I'm not exactly sure how it happened, but apparently while the United States was ushering in an insane season of cold and snow, time was speeding by under the Dominican sun in San Juan.
We did have two weeks off in December but I don't know/remember exactly how I spent them? There were some sweet visiting times, trips to El Cercado and Las Matas, photos at the school in the capital, lunching at the CCED Christmas party, visits to the upcoming barrio sites to prepare and clarify road stability, hanging out with Laura's mom as she visited San Juan, fun baseball games as the San Juan softball finals were going on, and lots of time spent with our friends here in San Juan. And now begins the craziness of Winter Season for Solid Rock (and me!) as our Winter teams begin to arrive. This is the busiest time for me, since the majority of the teams are Medical/Surgical.
The Scary Room has been left to its own devices until Spring or a well-meaning team of 12,000 arrives to assist in the carnage. ;) I made it through 3 boxes before I threw in the towel. But the clinic is looking great! I'm looking forward to having a Pharmacy student (YAY for Miss Liz) arrive for 3 weeks at the end of this month to help keep the pharmacy "stable" during Winter Teams.
One of my favorite things that recently has been going down is being able to visit our barrio sites several days before the team heads out to hold their Mobile Clinics. Monchy (bus driver), Hector (our Education Coordinator), and myself (along with Community Leaders and others occasionally) have been visiting the sites to clarify road safety and ensure promotion in the areas. It's been fun to build new relationships and know where and how we are going to set up the clinics when we arrive. I've loved watching Monchy and Hector encourage the locals and talk about Solid Rock and our ministry before we actually start working in a region.
This past week I was out in the barrios with the VIMM team (Volunteers in Medical Missions) and was able to connect with the folks we had coordinated with earlier and reinforce relationships with the Community Leaders, pastors, etc. Thursday was especially fun as we were in Hondo Valle (over 2 hours away, WAYYYY up in the mountains near the Haitian border). We saw over 265 patients but the coolest part was working with a local nurse who had set up the (CRAZY!) scene, partnering with Socios in Salud (Partners in Health.....who were doing free HIV tests and counseling at the same site) and then running into one of the boys from Pueblo Nuevo who I haven't seen for a year or so. It was a 12 hour day but SATISFYING. I love watching our staff, our translators interact with the patients with such patience and love and I feel so blessed to be working with such honorable and FUN folks. We sometimes make them sing in the bus on the way home and the groups LOVE watching them shine. When I think back to my first visits to San Juan 6-7 years ago......and where I am today- I am awed at how God moves in our lives. And oh- so - grateful.
And now- back to the clinic and pharmacy to finish up the prep for tomorrow and next week. Blessings to all!
The beautiful 3 Ojos (3 eyes) caves in the capital with Laura and her mother!
Seems like a tropical paradise..and it's in the middle of busy Santo Domingo!
Braegan Mae is the Center of all attention and love here in San Juan. WE LOVE HER! (and so does everyone else!)
The fiercely competitive San Juan Softball Finals!
Yay for my guy! He's the best....
Laura and I at the Signed Baseball Players game in San Juan..
.jpg)
The Little guys watching the Big Guys. Always a highlight...
San Juan's own Jean Carlos Segura (shortstop for the Brewers) playing in the local baseball game with other signed players, incluing some 16 year olds. Seriously these guys are humble, approachable, and just COOL!
Superstar Baby Nicole visiting our apartment......she'll be THREE YEARS OLD in March! Wow!
Delicious dinner for Noche Buena (Christmas Eve)
The scouting trip to Hondo Valle with Gloria (the local superstar nurse), Monchy (bus driver) and Adia (his lovely wife). There is an amazing Ecological park there that I would LOVE to return to...apparently you can climb the mountains in 2 hours and see as far south as Neiba. Stunning area!
