It's been incredible how kind and accomodating everyone is here! I've been at the hospital for parts of 2 days and really been treated like part of the team already. I've gotten tours, and shown the charts and medicines and everything to learn and help out and been introduced to anyone and everyone I would possibly want to shadow.
Today I got to travel around to all of the "dispensaries" (clinics/nursing stations) all over the island. We drove around to check to make sure they all had everything they need as well as we were taking the representative from the U.S. CDC there to make sure everything is going smoothly and I suspect to make sure the money is going to good use.
This afternoon we even went out to Peleliu, a southern island of Palau which is about 1 hour away by boat. It was the site of a major battle during World War II in which thousands lost their lives on both sides. Now however you would barely know anything happened there, except for the relics, bunkers, and tanks strewn randomly throughout the island.
While in Peleliu, I was able to accompany Dr. Decherong to see a young girl who presented with ear ache and sore throat. Upon exam she had a ear infection with her ear drum retracted and inflamed and her left tonsil was swollen over touching the uvula. She was allergic to amoxicillin so she received a prescription for erythromycin and we headed back to the boat to return to the main hospital.
This is just the beginning of many such opportunities that I am going to have the privilege of experiencing with these incredible physicians!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Tano y Chamorro
Hafa Adai!
After a ~ 13 hour flight, a 5 1/2 hour layover, and another 3 hour flight we finally made it into Guam at about 1:30 am local time. We were relieved to finally be able to stop for the night and really had not slept in days! (I can never sleep on planes)
Anyway we were taken to a nice apartment by Ethan and some other guys from Harvest and just crashed as soon as we got inside and could finally get some sleep.
In the morning, we met with Miss Daniels from the church and she gave us a tour of the incredible new family life center/gymnasium area which was just being built 2 years ago when I was coming through. She then let us use a church vehicle and we were able to cruise around the island all day just exploring and visiting the various malls and local spots. We stopped for lunch at this little place called "The Lumpia House" for some Lumpia (egg roll type dish) and then headed to the K-Mart here which is the largest in the world. It has a parking lot on the roof of the store. It was interesting right as we walked in, they were selling hot and ready Little Caesar's pizzas but instead of the usual $5 we're used to, they were $10. That was just the beginning of what's common with the prices of everyday things we take for granted in the states. That night we met up with the college students that make up the camp team for all the summer activities here at Harvest. We had a great time with them hanging out, eating dinner, and watching a movie.
Saturday morning we met up with the team again for brunch and just relaxed until it was time to leave for the Pagat caves and cliffs. I had been once before but wasn't able to jump due to the stormy seas at that time. This time however the conditions were perfect and after making the trek down to the cliffs, several of us took turns jumping the 30+ feet into the little cove. We then trekked back down to the caves where the cool water was so refreshing from the heat of the day. We sang a couple of songs in the cave (Amazing Grace, All in All, etc.) and then made the hike back up the mountain and out to the vans.
Heather had made plans to meet up with some of her friends from Bob Jones for dinner and Pastor Homsher and his wife and 2 sons took me out to dinner. Pastor Homsher's dad is "Brother Homsher" of Bible Time fame and so he knew my dad and the connections there. After dinner, I met up with the camp team again for the evening and enjoyed some more time with them.
Sunday, we got up early to get ready for the services and I went over to the gym area to help out with the children's groups with the camp team. I helped out leading some fun songs (I've got peace like a river and Hallelu Hallelu) and then helped out with the games for the various age groups. After the games we all gathered back together for the lesson time and after we were dismissed, Heather had just come back from the main service. I met up with some people that I knew from Bob Jones that are here and then we met up with Miles and Pastor Herron to head to lunch at VIP Chinese Restaraunt. We had some orange chicken, walnet crusted shrimp, and mongolian beef which were all excellent.
We're looking forward to tomorrow when we'll will finally arrive in Palau around dinner time!
After a ~ 13 hour flight, a 5 1/2 hour layover, and another 3 hour flight we finally made it into Guam at about 1:30 am local time. We were relieved to finally be able to stop for the night and really had not slept in days! (I can never sleep on planes)
Anyway we were taken to a nice apartment by Ethan and some other guys from Harvest and just crashed as soon as we got inside and could finally get some sleep.
In the morning, we met with Miss Daniels from the church and she gave us a tour of the incredible new family life center/gymnasium area which was just being built 2 years ago when I was coming through. She then let us use a church vehicle and we were able to cruise around the island all day just exploring and visiting the various malls and local spots. We stopped for lunch at this little place called "The Lumpia House" for some Lumpia (egg roll type dish) and then headed to the K-Mart here which is the largest in the world. It has a parking lot on the roof of the store. It was interesting right as we walked in, they were selling hot and ready Little Caesar's pizzas but instead of the usual $5 we're used to, they were $10. That was just the beginning of what's common with the prices of everyday things we take for granted in the states. That night we met up with the college students that make up the camp team for all the summer activities here at Harvest. We had a great time with them hanging out, eating dinner, and watching a movie.
Saturday morning we met up with the team again for brunch and just relaxed until it was time to leave for the Pagat caves and cliffs. I had been once before but wasn't able to jump due to the stormy seas at that time. This time however the conditions were perfect and after making the trek down to the cliffs, several of us took turns jumping the 30+ feet into the little cove. We then trekked back down to the caves where the cool water was so refreshing from the heat of the day. We sang a couple of songs in the cave (Amazing Grace, All in All, etc.) and then made the hike back up the mountain and out to the vans.
Heather had made plans to meet up with some of her friends from Bob Jones for dinner and Pastor Homsher and his wife and 2 sons took me out to dinner. Pastor Homsher's dad is "Brother Homsher" of Bible Time fame and so he knew my dad and the connections there. After dinner, I met up with the camp team again for the evening and enjoyed some more time with them.
Sunday, we got up early to get ready for the services and I went over to the gym area to help out with the children's groups with the camp team. I helped out leading some fun songs (I've got peace like a river and Hallelu Hallelu) and then helped out with the games for the various age groups. After the games we all gathered back together for the lesson time and after we were dismissed, Heather had just come back from the main service. I met up with some people that I knew from Bob Jones that are here and then we met up with Miles and Pastor Herron to head to lunch at VIP Chinese Restaraunt. We had some orange chicken, walnet crusted shrimp, and mongolian beef which were all excellent.
We're looking forward to tomorrow when we'll will finally arrive in Palau around dinner time!
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