EN Greetings and blessings. My name is Simei, I’m a general doctor. It has been a privileged to participate with the medical delegation and the pastoral team in the beautiful visits to the communities in Berlin. As Salvadorans we are really thankful that you consider and think of us in such a special way. Each member of the team is unique and helps in a particular way. An important vision of work - including the communities - is for them to be part of the team. We have beautiful memories of the importance of serving others and doing it with that beautiful smile that makes you who you are. All of us are surprised because of your loving spirit. Greetings and sincere thanks. Blessings. Acts 20:35 “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.” ESP
Saludos y bendiciones, mi nombre es Simei médico general. Ha sido un privilegio participar en estas hermosas visitas a las zonas de las comunidades de Berlín junto a la delegación médica y la casa pastoral. Como salvadoreños estamos muy agradecidos que piensen en nuestro país de esta manera especial. Cada miembro del equipo es único y aporta de manera particular. Una la visión de trabajo importante, incluir a las comunidades, es volverse parte del equipo para ellos para nosotros. Tenemos hermosos recuerdos de la importancia del servicio y de hacerlo con esa hermosa sonrisa que les caracteriza. Todos nosotros muy impactados por su espíritu de amor, saludos y sinceramente gracias. Bendiciones. Hechos 20:35 "En todo os he enseñado que, trabajando así, se debe ayudar a los necesitados, y recordar las palabras del Señor Jesús, que dijo: Más bienaventurado es dar que recibir"
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We started the day at 6:30 am with a breakfast of scrambled eggs, beans, and tamales. Then at 7:30 it was off to the beach. We rode in the back of the truck about 90 minutes to get to Espino beach. We rented a shelter where we kept our stuff, had lunch and rested.
When we got there, the beach had gentle rolling waves. We took a walk, played frisbee and swam. As time went on the gentle waves became a big, rolling tide with waves splashing up to the roof of the shelter. We drank coconut milk from a bag for a snack and then are a lunch of lobster, shrimp or fish with waves crashing around us. The seafood was great! After lunch, almost everyone found a hammock to rest in. We went back to the pastoral house and took a walk to the town center to see the beginning of the marching band festival. It was a lovely day off from the clinics. Everyone is refreshed and ready to go to work tomorrow. Teri Springer Today our medical delegation visited the community of San Isidro. San Isidro is the partner community with my church Covenant Presbyterian. This was my third time visiting San Isidro and each time I have been impressed by this communities organization and compassion. We had the privilege of having our clinic in the local medical building. This medical building is conveniently located for the people of San Isidro but is only open a few times a month and usually doesn’t offer all the services and medications that are needed. It was nice to be able to see some familiar faces during this clinic and to follow up with some of the people and families we have cared for during the past two delegations. One of these individuals is Omar. He is a 16 year old boy that was born with some physical handicaps but has a smile that can make everyone feel good. 4 years ago we were able to purchase a new wheelchair for Omar but I was informed by the family that the wheelchair only lasted two years. The conditions here in El Salvador are just to extreme for the equipment to last. I had a nice visit with Omar. We talked about the challenges of being a teenager in a wheelchair. I learned that the thing that makes Omar happy is music. Omar and I have that love in common. We are taught to never make promises to the people we serve but in my mind I hope that we could someday supply Omar with another more durable chair and a radio so he could enjoy his music. It was a very successful clinic day in which we served over 150 people. For the first time on this trip we returned to the pastoral house before dark. We were able to enjoy some ice cream to celebrate another successful day.
Peace, Mark Hilliard Good day.
I'm Rachel Diaz, general doctor, from El Salvador. I have the opportunity to work for the first time with the medical team delegation that has come to work in the different communities of Berlin. Thanks to our Heavenly Father who has put in the heart of each one of them to come to serve my country. It has been a beautiful experience, every day is an adventure, continue to know my country and continue to know good people, patients and our medical team. They are a team with diverse skills and abilities and with great empathy and love for others. Thank God it has helped many people with medical attention and supplements. I do not doubt that God works in different ways, and touches hearts inside and outside the country. Thank you for the effort, dedication and sacrifice of coming every year to serve. I am sure that my people will always welcome you and welcome you with great joy. Is a team very special. God bless you and multiply. Rachel Diaz "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others" - Mahatma Ghandi 6am "Hooonk!!!!" The loudest truck horn beeps. And we all startle awake. The world around us was our alarm clock today. 6am. We got into town a little over 5 hours ago. In the girls dorm we peel back the blankets and begin to get ready for our day to do God's work. 7am Thanks to the pastoral house/team for the wonderful breakfast of plantains, beans ,and eggs. As we sit around the table at breakfast , I look around and am so glad to be surrounded by this second family for our week long journey. With them the impossible seems possible. Today we have a mini clinic but have to prepare medications for the week to come. Hundreds of bottles of vitamins, antibiotics and other medications fill the room and we sit in our assembly line with our individual zip lock bags and labels. Vitamin dust fills the air, and fingers are sore from sealing bags ,but this won't stop us the people deserve this and we push through the fatigue of lack of sleep last night and the hours of bagging medications. 12:30pm We load up the cattle truck and head on the road to our clinic. It's been raining hard the past couple days so everyone held on tight with the couple of mudholes and slippery road we traveled on. We arrive to open hearts and welcoming arms. Familiar smiles as we serviced them last year and they dazzled us with music last year. A quick setup and we were ready to take on the day. I worked again in the pharmacy this year and noticed that there aren't as many new conditions this year. Not many new medications were dispensed and people seemed to be having just check ups. This was nice to see because that made us feel like they really took to heart our advice from last year. Another thing I really like about the community this year was the strong group of women who were in leadership positions. That is great and empowering to see. 4:30pm
We wrap up our mini clinic with our prayer circle with the medical delegation and community. Thanks to old friends, new friends, and family. And thanks to God. Back to the cattle truck we go to head back home to rest for another day of full clinic tomorrow. As I turn back children run following us waving, goats singing, and the sun setting. What a blessing. Deanna Our first day of our 5th year serving the people of El Salvador. Each year of this mission is different. There are always new challenges and blessings each year. This year we were able to raise the funds for the medications and supplies, but the challenge became finding the people that could commit to taking the time off from work and that would be willing to spend their time off working in a third world country. This year we were able to recruit three El Salvadoran doctors to help ensure that we would have enough help to care for the 500-600 patients that we see every year. All of the volunteers this year except one had been on this delegation before. Helen the new person this years is a nurse that has family from El Salvador and is fluent in Spanish. Because almost all of us have had experience in El Salvador we skipped the normal historical tour of San Salvador and traveled straight from the airport to Berlin. We arrived safely at the Pastoral House around midnight tired but excited about what adventures this year will bring.
Hema Bastola Mark Hilliard The Medical Delegation founder visited San Isidro, a rural community in El Salvador, years ago and saw the need for medical attention. She was called to spread God's words and love to make a positive difference in the world.
It is no secret that we live in an imperfect world with a huge imbalance of wealth and power. God is a God of justice and wants his people to make a difference in the world, standing up for those who cannot stand up for themselves and sharing what we have with those who have nothing. The Medical Delegation is sharing what they have (knowledge, skills, talents, love) with those who have nothing. We hope by sharing our stories with all of you, that you will be inspired to live out what God requires of each of us. "No, the Lord has told us what is good. What he requires of us is this: to do what is just, to show constant love, and to live in humble fellowship with our God." Micah 6:8 The 5th Annual OSP Medical Delegation leaves for El Salvador on October 22 and returns October 29. Check back October 22-29 to learn more about this year's trip. |
AuthorThese are our stories and the stories of our brothers and sisters whom we serve in the cantons of Berlin, El Salvador. Archives
November 2019
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