August 2007

The Maryland team was here the first week of August to join the Panama Medical Project and offer a three-day medical clinic in Nueva Arenosa.

After the clinics I review each chart and medication order. I was reviewing the charts when one caught my eye and caused me to want to weep and jump for joy all at the same time.

The chart belonged to a 2yr old boy with Downs Syndrome. As I read the chart I remembered the little boy and the Physicians Assistant, Robin, who was examining him. She motioned for me to come over and listen to his heart murmur. He clearly needed a referral to the Panamanian Ministry of Health. One of the doctors from the Ministry of Health saw the little boy and explained that he needs to travel to the Children’s Hospital in Panama City.

What struck me about the chart was; the writing, the chart has black ink in Robin’s handwriting and blue ink in the Panamanian Doctor’s handwriting. The doctor’s handwriting encircles Robin’s and at the bottom is his official stamp. As I looked at it I realized just how closely we had worked this time in Nueva Arenosa.

All of the doctors were working in the same room, they used different languages had different levels of experience and viewpoints but were working for a common goal. There were people from the community and from Colon city working in the pharmacy. There were youth from Panama City who helped the youth from Maryland in the children’s program. Each station had a man from the community doing ‘traffic control’ for that station. This was all in addition to a Vaccine team, a Nutrition team, a GYN nurse, a Dentist and an Educator from The Ministry of Health. There were at least 50 people working in the clinic each day.

When I think about the variety of languages, economic realities, cultural differences, expectations, and hopes and dreams the functioning of the clinic is just miraculous.

I have the chart in a page protector where it can remind me that God is in this project and when we do our part he does His.

Please understand that because you have been faithful and generous there were 800 people in Nueva Arenosa who received caring and generous medical attention, medications, education, glasses, vaccines, and Godly play.

Thank you for your support.
~jo ellen

Rev Kay and Rev Carmen with Nena.
My Mom offered a prayer shawl and we gave it to Nena.
Nena is a community leader that we visit each time we go to Nueva Arenosa,
she had a stroke two years ago and is completely bed ridden now.

Me doing what I love best; holding a two-week old baby.

We just finished the first Medical Mission in Colon; 7 people from Alabama joined 29 people from the three churches in Colon. The Ministry of Health joined us with malaria testing, educators, dentists, doctors, the vaccination team, social workers and psychologists. We had planned on seeing about 200 people over the course of two days. We saw 300 people on our first day. We attended a total of 600 people in 2 ½ days. The dentist saw more than 100 people and the vaccination team saw at least that many.

At the end of the third clinic day folks from Alabama, the churches in Colon and the Ministry of Health boarded a boat and traveled up the Gatun River to Chorro Embera. The Embera had invited us to their community for a “thank you cultural celebration.” We were greeted by the people and escorted out of the boat using a hand made dug out canoe as a walkway to dry land. The people were painted with the traditional Jagua. The girls had flowers in their hair. We were invited in to the tribal counsel building. They were frying Tilapia for us. There was a huge pot of rice bollo cooking. Our hostess reassured us that if we didn’t like the food they would not be offended but they wanted us to have a full Embera fiesta as a thank you. The Embera weave baskets and carve Tagua. They showed us their crafts and we shopped. The chief gave me a basket and the assistant chief gave me a necklace as a thank you for caring for their people. Then the music started; drums, a percussion instrument made with a turtle shell and we began to dance………..now then I was a happy missionary.

Greetings!
It has been 9 weeks since my arrival in Panama. I have been very busy adjusting to life and work here in Panama. Everyone has been very helpful. My spanish is getting a little better. I will begin school in January. I have been able to visit Bocas del Toro, and Teca. It is the rainy season which has prevented me from traveling to Nueva Arenosa or Colon and Torti. There has been a great deal of interest in the medical work in all of the churches I have visited. Teca clinic has graduated to self sustained status; we welcome Dr Angula and Dr. Zarate two wonderful Panamanian physicians who will visit Teca monthly. There is a doctor who set up a program such as this in El Salvador, he is interested in working with us. I am in prayer about how we can make this happen.
Thank you for your generous support of this mission, without you I could not be here doing this work. Have a wonderfully blessed day~jo ellen

Buenas tardes
Good afternoon

Today is my one week anniversary
I have been in Panama for one week
In that time I have learned to get around, found a place to get a haircut, gone to a funeral and met many wonderful people who are brothers and sisters in Christ.
Tomorrow I travel to Bocas del Toro by car to cover 12 hours of Panamanian ground by car where I can see the people and the land.
It is a land of contrasts, beautiful sky, sea and plants, friendly people with a history of conflict and triumph......and poverty and need.
However, if you take a trip through any one of our hearts and mind the same condition exists, beauty tragedy and strife, it is the human condition.
We are called to love one another as he loved us.
So may the grace and peace of God be with you now and always.
hasta la vista
jo ellen

Greetings, It is getting closer and closer. I have a departure date of October 12, 2006. I begin work for hasta inc. on September 1, 2006. The condo is sold. The car is next. I just returned from a short term trip to Panama with the Frederick Regional Council team. I am so excited about this opportunity. Preparing to go is at times a heavy burden; lots of letting go, good byes and anticipation of the unknown. And, still I am so excited. On the short term trip three medical doctors and one dentist from the Ministry of Health joined our team in Nueva Arenosa. It was a wonderful opportunity to share what we were doing in Arenosa and to begin to make strides in solidifying the partnership between the short term teams and the ministry of health. The time in Panama in August was very helpful for me in my planning to move to Panama. I learned that business attire is a suit and pumps-please pray-when have you seen me in a suit and pumps-but I now have them. I have begun to make some Panamanian friends and have seen my living quarters and the office I will share. Things are coming in to focus. Thank you for your support as together we enter this adventurous journey of service to our Lord. ~jo ellen

Greetings; this is an hasta inc. update, i have a contract on my condo, the contract is contingent upon the buyer selling her house, we are scheduled to settle in august, things are moving forward, please pray for departure date setting and wisdom in planning what to take with me, have a blessed and peaceful day, in HIS service~jo ellen

This blogger was created by two of JoEllen's four children. All of her children - and their spouses - support her in her work.