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NATURAL REMEDIES, ALRIGHT----BUT DRINKING URINE?
By Jessica Gow-Lee

It seems that  when access to medical care is limited, people may try any number of folk ideas to seek relief from their pain. One of the patients encountered by the medical team had for two years suffered with all the  symptoms of gallstones. In a desperate effort to find relief from her pain she had been drinking 1/2 glass of her urine every morning, hoping to dissolve the stones.

As you might imagine, this offered no relief, and, being unable to afford the 2,000 soles (about $600) for the surgery, she had lost hope of finding relief.  Imagine her joy and renewed optimism when the women's ministry team knocked at her door, asking if she had any needs and offering for her to be seen by a doctor.

Dr. Elden Lopez, from Pasco, Wa.  journeyed to her house to examine her, and determined that she needed to have her gallbladder removed.

Volunteers then went into action, going the extra mile to assure  that funds  were available to pay for the surgery, and for round trip transportation to the SDA Ana Stahl Clinic (hospital) in Iquitos where clinic staff met her at the airport.

Dr. Lopez not only arranged  the surgery, but flew with her to the hospital, removed her gallbladder which contained mutltiple gall stones,  and accompanied her back to her village.

From what we hear she is doing well, and we are sure she is very glad she can now partake of more appetizing beverages!!!
 

Muddy Water Changed to Clear
By Jessica Gow-Lee

It is exciting and encouraging to see the increasing numbers of missionary volunteers participating in the Peru Project.!  With bigger groups, however, come increased demands, one of which is filtered water on the medical launch.  This is a particular challenge in the Amazon Basin, because of the very muddy water when the rivers are in flood.

To meet this need, Dennis and Sylvia Hauner took time out of their schedule to research, buy and install a second filtering system in January 2001.  We are very grateful to them and to the Richland SDA Church in Richland, Wa., whose members donated money for plane ticket and for the filter.  This will work together with the system previously donated and  installed by Marlyn Schwartz and members of the Piedmont SDA Church in Lincoln, Nebraska.

A big thank you to each one of you who have donated your time and money, and who have held the projects up before God in prayer.
 
 

Down  but  not Out
By Barb Lawson  From Wenatchee, WA

It all started about noon with a headache and extreme fatigue, followed by a hint of nausea.  I thought it must be dehydration setting in, so I poured bottled water into my system, until there was no way I could be dehydrated.  The nausea and headache continued, however, accompanied by other symptoms and before 5:00 P.M., I had to admit to myself at least, that I was sick, alone and in a foreign country.

Kind of scary.  I kept telling myself if I could just hang on, soon the group on the launch would be back from visiting the villages...  I wanted the group back because I knew  that then the nurses from the group would check on me and perhaps think of something to help me out.

 I was not disappointed. The next several hours passed in much of blur to me.  I remember visits from a doctor speaking Spanish, antibiotic shots, medicine for nausea and pain, vomiting and trips to the bathroom and that unending headache.  But what stands out clear in my mind was at one point when I awoke and saw Pat, one of the nurses, sitting at my bedside and I realized that she was sitting there taking care of me because I was sick.  Later, it was Vicki, another nurse, and I realized they were taking turns sitting at my bedside.  And always Anne, a physical therapist, was there to keep them company and comfort me with shoulder, back and head massages.
At one point I looked up and realized I was experiencing my first, no, I guess that would be second now, house-call from a doctor when I heard Dr. Lopez talking to me at about 2:00 A.M. Wow!  I must be really sick, I thought.  They woke up the doctor!  Well, an IV and several antibiotics later I realized I would survive, and I did, as evidenced by my ability to author this article.

I was in Peru on a mission trip with the purpose of visiting the local people in the villages around the lake where the mission air base is located.  We were a diverse group, made up of people from various geographical locations and career backgrounds.  Our trip was one week old when the mysterious illness struck me.  During that time I had the opportunity to experience first hand the compassion, dedication and commitment of the team members to our mission.  So when I was sick I knew I was in good hands.  My heart was touched not only with the caring touch of Vicki and Pat, my nurses, I don't care what anyone else says, they were my nurses, but with the prayers of the other missionaries on our trip.

I was told that when they went to find Dr. Lopez they woke up Virgil, who upon hearing that I was so sick, stopped right there and said, "Well, I think we need to have a prayer right now," which he did.  I can't tell you enough how much that meant because if I had learned anything that week in our work among he village people it was that God is the ultimate healer and our weakest efforts cannot compare to His power.

I feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to participate in a mission experience with all of them and would jump at the chance in the future, regardless of having gotten sick.  I thank God for the blessing I received.
 

Night Time Intruder
By Jessica Gow-Lee
Medical problems can come on especially quickly in jungle environments.  There, where infection takes hold so easily and where many insects and snakes dwell, one never knows when he might need to take a canoe ride down the river, or walk for miles through swampy forest to find outside help.  Even youth and a strong, healthy body are no guarantee for being immune to problems.

Feeling completely fine before she retired for the night, one lady whom the team met was surprised in the morning to find that she had severe pain and decreased hearing in one ear.  After several days of trying everything she could think of to relieve the pain she was overjoyed to learn that there was a doctor at the home base of  the mission plane and medical launch.  Hiring a canoe, she set out immediately, hoping for relief.

Dr. Elden Lopez, from Pasco, Wa., after hearing her symptoms, decided to inspect her ear, but the otoscope had been left behind.  A rolled up paper with a flashlight shown through it served as an improvised replacement.  To everyone's great surprise, when the ear was flushed out, an insect leg appeared along with the wax. Smiles broke out on both English and Spanish faces, as all enjoyed a good laugh.  Further irrigation produced the owner of the leg,---an inch long dead cockroach, which a few nights previously had apparently selected her ear as a pleasant retreat.  Needless to say, our friend was delighted to be rid of her unwelcome hitchhiker.
 
 

A BURNING NEED FOR
MEDICAL ATTENTION
BY Jessica Gow-Lee
While playing, a young boy on Yarina Cocha lost his balance and fell into a large puddle of steaming tar in the bottom of his father's boat.  Excruciating pain enveloped his right hand and the flesh immediately began to swell and crack until his poor hand was several times its normal size.

His cries of pain struck at his parent's hearts and desperation took hold of them as they realized that even if a doctor were available, they wouldn't be able to afford  his services.  Over time the skin turned black and serous fluid dripped constantly from it.  Flies, attracted by the dead tissue, flew and crawled all over the burn.
Then one day, a medical launch chugged into their village. Imagine the joy overflowing in the parents hearts when they heard that their son's burn would be treated  at no charge.

 Immediately the medical team debrided the wound and began treatment.  His mother was shown how to clean and wrap the wound and prayer was offered with the family before the team left.
 
 

A Different kind of Valentine
By  Charlene Binder, Betty Cummings, et al.
What were you doing on February 14 of this year?
Reveling in the rosy glow of Valentines Day?

On that day about 30 volunteers, coordinated  by Clyde Peters and Virgil Carner, arrived in the jungles of Peru. The men  tackled the repair and painting of an amphibian plane, a Lake Renegade.

Many of the volunteers, led by Laura Miller, occupied themselves in Women's Ministry, visiting the mothers and children in villages around the lake.  Their goal was to visit each home in each of the 10 villages, working together with the Medical-Dental Teams.  Many packages of clothes, soap, shampoo samples, Spanish copies of Steps to Christ, etc had been made up for distribution by loving hands in Lincoln, Nebraska and in other States.  Dividing into teams, each including a nurse and translator, the women boarded the medical launch and traveled to the shore of the lake, as close as they could get to each village.

This being the rainy season, the lake had overflowed its banks and spread through  the villages.   Canoes were  taken from  the launch right up to the front doors  of some of the house which are normally high off the ground on stilts.

 One of the volunteers was fearful of the water and hesitated to get into a canoe.  God gave her courage to extend herself beyond her comfort zone, however, and she was able to overcome her fear and minister in many homes.  In each house they visited with the mother, ministering to her individual needs, and presented her with two devotional books.

While sitting on the launch waiting for one of the teams to return to the launch, volunteers were treated to the sight of an elderly man sitting down next to his wife who was lying in a hammock, and reading one of the devotional books to her.

 The care packages and devotional books, as well as the prayer offered for each family deeply touched the mothers and many exclaimed that that was the first time someone had visited their home and demonstrated true love and caring.
 

LESSON IN REVERENCE
By Janeatte  Bendezu
In one of the homes visited an elderly man answered the volunteers knock.   He had been a widower for several years, was the father of four, and was the preacher in a local church.   He eagerly consented to having prayer offered in his home, and said he would like to read a Bible verse.  To everyone's surprise he then excused himself, saying he wasn't properly dressed to read God's Word.  Leaving the room he washed up, changed into dress pants and shirt, and returned to read John 14:6.

Team members were profoundly moved by his obvious deep devotion for God and His Word.  What a lesson of reverence for us to remember as we come before the All-mighty God of the universe to offer our devotion and service.