Working the soil

It has been a long time since I posted our blog on our work in Oaxaca. We have had a rough time with the Internet at the base. Now that we are home and we have Internet I can get caught up.

James River Assembly

In January, James Olson, a long time Roca Blanca associate brought us a construction, medical and dental team from Springfield MO. Our plan was for 3 days of medical/dental clinics and putting a concrete floor and tile roof on the church in El Mosco. If you look above the group smiling for the picture, you can see the expert Mexican abañiles working on the roof.

It is a long drive from Roca Blanca to El Mosco, only 85 miles, but we measure travel times in hours. It takes 5 hours depending on how many delays for construction or vehicle breakdowns. The sights have become very familiar as we pass through each little village, pass corn fields, herds of cattle and groups of people carrying firewood on their heads or burro. We travel over rutted roads and through several stream and a recently completed 10 km section of pavement. We climb up into the mountains, they are dry but beautiful, covered with fragrant pine trees. Often we find ourselves in the clouds.

As we come over the mountain ridge and then down into the Ixtayutla region things become dry and brown again. On this trip we found that something new was added to the usual sights ... it says "no to the hydroelectric project". (more on that next blog)

El Mosco

A surprising sight greeted us as we drove in to the gate at the El Mosco clinic, the bathrooms were torn down. There were men working in concrete to complete the replacements: brick toilets and showers. How wonderful, however incomplete! Hmm, bless Isidro, he dug a hole out behind the building for us to use that night, and bless Eddie who put up some sheets so we could have some privacy.

The next day we were able to use the facilities without doors. Bucket showers are wonderful under the black starry Oaxaca sky!

We unpacked all the gear, set up tents, washed all the dishes, swept the floors and Gris made the first of several amazing meals.

Laura is always last to get her food, she makes sure everyone else is taken care of first.

We start our mornings early in El Mosco. Coffee and Marias (cookies) at around 6:30, prayer and devotions before breakfast around 8:30.

David is very pleased experiencing his first atole! A hot beverage made with rice or oatmeal.

Construction project

The construction crew got right to work tearing up the hard pan that had served as the church floor and mixing cement the Mexican way.

One of the team members Dwayne, had been on the original construction of the building we have used as housing, clinic and kitchen since 2002. Tracey, Keith, Bruce, Dwayne and David sweat alongside the Mexican workers who had come up from Cacalote to help on the project.

Isidro and Angel take a break with one of the El Mosco kids, Martín.

Hermano Primo was the first baptized convert in El Mosco. It was he who gave us this land for the clinic. His son Miguel and daughter-in-law Andrea attended the Bible Institute at Roca Blanca and now pastor a growing congregation. Here Primo shows off the completed floor!

Medical and Dental outreach
Our medical team included the nursing students from ORU as well as Dr. Tom and Cynthia his wife and Dr. George, his wife Robbin, and Cathy and Crystal from his dental office.

Nursing student Hannah checking in patients

Dr. Tom, a specialist in internal medicine, found working in a mountain clinic without diagnostic studies like blood tests and MRIs an interesting challenge. He was fantastic, and we hope he joins us again soon! Do you see Elisabeth in the background? We were so blessed to have her with us for a couple weeks.

Nursing students Mary and Jenn worked with Cynthia, Tom's wife, who is a pharmacist! It was so wonderful working with her, besides her skills, she had such a desire to serve and expressed a great desire to return with her family. (yeah!)

You know Drs. Dave and Mary Kay. You can see in their faces why it is such a pleasure working with this couple. God has been so gracious to bring us together.

Me with a very able Mixteco-Spanish interpreter, Hermínia. Lupe, Laura's adopted daughter, a nurse, has taught her about medications and various medical procedures. For this reason I only gave her a few instructions on how I wanted her to teach the Mixteco patients who received prescriptions, and she was able to work independently. This freed me to do so many other things!

Dr. George with dental patient Jose Luis.

Cathy cleaning Pastor Miguel's teeth.

Dr. George teaching nursing student Brittany.

Infection control in the dusty dirty mountains, how wonderful that Dr. George brought his staff. Crystal sterilizing equipment.

Some closing shots

Helen worked wherever she was needed, taking temperatures or helping Gris and was a real blessing.

The food was remarkable, everything was fresh, beautifully presented and the salsas were just the right degree of spice and flavor and not too hot. When I asked Gris where she learned to cook for Gringo tastes she said that she watched cooking shows.

Whenever the Gringos come to the mountains the ladies gather to sell their woven servietas.

Llano Verde and prayer

Besides El Mosco we were scheduled to visit two other villages. However political situations, mixed with resistance to gospel often changes our plans. We were able to hold a very successful medical-dental outreach in Llano Verde, however. We were not permitted to take photos.

The evangelistic campaign was very successful as well. Over the 3 days we were in the mountains we saw over 325 patients and 77 responded to the gospel and prayed with brother Jesús our evangelist.

Later when we got the report from Jesús, Carmela, our missionary who works in this area and pastor the small church in Pueblo Viejo made an important commentary as she prayed. She said that the 77 people that responded were seeds. And that the soil must be worked in order to have a true harvest.,

I reflected on what Carmela prayed as we drove home. It brought to mind the parable of the sower, or as I prefer to call it, the parable of the soils. Some think of evangelism as broadcasting the seed, or planting seeds one by one. I have always felt it more important that I first work the soil through prayer, and friendship and through showing the love of Christ.

We are called to make disciples of all nations. It is not so much a call to make people like us. In truth our U.S. culture is separated from the light of the gospel as much as is the Mixteco. Indeed there is as much darkness in the U.S. as in the region of Ixtayutla and El Mosco. Still, that does not excuse us from going outside of our home territory, for Jesus told us to "Go!"

Sofia and Cathy with the children. The time we spend with the children, with each individual is working the soil. Every laugh and smile prepares the soil, as it restores life to neglected ground.

There are things in the Mixteco culture that Americans would call wrong and bad, things that are no longer culturally acceptable in the U.S., things like illiteracy, domestic violence and malnutrition. There are things that I have seen that I still find hard to process, let alone explain, but I will speak of those later.

Please pray that the Light of the Gospel spread through the land of the Mixteco. Pray that God's love will prepare the soil of every heart by our service and by God's revelation.

La luna ya se metío

Life in Cacalote

Before we get down to the hard work of the week that looms before me, I thought that I would share with you some of the fun and recreation we enjoy living on the coast of Oaxaca. I know that many of you are dealing with winter and snow, and more snow...

Last week I attended my first Cacalote Quinceñera. I was told that it would be "like a wedding" and indeed it was. The Quinceñera is the 15th birthday celebrations held for Mexican young ladies, sort of a Sweet Sixteen but bigger. This young lady's name is Melinda . The ceremony was at the Cacalote Church which we have been attending. There was worship, a sermon and much admonition to serve God and dedicate her life. She also made a proclamation that her intent was indeed to give her life to God in every way.

After the service Melinda and her attendance and the whole party walked from the church up the hill to the family house. Here Chris Cook is helping to slow down traffic on the highway so the Quinceñera party could cross the road.

Hermanos Lida and Leti enjoying the party.

When we arrived the lot next to the simple house was decked out in balloons and decorated tables and LOUD band was playing. A cow had been killed to provide us with delicious barbacoa. There were lots presents for Meli, and quinceñera recuerdos (nice party favors) handed out to the guests. The best gift, given last, was a desktop computer that Dave and Laura Nelson helped provide. Meli is a serious student and wants to be a doctor!

Presents are presented personally

Sunday morning

I took these pictures of Cacalote on my way home from church on Sunday. We live here and often go out tacos since it is a long walk to the base for dinner, and a short walk to Maria's for tacos. Yipee! she is now also serving tortas. We have eaten there 4 times this week.

Although there are more and more brick houses, the houses are usually of stick which come from the coconut palms which surround us on all sides.

Eddie teaching backgammon to Chris, on the beach

So far we have been able to enjoy weekends on the beach and in Puerto Escondido kicking around, drinking limonada con aqua mineral. Chris Cook's parents were the first doctors to come to Roca Blanca, and Chris has been here since he was little guy. Last year he graduated from the Bible school. This year he is working with the Clinica Coban (named after his brother who is with the Lord). He is a great kid and we are enjoying hanging out with him.

Weekends Mexican families come to the beach to relax. Just beyond these folks is the spot where I like to swim, it's calm and clean and wonderful.

Me helping Dr. Dave with minor surgery

My primary respondsibilities revolve around the Mobile Clinic and clinic outreaches. I organize, maintain, inventory and purchase for the mobile pharmacy. Then on outreach I run the pharmacy, fill prescriptions, teach and supervise the volunteers and students and give instructions to the patients on how to take the meds.

I also help in the clinic with interpreting for the English speaking doctors, help with procedures, and fill prescriptions when I am needed.


Happy 50th Birthday Hermana Laura!

Angie, Laura and Lupe

Last night we surprised Laura up at Hermano Mauricio's house with balloons, iguana tamales and rain! We tried to ignore the drops that fell, our host provided large umbrellas and we stood waiting for it to stop. Which it didn't.

Angie and I wet and cool!

Here are our nursing student from Oral Roberts University, Hannah, Mary, Brittany and Jennifer. Every year we get to work with a nursing leadership class that is with us for a month. This group is always one of the highlights of our year. Right now they are busily counting vitamins and ibuprofen and bagging them for this week's clinics in the mountains.

Brady, who is supposed to be a picky eater found out that iguana tamales were really quite good, but I am not convinced.

Murray, Melody and Brady Papke have left the base this morning after working here for 3 months. They are professionals who have been working with the directors of Roca Blanca, Duane and Sue, to establish a capital plan for the development of the ministry. That means that they worked together to define the vision and set dates for projects so that financial support can be presented in a way that business people can understand and invest in God's work here.

Las Mañanitas

Every morning Eddie and I wake up to Las Mañanitas which is the morning song played over the loudspeakers in Cacalote. It is the traditional birthday song. So in that today is actually Laura's birthday I talked a few people into joining me in serenading Laura at 6:15 in the morning. Do you know how dark it is then? The stars where bright as I walked to the base in the dark, but it was scary because I heard dogs barking and wondered if they were after me. They weren't.

La luna ya se metío (already the moon has set) words from Las Mañanitas

After the song I went to the top of the guest house to watch the sun rise. The moon was the smallest sliver in the pale sky. As I looked over the beach the fishermen were putting out, their motors sputtering loudly. Two of the nursing students were jogging on the beach, and then a little later I saw Eddie walking next to the surf as well. I think I two ibis gracefully glide over the base and land in a coconut tree. As the sun broke over the horizon I saw that everything was greener because of the rain.

And then to work.

Our first team....

As I begin this blog my ears are still filled with the riotous laughter of our last night with the team from St. James United Methodist Church of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The St. James United Methodist Church team as they were introduced to the Cacalote church

Back in the mobile clinic

Eddie will tell you that he doesn´t speak much Spanish but when he is working with teams he is sought out to speak to patients as we take vitals and information.

Jim weighing patients

Dr. Eder´s wife Paulina taking blood pressures in Charco Redondo

Barbara taking tempertures

Pam, Dr. Ross´wife Linda and Jim count vitamins, acetaminophen and ibuprofen for the pharmacy

Outreaches in three new villages

We did three days of outreach in different villages on the coast. Charco Redondo and Azufre were located in the Chacahua area which racially goes back to the time that black slaves either escaped or survived shipwreaks and populated the edges of the lagunas of Oaxaca. These black Mexicans are called "morenos". They live on and fish the coasts alongside the mestizos. Voodoo has also been brought to the area by these people. We also went to a little town called La Cañada a little more inland.

Hermano Maurico and Hermano Jesus praying for patients as their medications are being prepared.

These towns are being evangelized by graduates from the Bible institute here at Roca Blanca. It is they who will do the work of discipling the many, many who responded the gospel during our outreaches.

Rita R.N. and Dr. Ross in the pharmacy

When we were in La Cañada we had the familiar experience of trying to close up shop and pack up our pharmacy, while other needy patients kept arriving. Although you want to say you can take no more patients, usually it is those who arrive late that need us the most. This time a young woman with uncontrolled diabetes, and two little ones with impetigo got our last moments' care.

I was so blessed as I watched Dr. Ross Taylor work as it got dark, giving his undivided attention to the patients with his interpreter, Josue, at his side. Josue is Brazilian by birth but is now associate pastor at St. James United Methodist.

Berna and Angie, and yep, they are going to parents in May!


Altogether again!

Wednesday afternoon when we arrived home in the mosquito infested twilight we were delighted to be greeted by the rest of our Roca Blanca family minus one, Drs. Dave and Mary Kay Ness, and our adopted kids Berna and Angie! And surprise! Dave Nelson´s daughter Miriam arrived unannouced with them. Berta is back in Virginia helping her sister who is recovering from surgery. We hope to see Berta soon!

Casa Hogar de Nueva Vida

Friday, the day before the team flew back to Tulsa, we all went to the orphanage Casa Hogar de Vida Nueva in Puerto Escondido. Sally´s granddaughter back in Tulsa had suggested that a good gift for the orphans would be their very own Bible. So when we visited them we had the thrill of presenting each child with a Bible engraved with their name. What a wonderful inspiration. The directors of the orphanage said that it was an answer to prayer as the children had been asking for Bibles. And these were really nice, expensive Bibles which were bilingual, wonderful for the teenagers who are studying English in school.

Ashley got to hold the baby, of course, people were standing in line to hold her.

Eddie could hold two at once

These two little ones are sisters, who were brought to the orphanage with their older sister. Vicki, the "mother" of the home said that soon that week the three little girls would be going to Oaxaca City to another orphanage. Casa Hogar is full to the brim and just recently got the three little ones pictured above, they simply cannot stay.

The children with all their new, engraved Bibles

Mary Kay was directed by this little girl to sit down and read her new Bible story book to her.

The night before the team left, we had a wonderful dinner together on the 4th floor of the Mission Inn (the Roca Blanca guest house). After dinner Dr. Ross shared a inspired message challenging us to look into the heart of God and find where and in what way God has called us to express the love of Jesus.

He impressed me with the example of Mother Theresa´s work with lepers, likening those who live in the United States to the lepers who have lost their ability to feel. The difference being we are a nation of people who do not feel the pain and desperation of the sick, the poor and destitute in our world.

Please keep us in your prayers. We have two teams arriving this week and will be going up into the mountains, and to El Mosco.