Each one teach one....

Each one teach one.  You've heard that, right?  Show somebody something...then have them show someone else...and on and on and on and on.  And soon everybody knows.     The whole crew has caught on.

I write these words because I recently had the opportunity to sit in on another continuing education class.   I will say that there are a million humbling moments for me here in the DR (well, actually...in my LIFE) but sometimes the moments given to share with/educate others just slay me.  Michael Trompak and Bill Neiss and Jen Lacey (Paramedic and EMTs) were here with a recent team and given an opportunity to teach some Emergency Medical Response at the hospital.   On  Wednesday we were given a fabulous tour of the hospital by our hospitalist friend Dr. Ranfis and thought that was it for our week...and then suddenly Ranfis invited them to teach a last minute "emergency response class" on Thursday.    You see, here in San Juan your ambulance driver may be your "paramedic" or your "EMT"...without training.   The majority of the time- your ambulance driver is the only one in the ambulance with you except your family members and he's the one driving like crazy to get you to the capital 3 hours away.  Oxygen is a privilege, not a right.    There is no 911.  At least not yet.    In certain cases a nurse or doctor can go with you in the ambulance but it's often difficult and there may not be anyone available.  

Needless to say, our EMS class was full of Ambulance "Chofers" (drivers), along with some nurses, a firefighter, and 2 doctors.   Everyone wanted to participate and ask questions and tell stories.   One driver brought me nearly to tears with statements like "we want to save lives...we want to have the knowledge to help the people in our ambulances...we just don't know what to do".    They were given a LOT of very basic information on stretchers, using oxygen, lifting techniques, using the monitors,  bedside manners, appropriate siren use (hahahahah!), etc.    Some of the chofers had come to the class on less than 24 hour notice from at least 2 hours away.    The information was THAT important to them.      I am ashamed of every single time I have yawned or snored in any class that I ever taken in my whole life.  EDUCATION IS SUCH A PRIVILEGE.

Again, it just humbles me at the hunger that folks have for knowledge.   I'm still not exactly sure what our next steps are to continue to build Educational and EMS/Paramedic programs but it's on our Future List and Prayer List.   Dr. Canario had GOOSEBUMPS on his arms talking about the potential for further education.    In my mind I also think about Childbirth Education classes or Breastfeeding Classes in the future and I just get beyond excited.   Granted, it's probably a few years away.  But it Could.  Be.  On.  The.  Way.

One day.   The New clinic.   The Revolution is coming!   I'm psyched.  We are closer and closer and closer!    Check out the pix below of Michael, Bill, Jen Lacey, Star translator Nefthali, our skeleton model Stan, and our torso model Wilson plus all the wonderful attendees of the class.

So below here is Baby Nicole's newest niece!  YUP- you read that correctly.   Nicolita is the youngest of 8 (or 9?) so she's got some older siblings who have their own children.  This is 4 month old Maria Christina.  I could just kiss her squishy cheeks all day.  

And below is Miss Sneaky Pants, Nicolita herself.   Her great joy is to ride in the truck with us when we visit.   She's hiding behind the seat giggling here.  :)

And as promised, El Gordo has to make the blog.   I promise that he's laughing and grinning every second that I do NOT have my phone camera on me.  Happiest kid EVER.  

Back in it....

I woke up this morning in complete peace.   I didn't have to be at the Guesthouse early so I wandered out to the kitchen and put on the coffee (always always always the first thing to do).   There was milk in the fridge for the coffee which instantly makes everything the best ever.

I opened up the doors to both balconies and watched the sun stream in through the trees with the ever looming mountains in the background.  I could hear the dogs downstairs and the neighbors hooting to each other and the guy who sells yucca pedaling by on his bike contraption shouting YUCCA YUCCA YUCCA way too early.   I could hear the cars and motorcycles buzzing by on the big bridge.    I could smell the neighbors starting to cook already (what is it- 730 here?  wow!) when the scent of garlic and onions sizzling rises to my 3rd floor apartment.   Ufff it makes me hungry.  Good good stuff.   I'm smiling thinking about last night.   Monchi and I went with our current team to play softball.   He plays ball and I play dominos with the non-softball-playing-guys that show up there.   I'm laughing because I'm still not THAT great playing dominos but I've been accepted enough that the crew feels comfortable yelling at me when I make a dumb move.   Of course it's beyond humiliating that 10 year olds know more than I do....but at the same time refreshing to not always be seen as the untouchable/unrelatable American.    Monday night dominos while cheering on my softball-playin' man has become one of my favorite moments of the week.   I feel like one of THEM...which feels good.  Plus the American teams always love playing there too and it's so great watching them dig in with the locals and come home sweating and laughing and telling stories.   Sports seem to have a universal language here.  

I sit down on the new (new to us anyway!) pink fuchsia couch that Monchi finished putting together Sunday and have my quiet time.    Then I start digging through my referrals to update my referral list.   When teams go out to the barrios and see potential surgical candidates or patients who need further follow up, they give me the phone numbers/names/info and I try to categorize the patients and refer them out to others who can help or American surgical teams.    I keep stacks of these papers around and then have massive "referral" days when I type them up and then send them to the Dominican doctors to check/refer to as well.   It helps us know how many potential surgical candidates we might have and what interesting cases might be "out there" for the surgical teams.   I spent pretty much my entire morning on the referral list and STILL have other names to add.     Yesterday was another office day as I reviewed Order forms to see which equipment/supplies could be potentially purchased for the clinic and brought down with American teams in their suitcases.  Sometimes that seems like Christmas!  

These quiet days (office days) are great for me.   I've loved my time here since I got back from the States.  We've had amazing groups and are currently hosting a youth team from Hesston, Kansas.   One of the leaders was a missionary here years ago and has the coolest stories to share.  Watching Dr. Canario embrace him yesterday afternoon and hearing them relive history together gave me such joy. I love sitting in on these moments when folks "come home" in one sense,  hearing that spanish tumble from their mouths once again, watching them greet old friends and wander familiar streets.   I know I don't take it for granted ...living here and having opportunity to see and experience the world here.   The gang from ONU last week dove in full tilt- throwing down dominos every night and practicing spanish in the barrio clinics and loving on the people completely and wholly.     I watched their eyes and hearts open up and I remember so vividly my first time here, my first barrio clinic here, my first patients and friends and rice and beans and chinola juice and bus rides....and I fall in love with everything again just from living vicariously through them this one week.  And the next week.  And the next.   I say it to the groups sometimes when I'm in orientation or even finishing out the week.    We live it all over again through you guys.  Watching THEM reminds me of how it was when I first saw it.  

I still giggle at the ridiculousness of running out of gas on the pasola and getting pushed by Monch to the gas station (pushed by HIM driving another pasola...straight-legged with one leg on the back on my pasola and me desperately trying NOT to steer into a ditch).   I still gulp down the chinola juice like it's the best thing going (it IS!).   I still think kenepas (limoncillos) are a novelty to eat.   I still want to cover my ears at the majority of the sound systems in this country as the blaring and static is usually louder than the speaker or the music ( I've been known to pray that the sound systems won't work and that the person preaching or singing will just have to speak in normal speaking tone. )   There are a billion things that I still think are the coolest here- it hasn't become rote or boring.    And it looks like I will be able to stay as I intended to- since I WILL HAVE TENANTS IN MY HOUSE IN A MERE 6 DAYS.  God is so faithful...and I can feel my trust deepening in Him as He continues to prove His care to me.   Thank you, dear friends, for praying for this with me.    I feel your love and support always and appreciate so much the encouragement I receive from both old and new friends and family.  

Below are a few photos to sum up the past several weeks.   My favorite of course is of me on a pasola being pushed by Monch to the gas station, the quintessential Dominican experience.  

This is a pic of some of our barrio patients waiting to be seen.  The lady with the white kerchief is 102 years old.   

I'm not sure if this video will load or not but it's of Dr. Canario seeing patients and teaching the ONU students in the barrio clinics.  

Being pushed in the pasola to the gas station!  Please note Monch's foot on the back of my pasola shoving me down the road.......GO ME!

I just can't get enough of the El Gordo.   He's just the cutest and might need to be in every single blog that I ever write.   

Working in the barrio pharmacy!  This was a first for me and I LOVED IT.  

The ONU group loved dominos almost as much as we do!  

Hector preaching and teaching to the crowds in Elias Pina....

Ahhhhh this was just the MOST FUN.  Tubing down the irrigation canal!  I love my peeps!  

The ONU team.  I wish they could come every week.  Phenom crew.  I'll remember those barrio clinics for a long long while.  :)  THANK YOU dear friends!  I hope you all bought dominos in the capital......