Hump day!!!

Our day starts with breakfast at 7 and we return to the hotel at 7 pm. We have a devotional and testimony from each team member after we eat thenhead to our rooms around 9 pm. As always we had a good lunch today, the ladies feed the team members, kids and patients each day which is rice and beans, which is delicious and greatly needed to help us get through our busy days. Today is the first day it has not rained as this is the rainy season, it is raining tonight. Today we want you to get to know the Ngabe as we have. There are several reservations or (comarca) which is divided by 9 provinces. The clinic is at the base of the mountain. Many walk 2 1/2 to 3 hours to see the doctors. Some are sick, and others come to get vitamins, parasite meds, or creme for fungus (athletes feet) as there is no local pharmacy. The clinic is open about every 3 months depending on how many groups of Dr's they can get to come. As we have about 17 on our team this trip and some of us need translators, we pick up local Panamanian volunteers along the way as well to help translate to the drs. While the overall conditions continue to improve since this particular team started coming 10 years ago there are still needs for the Ngabe. The smallest little things they enjoy are a smile, providing their needs for the day, and helping them finacially by purchasing their homemade goods. Today we had more people than the past two days. There was a total of 86 patients today. We were unable to see all that were waiting and they will have to return tomorrow to be seen. Any serious illness or very sick get to be seen first. The childrens room was overflowing. At one point we counted 47 kids inside and about 18 outside playing soccer. This is not counting the children who are too shy to come in. God gives us guidance each day and we feel blessed by the opportunity to help them with their journey.