Today was interesting for me on a medical level. You see we had run out of some medications (flu meds, anti-parasite, benadryl, etc.) So this morning as the others went off with the boys from the orphanage for a morning of fun, me and a couple others went off in search of a pharmacy. Once we got there I was surprised to see a still box of a building, and in front a line of people. You see pharmacies, or at the least the government ran ones, people had to wait in line to go to a window where they gave their prescription to the worker and then their money. Then the medication and change was passed back.....or if no change could be made the pharmacist would ask if there was anything else they wanted.
But that wasn't the most shocking. We went in looking for a lot, so the women working allowed us to come in to the little building and look to see if they had what we wanted. After about 20 minutes we got part of what we need.....
20 antifungal creams
10 bottles of flu medication
30 doses of anti-parasitic
20 sulfa drugs
Now are you ready for it.....all of that came to 840 pesos, 21 american dollars. For all of that!!! The other surprising thing that happened was the women wouldn't take bills bigger then 200 pasos. Because of the fact that the pharmacy was run by the government, and it was there for the poor, they would question why she had such large bills in her till.
Now, we didn't get everything we needed, so I also got to see the difference between a government owned and a privately owned pharmacy. The privately owned one was about the size of a small convenient store and the prizes were different as well. At that pharmacy we got about the same amount of meds for 6547 pesos or 167 american dollars.
(Government owned)
(Privately Owned)
After the pharmacy we went back to the orphanage where the ladies were cooking lunch while some from the other group worked on sanding furniture. And after using my nursing skills and then being kicked out of the kitchen after I cut myself, I decided to sand a little bit. It was fun being able to work with the others for a little while and it was really fun to be able to do something for the boys at the orphanage.
Once lunch was ready we all piled into the van and drove towards to park where everyone else was. The rest of the afternoon was full of playing baseball, swimming (yes in January), taking pictures, and laughter. It is amazing how much energy little boys could have....but I think at the end of the day we were all worn out while all the boys could have kept going.
Once we left we headed back to Bayahibe, well with a quick stop at the grocery store for a few of us (you have no idea how addicting that coffee is). That night I sat on the beach watching the sunset and enjoying my time with my new friends from Plano. And it got me thinking.
God really does put people in your life for a reason. If that be for a week, or a couple days, there is a reason for it all. There are so many people that I am honored to have spent a week with. There are a couple little boys that will never know how much they touched my heart and how they have changed my views and goals in life. There is a 90 year old women who just shines with Christ's love, and she taught me that I can be that way as well.
God has the ultimate plan. If you had asked me 4 years ago if going to TAMUCC would get me to the Dominican Republic, I would have laughed at you. Yes I had a heart for mission work but never did I think nursing school could be the gate to international mission work for me. And I am beyond grateful it has though. School, especially college, is about more then learning a trade or general knowledge. It is about learning about yourself and who you are as an individual, and it has taken me four years to realize that but I guess in a sense I am having my own epiphany. I am more then who I was four years ago. I have grown in faith and love of Christ. I have seen heartache and pain. I have seen my family grow so strong after being so hurt. I have learned that with God ALL things are possible. I have learned that I am a nurse, a daughter, a friend, a sister, a follower of Christ, and a child of God. I will go to the ends of the world to serve Christ. And most of all, I have learned......I am just starting.
This is only one sunset in a million in my life, but this sunset with those that surround me will be one I will always remember. This feeling is one I want to hold on too.
Well tomorrow is the last day of the mission trip. It is our last clinic and the last day at the orphanage, it is sad in a way because that means for now I have to leave this place.....but I am beginning to get the feeling that this will not be the last time.
God Bless!
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