Home now

We are home now!  Fortunately, the return flights were not as exciting compared to the travel down.  We are thankful that everyone is safe and healthy.

Here are some quick highlights of the last days.

Day 4 and 5 of the clinic was relocated to a different city.  We worked in a community center seeing patients with a variety of diagnoses.  Carrie worked with pediatric patients.  Stephanie worked with casting and wheelchair adjustments.  Dan worked with neuro patients including post-polio and spinal cord injury.

We then flew to Cusco, Peru and took a beautiful train ride to the small town of Aguas Calientes, just outside of Machu Picchu.  The next morning we visited the historical site of Machu Picchu where Dan and Dr. Schoeneberg hiked to the top of Machu Picchu Mountain. 

Being on top of the mountain and looking down on the beautiful landscape, Dan said, “It’s so peaceful up here.”  It was serene, magnificent, and captivating.  We saw the beauty of God’s creation and were reminded that with all its beauty, it was still in a fallen world.  The awe and wonder is not in the created, but in the Creator.

Thank you for all your prayers.  We have been blessed by this opportunity that the Lord has given us to serve.  We thank God for the many blessings of smiles, tears and prayers. 

To God be the glory.

The team is home!

We just got word that the team has landed in good old Springfield, MO.  All are safe and sound, although exhausted.  A final summery post from the team will be coming soon.

More photos from the Week

First View of Lima

Lima Airport - Where's Dan???

Gals' Room

Dan's Room

Shalom Clinic

Wheelchair supply room

More supplies



And more...



The clinic

View from the rooftop of Shalom

Larco Mar Shopping Center

Quinoa with Cheese - YUUUM!

Carrie with a client

Dan being creative

Stephanie adapting a wheelchair

A happy result

More adapting

She loves it!

Our lady at the nursing home

11/20-21/12

                Day 2 and 3 at the Shalom clinic exceeded our expectations.  The Lord continues to work and move in all of our lives.  Multiple times through the day, we all mentioned stopping to reflect on the Lord and the goodness of our God.  We give thanks to the Lord for the many blessings we have and the opportunity to bless others through our small efforts. 

                All of us started the day at the Shalom clinic in the morning.  At noon, Carrie left with another team member to go to Ica, Peru to deliver wheelchairs.  These are the highlights of our experiences.

Stephanie:  “I fit a lady who had spina bifida for a wheelchair.  She had a chair that did not work for her for 5 years and she was very uncomfortable.  She volunteers with making crafts with other disabled individuals in order to get them out and into the community.  When she sat in her wheelchair for the first time, she began crying and said that it will assist her in her efforts to serve individuals with disabilities.  She prayed for us and we prayed over her at the end of the treatment session.  I also helped cast a few of the pediatric patients with clubfoot to make custom braces.  On these two days, the most important thing that stood out to me was that I thought I was going to come here to bless others, but it’s the people here who have blessed me.  The smiles and gratitude from the patients is a blessing in itself.  It feels like they are doing just as much for me as I am doing for them.”

Dan:  “We had a 92 y/o lady come in with debility, arthritis, and osteoporosis of the right knee.  We fitted her to a wheelchair, gave her a walker and new shoes, all which she desperately needed.  The wheelchair she was using previously was an old rusty wheelchair that barely functioned.  The velcro straps on her ragged shoes were so far worn down, they did not fasten her shoe.  She was very appreciative for everything, became overwhelmed with emotion and prayed blessings over us.  Another highlight was seeing a 9 year old boy with cerebral palsy.  We had him on the mat to see what he could do.  He was unable to roll on his own.  When placed on his stomach, all he could do was pick up his head and reach with his hands.  We fitted him to a pediatric wheelchair, but it required multiple adjustments to meet his needs.  Due to his diagnosis, he would cross his legs or scissors, and required a pummel to go in between his legs to prevent the scissoring.  Being as resourceful as possible, we used some neck and arm supports with wheelchair straps and created for him a working pummel. “

Carrie:  “We traveled to Ica, Peru by train.  When we got there, we stayed the night with a preacher.  At the clinic the next morning, we fitted 6 wheelchairs in the first hour including sawing off parts and adjustments.  One of the patients had polio, she prayed over us and thanked us for what we were doing for her.  There was another older man with ALS who received his first wheelchair.  The two of them sat in the corner examining every part of the wheelchair.  They were talking and joking about racing each other in their new wheelchairs.  We also went on a home visit.  The home was very run down with chickens running throughout the home.  There were 2 sisters with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.  With the arthritis being so progressive, both sisters just laid on a mattress with significant pain being unable to move.  It was sad to see.  Due to the fact that we could not get them into their wheelchair, we were unable to issue and leave the wheelchair.  I prayed that God would relieve their pain just a little so that she could get a chair.  It was a reminder to me that it is not what I want them to do, but it is God’s ultimate picture and not mine.  We left that night to meet up with the Team again.

                On Wednesday evening, Carrie, Dan and Dr. Schoeneberg had the opportunity to do some sightseeing in Lima, Peru. 

We thank you for your continued prayers.

  

11/18-19/12

               Once we landed in Lima at 5:30 am, we exited the plane down a steep set of stairs and boarded a random bus to ship us off to somewhere.  Turns out the bus took us to baggage claim where we waited about an hour in the midst of a massive crowd to pick up our luggage and wheelchairs.  Next stop was Customs where Stephanie was the only one out of the four of us did not get “red lighted”.  Ironically, she was the only one without a wheelchair.  Random?  I don’t think so. 

Two hours after landing, we finally make it out of the airport.  We meet up with Willy, our designated driver for the week from Medical Mission International.  Then it was time to load up all the supplies on the van.  All of a sudden from around the corner, 3 Peruvians aggressively and insistently offered to help with our luggage.  Half way through unloading, one of the individuals asked for a tip and states it would be for all three of the helpers.  We gave him a generous tip and next thing you know… he’s running away.  Needless to say, we were robbed upon our first Peruvian interaction.  The remaining two gentlemen worked frantically to load the rest of the equipment and suitcases.  When they were finished, they looked at Dan for a tip and he tells them, “I gave the tip to your buddy.  Go talk to him.”  The Peruvian man abruptly replied, “Yo no conozco,” which means, “I don’t know him.”  We quickly learned that we were in a completely different culture with a different mentality. 



View from Casa de Retiros (see the cross?)



                FINALLY, we arrived at Casa de Retiros.  We meet Jodee our coordinator for the week and a few other volunteers.  We all desperately needed a shower and nap.  After twenty four hours of straight traveling, we had about 2 hours to unpack and settle in our rooms.  Then we took a 30 minute drive to get to the clinic, Shalom Iglesia Anglicana del Peru.  When we arrived, Dan barged in through the front door not knowing there was a church service going on.  Opps!  Dan quietly rolled his 50 lb gigantic green suitcase to the front row attempting to be discreet.  Meanwhile, he was the tallest person in the room. 

                After service, we set up the clinic familiarizing ourselves with the building, surroundings, equipment and available resources.  A few hours later, we miraculously returned to our housing despite dodging at least 15 car accidents.  (No one follows any kind of traffic laws in Peru.  Proceed with caution.)  We knew if we went to sleep, we would not wake up for dinner.  Instead of napping, we decided to visit a beautiful shopping mall along the ocean called Larco Mar.  We returned to the housing where we had quinoa for dinner, a high protein grain.  It was delicious!  After dinner, we frantically wrote our first blog before falling into a deep sleep.

CLINIC DAY 1

                The first day of volunteering at Shalom was wonderful.  We saw a variety of cases including pediatric, neurological, orthopedic and geriatric.  Stephanie worked with a 6 year old boy with cerebral palsy and hydrocephaly.  She fitted him to a pediatric wheelchair with all the proper measurements.  He was so excited about the wheelchair; he started crying when it was time to leave in the car.  He wanted to drive his first wheelchair home.  Carrie assisted with fitting ankle foot orthotics to the pediatric patients.  She worked specifically with on boy having bilateral knee contractures.  Dan worked with a lady with visible scoliosis, her X-rays revealed a wedge fracture in her lumbar (L1) vertebrae as well.  She was educated on proper lifting techniques, core strengthening and fitted with a back support, which made her feel “skinny”.  Dan also engineered a heel lift with the use of crazy glue and a pocket knife.  It’s amazing what you can do with such limited resources. 

                 In addition, Carrie, Dan and Dr. Schoeneberg traveled to a nursing home in the town of Merra Flores to educate the caregivers on proper transfers for a blind elderly lady with Alzheimer’s and a dynamic hip screw.  She unfortunately has been lying on her back for the past month and has developed Stage 1 and 2 pressure ulcers on her bilateral heels, left calf, back and bottom as well as contractures to her plantarflexors (ankle), quadriceps (knee) and hip extensors (hip).  The staff and caregiver were educated on precautions, prevention, positioning, transfers and recommendation of podus boots.  This ended the clinic experience of Day 1.

                We spent our evening shopping at The Indian Market for souvenirs.  Dan played the role of the “Body Guard Genie” as a Peruvian guy approached the group in an odd manner.  The group was thankful he was there.  We returned to our rooms safe and sound.  Stay tuned for Day 2.

                Please continue to pray for all the individuals we will encounter, that we will be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and the many needs before us.  That we see each individual in through the eyes of Christ.  We hope to exemplify the love of Christ and minister to the physical and spiritual needs.  Wheelchairs and orthotics are wonderful, but eternal life and healing can only come through faith, from faith to faith.  Thank you for the support, we are uplifted and strengthened by your thoughts and prayers







11/17-18/12 From the Team

                The packing party went well.  We learned how to plastic wrap wheelchairs and crutches/walkers together.  Somehow we managed to load the luggage and wheelchairs into one truck.  All was ready to go for our three connecting flights on Saturday.  Little did we know… we were in for a great surprise.

                First, Dr. Schoeneberg did not receive her boarding pass for the international flight to Peru without any explanation given.  We did not think much of it at the time, because they told us we could get the boarding pass in Miami.  Going through security, Carrie was pull aside by TSA for “the world’s cheapest massage.”  We arrived safely in Dallas where we relaxed and played cards on our makeshift table.  The plot thickened (Dun, dun, dunnn…) when Dr. Schoeneberg was informed that the flight to Peru was full and that she would have to check if a seat was available in Miami.  Our one hour layover went by quickly and we boarded the plane headed to Miami.  Unfortunately, we sat on the plane for 30 minutes due an overhead compartment not closing.  At that time, the flight attendant became “a mechanic” due to his ability to duct tape the overhead compartment closed.

                We arrived in Miami with only 50 minutes to catch our international flight.  Luckily for us, we got in our cardio for the day having to run through the entire airport from Concourse D to Concourse J (see picture, no really, look at the picture).  Once we finally got there, after 25 minutes of “booking it”, we still had to get the boarding pass.  LONG WAIT IN LINE.  After fighting to the ticket counter, Dr. Schoeneberg finally received her boarding pass.  Then it was onto security.  LONG WAIT IN LINE.  Traveling tip: Don’t ever pack a white powdery substance… also known as bisquick... especially when traveling to South America.  LONG WAIT IN LINE.  Now onto our second bout of cardio, we sprinted to Gate J12 with only 9 minutes until departure.  We arrive at the gate with 5 minutes to go ecstatic seeing the plane still docked.  With the finish line in sight, we hear the dreaded words from “The Gate Keeper” in a Darth Vader voice, “Too late, the door is already closed.  The next flight out to Peru is in 7 hours.” 

With breakfast being our last meal, hunger had set in… if only we had bisquick.  With our body in survival mode, the hunt for food began.  The hunt did not last very long as we stopped at the first restaurant we saw, The Caribbean Café.  After a quick 3 minute wait for 3 grilled chicken and steak, something didn’t add up.  How can you cook a chicken in 3 minutes?  After one bite, we decided… you can’t.  

                Five hours after the chicken, we board our plane in destination to Lima, Peru, with an arrival time of 5:30am.  After we board the plane, we waited an hour before it finally took off.  We then realized we were the only ones excited about our personal touch screen entertainment system attached to the back of the seat in front of us.  We fell asleep for 1-2 hours while the feature presentation, Contagion, played to the sounds of fellow passengers coughing. 

                To be continued.  Tune in to find out how this adventure unfolds.

 DISCLAIMER: THIS BLOG WAS WRITTEN ON 4-6 HOURS OF SLEEP OVER A 72 HOUR PERIOD COMBINED BETWEEN 4 PEOPLE.  (WE ARE LAUGHING DILERIOUSLY AT THIS VERY MOMENT, BUT THIS IS THE TRUE STORY.)

On the ground and running

The team arrived safely in Lima this morning after their unplanned overnight flight. Instead of sleeping, they were off and running getting prepared for the clinic and getting acquainted with the amazing city of Lima. Hopefully some pictures and more details will follow soon.

Pray for their health and energy for what God has in store for them this week.

They're Off, and sitting

As of this minute, the team is sitting in the Miami airport. That means they missed their flight out to Lima. So, the next flight will get them there early Sunday morning. Just a little bump in the road for them. At least they are safe and sound. First lesson about missions is "Be flexible."

They're Off!

The Thanksgiving SBU PT Team is officially off to Peru.  So, far, everything is going super smooth.  The team packed an incredible amount of donated supplies at their 3-hour packing party earlier this week.  It is amazing how much stuff they were able to get into their luggage.  They are also taking bundles of donated wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, and canes.  They got it all onboard in Springfield with no questions asked and no problems.  That is a minor miracle!  And so far, all of the flights are on time.  They are scheduled to get to Lima just before midnight tonight.

Everyone please pray that their customs experience in Lima goes with no problems.  Donated items often get blocked at customs, so prayer is needed.  Team members are Dr. Becky Schoeneberg, Carrie Allen, Dan Jennewein, and Stephanie Long.

Chau Peru!

WOW!  Machu Picchu was a picture perfect ending to a fabulous trip!

Wrapping it up

 It has been a great trip. We have said goodbye to Arequipa and the team has parted ways. Leticia and Paula headed home and the rest of us are off to see Machu Pichu. Thank you all for your prayers and support. We looking forward to seeing you soon. Chau!

Friday, Last Awesome Day in Arequipa

Jodee taught an in-service on the Ponseti approach for club foot management to the PT staff at the General Hospital 

Sarah taught the PT staff how to do joint mobilizations

Leticia covered some basics of shoulder rehab with the PTs

In the afternoon we helped out at Cotolengo orphanage for children with disabilities

And Bev made some new friends!!!

Paula and Janie organizing the supply closet.

Misty

Sarah using state of the art equipment at the Hospital we did an inservice at. 

Sarah and Janie doing some shopping.

Leticia explaining all the supplies we donated from the hospital.

Bev on the massive mat table at the Hospital.

Inservice on positional vertigo.

Bev demonstrating the Epley maneuver on Sarah while Leticia translates.

The whole group of PTs with our translator Freddy.

Read the Reeds.

Ulga, 93 years old, after being treated for a sacral wound.

Bev evaluating Jose who hopes to one day walk with a prosthetic leg.

Dilan showing us his standing skills.

Jose Carlos evaulated and treated by Sarah.