Last night Dr. Marcus and Whitney Ueltschey from Tupelo, MS left after spending a week with us. We had a few days of free health care out in the neighborhoods, and spent most of the time in the clinic. With the addition of Dale Hansen, a young MD from Memphis, we saw quite a few patients. Also, another young MD from New Zealand showed up, and he might stay around a month or so to help us. So, obviously God is blessing us with help and support. However, April 24 we were robbed at gunpoint at the clinic around closing time. It has happened before, and we took some extra measures at security, such as a metal gate a few feet inside the main entrance which locks. After eating my lunch I exited and did not pull the gate closed behind me, when just outside were two men with guns, they pushed me back inside and rummaged around for 5 minutes or so looking for money. They took one of our laptops, about 400 in soles, Dr. Dale's watch and wallet, my cell phone, and not much more. Really, they could have done a lot better, but obviously they were not thinking clearly. Anyway, my point is God is good.
Just when we get discouraged and wonder if its all worth it, he sends more people, more patients, more money, and we know we must continue. (later that same day I got an email notifying that a large donation had been sent in to the medical ministry!)
Last Monday, during our free campaign, I gave out ticket number 50, to the last patient we had time to see, and she begged me to see her mother, who could not walk.
So Whitney and I walked with her to her house to check it out. She is a 75 year old with advanced Parkinson's perhaps, or severe arthritis, who lays in bed most of the day. Sitting next to her is her husband, 85, and completely blind. This lady, with children of her own, basically stays around the house to keep her aging parents. Whitney showed her some PT exercises to help her mother, and later Percy our chaplain found a wheel chair to donate. It is a very sad case for me, a home with no joy or happiness. So I thank God for the chance to help them a little and worry not about my small misfortunes. We hope to follow up with this family in the future, and minister to whomever God sends our way.
