Not a Manic Monday...

Today was the first day that we spent at the clinic. We loaded up early (about 7:30) to head to the neighborhood were working in. As we pulled through the barrio there were houses surrounded by garbage, sewer, old cars, and much more debris. In a different situation, I would call them oasis of hope, but the homes didnt provide that. They are old, dilapidated and in many circumstances not much more than one slighly wider room.

We pulled up to the complex where the pastor of the local church, Pastor Humberto, has been working for the last few years, we were greeted by people anxiously awaiting our arrival. The sick were waiting inside filling out fischias--sort of like triage forms in the ED--and children were awaiting the rest of the group for Bible school. We worked throughout the morning and then sto0pped for lunch. Pastor Humbertos church (where I went to church last night) had fixed us lunch. It was a traditional Brazilian spread-- black beans and rice, shredded chicken casserole, boiled potatoes and cuattas (sort of like hush puppies). We had Guanrana and Coka liche to drink and the best fresh bananas Ive ever had.

The afternoon was more of the morning. We saw a total of 93 people today, and dispensed drugs to 135 (dont ask about the math).This is nearly 3 times what the group saw on the first day last year. Keep praying for us and for those that were going to encounter. Part of the medical counseling is that we educate them about their physical health, but also their spritual health. There were several who werethis close to making a decision today...please pray for them.

Tonight, we went to a local mall and got dinner. I had a pasticia (please dont ask me to pronounce it..it wont work!!). Then guess what? More shopping!! Im off to bed. Lots more work awaits us tomorrow.

Ciao

Days One and Two

First...its wierd to see my blog site in Portuguese...good thing I know it well!!! Days one and two were spent in various airports-Tampa to Miami. Miami to Cámpos (unscheduled--yee haw), Campos to Sao Paulo. Sao Paulo to Florianopolis. The fog was so bad on Saturday morning that the Sao Paulo airport was closed...so we almost missed the flight from Sao Paulo to Florianopolis. We said lots of prayers to get here and to get all or our luggage here together. As did the Alabama groups luggage and the thousands of dollars of medicine that they brought!

Last night we ate at an open air restaurant. We had rice adn chicken and stead and fried shrimp. Everything comes with salad and rice. Yummy!! Guaranara and Coca Liche were spread all around. It reminded me of the dinners in the Bible or in the glory days of the South when everyone would sit around and just pass the food and enjoy the fellowship.

We shopped until we dropped today! We also squeezed in the beach--always great fun!! We ate at a seafood restuarant on the beach and went to dune surfing. Its like snowboarding, but with sand instead of snow. Tonight is church at Ron and Alanas churches. Steve and one of the boys are preaching. Im excited to experience this, definetly somehthing new! Afterwards, were getting dinner at a pizza place. Who new that that pizza was so popular in Brazil, but its everywhere!!!

Im excited for tomorrow when we start work at the clinic. This is what Ive been looking forward to. Lots of hard work, but very fulfilling.

Ciao!

AAAGGGGHHH

In a little over 24 hours, we will be leaving. I have no idea how I'm going to get everyting done and still remain a sane, competent,productive person and be ready for this trip! I still have to pack ( I hate packing for stuff like this), do laundry, finish cleaning my apartment, and run various errands (going to the bank, finish picking up little things I need, etc.). But not neccessarily in that order. What I did think to do-- make an appointment for a pedicure this afternoon!! Hopefully I'll feel a little bit better after soaking my feet for an hour or so.

The frustrations...I bought a portable power pack for my iPod. Only it's the plug-into-the-wall type and not the operate-on-battery type. Have to return that. I have to haul my big, heavy, packed suitcase into a grocery store tonight to weigh it. The weght limit is only 70 lbs. I have that much stuff in the medical supplies we're taking. I'm tired already ! ;-)

Enough complaining! I gotta get busy. More to come tomorrow!

So Much to Say...So Little Time to Say It

This month has flown by! I honestly don't know how I've gone a month and not updated...Yeah, actually I do. I've been working and life has been happening. Three birthdays and many overtime shifts and not nearly enough sleep, here we are. Life has been good. I bought an iPod (about stinking time!), and I'm thinking about packing for my trip ( I leave on Friday!!!!). I started working at an Emergency Room near my parent's house...that is interesting. Never a slow moment there! There are so many stories that I wish I had a few more minutes a day to write so I could share them with everybody.

I'm Tminus 3 days before I leave, and I'm determined to keep everyone updated. Pictures will come once I get home. Then anxiety and excitement are building. I'm happy...