Campo Maior is Changed

Our apologies for not blogging yesterday. Dr.Naus practiced his portugues with the owner of the cyber cafe, and thought he told him that it is open 24hours, but obviously Dr.Naus needs more practice because when we went last night, it was closed. But no worries.

So far we have seen over 500 patients this week...and we only have this afternoon left of working in our clinic. We have had some amazing patients. Yesterday was a very touching and emotional day for some of us. A man with Parkinsons came in, who was just suffering from so many other issues on top of the Parkinsons, and his grandson desperately wanted to get some medicine to help him, but we just didn´t have anything to give him... it was so hard to look them in the eye and tell them, ´sorry, there is nothing that we can do´. Later on, for me, the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, walked through our doors. A couple had a 19 year old parapeligic son. When he was born, the doctors told his mom that she could take him home and let him die because he was in a coma for 5 days and wouldn´t live very long...but she told us that she took him home and since has been blessed with her wonderful son for 19 years. The whole visit touched us immensly. The boy couldn´t talk, couldn´t walk, but he always looked around for his father, and would look intently into his father´s eyes. And his father would pick him up, just like you would a baby, and hold him in his arms. It was the kind of beauty that brings tears to your eyes. Later on last night, they attended the rally, and the pastor spoke to them directly, because he himself raised a disabled boy... and he gave them an encouragement that was so wonderful.

The evening rally´s are bringing many people to know the Lord. We were able to share our Heart Skit, which they all enjoyed. Dancers dance and perform mini-dramas, we worship, and the pastors preach with such a passionate, roof-raising, vigor. And after the rally´s we all walk to the center of town and hang out around all the people, and dance and do some street ministry. That is really such a fun thing to do...go out there at night, and just dance for the Lord, not caring what people think and who is watching. Its all about God.

We are consuming our daily Fruits, Fruits of the Spirit that is. Patience (or as KJV calls it, Long Suffering) seems to be a hard one. Patience with being tired, with the patients we see...patience with patients. Today we are chewing on goodness and gentleness. Being gentle in how we react with the people, and also with eachother... the Lord has really hand-picked each one of our team members, because it is obvious looking back throughout the week how each person here is and has been essential to our work. If just one was missing, we would not have been the body for Christ that we are.

Its hard to say personally how each of us is doing... but I see that Dr.Naus is bringing such joy to the patients, making them laugh, even the ones that are so stoic in their faces, stone-cold....somehow the Jolly doctor makes them laugh! Dr. Dorfman, aka. double-D, is like a big poppa bear to us, and I have never seen someone handle so many gross feet with such ease! Dr.Meg is hilarious. I think I have met the smartest woman in the world! Bianca is spreading joy like no other, talking with her patients, and flashing her huge smile, keeping them happy while we wait for the next available doctor. Kelley is incorporating her acting abilities as she translates, its great! She has them mimic her when she has run out of ways to talk to them. Gabe is using that portunol like no other, and is staying flexible as we pull him in 5 different directions. Cassie is sweating buckets outside and talking to the patients all by herself as she takes everyones blood pressure. She is building very strong fingers as she pumps that cuff! Chase is pricking away all those diabetic fingers, and is such an encouragement to us, always having something positive to say. Lisa is jumping on every opportunity to pray over the patients, and keeping our clinic organized, somehow managing without a translator!!! Daniel wins the award for the most improved....he has grown miles since the last trip to Brasil... he runs around all day with a group of the young brazilian boys, helping out when needed. And Katia, she is listening like she has 6 ears and talking like she has 3 mouths....all over the clinic. She is going to need to rest big time after this week! And all 11 of them have blessed me so much, in laughing, in playing, in goofin around, in prayers, and just in being there and having patience with me as I am translating. Everyone is such a blessing. And all the people of this project are just so humble, and allowing God to work through their hands.

Campo Maior had been changed.

-In Him, Kirsten