the El Salvador trip was this one.
A woman came to the clinic who had a broken wrist.
She left out the fact that it had actually been
broken for fifteen days. The doctor attempted to
set it which was very painful. It was then that
she revealed how long ago the break had occurred.
The pain was so severe that she actually passed out.
The entire available team rallied around her and
did whatever they could to help. It became necessary
to splint her arm but the team had no splints.
After some discussion it was decided that some bamboo
from the jungle could be cut to fit. So Mikey and the
Team Leader, Alan, headed out to find some.
After finding a perfect piece they cut it in
half to fit snugly around her arm.
Next they realized they needed something to
hold her arm up so that it wouldn't move
too much and to reduce swelling.
There were no slings either.
So, Mikey suggested they cut off the bottom
of his shirt.
Done!
At this point someone ran over to the table where Mom was
dispensing medications and told her she should come and see
what her Grandson had done. I think, probably, this concerned
Mom until she got there and understood what had happened.
While Mikey did not see this as a big deal, at all, the
others were amazed at his willingness to give up a part of
his own shirt. They wanted pictures taken with him.
Roni, in this photo, was the only person on the team
that Mom knew before they went. She is a sister-in-law
to my Auntie N.
This dear woman has been a missionary for fifty
years or more. She is eighty wonderful years young.
This shirt has now been signed by the entire mission team and
is a perfect keepsake. Mom was looking for a signature of a
man named Jerry and finally found it...hiding under the armpit.
What a funny and great group.
Mom and Mikey were blessed to travel and work with these wonderful people.
A little while later this dear woman...now in the sling was
waiting to receive her medications and Mom happened to catch
Mikey behind her when he brought another prescription to be
filled. He has no idea Mom is taking his picture.
Check out the sweet aprons that all of the older ladies
wear over there. My Mom was so taken with them.
In all of the poverty and sickness, the detail and time
invested in these aprons made a huge statement about
femininity and care.
