him to the back room, start an IV, give fluids, antibiotics and he looks better. The local doctor takes off to find an orphanage that is willing to take the child. He and I both suspect something is not right. From the way she was holding the child, the way she looked at him, the way she got him to eat, said a lot. I get an interpreter to help understand the events of yesterday. Where did she find the child? Had she ever seen the child before? Did she have any idea who the mother could be? I did find out that she has 10 children and that she lives in the street. The local doctor returns and says that the orphanage is full and that the child with cerebral palsy would be too difficult to care for. We both talk about our suspicion and go talk to the mother. We tell her that "we will help her and her child." She says thank you. We all know now what the real story is. We gave her the opportunity to say what she couldn't say. We didn't shame her, nor humiliate her. We didn't judge. By telling her that we would help her and "her child" we told her we knew he was hers. She had tired to find a way to find care for him, beyond what she could provide herself. She was willing to give up her child, but could not bring it on herself to openly tell us that she was giving him up. The story was made up. We got the local pastor, got her tied in to the church, set up continuing medical care for her with the local doctor, got the child started on a nutrition program, gave the child needed medicines, and she left with the child as she had come. As a mother.

In a world such as ours, with poverty and hardship beyond description, people will do desperate things. We helped her without taking away her dignity. She had the best interest of her child at heart. She was not abandoning him. She was trying to find someone who could care for him and give him what he needed with his disabilities. We gave her a sense of dignity, and the child a chance to have a life. How good of one, is yet to be seen.

I ask the question over and over again: for what purpose are we here? And after today, it becomes clearer. To serve those who have nothing, who out of desperation will give up their own children to insure their children will have a better life. To realize our own short comings and our inadequacies. But above, all to give those who have not, a chance to have their dignity and to be recognized as persons, not forgotten, but embraced for who they are. It makes me wonder why it is sometimes so hard to do. It wasn't today. Let's hope it's not that hard tomorrow, or the day after, or the day after that...

In all things give thanks,
David

Haiti Day 3: Limbe

2009-11-02T19:10:00.002-07:00

23 miles and a 1 hour and 45 minute drive to get to where we were going today. To say the road was less than perfect is an understatement. We saw a little over 300 patients today, in a very small building, little light, a generator that had a mind of its own, and people everywhere. We saw patients, played with the children, and did the "chicken dance".

I brought with me a small water filtration system that is amazing. Using a 5 gallon bucket, I hand drill a hole in to the side, attach a pipe connector, attach a small filter and let the dirty water (and I mean dirty: drain wter with dirt from the ground mixed in) drain through the filter by gravity. (I'll post pictures when I get back). The water came out crystal clear, and with a crowd around me, I drank it. Quite the experience. With a $45 filter kit, we now have pure drinking water for a village.

We had a local doctor meet us there today as well, and he saw patients with us. I'm hoping that he will continue to care for the children when we are gone. I'll be taking 3 Haitian pediatric residents with us tomorrow from the pediatric hospital.

We saw the usual types of patients. A lot of rashes, stomach aches, abscesses, generalized malaise, and parasitic disease. One of our doctor's saw an 80 year old woman (after all the MoM children are seen, we see adults) who had had a stroke a year ago, and had one side of her body paralyzed as a result. One side of her face was also paralyzed. When asked what we could do for her, she said "can you help me smile again." No much more I can say to that.

Haiti is a torn country, devasted by war, revolts, corruption and poverty. It is said that "your lucky to be alive in Haiti." The poorest country in the western hemisphere. But the smiles on the children that we saw today, as they danced and played with the team seemed to make up for that. The smile of a child is richer than all of the gold in world. We smiled all the back to the hotel tonight and I'll fall asleep with a smile on my face knowing that we made this day, one that they may never forget.

In all things give thanks,
David

Haiti Day 2: Trou de Nord

2009-11-01T21:00:00.004-07:00

Early start, late arrival, bad roads, pot holes, people, animals, narrow streets, garbage everywhere, and hot and humid. Hello Haiti. We get to the site where we are going to have the clinic, and start to set up. A few glitches, rearranging, reassigning, and we're off. We saw 110 patients in the morning and 110 in the afternoon. 220 total patients seen in about 6 hours. A slow start but thorough and complete. We didn't see anything out of the ordianary: rashes, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, etc. 2 semi emergencies: 1 woman with heat exhaustion and a lethargic child. Both did fine after we cared for them.

The pastor of the church where we were, gave a very touching speech of thanks at the end, which gave all of us a mirror to look at: what we do, and what we are can be seen by others, and yes, by ourselves, as noble and humanitarian...for the week that we are here. The pastor's work is everyday, without rest, without question: caring for the forgotten children. Noble and humanitarian. It made me at least look in the mirror and see who I am, not what I am. A servant to those who came to us, the ill, the suffering, the hungry and the poor, their hands out stretched. I wonder if I will still see that "who" in the mirror when I get home. I can only hope.

In all things give thanks,

David

Haiti: Day 1

2009-10-31T16:41:00.002-07:00

Up early, and off to Haiti by bus, trailer, and van. A 3 hour drive to the border. The scenery changes, the atmosphere changes, and our mood changes. A little more somber, a little more worried. We are to cross the border with over 600 pounds of medicine, go into some hostile territory, and there you have it.
We arrive at the DR side, and the bridge is waiting for us. Across that bridge is a desolate and barren land, strikingly isolated from the rest of the world. Haiti: the poorest country in the western hemisphere. The bridge spans a river named for the genocide and atrocities that occurred during the political upheaval years ago. "Massacre River". Thousands upon thousands were butchered and violated. We cross with that in mind and wonder what it was like, and more importantly why it had to happen.
At the end of the bridge is the Haiti customs and passport control. The test of our paper work and contacts works. We get through. Nothing is confiscated, no fees, but a few bribes. We pick up our 2 plain clothes armed police men who will be with us for the week, one in the bus with us, the other in the van with the rest of the meds. Within 30 minutes they earn they keep. We are stopped by a "customs" officer, later to be found out to be renegade and wanting a bribe, and then the national police at a road block. Without our escort we would have been in some serious trouble. No fault of our own. It's just the way it is here if you don't have someone who knows the ropes and has some fire power so to speak. We make it to Cap Haitian after another 2 hours. The city is difficult to described. Picture a city pummeled by poverty, garbage, isolation, war, corruption and dry. That's where we are.
We get to our hotel, and it is a welcome site, nice and clean and a little out of the area of filth. We spend the rest of the afternoon and early evening packaging meds for tomorrow. We're tired, yet excited. Anxious, yet patient. Tomorrow brings our first day of patients. We'll have double the team that we have now, with interpreters and support staff. And our 2 security officers. Practicing medicine with armed protection. Maybe a little too cautious. But then again, who knows what's behind the throngs of people we may see tomorrow. Perhaps just love and acceptance. And that will be just fine with me.

In all things give thanks,
David

Haiti: and so it begins...

2009-10-30T20:17:00.001-07:00

13 left Phoenix, picked up 2 more in Dallas, and 3 in Miami for a total of 18. 2 already in Dominican Republic. Grand total: 20 US team members. There are 5 DR members here, and we expect about 15-20 interpretors when we get to Haiti. Total team of about 40-50, perhaps more.

We made it to the DR with over 600 pounds of medicines, and had a short glitch at customs, but paper work helped, and after discussion, negotiation and persistence, we made it through. The team is ready, and we leave early in the am for Haiti. Thru customs again, and then into the country with hopefully all of our meds.

It interesting to see who we are on the 1st day, and who we will become by the last day. The changes are dramatic, in our emotions, our expectations, our outloook, and our understanding of life. We come with an attitude of "giving" and leave with a gratitude of "receiving". We always leave with more than we came with...I think you know what I mean. Our expectations are somewhat skewed until we realize that it is not about what, but about who. The greatest too we bring to the people we'll see in Haiti is ourselves. I'm excited to see how we'll use it. Tomorrow comes early and soon...and so it begins.

In all things give thanks,
David.

Haiti: Getting ready…

2009-10-25T22:35:00.001-07:00

We leave this Friday, October 30th, 2009 for Haiti. 22 US team members and 25-35 local team members. Big team for a big medical mission trip. We expect to see over 2500 patients and will be traveling to some pretty remote places in Haiti. We have over 600 lbs of medicines that we are taking in addition to our equipment. We have a photo journalist and a video journalist who will be with us, 4 doctors, 6 nurses, a pharmacist and 1 pastor and 10 lay people. We’ll have 2 security guards with us at all times, a police escort from the border from the Dominican Republic into Haiti, and police to watch over us. Sounds dramatic, but it’s really only precautionary.

We’ll be seeing the 1000 children that MoM sponsor, their siblings and families. 10 projects, 100 children each. Clinics will be run every day, from 8am until we’re done. We finally got our clearance in writing from the Minister of Health in Haiti to bring the team and medicines in. We’re ready…now all we have to do is make the flight. More to come…

In all things give thanks,

David

Health Care Worker Course: Kenya and Ethiopia

2009-09-20T21:03:00.001-07:00

I returned a few weeks ago from Kenya and Ethiopia where I taught the global health care worker course. There were 22 students in Kenya and 23 students in Ethiopia. All of the students were either teachers or staff at the Mission of Mercy projects and were committed to the intense one-week course that was given to them so that they could become a health care worker in their projects being responsible for the health care of the children to whom they serve.

The healthcare worker course entails five days of intense learning with an overview of anatomy, physiology, pharmacy, first aid, CPR, common illnesses, management of emergency situations, and algorithm based treatment. Physical examination skills were taught and each student received a medical Fanny pack that included a stethoscope, a blood pressure cuff, trauma scissors, pen light, peak flow meters, a thermometer and an assortment of accessories that they would need to do a full physical examination on a child. They practiced on each other and learned to listen to the heart and lungs, to examine an abdomen, and to do a neurologic examination. There were skill stations where the , students learned CPR, how to stabilize and move a trauma patient, and do basic first aid. They also had time to spend with anatomical models of the heart and the brain and to present to the class the anatomy and physiology of different organ systems. Actual patient cases were discussed and the students were given an opportunity to share their own cases. In five days the students went from never holding a stethoscope to being able to tell the difference between regular heart sounds and a heart murmur, clear breath sounds and wheezes, and were able to ask the right questions to get a history and were able to do a full physical examination on a patient.

The purpose of the healthcare worker course is to have one or two people who are in the projects every day where Mission of Mercy children are, in order to evaluate, treat, and referrer as necessary, children who are presenting with any signs of illnesses. The children will now have the opportunity to reach their potential for physical and spiritual growth.

In all things give thanks,

David

Haiti: poor is what poor is....

2009-04-07T15:09:00.010-07:00

Haiti. The poorest country in the western hemisphere. And from what I saw, there is no doubt the statement is true. I came back recently from doing a health needs assessment of the children there, in preparation for our medical team trip the end of October. I’ve been to some poor countries, but this one seems to stand out a little bit more. The reason is simple: isolation. Due to the political turmoil, the bad publicity, the violence, the uprisings, and the attitudes, there is a sense of isolationism, somewhat self imposed, that prevents many from the outside of entering. Mission of Mercy has taken on 1000 children in 10 projects, all but 2 are isolated, wilderness confined, and poor beyond poor. And that’s where we’re going. The children for the most part have the usual maladies, degrees of malnutrition, and a sense of longing. Their faces where either bright and happy, or empty and drawn. Nothing in between.

I visited the Justinian Hospital where there is a pediatric residency program and saw this baby who was dying in front of our eyes. I gave them a quick bedside lecture on resuscitation and within a few hours, he had some life in him. We’ll be using the hospital as a referral hospital for the sickest children we see.

Dirt is dirt. Pollution is pollution. Filth is filth. All of that is in Haiti. We’ll need to pick through all of it to find the clean hearts of those who know to whom they belong. The children, all 1000 of them that we’ll be seeing, are reaching out. I can’t wait to hear their hearts sing.

Day 5 Lotubae and Elelea, Kenya

2008-10-28T06:23:00.003-07:00

Emma died. She stopped breathing yesterday afternoon. We were not able to go see her yesterday and today we just ran out of time. The health center's director came to pay us a visit at Pastor Parks's house and informed us. Her picture taken less than 24 hours ago showed that maybe she might make it.

We went further into the bush today, crossing rivers and using 4 wheel drive the whole way. The Land Cruiser was packed high. We saw about 200 children. One of the last children we saw had severe conjunctivitis and a high fever. Oral antibiotics, paracetamol, and oral fluids was all that we had to offer. In the US she would have been admitted to the hospital for IV therapy.

There is much to be said and little to say. When you look at the pictures, what do they say? We can only begin to understand the meaning of all of this when we look at ourselves and ask whose are we, and to whom do we serve. We reach out our hands, and touch those who are reaching out to us. We gentle take hold, and hope that what we do will remain with them and us for a very long time. Because if it doesn't, we have lost the meaning of grace. This has been an incredible experience, one that will remain with me for a very long time. The faces, the places, the people, all of it, are now part of my heart and soul. It just keeps on getting better and better, and I can't imagine doing anything else. Let it keep growing. You've all heard it before: there is so much to do yet, and so little time.

In all things give thanks,

David

Day 4 Lokori, Kenya

2008-10-28T06:22:00.002-07:00

This day is the day of reckoning. We have been around the bush, seen a lot of things that only we can see in our minds, and we are beginning to realize that we have been given a rare opportunity to witness life at a different level. What we do with that is what we are struggling with. Will it change our perspectives, our goals, our vlaues, our lives? We ask the questions of ourselves, waiting for the answers to appear. We know that we are here for a very short period of time. We have made a difference. we hope. We realize we have been changed, like it or not. The team members, Leah, Kelly, Sue, Bill, Candice, Yvonne, Hapi, Nicholas, Pastor Park, his wife Sungi, and Sam (a close friend of the Parks who joined us in Lokori) are bonded in faith, committment, and love. Here they are.

In all things give thanks,

David

Day 3/4 Lokwii, Kenya

2008-10-28T06:20:00.002-07:00

A 15 kilometer ride into the bush and we get to Lokwii. A small isolated village in the middle of nowhere and we set up our medical clinic in a church that Pastor Park has built. 8 hours later we see the last of 300 children. We walked throught the village at lunch and saw how they lived.

We got a goat and a rooster as a gift. Not sure what to do with them, we give them to Pastor Park, hoping that these 2 will not be on the dinner menu very soon. This brings a whole new meaning to "medical insurance and co-pays".

We checked on little Emma and saw that she was a little better, but we still couldn't find any formula. She is weak. We are getting tired, and feeling very vulnerable. Can we do anything that will make a difference for her? Just how far should we go? The ethics of third world medicine are hitting home; do what you can with what you have, the best way you know how. No more, no less. We all sense that Emma will die.

In all things give thanks,

David

Day 3 Lokori, Kenya

2008-10-28T06:19:00.001-07:00

300 lbs overweight and something had to stay back. Weighing all the medicne and the passengers for the MAF flight put us over the 1073 kg limit for the Cessna Caravan that we were going to use to get to Lokori. We went over the almost 2500 lbs. That's a lot of medicine and a moderate amount of people. Nicholas (he and Hapi are the country liasons for Kenya) is there with me as we sort out what is going to stay and what is going. We took 2 empty seats out of the plane and that gave us another 50lbs. We loaded up and made the 1:30 minute flight to Lokori through a little weather. Pastor Park, who is a Korean missionary, was waiting for us when we got there. We unloaded, claimed our individual tents which would be our place of refuge for the next 4 days, and off we went to our first clinic. 150 children later and a sick 3 month old we were done.

Let me tell you about Lokori. It is a very small village south of Lake Turkana, isolated and very remote. It serves as the base for Pastor Park and his wife who run a ministry to MoM children in 6 villages that extend out in a 32 kilometer circle around Lokori. We are to go to most of them over the next 4 days. There is nothing in Lokori. Nothing. A dirt strip is used for MAF to land, the nearest town, civilized town, is about a 10 hour drive, there is no electricity, water, nothing. And we are there. It is in an area that is potentially dangerous with bandits around, who prey on those who are vulnerable, and for that reason we had 2 armed guards with us the whole time we were in the region.

A 3 month old little girl, Emma, was brought to us

by her mother. The mother had no breast milk, the baby weighed less than 5 pounds. She was minimally reaponsive, extremely dehydrated and grunting with respiratory difficulty. I cut some IV tubing and place it down her nose as an NG tube and we gave her ORS down it as she could not suck. We took her to a local clinic where we did an old fashioned blood smear looking for malaria. There were none. The nurse James who ran the clinic found some old IV catheters and I placed one in her hand and we found some IV antibiotics which we gave her. The baby is staying the night there to get more NG feedings. We'll see how she is doing tomorrow. All in all, a very difficult day.

In all things give thanks,

David

Day 2 Emarti, Kenya

2008-10-28T05:41:00.003-07:00

Two and a half hours south of Nairobi, we're in the bush. Everything is packed up on a Land Cruiser, our off road, bush running, hard core 4 wheeler, and off we go.Emarti is one of the MoM projects with 250 children, isolated in the bush, but surrounded by many who love them.

We picked up along the way, Julius, a nurse who runs a clinic in Kajiado, and Mary a community health worker. I had met them in May 2008 and wrote about the hidden haven for phyically disabled children that Julius runs. Julius is also physically disabled, having had polio at a very young age.

When we arrived we were greeted by a large throng of singing children

and Masai women who wore traditional beaded jewlery and dress. To see the contrast from us and them is beyond description, but one thing was clear - human dignitiy, personhood, and acceptance as one who is valued, is never to be taken for granted. We are those who ahve. They are those who have not. With little time to spare, we set up our exam stations outside and we started. And I mean outside. We had about 6 hours of day light to see a bunch of children, and get out of the bush before dark. Each of us had a small table from which we worked from, the children coming to us one by one, getting examined then off to pharmacy for meds.Hours later we were done. We had seen all 250 of the children and then some. Several children stood out: one boy with HIV/AIDS and 2 children who were mentally handicapped. Even with those limitations, and in an isolated environment, they were as much of the family of forgotten children as the rest. Well cared for, loved, and counted as persons.

As we wrapped things up we were gifted with song and dance, jewelry, and love. And on the way home we saw giraffe, gazelle, and zebras.

There is no better way to spend a day with God than to be doing what we did today. Giving, receiving, and living in grace.

In all things give thanks,

David

Day 1 Kenya

2008-10-22T17:27:00.002-07:00

Fog. Early morning fog. We arrived at 5:45am after 26 hours of travel to fog. But as always, when we arrive anywhere, the good and the bad balance themselves out as we prepare to meet the obstacles and go through the open doors. The sun broke through the fog (that's good), and our hotel rooms weren't ready (that's bad). We have a lot to do. But first here's our line up:

Candice, Kelly, and I from Arizona. Bill from South Dakota. Leah from Arkansa. Sue from Illinois. Yvone from Singapore. And Hapi and Nicholas from Kenya. A major league team of 9! We're ready.

Hotel rooms finally assigned, and off we go to World Hope who graciously allowed us to use their large space to sort medications. And that's what we did for 7 hours non stop with help from World Hope.. We sorted over, ready for this, 5000 doses of prescriptions! Counting pills, stuffing little baggies, labeling them and packing them. Multiple 5000 times with an average of 14 pills per perscription and you've got around 75,000 pills we went through.! Can you see it? The team came together, focused and driven. Bonded, and ready to get up early in the morning for our second day in Kenya: a 2.5 hour drive to Emarti, south of Nairobi into the bush where 250 children are waiting to see us.

The fog lifted. The sun came out. And even now as I write this in the middle of the night (sleep is illusive on these trips sometimes), the night is bright with the glow of what we've did this first day knowing how it's going to help touch the lives and hearts of the children we see this week.

In all things give thanks,

David

Dominican Republic: A week to remember

2008-09-25T18:10:00.002-07:00

The first thing I felt was the heat and the humidity. The second thing was the sense of anxiousness that something was going to happen. The first was real, the second would eventually come. Tracee, Lauren, Shelby, Deanna, Krystle, Jessica, Sue, Kelly and I arrived and met with our local team members, headed by Dimas and the week began. In five days we saw just short of 2000 patients, traveled to 5 outlying projects, some as remote as dirt roads, no electricity, and little tin shack houses. The heat was unbelievable, the humidity sticky and unrelenting. But we prevailed.

We saw and treated many different types of diseases, from parasites, to flu, pneumonia, arthritis, breast cancer, HIV, and just old age. Each of us had our own experiences, shared and some not shared. What we did feel was an unrelenting need from the people we treated to be heard. Simple. But not really. With hundreds of patients waiting to be seen, and the heat taking its toll on us, the pharmacy backing up, running out of medicines, dealing with issues in Kenya, Ethiopia and Swaziland by emails coming through on my phone, it was a difficult task. This little 4 year old boy, mentally handicapped was brought to us by his father, also mentally hadicapped, and was the boy's only caretaker. All he wanted to know is if he was doing a good job taking care of his little boy. To this little child who was born with her intestines hanging out and the local physicians telling the mother that they could do nothing until the child was much older. And the child living with this everyday, on the edge, waiting for the loops of intestine to twist and get infected, when it could have easily been fixed at birth. There was not much to do for these 2 patients we saw, other than to listen. And it was like that for many. Simple complaints of "cold and cough", when really all they wanted was to have someone tell them that they were well. And we did that. Over and over again, almost 2000 times, with smiles on our face and love in our hearts. We were there as servants. And I for one am glad that we were. There was no better place to be in the world at that time, then to be there. With them.
And then on the very last day, at almost the very last hour of our time in clinic for the week, we saw this patient. He was having a severe anaphylactic reaction. His airway began to close, his eyes swelled shut, and he was going down. We always prepare for things like this. Krystle gets an IV in before we know it. Benadryl is given, albuterol nebulizer is administered and an epi-pen is thrust into his thigh. Without any of that he would have died. Period. And after we caught our breath, we wondered why. Why did those particular people who we saw come to us, why did we do the things we did, and why did the memories we form, happen. We didn't ask for them. They came to us. We went and it happened. And that's how it is every time we go somewhere, no matter the country. There is a purpose, a happening, a moment, that was there for us. A learning experience, a move towards getting us closer to what we believe in, a time for us to again remember who we belong to. And that is always alright with me as I need constant reminding, simply because it helps me feel that He is always with me. And that is the third feeling I felt on this trip. And still feel it. Do you?

In all things give thanks,

David

Ethiopia July 2008: The days that followed...

2008-08-05T05:34:00.002-07:00

It's been several days since I've been able to put anything down in writing. We have been traveling, working, and being exposed to a different way of life, a different way of looking at how people are treated and how people live. We've seen everything from the ordinary, to the extraordinary and beyond. There have been moments of confusion, happiness, frustration, and wonder. We've seen children who are so malnourished that they don't even measure on our growth charts. We have seen poverty that is indescribable, and beyond description. We have seen people who are so dirty that their skin is not even visible. We've seen deformities, untreated injuries, and birth defects. We have seen babies suckling at the breast crying because there is no milk to be had. And we have seen the smiles on the faces of those whom we helped. It has been a remarkable few days.

We have seen an amazing amount of patients, averaging 350 to 400 patients a day. Our dentists have been averaging 80-100 patients a day. The actual number of patients we've seen so far doesn't really matter. Its how they've reacted to how we've cared for them that makes a big difference. There are patients for whom we've not been able to help and there are those for whom we've made a difference. The pictures speak for themselves.

A few days ago we split the team into two sending one team to Zeway and the other team to Bahir Dar. Each team saw over 300 patients in the two half days of clinics that were held. The team that went to Zeway drove by bus for several hours, and the Bahir Dar team flew. There was time for some sightseeing, and for reflection. But most of the time was spent doing what we came to do: to see those who sought our help, physical and emotional and spiritual.

Yesterday we went to a project in the outskirts of Addis Ababa called Kotebe. Again, we saw extremely poor and isolated human beings, living day to day with nothing but the clothes on their back and existing on an occasional meal of bread. And today, in stark contrast to what we've been seeing, we met with the President of Ethiopia, exchanging "thank you's", us for the privilege of being here in his country and him thanking us for helping. The pomp and circumstance of the event was interesting at best, but cemented for me the vast differences that are evident within a social structure in a Third World country. For what it's worth, the President of Ethiopia heard that we were here because of the healthcare needs of an impoverished lower class and all I can hope is that he felt some discomfort with the fact that people from another country had to come to his country to care for his own people. I am perhaps a little cynical, but after all that we've seen in the past few days one can only wonder how those behind those palatial walls can rest comfortably at night knowing that just outside their gates are children who are dying of starvation, and mothers struggling to find a meal for their children. But then again I look at our own circumstances in the United States and know that there are those who sit behind palatial walls knowing that just outside their gates there are poverty-stricken areas of urban cities, the Appalachia's, and the ghettos, where the human existence and suffering is no different than what we are seeing here.

These have been difficult days, at least for me. I see the unwashed and hungry children in my mind every time I close my eyes. And I see the hopelessness in the eyes of those who came wanting more than we could give them. The last patient I saw in Bahir Dar was an old man of 90 years. He was walking hunched over with a walking stick, blind, and alone. A stranger had brought him to us. He sat next to me and as I held his hand, he told me he was blind, he lived in the street, he had no money, no family, and that he was hungry. I asked him how I could help. He looked at me through eyes that hadn't seen life in years, and said quietly, "Can you help me die?" I never answered him. I didn't know how. I simply held his hand and kissed his cheek and said a silent prayer. He was a Muslim looking to us for help. As I watched him walk away I wondered whether I fell short of what I came here to do. To show those who are hurting that there is still love to be had. And I will wonder for a very long time, if he ever got over wanting to die. I can only hope.

In all things give thanks,
David

Ethiopia July 2008: Eyes and hearts open

2008-07-31T18:52:00.000-07:00

He came to the clinic because his friend told him that there was a medical team from the US at the place that he goes as a sponsored child of MoM. Elyas is 14 years old and more mature than many his age. He presented with a severe body rash, scalp sores and general malaise. He shared that his parents had died of HIV 2 years ago and the he was being cared for by his grandmother. He told us that he was taking a lot of medicines for he thought was TB and bad pneumonia. His story is one that may stay with you for awhile.

He had gone to a local health clinic a year ago because of some sores on his leg that would not heal and when he told the doctor that his parents had died of AIDS they sent him for some "tests" and soon after started him on "a lot of medicines". His grandmother told him he had a bad form of TB and pneumonia and that he would have to take medicines for a long time and if anyone asked that is what he had. He was walking down the street one day when he saw some beggars holding vials of medicines in their hands and slips of paper that said what they had and that they were dying and need money. Elyas recognized the vials as the same ones he had, and went to one beggar and read his paper: "I have AIDS and am dying." Elyas finally knew what he had. He found out from a beggar. He told his grandmother who told him again that he still had to tell people that he had a bad form of TB and pneumonia or people wouldn't want to be near him and that he would wind up a beggar like the others.

He wouldn't tell us in the beginning, but after we spent some time with him, he told us his story. You have to wonder how a 14 year old boy deals with this every minute and every day of his life. He has few friends, he is physically ill, and his skin is almost difficult to look at if your not open to things not normal. He found trust in us and we are taking care of him. I put him in our advanced care follow up program and he will be cared for everyday by our MoM staff here in Addis.

We have our eyes open here, looking, seeing and remembering. Elyas opened our hearts and made us realize what type of world is just outside our own comfortable and familiar neighborhoods. He doesn't have to worry anymore about being shunned or dehumanized because of his disease. We'll help him undestand this. He learned from a beggar that he has AIDS. He learned from us that he is loved no matter what.

In all things give thanks,
David

Ethiopia July 2008: The first few days

2008-07-31T18:26:00.003-07:00

And so it began. The full team arrived, and within eight hours after having a few hours of sleep, the team began to get ready for a week's worth of clinics. Most of the medications arrived all of which needed to be packaged and labeled. And this was all being completed just as the clinic was starting. The first day began with everyone getting used to their areas of responsibility and assignments as the patients came in. Everyone became more comfortable with what they needed to do by the end of the first day. We saw 408 patients and the dental team saw 72 patients. On second day we had a wall of massive patients in the clinic area with rain falling outside and controlled chaos on the inside. By the end of the second day we had seen 512 patients and the dental team had seen 88 patients. For the first time on our medical mission trips we had a dental team led by Dr. John, who is with World Dental in Ethiopia. He had with him for local dentists who practiced with him and will be traveling with us as we go up north. In addition, we had lab technicians, nurses, and 10 local physicians, who joined us at various times with specialties ranging from general pediatrics to internal medicine, nephrology, cardiology, and ophthalmology. We started our Rapid Nutritional Assessment program as well, and have generated valuable information regarding the nutritional status of the children using WHO standards. We are now able to recognize those children who are mildly, moderately, and severely malnourished. Pharmacy has been expertly run, and is also staffed with an Ethiopian pharmacist and Ethiopia pharmacy student. It is always an incredible experience to work side by side with the local healthcare team as we care for the forgotten children together. We leave tomorrow for remote areas half of the team traveling by plane to Bahir Dar and the other half of the team traveling by bus to Zeway, where both teams will spend the day doing clinic's, spending the night, and then doing clinics the following day before returning to Addis. All in all, the first two days have been rewarding, gifted, and blessed.
In all things give thanks,
David

Ethiopia Medical Mission

2008-07-27T10:49:00.001-07:00

I am in Chicago awaiting my flight to Frankfurt then on to Addis Ababa, where we will be having our first medical mission in Ethiopia. It was just 6 months ago when I did an assessment trip there, and on Wednesday, we will begin a 7-8 day run of clinics in Addis, Zeway and Bahir Dar. We will be splitting the team up in order to go to 2 different locations outside of Addis. Remote is remote...

Troy, Colleen, Kelly, Placida, Dawn, Donna, Shauna, Jessica, Michelle and I make up the US team. We will be joined by 3 dentists, 1 nurse, 1 pharmacist, 8 physicians and 6 support people from Ethiopia. This will be an incredible "team"! There has been a lot of ground work done by Getachew and his team for weeks now, and he has done a tremendous job! Peter, my old friend who has been with me on many tirps is there now putting the finishing touches on eveything. I am not travelinbg with the team due to being on call, etc, and will get to Ethiopia a day early to have meetings with a food supplement organization, and to give an orientation to the Ethiopian team.

We are expecting to have a unique experience. There is alot of siginificant and severe malnutrition there and malaria seems to be prominent. What else we'll see and do, has yet to be realized. It will come and it will happen. Be with us...

In all things give thanks,
David

Kenya Assessment Trip May 2008

2008-05-22T07:42:00.013-07:00

There is always a story, always a happening that stays in one's mind after a trip. Kenya lent many of them. I spent 6 days traveling to the northern part of Kenya to an isolated area called Lokori, which is just south of Lake Turkana, and then traveled south to the small communities of Nahipai and Emarti. My hosts and friends, Hapi and Nicholas were with me the whole time. Hapi is the field project manager for MoM in Kenya and Nicholas is his right arm man.

We began by traveling with MAF. Driving to Lokori would have been a 16+hour drive, usually done in 2 days, and the road is patroled by bandits. Flying took us 1hr and 40 minutes. David, our MAF pilot and I flew up to Lokori and landed on the dirt strip next to the isolated village of Lokori. Truly some bush flying, and again my thanks to MAF and David for allowing me to do some of the flying. We pilots will fly anything anywhere. We were met by our Korean missionary hosts who oversee our MoM children in 6 villages in the area, Sungi and Pastor Daniel.

Lokori is a small village community that has surrounding it 6 smallere remote and isolated villages. We have about 700 MoM children in the villages and access to them is by 4 wheel drive all nito the bush. The Turkana comunity are for the most part herders and their dress is spectacular!

I must emphasize how remote we are. At Pastors Daniel and Sungi house, there is solar panel electricity for about 2 hours at night, water from an outside tank, and modest toilet facilites. But outside of that, there is nothing. And that is where we are going. We traveled south and visited several other areas where we have Mission of Mercy children. Emarti is an isolated village in the bush south of Nairobi, and a water project had just been completed, which we were fortunate enough to dedicate. The local dress is different from the Turkana tribes and we can see the unique differences in the health care of the children. Families live in huts made of mud and dung and are truly small with a small fire always burning inside. The family lives within this isolated area inhaling smoke constantly and for that reason, upper respiratory tract illnesses are commonplace.
On a visit to the local healthcare facilities we came across a unique and extremely progressive rehabilitation center for physically disabled children. There were approximately 70 children who lived there, and were receiving physical therapy, occupational therapy, and prosthetic devices that served to improve their lives. We established a relationship with them as Kenya was the first country that I have assessed that had a large number of children with special needs. One of our future efforts will be to establish a special needs program for those children who are part of MoM.
The pictures speak for themselves. We saw many things and witnessed incredible isolation, thirst, hunger, and significant illnesses. The country is beautiful. The people are beautiful. And the children I can assure you will not be forgotten.

In all things give thanks,
David

Swaziland Medical Trip April 2008 Team

2008-04-25T09:36:00.004-07:00

The team at work!!!

Swaziland: Advanced Health Care Worker course April 2008

2008-04-20T01:10:00.002-07:00

25 teachers from the Care Points and Mercy Centes attended the Advanced Health Care Worker course. This was the advanced course that I developed in additon to the Basic course that I give in differnt countries. The first day was a advanced anatomy and physiology. I held a show and tell dissection lab in the afternoon: we got a cow's liver, an oxen's heart, and an oxen's kidney, and I dissected them showing them heart valves, the inner workings of the liver and the kidney. Then when I was done, the students took the organs outside, and cooked them...and then ate them! Try that in the US!

The second day was all advanced disease recognition and algorithms. Peak Flow meters were donated to us and I showed them how to use them and then we used them on the children. Asthma is a big problem in Swaziland. The third day was basic pharmacology of antibiotics and we finished up with cases.

We now have 25 teachers who are trained on disease assessment, recognition and basic treatment. They will serve as the first health care line caring for the children at the Care Points and the Mercy Centers. This will insure that children will be cared for before they get sick so they can grow spiritually and with His love.

In all things give thanks,

David

Mozambique Assessment April 2008

2008-04-20T00:58:00.002-07:00

Soon after we finished the medical clinics, I took off for Mozambique with Daren, Teresa and Jason to assess the medical needs there. The drive was 4 hours of beautiful scenery. We arrived and went right to work. Isaac and CArol the missionsary couple with Healing Place Church/Children's Cup have done an outstanding job in getting things going there. They set up a small room in the church to serve as a mini-clinic and stock it with medications. A Brazilain doctor with the Baptist ministry (Maria) comes once a week to see the children. I was very impressed with what they have done so far. The local government health care post where people go for care was dismal. But the government hospital that children get referred to was awesome! A seperate 32 pediatric ward, and a playroom!

The over all healthcare of the children is marginal at best, with malnutriton, malaria, URI's, and diarrhea the common casues of death and morbidity.With time, we'll have the children looking fat and healthy!!

As for us, we got stopped late evening by a group of "police/soldiers" who were loking for anything they could to get us. 3 of them with AK47's flanked the left side of our SUV while 3 of them on the right, talked to Daren telling him we had violated some law (passengers not wearing seat belts). After some "discussion" we paid them off (about $80) and they let us go. You never know what's going to happen next on trips like these.

In all things give thanks,

David

Swaziland April 2008: Day 5 and summary

2008-04-12T04:07:00.002-07:00

Day 5: Maphiveni

We traveled about 1 1/2 to two hours north almost to the border Mozambique. A Mercy center has been established in that area. Because of arrival time and departure time we see only saw about 156 patients. But those patients were some of the sicker patients that we've seen all week since that part of the country that we were in has a high incidence of HIV with approximately 90% of the population being HIV-positive less than five to 10% of those receiving ARVS. We saw number of young children, some as young as 10 months of age with mothers who had been HIV-positive while pregnant never receiving HIV treatment, thereby ensuring that their children were positive. We saw significant amount of malnutrition, tuberculosis, and overall general poor health.

The week has gone by quickly when we look back to see what we have done. It was quite amazing:

Madonsa: 322 patients.
Makholweni: 400 patients.
Logoba: 422 patients.
Zombodze: 438 patients.
Maphiveni: 156 patients.

Total: 1738 patients seen

Total Medication perscriptions dispensed: 5500
Total indiviudal pills, ointments, drops, etc dispensed: 22,000
Total reading glasses given: 400
Total who got HIV testing: 375
Total seen in spiritual counseling: 1738
Total number of people who participated in working the week of clinics(US medical team, local missionaries, teachers, interperetors, drivers, cooks, HIV testers,pastors,and alot more): 220

The whole team (US and local) was incredible. We all came together within the first few hours of the trip and work very well together. The missionaries here in Swaziland, the teachers, the pastors, the interpreters, the drivers, the cooks, and many many more who helped us, worked as a team with a singular and common purpose: to be Christ's servants to those who are vulnerable and ill. It has been quite the week, and quite the experience. God does some incredible things, and puts people together for a purpose.

Two residents, husband and wife Philip and Kathleen, from Baylor joined us on the last day, We were blessed find out that they were believers. It was awesome to see them openly pray with their patients and to be a part of our devotions. To see unexpected people join our group who embrace our mission is simply God's work.

The medical team leaves for the United States tomorrow. Jason and I, and Daran and Teresa, leave for Mozambique for a three day assessment trip. I hope to be able to determine the medical needs of Mozambique and how we are going to deliver medical care to the children there. I'll return to Swaziland after that to give the advanced healthcare worker course to 28 healthcare workers who have been through the basic health care worker course. I'll return home soon after that.

It continues to be a wonderful journey.

In all things give thanks,
David

Swaziland April 2008: Day 3 and Day 4

2008-04-10T13:11:00.002-07:00

Day 3: Logoba

422 patients were seen. It seemed like a busier day than most with a lot of sicker patients than we had previously seen. We saw a lot of children who came without parents looking for healthcare all on their own. They had heard that we were there and brought themselves to the clinic with some significant and serious complaints of illnesses that needed to be treated. We gave the medications knowing that there were no parents for them to return to and that they were truly responsible for themselves. An 11-year-old with significant developmental delay and a seizure disorder with left hemiparesis arrived on his own seeking help for his seizures. Because of his developmental delay, he was unable to really communicate other than to tell us that he frequently fell down. A 38-year-old male with skeletal tuberculosis also with lower extremity paresis came for help. He was unable to walk, and his wife and he were both HIV-positive. A whole family devastated by two serious diseases.

Sometimes I wonder where the resilience and fortitude comes from. Looking around at the mass of people waiting to be seen, it was clear that survival was a common theme. But surviving at what expense? The team was more subdued today, and I think realized the magnitude of what they were doing. There is no other way look at what we do other than with hope and compassion.

Day 4: Zombodze

A day, not unlike the rest with 438 patients seen. We did have a late start and an early ending, and still saw a large number of patients. While the team traveled to the site I met with the Baylor team to discuss the healthcare of Pepe. We were able to come up with a nutritional program that would be beneficial and insure her possibility of having a comfortable life for a least a period of time. A young mother and her baby came to the clinic. Both turned out to be HIV-positive. The baby was severely malnourished as the mother had no money and was feeding the baby a dilute porridge. A little eight year old girl who had been raped last year and was seen by Sabine came back for a visit and was looking really well and had recovered from her horrendous experience.

Children's Cup has continued to grow with 19 missionaries and seven more on the way before the end of the year. Additional Mercy Centers and Care Points are being added and a new church opened just a few weeks ago, which we attended tonight. The mission here is beyond words. The growth and out reach to those who are so vulnerable is occurring at a rapid rate. We are fortunate and blessed to be a very small part of it.

In all things give thanks,
David

Swaziland April 2008: Day 1 and 2

2008-04-08T12:08:00.003-07:00

Day one:

We started our week of medical clinics at Madonsa where we saw 322 patients. There were no surprises other than a late afternoon hailstorm, followed by a thunderstorm as we're examining children outside. The medical team got their feet wet, so to speak and finished off the day feeling more comfortable about the types of children and adults that will be seen for the rest of the week. We were visited by two doctors from Baylor, who joined us in seeing patients and it was comforting to know that our approach and treatment of common diseases was in harmony with what the Baylor team has been doing.

Day two:

Day two was spent at Makholweni where we saw 400 patients. Today was a difficult day for many of us as we began to see the impact of the epidemic of HIV and AIDS and the general well-being, both health and spiritual, of the patients that we saw. I took care of an 11-year-old girl who'd been raped and needed to be examined. I was fortunate to have Teresa, Jackie, a Children's Cup missionary and one of the teachers get her to trust me to do the examination. A 14-year-old boy with HIV, who had been on ARV medication, looking very sick told us that he had stopped taking his medications, because his grandmother refused to allow him to do so. She couldn't believe that a child 14 years of age could have HIV and AIDS. We are struggling now with finding a way to convince her to let him take his medication.

A young lady whom I wrote about a year ago, who has a seizure disorder and was raped, came back to the clinic today and had a seizure right in front of us. You may recall that when she falls she hits the right side of her face. And today was no exception. It was clear that she had been having multiple seizures, and her face was severely bruised and swollen on the right side. We saw two children with severe asthma, who required immediate intervention. And there were many more.

For what it's worth, I continue to be amazed at the resilience of those who have not. And what is more amazing is to see that regardless of what is happening to them they maintain a sense of dignity and continue to hold their head high as best they can under the circumstances. The young lady who had a seizure clearly demonstrated this. As she was recovering from her seizure and still incoherent, she reached for a paper towel that we brought to clean her face with and took it herself and started to brush herself off.

There's more to come as the week moves forward. There is more for us to see and more for us to realize how fortunate we are to have the blessings that have been bestowed on us. Being humbled is a difficult thing to experience. Today was a very humbling day.

In all things give thanks,
David

Swaziland April 2008

2008-04-06T19:24:00.003-07:00

We are back in Swaziland for another medical trip. In addition I'll be traveling to Mozambique for three days to do a medical assessment, and then back to Swaziland to do a three day advanced healthcare worker course. On this trip we have been fortunate to have Sabine, Donald, Carleen, Maisie, Jason, Kelly, Don from Phoenix, and Jason a friend of Don's join us as our medical team.

As always, we were met by Darren and Teresa, and the rest of the missionaries here in Swaziland. The afternoon was a quiet one as we gathered our thoughts and energy to prepare for the week ahead.

I did go with Teresa to go see Pepe who has been hospitalized for some time now with multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis and HIV. She is 12 years old and now only weighs 14 kg. When I saw her she was continually coughing and was very weak. She was unable to take nutrition and seemed severely withdrawn. She was apprehensive and afraid. Having just seen her a year ago she was clearly a different child. I couldn't bring myself to take her picture.

There is a lot to talk about regarding her long-term care what she is going through. I hope to have a care conference with all the wonderful people who have been caring for her here so that we can look at the difference between keeping her alive and ensuring that she has a life. We all want to do things for her and not to her. There is an end to all things. The taskmaster is deciding when that end is.

Be with us as we begin our week. Be with Pepe.

In all things give thanks,

David

Ethiopa Assessment Trip January 2008

2008-02-02T11:04:00.000-07:00

Ethiopia: an African country, unique in its needs, beautiful in its own way. For 7 days, I traveled with my close friend Peter Omran and Getachew, the field director for our projects in Ethiopia. We saw 8 projects, traveled by car a long distance and flew even further, to see all the projects that MoM has there. There are close to 3000 children, all in various stages of growth, development and health. The pictures will speak for themselves.

What we can expect when we go is a large population of children with malaria, TB, malnutrution, chronic respiratory tract infections, and parasitic disease. The environment that these children live in are as expected: no water, no sanitation, one room with 10 people living in it, exposure to communicable diseases and no toilets. We'll have a lot to do, and alot to see. Wait for it. It's coming....

In all things give thanks,

David

Cambodia: Wrap up

2007-11-11T14:35:00.000-07:00

With a team of 12 from the US and a team of at least 20 from Cambodia, we did it. Our original estimates of patients seen over the 8 days was about 1700. Final counts from Kelly (boy) make it more like 2000. MoM children, villagers, teachers, and alot of others. The pace was fast, but thorough and the excitement was there. The spiritual side was awesome! Here is a quote from Kelly (boy) in an email he sent to me:

"The spiritual impact report is also still being put together but I know many were uplifted by the prayers of you as a team and our spiritual counselor team. The one morning I was there was a lady who asked me to pray for her for personal salvation. Obviously the seeds of faith had already been sown but your presence prompted her to make that commitment during the first hour of our village outreach (Dambok Khphua village)." Kelly Robinette

How great is that!! Cambodia was our first medical intervention and has been the country that we have been to the most. There are almost 4000 MoM children in the country and for that, we are thankful that the missionaries are there. We try to help the best we can.

My thanks to all who went on this trip, to all who helped, to all who stayed in prayer with and for us, and to all who thought of us. There is still so much more to done...

In all things give thanks,

David

Cambodia: Day 7 - Unbelievable!

2007-11-01T06:32:00.001-07:00

We saw 520 children today in the village of Ang. Don't ask me how we did it but we did. The team ran like an oiled machine, the kids flowed to each of us to examine and off to the pharmacy they went, then off to get a vitamin and a worm pill on the way out. It was a great day, no drama, no sad stories, nothing to really talk about, other than the fact that we never missed a beat smiling as we saw all the children.

It is said that every turn brings you to a new place, either in location or in your heart. Our hearts today found a new place, a new sense of optimism, a new realization that there are still children in this world who are innocent enough not to relaize what they don't have and when they do, they really don't care. I saw that today. Torn shirts, broken sandals, dirty faces, and runny noses. But always smiling and thankful for the fact that we were there. How great is that. And the smiles on our faces showed how thankful we were to be there as well. Having nothing and having everything...it can happen, when we realize that having nothing is all the "stuff" that we thing we have until it's taken away from us, and having everything is simply having a faith in the one who is our Father. I saw it all today. The have's and the have not's. And I'm so glad to be one of the ones who "has".

In all things give thanks,

David

Cambodia: Day 6 - Good news

2007-10-31T05:42:00.001-07:00

Kelly is returning from Bangkok tomorrow with good news. He passed all his tests, and is ready to come back. We are anxious to see him back and to have him with our team again.

We saw 350 patients today, no drama, and a very nice day. Everybody is tired and off to an early nights rest before we leave for Ang tomorrow. It's all good.

In all things give thanks,

David