Today I Watched a Tonsillectomy...

Sunday morning started out with group devotions at 7:00am. Right after, we hopped in our vans and headed to the village of Chunox (pronounced "Shinooks"). On our way we had to cross 2 rivers and they didn't have bridges! They have a "ferry" system that you drive onto and then "crank" yourself across the river. What an experience. We each got a turn to crank. You can see the pictures. It was fun. Our van died during one of the ferry trips and we had to be towed 2 miles to the village. Thanks to a messed up fuel pump. One of the men on this trip is "Tom Gill" of Tom Gill Chevrolet. He helped us figure out what was wrong but since there are no CarX, or other repair shops handy, we had to bring a mechanic all the way from Corozal City which is at best an hour away. The roads here make the orange barrels of cincy seem like no big deal. Potholes are at least 1 foot deep and sometimes more like 2 or 3. They are not every once in awhile, they make up most of the road. It's quite a bumpy ride. Throw in the random animals wandering, random people wandering, and the sugar cane trucks and you can imagine how crazy it is.

The building we were in today was very small and cramped. There are so many young moms here. A lot of girls are babies themselves and they are carrying around babies of there own. I helped the pharmacy people today. We give vitamins to both adults and children as well as worm medicine because that is a huge problem here.

At lunch time I left with a small group and we went to see the screen team in action. They make screens for the local village people at no cost because Malaria is so prevalent here. They are so gracious for these screens.

We then headed to Orange Walk Hospital. Wow is all I have to say. I will never complain about sitting in an ER waiting room again. The conditions are more than deplorable. People just lay on benches in the hallways and wait to be seen. There is a terrible outbreak of scabies right now. We have a Dermatologist here this year and I got to see some of his patients. They have huge open wounds all over them. Children are just pulling at their skin to try to get some relief. People are coming all the way from Belize City to see the Docs and to get some relief.

So....Dr. Ric offered to let me come into the operating room. There are not really any regulations here about that sort of thing. The operating rooms are not sterile environments. I got to literally stand over his shoulder and look into a girl's throat while he removed her tonsils. The operation took about 15 minutes. After about 10 I almost passed out. I have decided I am certainly not cut out to be a surgical nurse! But I am thankful to have had the opportunity!

On the way home, we stopped at a local church that our Ambassador "Raphael" attends. The roof was stripped during the hurricane last fall. Our construction team replaced the roof and the congregation was there today painting the building and giving it a good clean up. I got to play football with some children who lived next door to the church. They are so beautiful.

Something I hadn't anticipated was the fact that I am a rare sight here in Belize. It's not often that they see blond, American people. Everyone stares. It made me realize how I must stare at people sometimes who look different.

Quote from the day:
"Turn left at the horse" - quoted from Felipe who was giving us directions.

Love to you ALL!!!
Chelisa