Peru 2018: Cusco Wrap-Up

During our first week in Cusco, we had the opportunity to serve in two different locations. On Thursday and Friday of the project, we set up tents, plinth tables, a dentist office, and a lab in two small court yards outside of a small local church in an underserved community in Cusco. The pastor of this church, Edgar, expressed so much gratitude for having us there in his community. It was amazing to hear his testimony of how long he has prayed for a United States medical project to come serve his community. They even built bathrooms just for the project! Robbie and I will never understand just how much of an impact the project made on this congregation. 

During the first day at the court yard, we were able to treat a wide variety of patients. We saw multiple children who needed checked for hip dysplasia (a skill I am now happy to have for my upcoming pediatric clinical rotation). The mothers of these children were so grateful for the interventions we gave, the braces we recommended, and the prayers we offered for their children that they shed tears and thanked us with multiple hugs and kisses.  We also saw a twelve year old boy born with facial paralysis. After further investigation, we considered the possibility of Mobious Syndrome as his main diagnosis. While our supervising PT, Manuela, consulted a dentist for his oral alignment, we were able to connect with this boy by playing thumb wars. It’s amazing how two people who do not speak the same language can connect and enjoy each other’s company through a simple game. Treating this boy was a unique opportunity where we were able to practice our oral manual techniques as well as educating his mother on the use of tape to improve his facial alignment and to close his eyes when he sleeps at night. The boy expressed to us that he is bullied at school because of his diagnosis, which breaks our hearts. Our prayer for him is that he will do well with the treatment recommended and that he will be accepted by his peers at school despite his physical differences. 

In the afternoon we received a mother-daughter pair that had a laundry list of aches and pains. This presented us with a challenge because we were unable to treat everything, so we asked them to identify what they would most like to work on. For the mother, it was her low back pain, which we have seen much of during our first two days. The daughter was a bit more complicated. She sustained a fibulae fracture years ago is was still experiencing pain with walking long distances. We did the best we could for both, and our session ended with a dance lesson from the mother, who was in her late seventies. It was so moving to see their smiles of gratitude after we treated and prayed for them, and it was amazing to see that although they both experience pain, they still are able to have fun and do things they enjoy.

Our last day in Cusco was spent at an orphanage for children with physical and cognitive disabilities. Robbie and I both expected the worst while traveling to this orphanage; pictures of children with dirty clothes and not enough food filled our minds. But we were shocked when we arrived. The building is almost brand new, three stories, with wonderful facilities for the children to receive any treatment they may need. The orphanage is set up to house sixteen children and currently houses twelve. It is ran by Peruvian women and a missionary family from the States. While in the orphanage, we were able to work with a four-year-old with ataxic cerebral palsy. He was such a joy to spend time with, always smiling, laughing, and offering the biggest hugs I’ve ever received from such a little person. He was still able to walk on his own, but falls often and showed weakness in his gluteal and spinal muscles. To aid in his walking and the alignment of his feet, we were able to fit him with a pair of ankle-foot orthotics. It was incredible to see how they changed the way he moved. The Batman pictures on the orthotics was an added bonus for him.  

Now, as we leave Cusco behind, we hope we were able to change the lives of the patients we treated because they impacted us in a way they will never fathom. We pray they saw the Light of Christ in us as they consoled in us. But most of all, we hope that these little communities in Cusco will never be the same because of the work Christ did through us. 

-Amber 

Peru 2018: The Highlands

August 6-7

It's the first day working in the clinic! We have traveled about an hour out of Cusco to an area known as the Highlands. The Highlands suffer from high levels of poverty and little medical attention is provided. Upon arriving, we set up pop-up tents on the second floor of a bus station that consisted of PT, OT, dental, triage, pharmacy, and medical care.

 Our first experience working with these patients came right away as we were told to educate the patients waiting in line to be seen on proper body mechanics for lifting and cervical stretches. Proper body mechanics is a necessity because these patients are always working in fields or in the house remaining in a flexed posture for the whole day. I found it interesting that the consensus among them was that they had kidney issues causing their low back pain instead of considering musculoskeletal pain, which is where we came in. 

Education, pain relief, and muscle lengthening/strengthening were all crucial in treating the patients with low back pain. On top of this, praying with each patient provided a spiritual component that many needed at this time. I was so moved by the way they responded to our care. Instead of frustration, pity, and hopelessness they were so gracious, warming, and remained true to their faith, highlighting the cultural nature of people in Peru. 

One patient that came to us told her story of how she cannot work in the field due to her pain, which led to her having no money and living off of the small food her field was providing. She started tearing up and was visibly upset. After comforting her and assuring her that we would put our all into getting her back to working with less pain you could feel the connection being made. By the end, she was in less pain, smiling, and was optimistic about her outlook. Moments like these are what I will take away from the 2 days we spent in the Highlands, treating some of the most amazing people I have ever encountered.

-Robbie

Stay tuned for Amber’s take on our fourth and fifth days treating patients on the outskirts of Cusco! Again, we appreciate everyone’s prayers and support as we enter into our second week in Arequipa! 

Peru 2018: Good Things

Whoever said “good things come to those who wait” may have been incorrect. I think a more suitable phrase would be “good things come to those who travel with purpose.” This is one of the many things we have already learned during our first few days in Peru, but we’ll get to that later. 

Meet the Crew

Amber: Amber is a third year student physical therapist from Hyndman, PA with a passion for the pediatric population. She believes physical therapy can not only aid in healing the body, but also the mind and soul if the right patient-therapist connections are made. She recognizes the importance of physical, mental, and spiritual health, and that is why she longs to share the Love of God with everyone who will listen. She hopes to work in out patient pediatrics after graduation in 2019 and then transition into early intervention once she gains more experience. From this medical mission, Amber would like to learn how to communicate with more than just her words, through the use of tactile cues, body language, and demonstration. She also hopes to learn more ways to be creative and resourceful as a physical therapist so she can use these skills to care for her future patients. Learning a little Spanish along the way is a huge bonus too! 

Robbie: Robbie is a third year PT student from Slippery Rock University. He plans to help the geriatric population upon graduation. Robbie understands that treating the physical ailments of a diagnosis can only help so much and it takes an emotional and spiritual connection to treat the whole person. Having a passion for what you do leads to the greatest results and with PT he feels he is delving into a career with that passion. This trip is also about understanding a culture that is the polar opposite of the one we know back home and observing how these people maintain their faith in times that most people will never experience in the United States. Oh... and the driving is much different. 

MMI Staff: Throughout the two weeks we will be working with a ton of passionate Peruvians who partner with MMI to treat patients and also share the Gospel with them. We will be spending most of our time with Manuela, a physical therapist from Lima, Peru. She has been practicing PT for seven years and specializes in the pediatric population, although she is incredibly knowledgeable in treating adults and geriatrics as well. 

An Overview

The planning of our medical mission trip was filled with hiccups and bumps in the road, but we made it! We are so incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to practice physical therapy in a different country with a language barrier that forces us to think in a different way and be creative. Our first week will be spent in Cusco, Peru (after a day and a half of four very long, very crazy flights). The first two days we will be treating the adult population in a rural area where there are high poverty rates and the locals most often cannot afford the proper medical attention. Most of the patients are farmers, workers, or mothers with low back pain or traumatic injuries that lead to their pain. Wednesday we will be taking a break from the clinic, which is set up on the second floor of the local bus station outside the city of Cusco. During our break, we will travel by train to see Machu Picchu, one of the new Seven Wonders of the World! We are so excited to see this piece of Peruvian history. Thursday and Friday we will work with Manuela in an orphanage in Cusco, where we will treat children with multiple different deficits and diagnoses. Then we travel back to Arequipa, Peru for our second week when we will work with children with neurological disorders such as cerebral palsy and spina bifida. After week two is complete, we will pack up and return to the states with new knowledge, new skills, and a new outlook on life and God’s people. 

If you had any part in supporting Amber and Robbie on this trip through donations or prayers, we would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts! We could not be having this experience without you! 

Until next time,

Amber and Robbie 

Final Thoughts: Part One

Hello Friends and Family,

It's been a bit sad as we approach the end of this trip. I am writing this as we travel to Miami International Airport from Lima, Peru. On Friday night week, we said good bye to the friends we've made over the last two weeks. Our pastor/project director, interpreters, fellow PTs, and support staff were wonderful people to be around. Some spoke English quite well and others spoke English much like I speak Spanish - in one/two word sentences (i.e. "Muy Bien"). The whole time I couldn't help but think, Man, I wish I knew how to speak Spanish, cuz these cats are pretty cool. I hope that this experience will spurn many of us on to learn another language. Though most of us could only muster up a few canned Spanish phrases, I would argue that those brief interactions spoke louder than the Spanish words themselves.




Throughout our two weeks on this trip, all 9 of us experienced a patient(s) that tugged at our heart strings. Thursday last week was especially hard. Not only were patients arriving with physical pain. But there were several patients came to us with a feeling abandonment by their family. I will briefly share a story about a patient named Matilde:



Matilde showed up to our clinic in a wheel barrow... Yes, you read that right, a wheel barrow (for 8 years this had been her mode of transportation). At the age of 17 (21 years prior) she began to lose the ability to move her arms and legs. She spent 2 days in a hospital recovering from being in a short coma. When she woke up from her coma the doctor's told her something like this: We don't know what is wrong with you... so, uhhh... see ya later. They discharged her without imaging or a diagnosis. Eventually, her disease became so limiting that she couldn't tolerate being upright without passing out. So she had two options, lie on her back or lie on her stomach. During the day, the shallow wheel barrow allowed her to lie on her stomach. And at night her sister moved her to the bed where she would sleep on her back. She has not sat upright in 8 years. We measured her for a wheel chair that would gradually allow her to be reintroduced to sitting upright. She will receive this wheel chair later in the year. That was physically all we could do for Matilde. 

Time for healing prayer. We wanted this woman to walk. To no longer be confined to a wheel barrow. That is just inhumane. Alongside pastor Asdrubal Almador, we gathered around Matilde and her sister and prayed with her. Matilde is a follower of Christ and has leaned on him to find the strength to live everyday in such unfavorable conditions. As we prayed with Matilde for healing... nothing happened. So we kept praying. Still, nothing. Then, Asdrubal felt led by the Holy Spirit to ask, "Matilde, is there was anyone your life you need to forgive." 

Silence. 

Again: "Matilde, is there was anyone your life you need to forgive." We were met with silence once more as Matilde starred intently at the floor in a moment of reluctance and hesitation. I could related to her in that moment, its hard to admit you are holding onto a bit of resentment.

Asdrubal asked, "Matilde would you like your sister to leave the room?"

"Yes." Matilde nodded. She began to tear up and told us how her 6 other brothers and sisters abandoned her. Her 2 daughters abandoned her. Her brother-in-law had treated her poorly and hurt her in a way that she didn't disclose to us. She held the most resentment towards him. Asdrubal asked if she wanted to extend forgiveness and receive forgiveness all at the same time. As she did both, she described feeling a heavy burden being lifted from her. She was free. God wanted to heal Matilde that day; however, in a way we didn't see coming. This was a reminder to all of us that God, is so much more concerned with our heart. Yes, he performs physical miracles. But Jesus died and now lives in us for this very reason - he is after our hearts. Our basic need is to know the love of our Father. To know who and whose we are. Isaiah 43:1, "Do not fear... For I have redeemed you, I have summoned you by name. You are mine." Only when we recognize this truth, might we have the foundation to experience physical healing.

Do you need healing today? Is your soul downcast? Do you have an illness that won't go away? Do you have circumstances that seem oppressive? Look to Jesus. He is he one who forgave the paralyzed man's sins and then healed him. 2000 years later, Jesus can do the same for you and me. He is the one who is lifting Matilde's burden so she can be free. Will you let him carry your burden?



Love,

The Peru Crew

P.S. If you feel led, prayers for Matilde and others like her who came to our clinic are ecouraged. Also, stay tuned for more on our trip to Machu Picchu and a wrap up of our trip.

Broken hearts - hope restored

Friends and family,

As the two weeks of treating patients comes to an end, there are lots of thoughts streaming through our heads. I think we'll take a few posts to wrap up our two weeks. 

Today (Thursday) was a heavy day emotionally. Days like today remind us that we aren't just physical therapists. We are God's humble vessels of hope to the broken hearted. are a few thoughts from Ron from today:

What can be said about today... so much pain filled the air and questions clouded the atmosphere. Some came for relief. Others for answers. Some for forgiveness. At times we found ourselves at a loss for words. We find ourselves looking for the answers that only God can provide. We hope to be that answer when we are merely the medium, not the catalyst. And that's difficult to swallow. It's hard to say "I don't know". It's even harder to say, "I can't help". 

Today I felt my heart was broken. My joy was shattered and I too felt pain. Helpless and lost in a sea of questions. But then I was reminded that it's not completely up to me to provide. In times like this I am responsible for bringing others closer to the word of Christ. It is in these times that I exit my role as a therapist and step into the role of missionary. My prayer becomes more powerful than my hands and my words more than my mouth. This lesson is one in which I will carry forward forever. 

Something I must remember is to never forget who sent us here. That God, first and foremost, deserves the praise. When the tide of torment is heavy, and we are weak, only He can provide the answer and the strength.

Continued prayers for the patients are encouraged. Prayers for our safe travels home are also appreciated. Stay tuned for more updates.

Blessings to you all,

The Peru Crew

Alabare a mi Señor

Hola Amigos!

Where to begin? Well, let's begin by translating the title of this post: All praises to my God. That's truly how we feel. From the people we've met/treated, to the meals we've eaten together, to the laughter and inside jokes, to devotionals in the morning - it's hard to miss God working in our lives. Here are a few of our favorite snapshots of God's grace here in Arequipa:

1. Walter (Ryan): This week, a man by the name of Walter came to us because of complications he was experiencing from his Parkinson's disease. Walter had been falling more often than usual and he was experiencing lots of anxiety due to his unsteadiness. Although strong as an ox, Parkinson's disease leaves Walter at a disadvantage because he cannot coordinate movement well. He also suffers from severe facial muscle resting tremors, these resting tremors are so severe that he has trouble uttering even the simplest of sentences. Walter has courageously battled this disease for 30 years.

Prior to being sidelined by Parkinson's Walter was an Olympic gymnast for the Peruvian national team. Walter made a living of perfecting balance, strength, and grace, and now he is struggling to stay upright. I cannot begin to imagine the frustration that brings. We taught Walter how to properly use his walker to walk, turn, sit and stand with confidence and steadiness. The improvement we saw was incredible. He was a fast learner and I imagine that ability stems from the ability God had given him as a gymnast. As we finished with Walter I was amazed at how a few tips made the world of difference in quality of life. Though we did not cure his Parkinson's disease, Walter received a part of his dignity back. He gained ownership of his quality of life. This is what PT can do in the Kingdom of God folks. I'm not done tho. 

The mission of MMI Peru is not just to address physical needs. If we did that we'd be selling our patients short. Can you imagine spending 30 years feeling like you are trapped in your own body? I can't. We need to address the how Jesus plays a role in all of this if we want to bring true healing. We prayed for Walter, and as we were praying I felt the heaviness of his burden. As we were praying, tears streamed down Walters face. They were tears of two origins: of pain and of joy. It was a joy that is only felt when someone comes alongside of you and says: I see your in pain. Let me sit with you in that pain. Let me acknowledge you are hurting. I won't offer you any conjured up empty phrases but offer you an open heart. Walter left the clinic that day with hope and a smile to boot.

Folks, tho God incarnate, Jesus was also human. He experienced hurt. He was crucified, separated from God, beared the weight of all our sin (sin hurts by the way, no wonder he was sweating blood in the garden of Gethsemane), wept for Lazarus, starved for 40 days... in the desert. He knows our pain. He knows what it feels like when Parkinson's is all you have known for 30 years. He knows what it's like to feel alone. He knows what it's like when you lose you spouse. He knows what it's like when depression knocks at your door and won't leave. I can't understand what it means to have Parkinson's. But Jesus can. Do you know some one who needs their pain ackowledged? Be Jesus' hands and feet, sit with them in their pain.

2. Soccer with the Peruvians: At the beginning of the week a few of us discussed that we wanted to play some soccer with some Peruvians. Well, this Friday, we got our chance. After we finished work for the day we played with some of the construction workers at the school. It was amazing to see two worlds collide. Though we spoke different languages it didn't matter because the language of soccer broke through. High fives, laughter, sweat, sportsmanship and a ball. We had a blast. Maybe we should have the olympics more often? Perhaps then the world might be a better place.

3. Gladys (Ron): What is greater than to receive a smile, to feel the joy of another light up the room. Not a day has passed where our treatment rooms were empty of joy and passion. When I first met Gladys she simply stated her diagnosis as pain everywhere in her body. Everything hurt. She had been dealing with the pain for years. What do we do? What was the root of this pain and how can we treat all of that in 30 minutes? Overwhelmed and resistant to failure, we began testing, mobilizing and questioning Gladys. By the end of the session her pain was gone and her motion was better. For the first time in a long time, she said, she was happier because she was in less pain.

As we bowed or heads to pray, tears began to escape her eyes as she lifted her hands in praise. Following our prayer, she too prayer, for us, the work we are doing, the lives we are touching and the impact we are having. She prayed for our safety, for our minds and for our hearts. Moments like this lift my spirits higher than the volcano of Misty. They bring purpose to my life and they bless my soul. God placed us here for a reason and moments like this prove such a thing is true. 

All of us came on this trip with our own faults; our own hang ups, yet something about serving makes you forget those things. Would you pray for strength for us to use this experience to submit our whole being to God when we return to the states - hang ups and all. Thank you all for your continued support!

Hasta luego,

The Peru Crew

Hola from Arequipa!

Buenos Noches Amigos!

After a long day of travel this weekend and a few minor blips along the way we made it to Arequipa safe and sound. With eager hearts and hands full of donations we stepped foot onto the tarmac. Vincente was the first friend to greet us at the airport.He drove us through the bustling streets of Arequipa to our hotel. We quickly learned the rules of the road here are much different than in the States, but Peruvians make the organized chaos work.

Sunday we went to church here in Arequipa. We worshipped alongside our Peruvian brothers and sisters in Spanish to songs that our familiar to us in our churches back home. Though I, Ryan, stumbled through the words we sang, (Spanish is far from my first language) I couldn't help but smile and appreciate the beauty of two cultures colliding for one purpose: to praise God. 

Additionally, we have explored the city, held a llama, and eaten Peruvian ice cream!

We have had a few days of treating patients under our belts and it has been incredible. The patients have been incredibly thankful for the services we have been able to provide to them. We have seen our treatments make immediate improvements in the lives of the Peruvians. Stay tuned, later this week we will share some of our personal stories from our time here in Arequipa.

Thank you for you continued prayer and support!

Dulces Sueños,

The Peru Crew