My "neighbor" Juan

Our closest "hospital" in Las Varas. Juan is in the first bed, being examined by a doctor. The patient in the next bed is being treated for anaphylaxis from a scorpion sting. The boy looking at the laptop on the left is a child of one of the staff.

One of the things that we struggle with here are needs. Needs are everywhere. Sure, in the larger cities here, life seems almost normal with running water, electricity, internet, but even in large cities there are huge needs. Just to be able to keep our heads on straight, I think we sometimes avoid the needs so that we don't get overwhelmed and try to fix everything. So after doing ministry in Mexico for over 10 years now we have attempted to be selectively compassionate. Sounds lame huh? Well, it is frustrating to see so much need, and not be able to do more, but we are trusting that our focus on equipping pastors will facilitate better growth and health in each community where those pastors minister. Sometimes however, we can't ignore a need that God has clearly put in front of us. The death of Juan Borrayo (last newletter) just a month ago was a reminder to us that life is faster and shorter here. Thus, when our friend Juan (the town painter) fell sick a few weeks ago, we tried to help him with meals, but he never got better. Last Friday, I decided that Juan looked so bad that I should take him to a hospital (above) and so I did. Medicine in Mexico is a la carte for the most part, so if you need a blood test, you have to go to a separate lab across town for the blood test. Fortunately, the results are ready in hours not days like the US, but then you have to run the results back to the doctor. Juan's initial bloodwork (I'll spare you the full details) showed anemia, elevated white blood cells, and severely elevated platelets. The doctor at the first hospital recommended that Juan go to another hospital closer to Puerto Vallarta, so I drove him there. When the doctor at the second hospital saw the results from Juan's bloodtests, he thought that there must have been a mistake at the lab and ordered another round of tests. Unfortunately, these came back even worse: Hemoglobin 7.2, Platelets 1125, WBC 11. The doctor said he wanted to get Juan on a IV, so he wrote out a prescription.

Doctor in San Pancho literally typing out his notes.

Now since they wanted to keep Juan overnight, I went to the pharmacy (below) to buy IV fluids, IV vitamins, a bottle of water, and toilet paper, since the hospital doesn't provide those things. They will feed you, but no water, and no toilet paper.

Local pharmacy located right across the street from the hospital.

So Juan spent a very uncomfortable, sleepless night in the hospital, and I picked him up the next day. Hoping the hospital had given him medicine to thin his blood (they did not), I arrived to find Juan still in pain and with a prescription for antibiotics for an infection and a recommendation that he see an internist, when he gets on the equivalent of Mexican medicare "seguro". With the generous help of some of our donors, I paid the bill and took Juan back to Chacala. Fortunately, since then we have been able to get the paperwork started to help Juan get on "seguro", and hopefully get him to an internist who can properly diagnose his condition. We were able to email his blood tests to a prominent doctor in San Diego who was much more alarmed at Juan's results than folks were here. I think the lack of response by the local doctors is because they are so overwhelmed by people showing up with such difficult situations, and they clearly don't have the same magnitude of resources that we are accustomed to back in the US. As I went to check on Juan today, I was thinking of the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:29 where a man asks Jesus "who is my neighbor?" I know I have neglected many "neighbors" in my life who have been in need, but I'm thankful that in this very small situation we were all able to help our neighbor Juan.  I'll post another update on Juan when we know more.

The Reward for Going to the Bank

Car Wash - Local Style

Here's a local car wash (the best one I've found so far) where we take our car (the white one) to get washed, and bonus, providing you bring the filter and oil, they will change your oil too. The car doesn't look that dirty you say? True enough, but you should see the inside! Now, when we first starting using local services here over 8 years ago, I had the same reaction you might have of how different things are here.  Most things here are built for utility with very little attention to form. So when you come from the land of smooth roads, clean sidewalks, air conditioned businesses with manicured lawns and gardens, your first impression here isn't a good one. Also, I have encountered enough folks here who seem to see dollar signs when they see my face, that I started to become wary of every transaction that I needed to make. Over time, I learned to take notice of details that would result in dependable service. At a car wash, it is subtle things like having a key rack to hang the keys for each car, speakers for the sound system spread apart to provide ambient music (read: not a overly loud ghetto blaster), and chairs for clients to sit in while their car is washed are small things, but indications that they care about their business. This one even had a recycling bin. Big deal you say?  In a country where many folks just toss their trash out the window (even while driving through the middle of town!), a business that voluntarily maintains a recycle bin (there's no $ in it for them) is significant. A complete wash, vacuum and windows cleaned is around $6 USD.  With today's oil change it will be around $10 USD including tip.