Hello, friends!!! How's everyone feeling on this beautiful Sunday? The Marquette gang has been up to quite a bit since the last post and we thank you for your patience in waiting for a new update! As more people join us to live in the parish, our wifi becomes less and less. It's a beautiful carousel!
On Friday morning Stef and I spent a few hours in the Pro-Life Clinic with the Midwife Cecilia and had such an adventurous day!! There were all sorts of women coming in for care and we even got to do our first vaginal exam. Here's Stef prepping the speculum!
I've noticed that as we get more and more comfortable with our surroundings and being in Piura, the photos become less and less. Hopefully you find words exciting too!
Anna, Gen, Meghan, and Kerry spent Friday morning at the Nursing Home. Gen and Meghan put on a show for the elders and they loved it!!! I have only heard good things about the show and I'm sure the elders are looking forward to their next visit.
I don't have any other reports from Friday morning except that in the OB clinic, Asmita, Sarah and Chris saw a birth and the baby had an insane cephalohematoma. They're harmless and the baby will be fine, but Asmita and Sarah reported that it was such a fascinating experience to witness such a different birth outcome than we've been used to.
Friday afternoon, since we are here for school, we had class and discussed the expectations for our upcoming papers and presentations. It's all fun and games until the words "paper" and "project" are thrown around! :) Friday evening was usual around here...we went to mass, ate dinner, and laughed around the table until it was time to snooze!
Saturday morning we were up early again for morning clinicals. I went with Dr. Weiss and Anna to visit a few homes. It still blows my mind how excited the people are when we enter their homes to care for their ill mothers, fathers, grandparents, etc. The majority of our home visits are to see home-bound or bed-bound patients and they are generally quite old. Between two of the homes we had to take a Moto to a new neighboorhood and we piled four of us inside! It was quite a cozy fit. Here's Dr. Weiss, me, Anna, and our guide Andrea trying to take a selfie. Andrea was sitting on Anna's lap- ha!!
Saturday after lunch we got to go visit the men at the Vida Nueva center, the place for recovering addicts. We played an awesome game of soccer, men v. women, and you bet the women won 6-4!!!! We had way too much fun and it felt so nice to be outside playing soccer with Peruvians! It was a little tough to get used to the court seeing as we were playing on a cement basketball court. The ball moved so fast and there wasn't nearly as much space as we were accustomed to, but it worked out in our favor in the long-run! :)
Before the game started! (Americans L to R: Tobin, Kerry, Alex, Sarah, Anna, Asmita, Meghan, Lauren, Stef)
This weekend is the celebration of Corpus Christi in the Catholic Church, so last night we attended mass at the Basilica Cathedral of Piura a few blocks from the parish in which we're living. It was a packed house and mass was led by the Bishop. The church was gorgeous but we were all a bit relieved when mass ended. It almost felt like an Easter Vigil in regards to how long we were sitting and kneeling, plus understanding very little makes it extremely difficult to stay alert.
Today we have the entire day off to relax, catch up on homework, sleep, play games, exercise, read, lounge, etc. etc. etc. It's been lovely thus far!!! We are over-the-moon thankful for a day of rest and to recover a bit before another thrilling week sneaks up on us tomorrow morning! Thank you for your continued prayers and support as we journey through this bountiful excursion. We are so blessed and grateful for the opportunities we're presented with each day!
Sending you all our love and laughter,
Alex & the gang
PS: in addition to the three guard dogs that hang out in the parish, we also have adopted the stray cat that cleans up our kitchen scraps. Her name is Carlotta and she's so scrawny and little that it amazes me how she survives, but she's such a sweet little thing! The majority of us have come to appreciate her, but there are still a few that she hasn't won over...(*cough* Tobin and Stef *cough*)
The little mice-catching, scrap-eating killer in all her glory!
Before signing out, I'd also like to wish my pretty mama a super, joyful HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I wish you could be here having fun with us, but I'm sure you'll have plenty of fun on your own! Can't wait to celebrate you on my next visit home!! xoxoxoxoxo
Hi, Alex ~ your posts are always worth waiting for, and today was no exception. You are certainly giving me an education on the variety of medical "adventures" you are experiencing. I am enjoying both your photos and your words! However, I am so grateful for "google," as some of the words you use are so long, and almost unpronounceable. As a youngster, you learned the Three R's ~ now to reality of the Three P's ~ Projects, Papers, and Presentations. You have been exposed to, and accomplished, so much in the short period of time you have been in Peru. Good for you. You make your family proud. You and The Gang are in my prayers for your continuing good work in Peru. Love, Grammy
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