We are spending the evening shopping in Vijayawada after a wonderful day at the clinic. Most are still shopping. John N., Andrea and I found an "internet cafe" (a nice way to say a really hot room with no air movement and about 15 computers in cramped compartments). So here is a quick update.
Saturday we made the trip from Hyderabad to Chiluvuru. About a 6 to 6 and a half hour drive. They are doing some amazing road improvements, which made for much easier travel part of the way, the regular chaotic travel part of the way, and some additional challenges of construction zones with their constant "diversions" (that is what the sign read when we were direted off the side of the road or over onto to the other side to share the space with oncoming traffic.
We got settled into our spaces divided between the eye clinic (Jean, Kara, Angela, Logan, Chelley, Rachel, Grace and Anna) and the original building (John, Subbarao, our van driver and me). We took a tour of the facilities and got oriented to the layout and the way the various systems (electric, plumbing, locks, etc) all worked (or didn't in some cases).
Sunday morning we walked the village and visited a few homes. Then went to mass at the Roman Catholic church. Andrea was pleased to join in sharing communion with her Catholic sisters and brothers in India. After a brief visit with the priest, we walked to Yacabu's house... one of the very significant people in my life and in the history of the clinic.
In the afternoon we walked through the fields to see the various crops and stopped to see the Muslim cemetery and the Hindu cremation grounds. John played a little cricket with a few of the local boys.
In the evening we went to the church that worship at the clinic. The service included two sermons, one from Subbarao and one from me, lots of energetic singing in Telegu (we just clapped along) and some visiting aftward.
Today we hit the clinic. There were 56 patients this morning in the outpatient clinic and 21 in the eye clinic. Everyone was in a rotation to get a chance to observe and participate in the various aspects of the clinic... in the exam room with the doctors, doing the initial check in and blood pressures, observing in the lab and pharmacy and at the eye clinic as well.
Tomorrow will include more of the same with the added opportunities to observe and assist in cataract surgeries and at the dental clinic.
Everyone is doing well, having fun, learning, growing, laughing... experiencing the image of God in the people around us and seeking show the love of Christ to all we meet.
A few pictures will follow.
John
PS Internet access in the village is not working out. So we will only be able to update this every two or three days.
Sounds like things are going well. I remember the ambiance of the "internet cafes" :-).
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