Day 3

This post is a little late because I had a migraine last night. Yesterday we went to the district of Las Tupac de Amaru. We were ready to leave at 8:00 am but had to wait for our transportation for two hours. I was told that snafus like this are to be expected on the first day. We had a new van and driver. We didn't have to push this one. We also had an ambulance that we used to haul our gear. The city of Ata provided both. It took us about an hour and fifteen minutes to get there. We travelled down a three lane (not stripped) boulevard where the buses,vans,cars and three wheel motorcycle cabs bobbed and weaved like heavy weight boxers. Occasionally a knock out punch would land and traffic would back up. We've seen three accidents so far.

We arrived and started to set up. I haven't been to a place this poor in my life. You will see in the pictures. We did about 200 encounters on 130 people. My test room was not idle but I managed to see several people. I also helped Mike Hayes with the eyeglasses. People that came to be seen varied from simple colds to needing breathing treatments. There were several cases of scabies as well as worms. Many people were suffering from eye and throat irritations do to the smog here.

Lunch was served to us in a small building that served as a communal kitchen. The people here pool their money to be able to buy food. It was a simple meal of potatoes and rice with gravy. I felt the love that went in to providing it.

Because of our late start and arrival, we worked until it was dark. Our team worked frantically to fill the last prescriptions and give the last injections. We hurriedly packed our gear by the light of our cell phones. A man on a loudspeaker thanked us for coming. All the people in this tiny community stood and clapped and cheered to thank us. It was very moving. We headed for home and arrived to a warm meal and a surprise. Because it was 4th of July, the cook made us a special 4th of July cake.

It was a good day.

Day two

Yesterday we went to 9:30 mass at a nearby church. It was an amazing church. It had a four story bell tower. It was made entirely out of cement. Most of the outside and all of the inside was unfinished (there was some tile and stone on the outside). There was no glass in the windows (it made it a little hard to hear the priest with the traffic going by outside), no doors and the floors were rough cement. There were a couple of small statues and a relatively small crucifix on the wall behind the altar. Simple wooden pews with wooden kneelers. A large cement choir loft at the back of the church.  In a back corner of the church was the confessional,  a small three foot high screen with chairs on either side. This is a large church surrounded by high walls at the street.

What struck me about this church was it's simplicity. It's obvious that this was all this parish could afford to build. It looks like it's still under construction. I'm sure that they hope someday to have windows or doors. Or to tile the high domed ceiling above the alter. To finish the tile and stone on the outside, tile the floor inside and paint the walls. But for now they can be proud of what they have accomplished. It reminds that church is community not a building. I think we sometimes forget that in our ornate buildings back home.

After mass we went to the local supermarket (think Target or Walmart) to buy some food supplies we didn't have. Afterwards we had lunch at a local restaurant. Two types of chicken and yes those staples I keep talking about. And man who obviously had one too many cervezas, played "Falling in love with you" by Elvis Presley in our honor. Oh, did I mention that the van we've been riding in needs to be pushed every time to jump start it. It makes for good comic relief. I'll post a picture of us doing it in a later blog.

After dinner we had a meeting to go over the logistics of the upcoming week. Five clinics in five days in five cities. I want to thank my super staff Celina, Karen and Anna (Nina too) for holding down the fort while I'm gone. I know I can focus on my mission to help people here and not worry about the office.

Now the fun begins.

til next time

Hi Everyone,

This is my first post as a blogger. It's a brave new world!! I want to thank my niece  Alisa for setting this up for me and holding my hand while I got started. You're the best!!! Here goes.

Our first day of traveling for Maureen and I was grueling. Twelve hours of traveling!! We arrived in Lima okay. Then 1 1/2 hours of traveling by van to Chosica. The craziest driver I've ever encountered. He made cabbies in Manhattan seem tame. To be fair, all the divers are crazy. Many of the public buses have multiple dents from being rear ended or sideswiped. We arrived safely (gracias adios) to a lovely  compound we have to ourselves with our own cook and driver (the guy that brought us from the airport). We spent some time unloading and sorting supplies and then chilled, Tomorrow we go to Mass and then into town for supplies.

I also want to thank the Rotary club of San Francisco Greater Mission for helping to sponsor this medical mission, Frances J. for donating batteries, Oticon Fund for their generous donation of hearing aids, my brother Bruce and Kaiser Permanente  for the donation of Low vision devices, Armando from AR Optical for making eyeglasses and Ray-O-Vac fro hearing aid batteries.

Attache are some pictures of our team and living quarters.

talk to you soon,

Dave Vasquez