Tuesday, June 24, 2008 | | 0 comments

The Mission Team has safely returned from Samaipata.



The Mission Team has safely returned from Samaipata.

Fr. Jacobi left Samaipata on Thursday, Becky and Lisa Mannel left on Friday, the Bolivian Doctors departed on Saturday and the Oklahomans left on Sunday. We traveled from Samaipata to Santa Cruz on Sunday afternoon in preparation for our 11 pm flight to Miami. Of course there was just a little time between the time we arrived at the airport in Santa Cruz until we could check in. So, to take advantage of our time most took taxis into Santa Cruz to Los Tajibos Resort Hotel to have supper. It was such a relaxing evening in the open air restaurant after a bit of a hard journey from Samaipata. The mountain roads are very narrow and, to add just a little excitement, the damp, rainy weather made them just a little slick. Bolivian buses are a bit of a mystery. What they lack in creature comforts they make up for in the skill of the driver. Ours was great and very patient.
The flight to Miami was smooth. We saw the beautiful ribbon of the tangerine sunrise breaking on the horizon as we landed in Miami. Again, never to loose a moment, most of the group made great use of the 5 hour lay over. Breakfast on the outdoor veranda of the beach side Ritz Carlton followed by a stroll along the beach were just what the weary group needed! The mini-trip was a success and the return trip to the airport was made in plenty of time for departure to Dallas. A quick change of planes brought everyone home to Oklahoma City.

But let's back up - the time spent in Samaipata was filled with every joy of helping those less fortunate. The clinic was set up in the hospital and was in good running order by mid-day on Sunday. (Our late arrival in Samaipata on Saturday prohibited the usual Saturday set up.) The hospital was smaller than usual, but every need of our team was met. Our clinic opened at 8 am everyday and closed late in the day, with the last people leaving after 7 pm. We saw our last patients on Thursday. We packed after the clinic closed that day. It is always a mixed feeling of having succeeded in helping some very sweet people and the sadness of knowing that there are so many more left to help.

Every morning we ate breakfast together in the dining area of the "hotel" - really a series of cabanas. The hotel wasn't set up for dinners for 25, but the ladies in charge did a marvelous job. Usually we had scrambled eggs with ham, flat biscuits and, sometimes slices of ham. The team was in place in the hospital by 8am and there were already lines and lines of people. Sr. Marco kept everyone under control in the multiple lines and befriended everyone. The people were taken first to Triage where Christine, Curtis and Pedro patiently asked them where they hurt and who they wanted to see. With triage paper in hand, each patient left to go form yet another line to wait to be seen by the appropriate physician, dentist or eye lady. Greg was the "man about campus", helping all. Daniel, Sonny and Linda kept the medications flowing in an organized manner from the pharmacy. Lauren sweetly aided in the pediatrics area; Lisa C did an amazing job with the lab - and anything else she was asked to do! Dana helped in the OB/GYN area and, at times, with eyes. Pam, Lisa M, Mary and Judi listened intently for the word "clarito" to designate that perfect pair of glasses. Steve, Beverly, Lisa S and Chris gave much needed dental care. Becky was organizer, trouble shooter, and a part of everything that went on. Dominick carefully and patiently complied all the data from all of those triage sheets. And Jefe Rafael, well, he was everywhere, working his magic and keeping everything under control. The Bolivian doctors worked side by side with the Oklahomans to give medical relief in over 2500 consults. Lots and lots of triage papers!) Really remarkable when the weather is taken into consideration. It is winter there and the town is at about the same altitude as Denver. A cold front came through early in the week. It brought temperatures in the 40's and 50's, wind and rain. It broke our hearts to see the lines of people waiting in such miserable conditions. Even though we were pretty cold and damp the hole time - not even the hotel rooms had heat -, we always realized that we had a bus to take us home and that there was food and warm blankets waiting. Many of the Bolivians had walked 3 hours just to make it to the clinic. It was usually near dark by the time they were able to return home - walking 3 more hours in the cold and rain to homes that had less than adequate protection from the weather.

Many, many stories can be told about our trip. Too many to include here. Samaipata was a beautiful place to be both in reference to the incredible flowers in bloom everywhere, and mostly about the beautiful people we served. It was a very successful trip and, with the grace of God we will be able to return to Bolivia next year.

Thank you for the many ways we have been supported financially and through prayer. God bless you one and all.

The Med Mission Team