Volibol!

At the end of the day the locals would set up a net between two poles on either side of the street and play volleyball. And, of course, the gringos wanted to play too!Whenever a car came they just pulled the net up, and the car would drive right under! Pretty innovative, eh?

This dog always peeked through the balcony to watch all the commotion. From the looks of the wall, the dog has its own perferred spot overlooking the town.

What God Did

How evident God's work was in this trip! Many things occurred not only in the clinic, but also among our team to turn our eyes to Him.

One of the most encouraging things I observed was how God's hand worked in many of the lives of fellow team mates. Dad's roommate, a Jew, had many questions about the Christian faith throughout the week. Despite their weariness from the long, involved days, they would stay up for hours before bed intently discussing matters of faith and the Bible. How neat to observe how God was softening this man's heart and using the week to turn his gaze toward spiritual things. May God continue to work and cause him to see and know the truth of Jesus Christ.

Optical Crew

During our debriefing gathering a team mate who worked in the optical portion of the clinic told us of an interesting occurrence. One of the patients that day needed a certain type of glasses Dave was sure they had run out of. Having looked through the box of glasses several times for this size to no avail, he decided to search again. Amazingly, he immediately found a pair of the specific type they thought were gone. Apparently this did not happen only once, but several times after. In this way, God continually re-filled our jars to provide for the needs of others.

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Also, during a different team gathering another team member told of an instance of God's provision. First, let me give a little background to this. One of the members of the church in Condevilla has a neat testimony through the ministry he has begun by opening up a school in a town an hour or two away. He gave up many of his possessions for the cause of this ministry, showing a neat heart of selfless giving for the sake of others and God's work. One of our team members planned on doing a video recording of this man's testimony in order to distribute here to raise support for his ministry. About to do the interview, he turned on the camera and realized the battery was low. He had forgotten to charge it the night before! Knowing the Lord wanted to use this man's testimony to touch others lives, he prayed for the Lord's provision. Soon after he glanced at the battery and saw it slowly rise to full power! Wow! The interview was successful, and the battery died about five minutes after they had finished.

These few instances mentioned here testify to the powerful work God did in and through the team. What a faith-building experience!

... And More Peru!

As a whole, the four-day clinic facilitated about 1,300 patients. This was the third year the church opened a medical clinic, and clearly God blessed us by giving us a smooth week. Apparently, in the past local gangs had threatened the clinic. This year the clinic hired security, but ironically none of the officers showed up. God protected us!

Gathered with friends at the end of the day!

For the remaining three days of the clinic, I had the pleasure of doing a little translating for my dad and his patients. I watched one of the missionaries do the main translation work and followed along with the patient-doctor conversations, which helped a lot. She also let me jump in and try too, and would help catch the details I missed and bail me out if I got stuck. Most often, though, I worked with a nurse and helped translate questions and find general information about the patient. This helped whittle down the doctor-patient ordeal by helping Dad jump into the problem and not have to dig around as much. I felt most helpful in this position because I would often lose track of things when the patient explained in detail all the ins-and-outs of the problem. Yes, just smile and nod: a very helpful gesture when your Spanish is so limited! When there was a lull in activity it was fun to just talk with a couple of the people waiting for consults. One lady had come all the way from Trujillo--a full eight-hour bus ride from Condevilla!

Dad, Arlene, and I partnered together one day Translating
On the left is Miss Kay, the missionary who translated for us. Damiana (at the right) was a great help in logistics.

Precious children

Nurse Arlene and I were roommates for the week

One of the last patients Dad saw one day had several gallstones and ultimately was in a very serious condition if she did not receive immediate care. Since the nearby clinics were on strike that week, her appointment had been canceled, and she came to our clinic instead. We could only provide her with antibiotics, but she apparently planned to have surgery that Friday at the hospital. Upon Dad's request she came back the following day and reported she felt much better and could now eat a little due to the antibiotics. Dad and I had the special opportunity to pray with her for her upcoming surgery.

Valeria

A Stretching First Day

370 patients were seen on Day 1 of medical clinic

Emily, Kristen, and Aleah

We jumped into clinic-work on Monday. What a day! All of us worked in a large tent-like structure set up over the soccer court (a huge slab of cement) in the middle of the town. The kids were on their last week of summer vacation which made them available to help out a little bit too. The temperature in our cozy tent ranged from a blazing 110-125 degrees throughout the week. Thankfully we had access to water from Manuel's cooler across the street!

Meredith, Kristen, and Emily worked in triage for the day

This "first day" was stretching for me. I helped in the triage station by figuring out patients' general problems and then sending them to the proper physician. It was a challenging position to be in -- trying to make sense of the rapid Spanish chatter, get ages (like sesenta and setenta) straight and not offend people, etc. Not to mention those times when I felt completely clueless . . . which occurred so much more often than not. To dive into this day and realize how limited I was made me frustrated and discouraged at first.

On that same day an older lady came up to me and started telling me how she was thankful we were there. I will never forget the look in her eyes and her sincerity. Although I cannot remember what she said as I was lost in the midst of her trailing Spanish and only able to pick out bits and pieces, it was so touching. She asked for the Lord's blessing on us and seemed very excited about the work we were doing in Condevilla.

Steve spent the week working in the pharmacy corner handing out prescriptions. He and Flor especially made a good team. Despite the fact Steven was intent on learning Spanish, Flor often would try to share her knowledge of the French language with him. Steve and the rest of the pharmacy crew worked the longest out of the team. They had to fill up the last prescriptions and make sure all the patients had received what they needed before closing up shop each day.

Yes, and the pharmacy was where the famous "water-boiling" attempt took place. Apparently some of the team members took a container of water and set it on a black plastic trash bag in the direct sunlight to see if it would boil. From what I heard, it did not work, but it got close.

From the Beginning . . .

One of the things I looked forward to about this trip was using my Spanish much more than I had on the previous medical missions trip we went on last April. How cool to think I had the tools to actually communicate with Peruvian people a little.

From the get-go, Steve and I dove into our Spanish-speaking opportunity. On boarding our flight from Miami to Lima, we found ourselves conversing and getting to know the Peruvian couple seated next to us. Thus, it began. To me, holding a Spanish conversation resembled a giant puzzle: a comprehensive challenge which stretched the mind considerably.

We arrived in Lima at around 1 a.m. on Sunday morning and finally reached the hotel to crash into bed at around 3 a.m. for a few hours of sleep. Later in the morning we gathered for a worship service with the church in Condevilla, the small town we would be holding the clinic from Monday through Thursday. This church—consisting of about twenty five members (just about the size of our actual team!)—hosted the mission. It was a privilege to worship with them, and I was particularly excited to be able to understand the service! Their worship was so lively, joyful, bouncy, fast, and lovely in an unique way.

The church service was held in a tent outside the small church building.

2/22/09 -- Excerpt from journal:
"One of the things which struck me the most in the service is how fervent the people are. As they worship their hearts “visibly” spill over with joy and praise. They seem to truly value the words, not just saying them blankly. . ."

On Sunday I met two little girls, Alison and Nicole, who quickly became like "hermanitas" (little sisters) to me. I tried to explain to them my middle name is also Nicole. Since they thought "Kristen" hard to remember, they insisted on calling me "Nicole" instead. I loved it! I got one of their addresses and have written little notes to both. Julia and Bethany also drew some lovely pictures for them complete with Scripture verses in Spanish. All of these things have been tucked into an envelope ready to send to them. I hope the Lord will guide it safely to its destination -- these girls need so much love and encouragement.

(Above: Nicole is such a beautiful and precious treasure. Later I was told of her heartbreaking situation. Her daddy, often drunk and abusive, left her and her family. One of the team members recounted her saying she wished he was her daddy. Our hearts go out to this little one . . .)

The church literally went out of their way to provide for our needs. Ladies from the church would prepare lunch for the whole team each day of clinics. As I would walk past and peek in the entry of the church's little kitchen, they would look up, smile, and say “hola!” They showed such eagerness to serve us.

They joyfully served us

I plan to post more of the ins-and-outs of our journey and instert pictures along with it. Also, Mom has posted many pictures of our trip on her blog.

Journey's End

Last Saturday we made it back from an amazing journey. So far, we've hit the ground running as we begin life at the homestead once again. Hopefully as things slow down around here I will find a moment to sit down and spill out the whole adventure. But, alas, I need to go and recharge my *personal* battery some more...

Estamos en Peru

We're here! Today we begin day four of clinic work and will wrap up for the week. Everything has gone so well, and clearly the Lord has been at work here both in the team as well as in the clinic work. Thank you so much for your prayers. I look forward to sharing the details soon!

In Just One Week...

A week from today Dad, Steve, and I will beginning an exciting journey to Lima, Peru to serve on a medical-mission trip with a nearby church team. We continue to eagerly count the days until we travel on this adventure. Tomorrow we have our final team prep meeting before the exciting day of our departure and will spend a good portion of the afternoon packing medications and supplies.

I look forward to the marvelous plan the Lord has for this trip in my life and in the lives of others. Thank you so much for your prayers! Dad, Steve, and I (and the whole team!) are under some pressure as we anticipate the needs of the many hundreds of people we will be ministering to everyday. Steve and I will be plunged head first into Spanish translation-work and hope to build onto the foundation of our high-school Spanish courses. I hope we catch on quickly -- we do not have many translators on our team. Please pray for each of our strength and that the Lord would work through us to touch the hearts of the Peruvian people.

If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever.

~ 1 Peter 4:11

Genealogy Wonders in Fiddekulla!

Fiddekulla was one of the places we traveled to during the genealogy portion of our tour. Word was that a family member had lived on one of the farms there around the 1800s. Our hope: to find that farm.

A beautiful Swedish home

Knowing the farm name and its number (each small district used to number its farms way back then), we stopped and asked people if they knew its whereabouts. We talked to one younger lady and explained the situation to her. I thought it was funny, because when she finally figured out that our research and and what we looked for came from an era way back--the 1800s--her eyes got big, and she concluded that she didn't know. I can see why--it isn't that often people do family history from the 1800s.

But, the best is yet to come. Still looking for some assistance, we pulled up to a characteristic Swedish house painted dark red with white trim. Grandma went and knocked on the door and asked for help, telling that we had ancestors from the area. Meanwhile, Dad, Steve, and I talked with Grandpa via the two walkie-talkies that had come in very handy throughout the whole trip with our two-car caravan. And, we waited. Next, Kali (Grandma's cousin) got out of the car to go and help. Then Grandpa went over to see about the conversation. As we watched from the car, Dad joked, saying, "The next thing they will say is that we are släkt ["sh-lect," or family/relative]!" No kidding, seconds later we heard the announcement, "This guy says he is related to Karl Karlman [one of our relatives]!" And . . . wonder of wonders, miracles of miracles . . . it was true. We were indeed släkt.

Grandpa and Grandma talk genealogy with Ulf, our new relative

Sweden 2008: Remembering the Past...

We went to Linnefors and saw the old, but still standing railway station from which my great-grandmother began her journey to America when she was sixteen years old.

This is the home where my great-grandmother lived. Grandma remembers visiting there as a child in 1949 with her family. She shared many stories with us about her stay at this place.

We went into the woods behind the house where Grandma remembers catching a perch!Steve and I on the rock that Grandma and her cousins loved to play on in 1949.

Sweden 2008: Great-Grandma's Church

We spent our first day of genealogy in Vissefjärda and the surrounding area. Grandma's cousin, Gösta, took us to see the family sites.

This church was where my great-grandmother was confirmed. She lived in Vissefjärda until her immigration to America at the age of sixteen.

Inside the church
There was also a beautiful organ which my grandmother was privileged to play!

Many of our relatives are buried in this graveyard.

Here We Are in Oslo!

We have finished the genealogy part of our tour, and now are in Oslo. We spent pretty much all of yesterday driving from Sweden to here, but once we finally arrived there was literally "no room at the inn" or any in the area since there will be a Bon-Jovi concert (of all things!) here in Oslo on Wednesday. We finally got a good deal on a nice suite here by 11 p.m. We were so exhausted, but had a wonderful night of rest.

We are getting ready to have some breakfast, so I will have to fill you in on some of the details of our trip later.

In Viking-land

Two crazy Vikings ready to travel to Sverige

*An interesting side note, this picture accidentally got stuck on the computer's desktop in their hotel cafe as Dad was trying to download pictures. We got a good laugh... but, of all pictures...

We drove south from Stockholm towards Vissefjärda where we would begin our "heritage tour."We met Grandpa and Grandma at Kalmar. They pulled over and waved us over with their handy Swedish flag!
We visited my grandmother's cousin, Gösta, and his wife, Britt-Marie, who were very hospitable and really made our visit pleasant.

Dad, Steven, and I stayed at the Berg's house. Here Karl Johann ("Kali"), Grandma, and Tex had a hoot-nanny with Swedish tunes! Fun times!

The Berg's dog, Freja, liked to play with Grandpa's socks

The Family

We Made It!

We are Västervik, Sweden, and are getting ready to head out to meet up with Grandpa and Grandma. We finally found a familiar Best Western hotel after our long journey.

Trying to figure out how to post pictures; however, I am at the hotel's internet cafe and haven't had any success. It's beautiful here. We have a nice, sunny day, and the landscape reminds me of where we live. I can't wait to share some pictures with you!

Off for an adventure!

Sunday, June 8

3:50 a.m.
Reykjavik, Iceland

We are currently in the airport waiting to board our flight to Stockholm, Sweden. The time here is 8:50 a.m. We have been somewhat delayed and are switching aircraft. All of us are pretty tired! It is really interesting already to see the culture and hear jabbering in a language I don’t understand!
All for now.
Kristen

Heritage Tour 2008

Tomorrow, Dad, Steven, and I, (now known as the "Traveling Trio"), embark on yet another exciting adventure. We will be journeying to Sweden, where we will spend approximately two weeks visiting relatives and exploring family farms and important historical sites. We will stand on ground where of our great-grandparents (and even further back!) once stood, and see and learn more about the country in which they lived before their immigration to America. My grandparents, who have been there several times before, will serve as our guides during our stay there. Both have done extensive research on our family background/geneology. What a tremendous blessing it will be to have them there to pass on our family's legacy as we travel together. What a once-in-a-lifetime event! I am so thankful for all of the opportunities that the Lord has provided for us to travel this year.

Pray for a safe trip, and that we would be an encouragement and a testimony to the relatives we meet.

Cancun = Culture Shock!

Our team traveled to Cancun that Friday evening in order to leave via the Cancun Airport over the weekend. What a culture shock to walk into a five-star hotel and, essentially, into a totally different world. So Americanized. So unlike the "true" Mexico we had experienced all week.

View from the hotel lobby

It was so strange to see all the tourists, wealth, resorts, golf courses--you name it! English, when spoken, could be relatively understood. I was awed to have the freedom to brush my teeth with tap water once again! We ate at a steakhouse. The beds were so plushy and amazing. Overall: shock.

Morning Sunrise

We had a full day before we would travel home. Dad, Steve, and I took an adventure of our own. We went snorkeling in the Caribbean. These little boats took us out to the reefs. We were able to see lots of beautiful fish, rays, and someone even spotted a barracuda! The day was gorgeous and sunny!

While traveling to the snorkeling place, the van took us on a considerably bumpy ride. We passed a marshy area, and a crocodile sauntered up to the road!

What a trip we had!

We learned so much!

Thank you, Lord!

Help us not to forget what you showed us and taught us along the way! Use these experiences to shape our lives according to Your will.