"Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen."   I Timothy 1:15-17

What a relief to be able to admit that I am "the worst of sinners". In the eyes of some that would be an admission of weakness, something that is definitely not an acceptable part of the North American culture. But what a genuine relief it is to realize and accept the truth - which is that Christ died for me while I was against him with everything inside of me, and that the best I have to offer him even now is my sin. :)   He displays his unlimited patience in my life on a daily basis for all to see. I believe the most powerful witness is WHO WE ARE, rather than WHAT WE DO.

Dr. Brian Riedel, one of our team members here in Cusco, has hosted a team of medical students and providers from the States for the past two years. This year we (the Becks, Norman, Jorge, me, and our two summer interns) were privileged to help serve with Dr. Riedel and this medical group as interpreters.

The clinics lasted a total of two weeks in July and were held in various places: Pallpancay, downtown Cusco, Waqoto (14,000 feet), Raqchi and Isuchaca (small towns about 1 hour from Cusco), and Abancay, a 5 hour bus ride from Cusco. I absolutely loved the work we did (thank goodness I was only the interpreter, not the doctor!). We would generally set up clinics with a pharmacy, lab, triage section, eye clinic, and various areas of medical treatment. The first week we even had a dentist to pull teeth. Some clinics were focused on children; some clinics were focused on prostitutes. All clinics welcomed anyone as long as we had time to see them. Some days were slow, other days were non-stop.

I learned a lot during these clinics. It was fun to learn medical terminology in Spanish. I kept my dictionary nearby and had to write down new terms as they came. One day I had to tell a man that the doctor needed to do a rectal exam, but I didn't know how to say it. The closest I could come was to say, "The doctor needs to look at your anus." But... I used the wrong verb - I used to verb "to look FOR"...implying that it was lost?? Needless to say, he got the message and got through the exam just fine.

Not everything was so humorous. One woman came in with her young child, complaining of abdominal pain. The doctors went through the usual questions of how long, describe it, etc. Then they asked "Are you married? Is your husband with other women? Are you with other men?" in order to have helpful history in determining the risk for an STD. This woman was 40 years old, had 7 children, and said matter of factly, "Yes, my husband is with other women all the time. Well, only when he goes to the Chicheria (the bar). When he is home things are good and he's not with other women." She did in fact have an STD, fortunately one curable with antibiotics. But can you only imagine such a lifestyle and future risk. After the pelvic exam, while we were waiting for lab results, we talked to her about the gospel. She was very interested in coming to the evangelical church in which we were holding clinics that day. She asked, "Would I be welcomed here? Would I be able to bring all of my children?" The answer was a definitive "yes".

Another woman came in with her 3 year old daughter, also with complaints of abdominal pain. The doctors asked the same questions. When asked if her husband was with other women, she replied, "I don't think so...well, I'm not sure... but I don't think so." She replied that she was not with other men. After the exam, while waiting for lab results, we talked to her about the gospel and the love of God. She said she was afraid to become a Christian, because she wasn't good enough and would still commit sin. We explained that no one is "good enough" and that we will all commit sin throughout our lives. Salvation is a gift of God, not something you "earn". Still, she was afraid. When the lab results came back, they showed that she, too, had an STD, curable with antibiotics. As the doctors explained what this meant, and as I tried to put into Spanish what they were saying, I was watching her face as she grasped the realization that the only way she could have gotten this infection pointed strongly to the fact that her husband had been with someone else. It was hard to watch her face as it sunk in.

I had my share of tears later that night to think about the betrayal and pain that so many people live with. How can they bear it without Christ? It's no secret to us that the world is fallen and full of pain. Please pray for God's work to continue here in Peru. We will suffer and we will have trials, but there is one who sticks closer than a brother.

During the weeks after SMI, we had several summer teams come to Cusco to work in construction and to hold VBS. I have to say that these teams have been very organized and really took the burden off of us during their time here! They not only loved on our Peruvian brothers and sisters, but they showed love and care for us, the 2-year and long term missionaries on the field, too.

When short term teams come down, they can either hinder or help the longer term missionaries with the long term vision and work. With SMI, our summer teams, and our summer interns it seems that all have come down with an attitude of service and love. We are very grateful for that!

During one of the medical campaigns, one of the doctors was surprised to see a diagnosis of "Chicken Breath". In order to clarify what this was, the doctor went and talked to the person taking the history and the interpreter. It turned out that the interpreter had said in English with a Spanish accent, "Chee kahnt breedth", which was interpreted as "chicken breath" rather than "she can't breathe". :)

Never a dull moment!