The Needy Need You

One more week down. A week of new experiences. We were visited by some of the Incarnate Word nuns from the States in charge of formation. Just a friendly house call – don’t panic. Saturday was my first all night Latin disco tech , Monday first real coffee shop ( I have been managing with tea and instant coffee since I have been here). Wednesday, intermediate English classes started. I am co-teaching at the parish with other missionaries and earlier that day the home health agency recruited its first patient! Yea!

As with any new business venture we have to build our clientele so we checked with case managers in the hospital and are taking B/P’s in el centro to get the word out this coming week. With a considerable amount of down time, I have been working on making supplies and completing my continuing education for my nursing license renewal.

It would be a shame not to mention one last first. I had my first real glass of wine since my arrival with an awesome fish dinner at the house. I am not a drinker but I do enjoy a nice glass from time to time. Alas, the wine here tends to taste like grape juice but this one was the real deal. What a rare treat.

Today, I was invited to help in a community health project in a neighborhood that most Peruvians do not even like to go into. It was way up on the hill behind the open market . I trekked up the hill with several others and was rewarded with a spectacular view of the coast. You could see the Pacific ocean, fishing boats and the Isle of Blanca in all its glory.

There is safety in numbers so we were not too concerned about the neighborhood. We were an army of about 30 volunteers ranging from CCVI clinic employees, nursing aid students, cosmetology students and two missionaries :) . The health campaign targeted 1 to 8 year olds. Services offered; height, weight, parasite medication, a mid-wife for family planning, a family practice doctor, fluoride treatments, hemoglobin checks and free haircuts. We were open from 9 am to 1 pm. The booth I was in saw about 60 people.

My part was small. I was calculating the body mass index for the correct dosage in parasite medication. The cosmetology school brought a small army. They were set up right next to me. It was humorous to see the children try and sit still for haircuts. Some sulked, others were hams and grinned the entire time while others kept tilting their heads an inch farther away from the scissors with every clip threatening to fall out of their seats. We gave out stickers and balloons to keep the young ones entertained.

I will remember one 11 year old girl, Margarita, who was the care taker of her 6 year old brother. She was recognized as one of the children that sells things downtown. Her 6 year old brother was quiet and developmentally delayed. Tiny for her age, she managed to hold him in her lap with all her might.

Margarita immediately impressed me as a little momma. Her voice was firm like an adults and she looked you straight in the eye. She was someone who had aged before her time. She sat tall, repeated the instructions emphatically enunciating each word clearly making sure she understood dosage and time of the medication to administer.

She then left her brother sitting in the dirt while she went inside the tent to consult with the doctor. When it came time to leave, her brother was anxious and started to make his way back home. With a small whimper, he began pulling himself up by his arms and dragging his body across the sand. One of the volunteer turned to me and said, “no camina”; translation, “he does not walk.”

His sister caught up with him and hoisted him up again with all her might and proceeded to take him back home. I am forever humbled by the burdens many of the Peruvians bear with such grace. At age 11, this little momma was running the show.

Congrats to Courtney, the other nursing missionary, who helped organize the health campaign. An ample amount of medicines, supplies and volunteers made for a successful venture. We both agreed it was an area that was in true need of assistance.