Day 6 - Mexican Medicine

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Thursday, June 20, 2013 - Montezuma has begun his revenge! Mary's recuperating from it, Geoff felt run down - like he was getting it, I was up throughout the night with a bucket and the toilet - nice. Hopefully, the other half of our family won't get it. It's good to have hope! We're very thankful for your prayers. The Center is open Monday - Friday, so we only have today and Friday to work there and to keep getting to know people in the San Rafael neighborhood and the staff. No time for sickness!

There's something to be said about a simple morning with our family. The ocean waves are gently singing, there's nice shade on the patio, the kids play in the sand under the umbrella. It's mellow, sweet, and harmonious...except for the unearthly stomach pains. 😊 The kids are finding all kinds of beautiful shells and broken pieces of glass - Great Grandpa George better be ready with his nickels when we get back!

From reading the book, "When Helping Hurts", Mark and Karen have learned to ask people who want to come and help them - what are you good at? Whether you're an American coming down to help for a week (or a year) or a local volunteer - you better come ready to share a few things you're good at! It's a great, wholistic approach - just like God teaches us in 1 Corinthians 12. How we all have different abilities but the beauty of Chirst Jesus is how we can come together as one and further God's Kingdom - in spite of personality differences, cultural and language differences, etc. - God wants to use us as a whole. We need Jesus and we need each other. They will know we are Christians by our love.

As soon as we got to the Center today Karen looks at me and says, "What are you doing here?" About an hour later she has me and my girls in her car and we're headed to the doctor. I guess I was sicker than I wanted to admit. So we get to an Urgent Care of sorts and check this out. There's a simple waiting room with 4 chairs - no receptionist, nobody was waiting and the door to the doctor's office was open so we went right in and talked with him. A few minutes later we leave with prescriptions for Mary and me and we walk next door to pay. Total cost: $41 (for 2 consults, lots of medicine, and 2 Electrolite drinks) Total time: about 12 minutes, TOTAL! It was refreshing to not have health insurance companies and lawyers dictate protocol.

Back at the condo the girls enjoyed a movie and I took my medicine and slept. Geoff and the boys stayed at the Center and played with the kids. Mark showed them the garden - all those beautiful chili pepper plants were fried! It was a combination of maybe not using the right mixture of soap to water, plus the volunteer who sprayed didn't know not to spray in midday and not all the plants - just the ones with aphids. It was sad to lose all those beautiful plants. The good thing is in this climate they can plant again and in a few weeks have good growth again.

The boys grocery shopped for us and came home. Benny visited us one last time to show us some of his tools and how he makes designs out of shells and coconuts. It was fun to watch him.

After a simple dinner of chicken and tortillas, mango and avocado, the kids played on the beach we watched the moon glisten against the water and off to bed. The kids had to tuck me in tonight! 😊

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Photos

Farmacia...
Thought we would check out the Health Care system while in Mexico. Seems far more effecient and economical than the States.

chili peppers 2.0
plants got fried, lesson learned, and peppers replanted next day

Comments

[Donna Hohenschuh]

Enjoying your blog!
Hello Monique, Your Dad shared your blog with us and I am enjoying it very much. It may not have been the water that made you all sick. Yesterday I had what you described and slept about 12 hours straight. Everytime I moved, I hurt so I didn't move. I love your pictures and stories about the school and your friends. You are very special and you and your family will be appreciated. Donna