tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2461790273988586030.post-81023227259332800722008-06-27T16:01:00.004-06:002008-06-27T16:21:13.174-06:00We're finally back in the land of Internet and phone service. The last two days of the clinic have been very busy. Probably the busiest I've seen it in my 4 years of trips. We treated probably 800 in the last two days at Belmopan. The doctors we're running 3 rooms and they had a constant line of 50-60 deep. Fann started pulling teeth at 9:30 am and stayed in the room until 2:30 pm. He never stopped and even then we had to turn people away. The depth of poverty is staggering. They lack basic health care and preventative medicine. So many of the problems are easily treatable in the U.S.<br /><br />Booker and a construction crew headed back to the same house where we installed a floor last year. They had built bunk beds with the lumber we left them and added a "kitchen." This year we built them an outhouse and bathing room. However, when we were leaving one of the young men living in the house (one of 9 sleeping there) said "This is big enough for a me to sleep in!" So they may use it for another purpose. Going back to the house was my "defining moment" of the trip. For one, they remembered us. The little girls came running up and hugged us as soon as we arrived. They were barefoot wading through mud and water. <br /><br />The house had worn a little, but basically looked the same. The gaps in the walls were still there. Two beds were on the side of the wall and a couple of bicycles were stacked in a corner. There were chickens and dogs running in and out the open door. When I went in the little girl (maybe 5 years old) had laid all her toys out on a little mat. There was an old beaten up Barbie doll, some other type of doll, a couple of cheap McDonald's type toys (probably from last year) and a small handful of Smarties. It broke my heart because it's exactly the same way my five year old lines up her dolls. Only this was all she had. I was ashamed to admit it, but I called Fann in and said, "My kid's "toy room" is bigger than this entire house." We both decided right there that our girls would experience this as soon as they were old enough. That night, we spent a while discussing poverty and what we could do about it. I guess we helped a little by coming, but it seems like such a small dent.<br /><br />While in Belmopan we stayed at the Banana Bank. It's a jungle resort. Of course, "resort" is a relative term. There's no air conditioning and lots of bugs, but it was really a nice stay. The food was great and for the first time, the weather was perfect. It never got over 85 and we had rain and clouds every day.<br /><br />Today we're on the island for a little rest before we return. I appreciate all the prayers on our behalf. Please continue praying for our safety. I'll try to say more tomorrow and I apologize for any typos. I'll paying per minute so I'm going as fast as I can!<br /><br />Congrats to my sister from Uncle Russ!!!!Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15604002488998383501noreply@blogger.com