More thanks, and update.

I just got another group of cards, so I figure I'd let you know that I got them. I got the Valdivias, Stigalls, a couple days ago I recieved one from the Bailes and the McRaes, I also got some more from you mom. I hope I'm not forgetting anyone. Anyway thanks a bunch. It's always nice to get mail down here, and I guess I'll get to thank you guys in person in about 4 weeks. Those first 6 really went by fast.

Update on Gerson.
We went to Trujillo doctor yesterday and they told us he has some virus that is the gate way virus to whooping cough. They gave him some antibiotics(which didn't make since to me if they said it was a virus) and a couple other types of medication. As well as prescribed this protien vitamin mix that he needs to drink for awhile. They also said its contaigous so they put a lot of the other kids in the orphanage on some antibiotics that is suppose to keep it from spreading. All this medicine and protein mix is getting really expensive. The doctor said that him throwing up is nothing to worry about unless it starts to turn bloody, also he could possibly have this cough for 4-6 months.

Orphanage Tour

Here is a tour of the orphanage. It's pretty quick, but thats because I don't have a high quality video camera with me, and it would take about 10 hours to upload it to the website if it were longer. I hope you like it. Another prayer request for Gerson. He went to the doctor last week who told him that he had asthma, but for the past week he has been having really terrible coughing fits where he coughs and throws up at the same time, it usually happens about an hour or so after he eats, and he says his stomach is never upset. I've witnessed it several times and it doesn't seem like asthma to me. It happend again today while he was in my house and I went and got Avis so she could see it. She agreed that we need to take him to another doctor and get a second opionion.

July 10th

Today was a good day. I taught P.E. in the morning, and English in the afternoon. At lunch time I had forgotten that it was my birthday, but I was quickly reminded when I walked into the lunch room and all the kids stood up and sang happy birthday. After school I knew the kids were throwing a surprise party for me, so I waited awhile until I headed over there so they could get organized. When I went over there at 4:15 and knocked on the door the house mom said that I couldn’t come in for another 10 minutes. I guess I should’ve waited longer. I was sitting downstairs working on the computer and the house mom told me that I was allowed to come into the house now, so I walked upstairs and when I went inside all the kids were sitting in a big square in the main room. On the count of three they all said “SORPRESA!” haha… I think I did a great job of acting surprised. The fiesta they threw for me had cookies, cake, purple corn juice and some other stuff I that I hadn’t ever eaten before but was pretty good, and I’m not sure I could describe it if I tried. The kids danced and played games for about an hour then it was time for cake. Gerson couldn’t have any because earlier he started dry heaving and coughing when he was eating sweets. I think it is something to do with the asthma the doctor diagnosed him with. But as they were passing the cake around he looked at me and said, “I want to eat” after he said that, there was no way I could eat cake in front of him so I said, “how come… real men don’t eat cake” then I put my piece they had given me on the counter for someone else to eat. Overall I’d say it was probably one of the best birthday parties I have ever had.

After cake it was time to leave and the regular routine of homework began. I left to go back and eat with the rest of the gringos because Thursday is missionary night, so we all get together and eat American food made by one of us. Avis made some beef patties in this ridiculously good gravy that we ate on top of mashed potatoes. For desert Avis made pineapple upside down cake with some candles in it for my birthday. That was pretty delicious too. It was a great day.

God the Provider

So like I said in the earlier post I was feeling sick the last couple days. Last night I woke up sweating and not feeling good at all, so I just started praying and said God, I don’t really know what to do here, but I know that you can heal me. The day before I had told the boys that I would come get them and come back to my house and eat some PB and J sandwiches… so I was on my way over there when I heard the loud music blasting out of the community center next door. I asked Carlos what was going on, and he said that they were giving away free medicine today. There were doctors and everything providing free health care and medicine compliments of the Pacasmayo Concrete plant. Talk about awesome corporate responsibility. I’m positive there was at least $50,000 of medicine there. They set up shop in the poorest part of Pacasmayo which happens to be right where I’m living, and their doors are open to anyone who walks in, absolutely no cost. I weighed in, answered some questions about myself, then waited in line to be seen by the doctor. While I was waiting in line the lady that was on the microphone yelling out peoples names and telling everyone what was going on asked me to tell everyone what was going on in English. I said why not so I got on the loudspeaker and told everyone that thanks to the Pacasmayo concrete plant there was free medicine to everyone today… it was just for the novelty of it because no one within a mile radius would have been able to understand English. Anyway it was my turn and I sat down and the doctor asked me what was going on, so I told him, and he listened to me breath with his stethoscope then looked down my throat and wrote down the prescription and I walked over to the prescription table and picked up my antibiotics. As I was walking out, Isabel a lady who works at the school and was helping me through the process told me that one of the nurses said she wanted to go back the U.S. with me and when I looked over at her she gave me a little wink and a smile…haha.

I’ve had 10 doses so far and I’ve started to feel better already, at the rate that he told me to take the medicine I should be done with all of it by Tuesday night. Just to be cautious I looked up the medication online and made sure that I wouldn’t have any problems taking it. I also looked up the price and I think its about $100 worth…Hallelujah