Days 6 & 7: Las Clínicas

This week began our first experiences working in Mexican health care facilities! Coming into the trip, I was under the impression that we would potentially have the opportunity to practice some nursing skills--insert an IV here and there, take a lot of vital signs. I was definitely wrong! We have been thrown in with full force to practicing nursing skills as though we were in an actual clinical, not a shadowing experience. As someone who likes to plan and prepare, I was at first a little uneasy about doing skills like IVs without having a chance to glance at my book or review my notes; however, I have learned the past two days that hands-on learning is very helpful and in many ways better than the alternative.

On both days, we arrived at the clinic in Santa Barbara first, around 9 am by the time the van made its way through the traffic. The first day we received a tour of the facilities and then were divided up and sent to different departments. Santa Barbara is basically a mini-hospital, complete with two rooms for surgery. I hung out with the nurse in surgery César on the first day in Santa Barbara. Although there was only one patient in recovery from cosmetic eye surgery, I was able to learn a lot about the equipment and procedures in the surgery center. As an added bonus, César let me practice inserting IVs on him! Now that's what I call hands on experience! Unfortunately, I was not able to observe any surgeries, and did not witness much else on the first day at Santa Barbara. On the second day at this clinic, I worked in the ER and inserted my first IV into an actual patient! The high from inserting an IV on the first try is like none other. This was definitely the highlight of my undergraduate career so far! As the morning passed in the ER, we received a few more patients and were able to further practice our nursing skills. We did everything from helping a doctor clean a very deep abscess and administering medication to taking vitals and starting/removing more IVs. 

We then went to the clinic in Santa Rosa. This was located in a more rural area and was much, much smaller than the other clinic. We received a tour of the facility upon arriving and learned a lot of valuable information about the clinic's services. Many of the patients who come are there for specialty consultations or dentistry, although one of the nurses explained that they do see a fair amount of emergencies related to gang violence that is common in the area. Not many patients showed up to Santa Rosa while we were there in the afternoon, so we decided to be productive with our time. Since not everyone had been able to insert an IV on an actual person, we decided to be patients ourselves and insert IVs into one another. Because I have really good veins and don't mind needle pokes, I was a patient for a few members of our group. They all did awesome! I guess when in Mexico...insert IVs into your friends! Our second day in Santa Rosa was a bit uneventful. I observed a few dental procedures and was also able to watch a doctor clean out a man's road rash from a motorcycle accident. 

Here's looking forward to more clinical work! 

Day 6: A Day in Colón

We just arrived back to our house after spending the day in a city called Colón, where there was an annual walk and mass to honor the virgin Mary. Our family is catholic, as are 80% of Mexicans in Querétaro, and I would estimate that about 1,000 people attended today.


Now, when I say walk, you might be thinking that it was maybe a mile or two, but not so much. The walk from where the bus driver dropped us off to the Basilica de Colón was 6 miles. We walked and walked with praise songs and shouts ringing in the air until we arrived at the Basilica. Upon arriving, we grabbed some lunch in a market. Two words people: Mexican gorditas. These were nothing like the cheesy gordita crunches you might see at Taco Bell and are currently running a close second with tamales as my favorite traditional Mexican food.

Mass came after our gorditas, and there was plenty of time for the food to settle because mass lasted about 2 and 1/2 hours. Today's big lesson? Patience. If you know me well, you might remember that being patient is not one of my strong suits. Life in Mexico is definitely challenging that character flaw. Time here is used a lot more loosely than we use it in the US. I feel like in the US we are always on the move, and don't take much time to just sit and be. Although I think its great that the pace of life in Mexico is slower, it is still taking some adjusting. Today's 11 hour "viaje" to Colón definitely forced me to practice patience, and for that, I am grateful because it is a lesson I desperately need to learn.

I also need to give a big shout out to my amazing momma! She is actually in Mexico right now, but is too far away to stop by for a visit. I just want to say, Mom, that I am so blessed to have been raised by such a godly woman. Your love and compassion for others is so evident in every conversation you have. You have taught me so much through the years and have been there as a confidant during every life change. Thank you for your unwavering support in anything I have chosen to pursue. I hope you feel so loved today, even though our family is not all in the same place!

Outside of La Basilica de Colón 

 Gordita in all its glory! 

 Inside La Basilica 

  Inside La Basilica 

 Inside La Basilica 

Day 5: A Big, Big God

Today I learned that God is BIG.

I learned that I am small, and to be loved by a God who created such astonishing beauty is an immense gift of grace. In La Peña de Bernal, Mexico, God gently prodded at my heart, reminding me of this undeserved gift of love.

This morning, we hopped on a bus from UAQ and made about an 1 hour trek to a city outside of Querétaro called Bernal, where the world's third largest rock is located. We slathered ourselves in sunscreen, put on our touristy tennies, and began our climb up the rock. First of all, let me just say that I love, love, love to hike, so today for me was awesome! In fact, I wish we could have climbed higher and farther!! Upon arriving at the highest point we were allowed, we stopped to take "un montón de fotos" and admire God's beautiful creation. The pictures below do not do the sights we saw any justice. The view from the top of la Peña de Bernal was amazing!

After our "rock climbing adventure," we had lunch together at a restaurant in town and then spent about an hour or so shopping. When we were done in Bernal, we drove about 20 minutes away to a Mexican vineyard and received a tour, as well as a bit of wine tasting. 

Our marathon of fun continued this evening with a trip downtown to a local festival of music and dance. Essentially, it was a performance of dancers and musicians from Mexico, Venezuela, Honduras, and Argentina. Man, could these people move! I think I enjoy watching things like dance performances because I have not an ounce of rhythm, nor the skills to dance something as simple as the macarena. All in all today was a great day, filled with laughs and adventure. 

 After the festival 

Hanging out with Pili, our host sister :) 

Bloggin' from Querétaro, Mexico

I've decided to resurrect the good 'ole blog in honor of a new adventure...spending the rest of the month in Mexico!! I am currently living it up in Querétaro, Mexico, with a group of nursing students (and one physical therapy student) from Hope. Our purpose in being here is two-fold: to learn about Mexican culture through living with host families in the greater Querétaro area and to compare the health care system in Mexico to our own system in the US through visiting various area hospitals (we'll even get a bit of clinical nursing practice). 

We arrived here on Tuesday afternoon, and regrettably, I have not blogged about our first three days here, so I'll give you a quick rundown of the past couple of days. 

Day 1: Arrival in QRO/Meeting the families
After arriving in Mexico, we made our way to UAQ (the university here), but not before stopping for our first taste of authentic Mexican cuisine--elotes, which are essentially grilled corn on the cob. We had them with mayonnaise and parmesan cheese. It was an "interesting" flavor, but we definitely enjoyed our first cultural experience! 

El grupo con elotes :) 

After stopping for our "snack," we made it to the university and met Nancy, our "tour guide" for the duration of the stay, as well as all of the host families. Our family is incredible! They are hospitable to the utmost degree, hardly letting us lift a finger to move our luggage or clean our dishes. They have two daughters, 11 and 4, which I feel is going to really enrich our experience here. There is something much less intimidating about talking to a child in Spanish than an adult. What is more, the girls are so sweet, helpful, and very fun to be around. After we made it back to the family's home, we had a delicious lunch and then played with the girls for awhile. Hugo (the dad) and the two girls took us on a walking tour of some of the part of their neighborhood including a look at the famous aqueducts and a scenic park. 

I am definitely feeling fully immersed in the culture. First of all, no one in the family speaks English apart from the words: dog, cat, and hot dog. Although I have been studying Spanish for a long while now, it has definitely been an adjustment in communicating with the family. I feel that as the day went on, I became more comfortable in my ability to communicate with them, and truly feel that this trip will be an invaluable experience in developing my skills as both a Spanish speaker and a nursing student.

Day 2: Tour of Hospital General de QRO 
On Wednesday, we were given a tour of the El Hospital General, which is one of the hospitals we will be working in next week. After our tour, we went home to our suburb of Querétaro, Hercúles, to spend the rest of the day relaxing and spending time with our family. The evening included a visit to Pili, the 11 year old's, choir practice at church. 

Here we are in all of our white-scrubbed glory! 

 Day 3: Tour of UAQ
Our third day here was spent taking a tour of the university. We had a lovely tour guide Nancy, who is in her final year of nursing school here. After the tour, we had lunch in downtown Querétaro with the group. Thursday's major victory? Catching the public transportation bus and making it home all by ourselves! We're feeling more and more like locals every day! 

Group pic outside of the nursing school 

Day 4: Tour of downtown historic Querétaro 

Last but not least, today, el día de los madres (Mother's Day) in Mexico! We spent today taking 3 hour walking tour of the city's historic district. I won't bore you with all of the details, but suffice it to say that we had a wonderful time learning about various aspects of Mexican culture and history. Our fabulous tour guide Norma made the tour very enjoyable! After the tour, we had a delicious lunch and then headed back to spend the rest of the day at home...unfortunately to catch up on our homework from the past couple of days. I guess it can't be all play and no work ;) 

Here are some pics from today: 

 Outside of one of the many churches downtown 

 Inside what used to be a Jesuit monastery 

 Norma the tour guide 

 View of the city from the highest point in the downtown 

Hope you enjoy a look at our adventures in Mexico! Stay tuned! 

Redemption.

Brokenness is the child abandoned by his family. It's the 12 year old girl who was raped by her father, only to be later separated from her sisters because of the child she conceived by him. It's the sickeningly hungry bellies of children, which are growling right now across the world. It lives in the place where children are herded along from home to home because no one has turned up to be a family for them. Brokenness is here, a pervading force, no matter how much we try to avoid it or pretend it isn't there.

I will be the first to say that not knowing, a blissful ignorance of sorts, is easier. It's easier to not remember the quiet stare of a wounded child, or to not know about the cruel injustice a 12 year old faced at the hands of her father. It would hurt less to have never met the girl who has a likely chance of falling into the 85% of orphans from a certain country who turn to prostitution because no one placed a priority on their education. Yes, it would be easier, but as a Christian I was never promised easy...and, what's more, I have greater news of victory against the darkness.

There is a power still greater than the brokenness.

Our redemption through Jesus.

He came to right the wrongs and settle the score, to reclaim the hearts of men trapped by the pain and evil of this fallen world. He came to fix, to heal, to redeem. It cost him his life, but it costs us nothing.
First, he redeems us from a deep, dark pit: then we are offered an extraordinary opportunity as daughters and sons of God.

We can become part of the redemption. God uses us as tools to bring His restorative plan to fruition. By His power, lives are restored.

Sometimes, people ask me why I go on these trips. "There are orphans here, you know," they say. "Why do you have to go so far away?" My answer: God's restorative work is not limited by geographical boundaries. It extends across the whole realm of His creation, and the Bible says to go out into all of the nations and preach the gospel (Matthew 28:19). It says to care for the orphans and widows in their distress, not care for the orphans and widows only where you live (James 1:27). Why does it have to be here or there? The redeeming power of Jesus is both here and there, and I've been called to be part of it in both places.

I've recently returned from Costa Rica, and yet again, God has proven to me the vast expanse of His love and power. I heard heartbreaking stories, made personal because I actually met the children to whom these stories belonged. Despite the pain I saw, I saw God's presence still greater.

Tomorrow is THE day!!

The day has finally come...Costa Rica, here we come! Tomorrow, our team will meet up in Houston and begin to make our way to Puerto Limón, Costa Rica, to visit two orphanages in the area.

Your prayers for our team are greatly appreciated! Some specifics...

• No travel glitches: that we would all make our connecting flight in Houston and arrive safely in San Jose tomorrow night, then also make it safely to Puerto Limón, the next day. 
• Good health for all of our team members
• Open and willing hearts to be used in whatever ways God presents 
• Boldness in sharing our faiths with everyone we meet, whether that be the orphans, tías at the homes, even our waiters/waitresses at dinner 
• Willingness to be changed by God through this experience 

So if you think of our team during this coming week, lift up a little prayer for us and for the people we will be with. I believe that prayer is the most vital tool we have as Christians, and I know that fervent prayers on your part will really make a difference. 

I will most likely not be able to blog while we're in country, but if the opportunity presents itself, I will update you all! Check here or on my Facebook page :) 

Hasta luego, mis amigos. Dios te bendiga 

Praise

I ponder in a moment of unbridled beauty found in the benevolent blessing of our Father God...

We rest and are thankful, deep to the core, because of the blessed reassurance that our lives, each moment to the next, have been handcrafted and uniquely shaped according to the will of God. Not a moment has been left out; each relationship formed, circumstance encountered, and situation presented are woven together in a tapestry of immeasurable worth.

Praise be to this Father, this Master Weaver, for by His plan we, the most futile of instruments, can make His glory known.

How can it be that this Almighty One has reached down and invested in such lowly creatures, that He has redeemed this broken creation from the pit, that beautiful restoration and power has been offered to us? For this unprecedented grace, we are joyful beyond words.

Praise be to this Father, this Redeemer, for without Him, we are nothing.

Today is a day for rejoicing, a day for loud praise, and tears of joy, for we have been granted life and life abundant. The power that conquered death on the cross rests in the very depths of our souls. By this power, we are blessed to bring glory to God.

Praise be to this Father, this Giver of Life, for by Him, we have purpose.