Monday, March 28, 2011
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Iglesia Monte de Sion: trabajos de construcción con la trinity church
Mount Zion Church, Consuelo, blogsite is up and running. Iglesia Monte de Sion: trabajos de construcción con la trinity church
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Team Spirit
What a privilege it has been to be a part of this small but dynamic group of people brought together from all walks of life! I have learnt so much from everyone during this trip. What most touched me was the "servant" spirit that was demonstrated by every member of the group. The humility and willingness to share and to serve was evident in word and action. One example was to see how the members made Pastor Julio and his family were graciously served and made to feel at home when we invited them over for dinner to Casa Pastorale where we stayed.
Despite the potentially trying circumstances of living in separate men and women's dorms and learning to coordinate our bathroom schedules, we did remarkably well and were able to bond better as a group because of this.
Special thanks to our team leaders Bob and Michelle for coordinating and planning this trip. A lot of work was done prior to this trip and by God's grace was well executed despite potential uncertainties in the beginning regarding logistics of accommodations. But we learnt about the application of faith and God's perfect timing.
Inflight Thoughts
I am writing this on the airplane. I am amazed at the number of teams that go to the DR to work with the underprivileged. I just spoke to a teen who is from a Christian school in New Jersey. She came with her entire senior class for a week working with residents and children from a Batey (sugarcane plantations where people live). I probably shouldn't be surprised why people want to come here to help.
The Dominicans (and the few Haitians) that we encountered are such hospitable people. They are extremely warm, friendly and open. The young men who were assisting us really looked out for us when we went out, and they often went out of their way to help us too.
Special mention should also go to the people from Good Samiritan Hospital and Mount Zion Church in Consuelo who have been wonderful to us. Pastor Julio made sure that we and our coworkers from Good Sam were well fed and looked after during lunch.
I was also impressed by what Christ-centered ministry is about. A huge reminder of this is the prayers that are said before we ventured out on the bus in the mornings, before we started seeing patients in the clinic each day, before meals, and each evening. In doing so, our minds are being constantly reminded of the reason why we are doing this work. It is not through our own efforts or strength (we were reminded by Bob of Psalm 127:1 - unless the Lord builds the house, the workers labor in vain) and we are not doing it for our own success or glory. We are here to do the Lord's work and to brig Him glory. My wife Sue shared with me a passage from Matthew 25:23 - each of us are given talents and we have he choice of using them wisely and for furthering the Kingdom. In doing so, we get to reap the benefits of sharing in the Lord's happiness.
I think this trip to the DR has given me a glimpse of what heaven is like. I went with a willing heart and open mind, and God changed my life with a transformed heart and renewed mind. All glory to Him!
What patients did we see?
(Disclaimer: I'm only speaking from my perspective as I did not see any infants and many ofthe children who were triaged to better qualified team members)
Probably the most common complaint was "pain all over" and headache. Unfortunately basic OTC meds like Tylenol or Motrin were unavailable to these patients. For the older patients, arthritis and muscle aches and pains were common. "Poor appetite" was also pretty common often conveying an underlying unspoken request for multivitamins. For young women, discharge was a frequent complaint. However, we had to distinguish between normal and abnormal symptoms which was challenging since there was no room to do a thorough exam. The "exam room" was literally a converted classroom where 4 clinicians and their patients were cramped in with little privacy. We had to interview and examine them in the same area! Allergy symptoms were also very prevalent with presentations of watery, itchy eyes, nasal drainage and cough. Not surprising given the perpetual burning occurring in the sugarcane fields and pollution. Upper respiratory tract infections were also pretty common in both young and old.
There was strong demand for acetaminophen and loratadine (Claritin) that our supplies frequently ran out. We used sulfur cream which is a universal treatment for skin fungus, scabies and bacteriacidal agent. It is easily compounded by mixing Vaseline and sulfur. I wished we had Selsun shampoo or topical ketoconazole for treating cradle cap or seborrhea. There was the occasional male patient that had symptoms of prostatic enlargement for which medicines were lacking. I didn't use as much antibiotics as I thought. We could have easily have gotten away with fewer than we brought. Hydrocortisone cream was also in great demand. Our supply of 50 reading glasses were snapped up in the first 2 days! I saw a few cases of asthma and which we had brought asthma meds. Thankfully, some were donated and we were able to get by.
There were many cases of hypertension. We used lots of atenolol and amlodipine - our only antihypertensives. Metformin was the only medication we had available for diabetes. As a geriatrician I did not expect to see many elderly, but I was surprised to see a 90 year old man - my oldest patient. His blood pressure was controlled nicely, and all he wanted was for me to treat him for his eczema.
Casa Pastorale
The accommodations were provided by Good Samaritan Hospital located in La Romana. Don't expect lavish furnishings in this dormitory-style building that is surrounded by concrete walls topped with barb wire and broken glass. Don't expect jet-massage showers or potpourri-scented bathrooms.
Rule # 1: Setting expectations is a precursor to disappointment. Rather, coming with no expectations at all is less likely to leave you dispppointed.
Casa Pastorale is in the midst of downtown La Romana. Traffic and human activity are inevitable. For those used to rural-town living like me, brace yourself for a cultural shock. Forget the sounds of ocean waves beating on the shore or the gentle rustling of tall grass in the wind. You'll be greeted by one of the following, in no particular order, and often occuring simultaneously:
1. barking dogs possessing owl-like qualities that prevent them from sleeping during the day,
2. roaring motorcycles - the preferred mode of transportation for Dominicans - with missing mufflers,
3. cars or trucks that have been transformed into loud boomboxes on wheels (literally, I kid you not) vying for the "who can play the loudest music" contest,
4. time-disoriented roosters whose internal alarm clock has been set at 2:30 am with the snooze button going off repeatedly, or
5. that mysterious sound (we suspect from the nearby factory) that blares it's air horn on schedule at night and early morning, like a gigantic alarm clock reminding the people of all La Romana that it's time to turn off the lights or time to wake up.
Rule # 2: bring a set of ear plugs, or as Joel did, aircraft-standard ear mufflers. I'm still kicking myself because while packing, I took the earplugs out of my luggage thinking to myself, "I won't be needing these over there."
There is a nice courtyard where vendors display their craft and artwork during the weeknights. It's also a great place to chat and hangout in the cool of the night. There are even lavish fruit trees producing bountiful mangoes which look and probably taste delicious when ripe. The problem is that humans aren't the only mammals who concur with that. I used to think that bats live only in caves. I think we all learned something new about the nocturnal activities of bats living in CP.
Rule # 3: stand at your own risk while lounging in the courtyard at night, or at least have on some sort of head-covering. A few people have been unfortunate enough to experience what it's like being bombed, some even twice! For the most part, these nocturnal creatures are otherwise harmless.
What makes accommodations truly great is not so much the exterior design or decorations (although plain and lackluster, CP was clean and tidy), it's the people in the building that make a difference. The staff at Casa Pastorale where we stayed were truly wonderful. Even though the accommodations were dormitory-style, and the shared bathrooms were not what we are used to by American standards, it was probably better then the lavish Embassy Suites near the airport. The hospitality and the home-cooked meals cannot be adequately described.
Rule # 4: expect great hospitality and food. Don't expect to loose any weight, rather be prepared to even gain some pounds because you won't go hungry.
Rule # 1: Setting expectations is a precursor to disappointment. Rather, coming with no expectations at all is less likely to leave you dispppointed.
Casa Pastorale is in the midst of downtown La Romana. Traffic and human activity are inevitable. For those used to rural-town living like me, brace yourself for a cultural shock. Forget the sounds of ocean waves beating on the shore or the gentle rustling of tall grass in the wind. You'll be greeted by one of the following, in no particular order, and often occuring simultaneously:
1. barking dogs possessing owl-like qualities that prevent them from sleeping during the day,
2. roaring motorcycles - the preferred mode of transportation for Dominicans - with missing mufflers,
3. cars or trucks that have been transformed into loud boomboxes on wheels (literally, I kid you not) vying for the "who can play the loudest music" contest,
4. time-disoriented roosters whose internal alarm clock has been set at 2:30 am with the snooze button going off repeatedly, or
5. that mysterious sound (we suspect from the nearby factory) that blares it's air horn on schedule at night and early morning, like a gigantic alarm clock reminding the people of all La Romana that it's time to turn off the lights or time to wake up.
Rule # 2: bring a set of ear plugs, or as Joel did, aircraft-standard ear mufflers. I'm still kicking myself because while packing, I took the earplugs out of my luggage thinking to myself, "I won't be needing these over there."
There is a nice courtyard where vendors display their craft and artwork during the weeknights. It's also a great place to chat and hangout in the cool of the night. There are even lavish fruit trees producing bountiful mangoes which look and probably taste delicious when ripe. The problem is that humans aren't the only mammals who concur with that. I used to think that bats live only in caves. I think we all learned something new about the nocturnal activities of bats living in CP.
Rule # 3: stand at your own risk while lounging in the courtyard at night, or at least have on some sort of head-covering. A few people have been unfortunate enough to experience what it's like being bombed, some even twice! For the most part, these nocturnal creatures are otherwise harmless.
What makes accommodations truly great is not so much the exterior design or decorations (although plain and lackluster, CP was clean and tidy), it's the people in the building that make a difference. The staff at Casa Pastorale where we stayed were truly wonderful. Even though the accommodations were dormitory-style, and the shared bathrooms were not what we are used to by American standards, it was probably better then the lavish Embassy Suites near the airport. The hospitality and the home-cooked meals cannot be adequately described.
Rule # 4: expect great hospitality and food. Don't expect to loose any weight, rather be prepared to even gain some pounds because you won't go hungry.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Update on Denny
Praise God that he is in stable condition. We bathed him in prayer. Our God is a wonderful God!
Urgent Prayers Needed
Please pray for Denny, the physician that we've been working with from Good Samiritan Hospital. We just received word that he was involved in a serious car accident on his way to the concert. Pray for his recovery and for his family and friends during this difficult time.
Concert at Casa Pastorale
We are sharing with other mission teams what we have done this past week. We saw a total of 620 patients this past week. Many other teams are here tonight including other medical, dental and construction volunteers. It's about changing the world: one life at a time. We are reminded of the need to live out our lives the way the early church did (ref Ephesians 6). The speaker was sharing how over the years positive changes have been made because of the efforts of people who have come here to contribute. We're fortunate to have experienced what we been through: a taste of what heaven will be like. We speak different languages but have a common faith and a shared purpose. Let's continue to pray for those who have dedicated their lives to staying here long-term to advance God's kingdom and making a difference in people's lives.
100 Patients
We had a busy day as usual seeing 100 patients. Fortunately, we had the help of Sonia and Denny as well. After that we had a farewell lunch hosted by Pastor Julio. We were given mementos to cherish as goodbyes were being said. A poignant moment for many as we departed Conseulo for the last time.
We had a busy day as usual seeing 100 patients. Fortunately, we had the help of Sonia and Denny as well. After that we had a farewell lunch hosted by Pastor Julio. We were given mementos to cherish as goodbyes were being said. A poignant moment for many as we departed Conseulo for the last time.
Thank you Sue!
My wife has been a great source of encouragement and support throughout this trip. Each day I get a letter of encouragement from her. Today's verse sums up our experience nicely.
Psalm 118:15
" Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: "The lord's right hand has done mighty things!"
See it at YouVersion.com:
Friday Morning
Good morning. This is our last day of work in Conseulo. We had a great time of fellowship and sharing of experiences last night. All of us have been touched in a meaningful & positive way from this trip. Thank you everyone for your kind prayers & support.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Dinner with Pastor Julio & family
We had a wonderful time of dinner and fellowship with Pastor Julio, his wife Francesca, and their 4 lovely children. He shared the vision he has for the ministry opportunities through the bakery. It will have a positive impact on Conseulo once it's up and running.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Mystery Illnesses
Another productive day at Conseulo. While the construction crew went with Pastor Julio to buy supplies, the medical team headed back to Conseulo where about 120 patients awaited us for the day. This day was different from the day before as we saw sicker patients and patients who were poorer or from further away. There was the young man with severe mucositis (inflammation of the mouth and tongue) that prevented him from eating or drinking. What caused his mucositis was unclear to me but I treated him with oral prednisone and pepto bismol. There was an 80-year old man (uncommon in these parts) who had weird-looking skin lesions on his extremities and belly that had stopped responding to steroids or other topical treatments. I gave him sulfur cream for lack of better options. Then there was this 20-year old who was brought in by his mother because he had difficulty urinating. He had the classic spastic scissor gait indicating an upper motor neuron problem, but his past history was unclear. His mum said that he was normal 2 years ago until he was hit on the head and developed fever. I suspect either traumatic brain injury or encephalitis causing his current symptoms. He probable had a neurogenic bladder as well causing his urinary difficulties. Could not do much for him except advise his mother to being him to the hospital if his problem got worse in case he needed a bladder catheterization. It was certainly busier for us today even with fewer patients! Let's see what tomorrow brings.
Rudolph's Story
This is a true story of an amazing Haitian boy whose life story touched us all. Rudolph or "Rudy" as he is known is a 17-year old who survived the earthquake in Haiti last year. His crushed body was buried in debris next to his sibling who had died. His mother lost her legs in the earthquake as well. Fortunately, he was dug out alive, but in serious condition. The local hospital refused to treat him and he had to be driven in the back of a truck, 9 hours, to Good Sam Hospital accompanied by Danny, a young doctor from Good Sam. Rudy was bleeding profusely from his liver and he also had some fractures. By God's grace he survived and is now going to school here, thanks to the hospital which has sponsored his visa here. Not only that, he came to Christ after his ordeal and is now helping our team as a translator. He wants to help others just as he was helped by Danny, and aspires to be a doctor later on. His determination and strength in the face of adversity, his coming to Christ and his willingness to serve others is a witness to God's grace at work. What a privilege it is for us to experience this firsthand!
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