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.