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.

Many patients and organization

Tuesday June 5, 2012- This was a day spent at the Colegio and MMI PT clinic. Janie and Paula  again helped out in the classrooms and the rest of the team treated patients in the clinic. During the day, when anyone had free time, we would go upstairs to the supply room (see pictures) to organize and clean. We are definitely making progress there. 

Back In Arequipa

Monday June 4, 2012- Today, the team divided up and served at two different schools. Janie and Paula stayed at the Colegio and offered assistance and ideas to the teachers at the school for the blind (sorry we didn't get any pictures). Bev, Leticia, Jodee, Sarah, and Freddy (our translator) went to a different school to evaluate children for equipment and treatment needs. We were able to see seven children with varying diagnoses and functional abilities.  In the afternoon and evening we explored the downtown of Arequipa a little more. We toured the Museum at Saint Augistine University where they have many artifacts and "Juanita" a frozen Inca girl from nearby volcanoes.  Overall, it was a great day. We are so thankful for the opportunities to serve. We are also thankful for a healthy team that is having a great time together. 

Church Day

June 3. Today we attended church in Juliaca with the Lopez family-Percy, Vionica, Brisa, and Cielo. Percy is the pastor and the church was very full. Soon, they are hoping to find a new building because they have outgrown their current facility. It was great to be able to serve there this weekend.  After church, we took the long bus ride back to Arequipa and prepared for a busy week to come. 

Vendors at the market in Puno.

Jodee, Leticia, Sarah, Freddy, and Bev with the volcanoe "Misti" in the background.
This is taken at the school that they served at on Monday. 

Cathedral tower in downtown Arequipa. 

The little girl is Brisa and Sarah is helping her get her gloves on for the parade on Sunday morning.

Leticia working with a little boy wiht Athetoid CP at a school in Areqipa.
Notice the homemade "argo" walker. 

Bev, Paula, Sarah, Janie, Brisa, Cielo, and Vionica stuffed in the back of
a taxi in Juliaca. This not uncommon for us here. 

Bev and Jodee working at the MMI office. 

Freddy, Leonarda, Sarah, and Bev at the MMI PT clinic.
We evaluated Leonarda for complications from an ankle fracture.
She was very thankful and very sweet. 

Leticia working with a Claudia who was casted for constraint induced therapy
for her right arm. We are hoping that Claudia adapts well to this intense intervention. 

A "before" picture of the supply room that we have high hopes of getting very organized.
We hope to display an "after" picture by the end of the week. 

Jodee and Sarah casting Carol who has spina bifida. The cast-molds
will be used to make custom orthotics to improve her ambulation
and function. 

Sarah working with a little girl with "Soto syndrome." 

Bev, Sarah, Leticia blogging =)

Leticia with Claudia. 

Clinic, school, cultural excursion

 Friday June 1, 2012- Today, we ran a clinic at a church in Juliaca. Overall, the clinic was a success. We evaluated and treated a wide range of diagnoses inlcuding ankle sprains, spina bifida, cerebral palsy and many more. Many were mearsured for wheelchairs and placed on a waiting list to recieve such wheelchairs when available. Pray that wheelchairs will be discovered that will meet the needs of these people.

There were two men with paraplegia who came in with no wheelchair cushions. We had brought three, not knowing what the needs would be. We were excited to be able to adjust the wheelchair cushions we had in order to make a perfect fit for both of these men. We felt that God had His hand in providing so specifically  for these men in need. The pictures to the left and right are the gentlemen we were able to help.

Leticia and Bev got to go on a home visit at the end of the clinic day that was the home visit of a lifetime.  There is so much that can be said about it, but we will have to tell you more in person.  But basically we met a young man who had a complete C-7 quadriplegia who was being cared for in an extremely small home by his valiant family who knew almost nothing about what they could do for rehabilitation.  They were commited to helping him, but were overwhelmed with the extent of his problems.  We had a chance to give them some basic training in spinal cord rehab and also try to help them understand the extent of his disability.  We were able to ´pray with and for them all and tried to encourage them to turn to our Heavenly Father for strength.

 Also on Friday, Janie visited a local school and was able to meet many of the children and teachers. She taught a lesson on nutrition and was able to pass on valuable teaching techniques. Paula arrived on Friday as well, and was able to translate (along with Leticia) at the school.



Saturday June 2, 2012- Today, we went to Puno and toured the floating islands of Lake Titicaca. We learned a lot about the Uros people who live on the islands. The islands are made of reeds that float.  To the left is a reed boat amidst the native reeds. The other picture shows us taking a "taxi" ride in a traditional reed boat. Our entire trip to Puno, including taxis, bus rides, food, and boat rides cost about 10 dollars per person...not too bad. Overall, it was very educational and enlightening to try and understand the lifestyle and culture of a very unique people. 

All of us continue to feel robust and healthy and are loving the food.  Tomorrow we will attend Luz de Gracia Independent Baptist Church, then travel back to Arequipa.  Please pray for us as we we prepare to minister in Arequipa next week.

Finally, some pictures!

All of our stuff upon arrival in Arequipa

Waiting for the bus to Juliaca

Start of the clinic in Juliaca

Streets of Juliaca

Internet is a bit unreliable, but just know that we are all doing well.  These are some representative pictures from the trip thus far.  The clinic in Juliaca and the ministry at the local school are in progress as I type. And we just got word that Paula, our last team member, has arrived in Juliaca.  So the team is complete.  I will try to update you all again tonight or tomorrow morning.  Chao!