The Georges in Peru

Why can't you ever see this in Nebraska?  Because there is no shadow!  At 11:29 am yesterday, the sun was directly overhead.  Since Peru lies between the tropics on the globe, twice a year the sun goes directly overhead.

Yesterday I visited Alejandro, the crippled, 83-year-old that we help.  He had gotten hit by a car (luckily, just his crutch that was poking into the street got hit, knocking him down, and the driver sped off) and his crutch was broken and he was sore from head to toe.  I got him some Tramadol 300 mg extended-release tablets, which I nervously gave him (it's a high dose), but he is in so much pain the benefits outweighed the risks.  Today he was smiling from head to toe and when I gave him his crutch that I fixed he smiled even more.  He said his pains were all gone!  Of course, when the constipation sets in he might not be so smiley.

As the US government shuts down for lack of foresight (couldn't see that coming, could you?) , the Peru economy continues to get stronger.  Paying for one's health care is very much within reach of most average people, and not because medical missionaries are providing all of the care!  Today, yours truly needed some lab work done.  At my favorite lab the desk clerk asked, "Have you had lab work done here before?"  "I don't think so.  I've sent a lot of patients here, however."  She looked at my doctor's order and said, "You're Dr. George!  We get lots of your patients!  Some of them don't speak any Spanish and I have to use what little English I know to communicate."  "Sorry about that," I say, averting my eyes, "I really like your lab and how you send me the results by email.  Very handy."  She put all the lab orders into the computer and told me, "Please take a seat and the tech will call you."  "Do I need to pay first?"  "No.  It's on the house in appreciation for all of the patients you send us!"  "Wow.  Thanks!"  my first kick-back! I think to myself.  

Later today, Mia needed her foot Xrayed.  I doubted she had anything, but after 10 days of a sore 5th metatarsal base, I was starting to worry about a Jones Fracture or stress fracture.  We got the normal Xray in about 10 minutes after walking into the room.  How much?  $7.  Mia didn't believe me when I told her how much it would cost in the US.

My lab was all fine btw.

Today was Day 1 of the Christ Community work team here in Peru.  They are helping build a desperately-needed bath complex with 12 showers, and 8 toilets at our camp about 1 hour outside of Arequipa.  At times we have over 200 people at camp using one bath complex and the lines can be long!  Every year we have bigger and bigger groups wanting to use the camp.  

I am so proud of the team as they are such hard workers.  Each of the guys make me look like a wimp!  I think the Peruvian foreman is amazed at how much they got done on the first day.  (We ran out of some materials)  A huge pile of heavy rocks was converted into the entire foundation of the complex in one day.  The camp directors have warned me they need to slow down or they will get sick, but I've pointed out that several are construction workers, one just got out of the army and they come from Nebraska where they are enjoying 97-degree heat!  I think they'll be just fine, though the hardest part might be the cold showers!

Missionary kids say things that you wouldn't hear at Christ Community Church in Omaha.  For example, tonight as we drove up to church, Sarah exclaimed despairingly, "Rats! They don't have a roof on the church yet!"  When you live in a desert you can get away without having a roof.  Since it was Father's Day, the pastor had all of the wives stand up and say why they were thankful for their husbands and give them a present (I haven't seen CCC do that either!  What's with that?).  And then kiss them.  Scandalous!  

Though, by far the funniest missionary kid line was from Ben when he was probably 6 or 7 watching a cartoon in which the city health inspector was coming to inspect the local bar and the bartender and patrons hurriedly cleaned up the place and one patron hid a rat in his mouth.  Ben laughed, "Look!  He's eating a rat that's not even cooked!"

In April I received an invitation to speak at the Lima Christian Missionary Alliance churches' missions week.  "We want you to speak on resistance to the Gospel in Africa."  "Despite having been in Africa twice, I don't really know much on this subject," I replied in a Mosiac "Why me?" fashion.  "But you know lots of missionaries in Africa that you can ask and present what they say!"  Gathering the information has been enlightening and a lot of work, and I just finished my powerpoint presentations today.  It's interesting how much of what I've read applies to Peru as well.   I go to Lima tomorrow and give my presentations on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.

Despite giving up a lucrative career in the USA so that I wouldn't have to wear a suit, I had to break down and buy one for this event.  I think it is the third one I've bought so far in my life.  Sarah pointed out that I've bought as many suits as I've run marathons.  I had one tailor-made here in Arequipa for about $80.  I'll have to keep running or it won't fit me soon!  Maybe one shouldn't get fit for a suit right after running a marathon?

Please pray that I can encourage Peruvians to heed God's call to be missionaries, if He is calling them to serve Him in Africa.

Allen & Amy