Wednesday, June 13, 2012

sorry for the miscellaneous updating

For whatever reason, whenever I upload pictures onto my blog they tend to get reorganized, so these are not necessarily in the correct order. I apologize.


A taste of the outdoor market

The Pediatric ward at the ER where we have our clinical
 While I was there last week, I also had the opportunity to visit again yesterday when there were more patients. We don't get to do a lot of hands on work and unfortunately I think that may be due to my mishap last summer... Of course now my whole group is suffering the consequences, but we shadowed a very knowledgeable nurse yesterday and she spent a lot of time explaining patient histories to us as well as offered us insight on the Peruvian healthcare system. One interesting fact was that at this particular hospital, nurses are required to switch daily between the adult and pediatric ward, which prevents nurses from developing a specialty/expertise.
Private Hospital Tour
 On Friday, the whole group toured a private hospital in Piura, which is open to Peruvians that are willing to pay for their healthcare. You can literally pay more money to gain priority access in the ER here. The hospital was air conditioned, it offered CT and MRI screenings, and offered private rooms (which is unheard of in a public hospital).
Private Hospital

La Legua Senior Group member singing to us

BABIES (in the OB unit)! 
On Saturday we toured a public hospital to contrast the private one from the previous day. You wouldn't believe the difference. As I said, no private rooms and minimal capabilities in terms of long term treatment of patients. One little boy had been diagnosed with lymphoma and his medical team was awaiting the go-ahead to transfer him to Lima for chemotherapy care. It is amazing how blessed and yet desensitized and accustomed to the medical treatment we have within driving distance of our homes... Being here continues to be very humbling.

The mom-baby unit was packed with newborns and I was in heaven.
The public hospital pediatric ward
The house we constructed (outside)
 As I said, we had the opportunity to work with one of the other missionary groups staying at the compound to construct a home for a village family. Here it is with the plywood front walls and bamboo walls. It is hard to tell, but the dividing wall below is actually constructed in such a way that on the side you cannot see there are two small rooms, so in total the family will have three rooms (with a kitchen out back).
(inside)

my new friends


Loli and Sanda

We went back to Madre del Redentor on Sunday after mass for a late lunch and I met back up with my two friends. They also performed more dances for us (since we had new missionaries with us who hadn't seen them "bailan" before).

Corpus Christi: Mass in the villages
Every night we attend mass at the parish downstairs, but this weekend we had the opportunity to participate in an outdoor mass in the villages, which was very special. It was also the feast day of Corpus Christi, which is a VERY significant day in the South American culture. We participated in a procession from the Cathedral back to Sacramento Santissimo following a truck carrying the Archbishop  and the Eucharist. Literally every Piuran individual turned out for the event and it was a highly claustrophobic event, but something that was very unique and unforgettable.

Locals preparing the street carpets for the Eucharistic Procession on Corpus Christi



Along with what I explained earlier, locals ventured out into the streets along the path that the archbishop would travel and created very intricate and involved "carpets" of religiously significant images (doves, Jesus, chalices, etc.). These are a couple in process and hopefully during a later post I can provide you with some completed ones.

Senior Center Group
Yesterday Vanessa and I went to a senior center where we performed a blood pressure screening and offered nail care (I am becoming quite the manicurist). True to the Peruvian "stereotype" they of course wanted to dance with us as well... It was a really beautiful group of people.

our suave dance partners

snack time

A beautiful lady from our home visits


her puppy!


Home visits with Vanessa


A local village 

Love to you all! I think of you daily.

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