Trip to Jinotega and First Clinic Day

Medical team aboard the big yellow school bus

Since I have joined the medical team and cannot continue a blog about Construction team 2, Stan Irvin, a member of that team is continuing it. Click here for a link to it: Construction team 2

At one of our rest stops, Dr. Tim picked up a supply of galletas (cookies)--a brand called "Mantequilla"

The tan-colored stuff in this photo is coffee beans drying

I had planned to show you some pictures of the Los Cedros childrens' home, but I didn't get that done before we left for Jinotega, so I'll have to try to work that in later. The medical team left Los Cedros about 8:30 on Sunday morning in a big yellow school bus driven by Oscar, whom I remember from the '09 mission. We arrived in Jinotega about 1:00 P.M., making a couple of rest-room and snack-buying stops along the way. The highway has been greatly improved since I last traveled on it, until you get to Jinotega, and there it seems worse. The scenery on the way to Jinotega is beautiful. The town is in a valley up in the mountains--coffee-growing country. Along the way we passed several coffee-processing places. Coffee beans are picked by hand, dried in the sun, and later roasted and ground. We had lunch before unloading the bus, and after all the cases of medicines, clothing to donate, and our personal gear were unloaded, we set up tables in the gym and spent the whole time between lunch and supper re-packaging pills and vitamins into dispensable size bags. Part of the group sorted clothing. After supper most of the team went to church in Jinotega, but some of us stayed at the orphanage because we still had work to do. Several of the pharmacists had to organize medicines, and I wanted to work on yesterday's blog. We got to bed late last night and got up awfully early this morning. After breakfast we loaded the bus with tables, chairs, medicines, clothing, etc. and rode about 40 minutes away to a little mountain town--a cluster of houses around a little school, a clinic, several small businesses, and a bus stop.

These people were waiting in line outside the facility when we arrived.

This is Alan setting up his little photo printer. It takes only 70 seconds to make a beautiful color print.

Clients at the clinic first stop at this desk to give their name, birthdate, etc.

We set up our clinic in the clinic building, assisted by Nicaraguan medical workers. They gave blood tests screening for malaria before sending them to see our medical providers. Patients were given prescriptions which were then filled in our pharmacy, and clothes and shoes donated by folks back home who sent them with us for that purpose. I cannot speak about all that went on inside the clinic today, because I was outside the whole day, but I was told that we saw 198 patients. My part of the mission is to take photographs--not only of my fellow volunteers doing their work, but of the people we are serving as well. These are people who make only about $1000 a year, many of them working in the fields and coffee groves. They can't afford cameras or going to a studio. Many have never owned a photograph of themselves or their loved ones. Today we took about 130 portraits, and Alan Tatum printed the images using a little battery-powered printer. We got to see the looks on their faces as they thanked us for the pictures. I'm going to share a picture of Alan at his work station and a few photos of some of the Nicaraguans who came to the clinic today. Look at their faces. You can see they are resilient people, and I can tell you they are happy and friendly people. As I write this it is after 9:00, and I am very tired. I need to get some sleep, but I want to finish sharing a little bit of this experience. Those who have contributed to this mission, be proud of what you have given. Those who are at home while your wife or husband works on this mission in Nicaragua, be aware you are making a sacrifice for a good cause. Finally, take a look at this beautiful countryside around Lake Apanas. Please continue to remember us in your prayers.