May 18, 2008

This afternoon was one of the more special experiences that I have had here. We got to go to the mental hospital to sing hymns to the patients. I wasn't sure what kind of things to expect at a mental hospital down here- but I was sure surprised. It was basically what most people would imagine a mental institution in the States about 60 years ago. Lots of patients, just running around doing strange things, with hardly nothing to care for them. All behind fences. Kind of a scary thought. There were close to 1,000 patients in the hospital with one nurse. There were lots of guards, and the whole place is run by nuns. Since medication isn't very available, patients were just in horrible conditions- both mentally and physically. It was hard to see, and the sweet little nun taking us around was trying to settle our obvious fears.

Yet as we started singing songs all the patients would get so quite and would come over and listen to the hymns. We only had time to sing about 3 songs per unit, but you could just see how happy and enamored to see and hear us they were. One little guy followed us to each unit being our cheerleader- clapping the whole way along. Another man started signaling others to quite down and put his hands together in prayer as we sang 'Hallelujahs' and would mouth the words along. At the end the nun told us how almost all these patients had just been abandoned there, left behind those fences. She told us that by being there and showing them some kindness and love, we had given them the greatest gift possible. It was truly a sweet experience.

I am sorry I don't have pictures- I wasn't really able to take any while we were there- but one teacher did and I'll try and post them later. Love you all.

May 14, 2008

So to many of you it must seem like I am fiesta-ing quite a bit, and it is true I suppose- haha. Really though, it is just part of Latin culture to stay out late every night and live it up. They definitely aren't as concerned with time like us- which explains why they aren't as stressed, but also why buses and meetings are lucky to start at anytime within the hour specified.

So this party was for David- he is one of the guys that came with us that is actually from here. His mom lives around the corner from our hotel, where she owns a restaurant. She closed down the restaurant down for the night and had a private dinner with all of the yummiest Ecuadorian food for us all. It was also to celebrate David's birthday (on Monday) and so we got surprised with another mariachi band!!! Not that I'm an expert or anything- but these guys were awesome. They were so funny and really good. It was hilariously loud in this tiny private room. But we danced for hours with them. It was so much fun. I have to say that Latin people know how to party and we are all incredibly boring in comparison- hahaha.

May 13, 2008

So today was my second day out in the community. It is so different from anywhere I've ever been. People just have sooo little and are dealing with the lack of such basic needs- food, water, shelter, where to put your trash! It makes all of our problems seem so insignificant. Yet, these people are so excited to learn. They have so little, but want to do the best they can to give their family a better chance. It is so amazing how receptive people are to two random strangers coming into their home who barely speak their language and are telling them what they need to change. We should all be so willing to learn from each other. I know that I am learning much more from the people than I feel I am teaching them. Love you all (especially Rick!)

May 10, 2008

Last night we went to a Dia de las Madres fiesta with the local branch. Man do they know how to party. No green jello and primary performances here. Mariachi band, contests, and dancing the night away- not to mention yummy food! They were so excited to have us there and put on 'American' music for us to dance to. What else should come on but Brittney Spears' 'I'm A Slave'- haha, we were cracking up. They had no idea what it was saying, but it is not exactly the type of song you'd think of playing at a Church activity. But we danced and taught them a few moves from the States.

Then today we went to Salinas, the biggest tourist beach in Ecuador, and had a blast. It was so nice to be the water- it was probably in the 70's- so much warmer that Southern California, but not as warm as the Gulf of Mexico or anything. I guess the Pacific Ocean is the Pacific Ocean where ere you go. The water was beautiful though, and we stood out quite a bit as a huge group of white girls in bathing suits. Haha- I have to say we are quite exotic in Ecuador and it is normal for men to cat-call while you walk down the street. We attract a lot of attention where ever we go to say the least.

We got to eat at this resort by the beach that had every food under the sun- even salad! We aren't supposed to eat anything that has been washed with tap water and we can't peel to avoid getting sick and stuff. But since this was an international resort, they used purified water and we all got to eat raw veggies- it was a very exciting day.

The most fun was probably getting to go cruising around the port in the afternoon and diving off the boat. We had a great time. And no matter how much sunscreen we put on we ALL got sunburned- I guess that is what you get for being at the equator. Love you all!

May 9, 2008

This was one of the best experiences I think I could have possibly had down here. We got together with a organization called 'Hogar de Cristo' to build some houses for people out in the community. You might think- but Lisa, you don't know how to build a house! Well, you're right- BUT these house are a little different. One room, made of bamboo, tin roof, and on stilts in order to keep it from flooding and away from mosquitoes a bit more.

The woman whose home we helped to build was so grateful to have us there. Even though she had so little (see picture below) she automatically got out the best thing she had to offer us (7 Up) and wanted to make us lunch. We thanked her and got to work. Luckily it was a perfectly sunny and 90-something degree day with 80% humidity and we were right out in the middle of it doing hardcore manual labor ;) We dug her foundation for about two hours- removing rocks and making sure it was deep enough that her house would be strong. I don't think I have ever sweat that much in my life. We were drinking gallons- but none of us had to pee the whole day, if that gives you an idea.

It took about 6 hours to get the house up- a long day where I hurt everywhere and wanted to fall over and sleep- but when the woman, her children, and her grandchildren came and started smothering us with hugs and kisses, and asking when we would come back and stay with them- all the pain went away. Service is such an amazing thing- it makes you forget about yourself and your problems so completely. It is a good feeling to think that I was able to help give this woman a home.

May 8, 2008

So I have so much that I want to share with you all, I am learning so much and having such new experiences, that it is hard to keep track of them all and share the emotions that go with it.

So today was my last day at the 'Luiz Vernaz' hospital and it is amazing all the things I have seen there. I hope that you get a chance to read the captions from the pictures I have been posting so I don't go over all the same events again. Today I was on the women's unit and met the most awesome Doctor that I seen thus far. His name was Xavier, he is a general surgeon, and spent all morning with me and my friend. First he just wanted to practice his English with us, but then as we got to know each other, we starting discussing patient care and the differences here and in the States. The doctors here spend the morning doing rounds, examining each patient, and actually talking to them!!! The doctors here basically do everything nurses do in the States- assess the patients, do basic procedures, and talk with the patients, etc. We did rounds with them and they put us on the spot and said, "What does this patient have"- pointing to their stomach. We were both taken aback, then looked, and guessed- umbilical hernia? Bingo! Then he said, "See, you diagnose. You doctors!" Haha, we told them how doctors are in the hospitals for like 10 minutes a day in the States, and the nurses are with the patients and basically tell the doctor what needs to happen. They laughed, and said the we were the doctors- we just said no, and laughed.

One thing that is really interesting here is that the doctors who work at the county hospital we are at basically don't get paid. Xavier has been working there for 8 years and has never seen a dime. All the doctors have to have their private practices in the afternoon to earn money, and work at the hospital out of generosity. As we talked to Xavier and talking about this he kept saying, "I am a doctor"- meaning that all he did and was was because he was a doctor- he believed in God, because he was a doctor; he loved others, because he was a doctor; he was everything good, because he was a doctor. He was so passionate about what he did. He took us to each patient to help do assessments. He was saying how important it is to touch the patient- at first we were just watching as he touched them to examine them when he grabbed our hands and said, "No, Touch the patient" and placed out hands on the woman. He said you can't heal unless you are with the patient and touch and know them. He was one of the few doctors that believed in using pain medication (like morphine) to control patients' pain (most patients receive no pain medicine, and those that do get medicine that we would never use in the States because they are not effective, like toporol). He kept telling us that we are nurses and we need to care for patients and show them love. It was such an amazing example of passion and love and service to me. It is rare to meet a doctor like that, in Ecuador or the States.

One more story I want to share real fast is something that happened to my friends as they were out in the poorer communities here. As half of us have been in the hospital, the other half has been going out into the communities and teaching people health principles. The other day they came across a woman who had a daughter who has not been able to walk her whole life, but is bound to her home due because she has never been able to find a wheelchair. So, the students who visited her went back to the community center to see if they could get this girl a wheelchair. The lady in charge found one wheelchair for them to give her, and it was donated by the LDS Church. The Church has had a huge humanitarian effort to gather wheelchairs for third world countries for several years. So they took the wheel chair, strapped to the top of an ambulance they ride around, and carried it through the dirt roads to this girls house. All the girl's brothers and sisters ran out to meet them and were so excited. They set up the wheelchair and took the girl outside. She hadn't been able to leave the house for more than 16 years, and all the sudden she had freedom. She was so happy and the mother was crying and saying it was a miracle. I just thought that was such an amazing experience that I wanted to share it, and especially that it began with someone's donation to the LDS Church and ended with us being able to see it bless the lives of others.

That is what I am learning the most. Serving others means learning with and from them, being with them, and most of all loving them. You cannot help but love those you serve. And in the end, isn't that what we truly need more of? (not to sound too much like a Beatles song). I love you all and hope to hear from soon!

So we got in late last night and it is about 80 degrees and 75% humidity- awesome, compared to Utah, but still a little like swimming through air. I think I am starting to get used to it. The medical group we are working with came and pick us up at the airport and gave us all welcome gifts and hugs and kisses. As we drove through the city it looks kind of like downtown LA in the dirtier part (like China Town)- lots of old broken buildings, trash, phone and electrical wires everywhere- then just a whole lot of espanol.
Out hotel is like the nicest in the city- The Hotel Palace- and has AC! Hahaha, we're really immersing ourselves in the culture. But after going out in that heat and humidity all day, I have to admit I don't feel too bad about it. They also serve breakfast- fresh mango, papaya, pineapple, and yogurt to name a few- yummy!
Then today we went to Church down here. It was one of the neatest things- the whole congregation was maybe 80 people, so super small, and almost every person would come up, give me a hug, a kiss on the cheek, and start telling me how wonderful I was and how happy they were that we are here. The building is so worn down compared to what we have in the states- but the people are so humble and so full of love. Their tesitmonies were beautiful. Even though I only understood about 50% of everything being said the love that was there filled in the gaps. I have always admired the hispanic people for how welcoming and loving they are- I can't even begin to describe how happy I felt to be with them today. It is amazing how the LDS Church is truly the same all around the world- the same loving spirit- it is wonderful to see.
This afternoon we are going to go exploring and I will take lots of pictures. Love ya!

Hola mis familia y amigos! So as most of you know I am am going with the BYU Nursing Program to work with the people in Ecuador. I will be working in a Med/Surg unit, Labor & Delivery, Pediatrics, and out in the community teaching about health principles. I am sooo super excited and want to share my sweet photos and experiences with you all. I have set up this blog in order to make all of that easy and accesible to you all! Yay! So go ahead and pass this blog link onto anyone else who might care and enjoy. I leave on Saturday (May 3) and will get back May 29th. I'd love to hear from you all! Hasta luego!