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FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 2010
 Since I am not usually one to blog I'm not sure how to begin.
What a gift this week has been - our prayer has been to ask
God's blessings on our daily work. He definitely heard our
prayers.
We saw so many, bonded again with those we have seen before,
made new friends, and opend our arms to those dear children
who come rinning to us as we come and go in Collique.
We fortunately had many laughs, our share of tears, and
memories to last a lifetime!
Pat Cluthe
THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2010
I
can't say Thank You or recognize Matthew Ramirez without
telling you the story. Matthew is a fourteen year old student
at St. Anne's Catholic school. Last year, when he heard we
were collecting little toys - like the one's your child may
get at McDonald's with a happy meal - for the kids of Collique,
he told me that he was going to collect them from friends
and at his school. Just before our last trip, Matthew brought
me enough toys to fill two foot lockers! We distributed these
toys in the medical and dental clinic along with toothbrushes,
toothpaste, stickers and friendship bracelets.
This year Matthew told me that he was going to collect peanut
butter for the kids lunches because he heard me say that
most of the kids in the neighborhood rarely get enough to
eat. Not only did he collect another footlocker full of toys,
but about 50 lbs. of peanut butter and jelly.
It may be hard for many adults to say that they "look
up to" a young adult like Matthew. However, in my eyes,
the eyes of Operacion San Andres, and especially in the eyes
of the children of Collique, you are a Hero. Matthew, not
only do I have tremendous respect for you, I can say that
you Inspire me, and you may not even realize what a Blessing
you are to these children. Thank you!
West Ficken
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 2010
 We would like to take this time thank a few of you that
have helped those of us who travel to Lima. So many people
support our efforts and we are very grateful. If I leave
any of you out, I am truly sorry. There are so many to thank!
I have a couple of people that have taken time to send me
with care packages. My cousin, Gary, always calls to see
what the children of Collique may need. I have brought many
hats, bandanas, hair bows and other items that I can pack
and maintain the weight limit. A woman from my mother's church,
Joan, has made beautiful baby blankets for which the mothers
are always extremely thankful.
 Bobbie
Ann's sisters have started an organization "Pearling
for Peru" and have made sweaters and scarfs which especially
come in handy in the cold months ahead. You can find this
on the OSA website if you would like to learn more.
A friend of West's (see Thursday's info for more details)
collects toys for the frightened or sad children in our clinic.
It is amazing the smiles that come from a stuffed toy.
A kniting and crocheting group meets at Karen Falls house.
They produce beautiful works that are obviously made with
love.
So many prayers send us safely here and bring us safely
home and for that we are forever grateful to all of you!
Patti Peymann
TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 2010
 It's another beautiful day in Lima/Collique....everyday
is a beautiful day in Collique. Our day started just before
3am with a tremor that woke up several team members. Chris
and Jessica were awakened by the same tremor, and for the
first time actually got out of bed, got the kids and headed
for their safety zone.
 It's
been 1 year since our last trip and we did not realize
how much we have missed it - not only our friends in Collique,
but our friends in OSA as well. It's great to be "home."
We had a really busy day in the dental clinic. Giselly (our
Peruvian dental team member) helped in the morning, and even
with her extra hands we saw fewer patients than yesterday.
However, we not only did more procedures, but more difficult
procedures as well.
 The medical team saw 155 patients and as always did miraculous
deeds. As is always the case, we can each tell stories of
how our hearts' were broken at least once today.
The age battle continues, only today with Efrain, who is
81 years old, surveying his patients as to how old they thought
he was. The general consensus was between 60 and 74 years
old! Ray is not happy! I am not EVEN getting into this battle!
Luis took us to a new restaurant for dinner (Panchitos).
The food and fellowship was wonderful as always. I think
Kent beat Ray in the eating contest tonight, but it may have
been a tie. Nothing like a little healthy competition.
We are so blessed to be here. Thank you for your thoughts
and prayers!
West Ficken
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
 We´ve now completed our first day of work in Collique and
we have some great stories. Dr. Ray Verm asked a 74 year-old
patient today how old the patient thought Ray was. The
patient responded, ?76.? Somewhat daunted, Ray decided
to ask his next patient the same question only to receive
the answer that that patient thought Ray was 90!!! The
fact that Ray is completely white-headed, and Peruvians
hardly ever attain white hair may have something to do
with this insult to dear 64-year-old Ray.
On another note, Miguel, a young Peruvian doctor, joined
our medical team today and helped us treat many of the patients
who came to see us. It turns out that he is the older brother
of Percy, one of our original and favorite OSA children.
Many young people only in their 20´s come to our doctors
complaining of their bones hurting, which at first blush
sounds like they are simply looking for an excuse to see
a doctor, but when one considers the hard labor kind of jobs
these people hold, one realizes they are sincerely hurting.
Life is very hard for our Collique friends.
 Deciphering billboards and signs on our way to Collique
is one way to pass the 3 or more hours we spend in the bus
daily--today we saw a sign advertising Obstretrical Dental
services!
Patti Peyman had a joyful experience today. Last November
the parents of a child with epilepsy requested medicines
that we didn´t have. Patti, not really knowing if she would
ever see this family again did succeed in obtaining one of
the medicines for this family just in case she would see
them again. Lo and behold, the family did appear and there
were joyful tears all around.
We have all commented that the streets seem cleaner in Lima
on this trip and that the typical dirt-filled fields actually
have grass growing in them. Alas, it turns out that Lima
actually received RAIN a couple of weeks ago which never
happens here. Lima´s climate is similar to parts of California
in that the only moisture comes from fog. Unfortunately we
have learned that Lima´s rainfall created floods and landslides
which washed away many of the dwellings in Collique.
We are off to bed now, our bus finally got us home from
Collique at 7:00pm and we have to be back on by 7:00 tomorrow
morning.
SUNDAY, APRIL 18, 2010
 We began the day worshiping at The Union Church of Lima.
The congregation asked visitors to stand. So, we stood as
a group as Luis told the church a little about Operacion
San Andres and the work we are doing here this week. We had
a delicious lunch at La Bisteca, where Ray and Kent particularly
enjoyed themselves. We then drove to Collique to set up the
clinical and prepare for our first day tomorrow. Given the
smaller size this trip we will be able to work together at
the OSA house.
 This is our 12th medical/dental trip since OSA began in
2003. It was a bit overwhelming to see the activity at the
OSA house. The dental area has 5 chairs with lamps. We felt
sad the Jim was unable to be here to see the fruits of his
incredible fund raising efforts. Ray mentioned that he was
almost afraid to work in his area as it was so nice and more
space than he has had before. We are grateful to Petry for
giving up his office to be converted into a patient room.
 Chris and Jesse have family visiting as well. Jesse's dad
and friend will be participating in construction projects.
We gave them their first work out today carrying heavy medical
supplies from the storage area to the second floor. As always
Meche and Blanca have done a great deal of work preparing
for our visit and it shows!
SATURDAY, APRIL 17,
2010
 The
OSA April 2010 Mission Trip began at 34,000 feet in the
air over Mexico. Literally. We heard a call from the flight
attendant asking if there were any doctors on the flight.
Not something that you want to hear, but in this case we
did have 2 excellent doctors with us. Luis Campos attended
to the patient and luckily our camp doctor Ray Verm had his
handy dandy medicine caddy on his lap, just waiting for his
first patient to arrive. Those of you who have been on medical
trips with us probably are having flash backs of this right
now. The patient wanted the pilot to land the plan in Panama,
but thanks to Luis' calming nature and Ray's meds the diversion
was averted. We were the first plane in the terminal and
that makes for a line-free enterance through immigration
and customs. As always we arrived with the appropriate paperwork
in order. We showed the required number of bags with medications
and they were approved without a hitch. We picked up our
third doctor, Dr Contreras, a pediatrician from Mexico, and
were on our way. This was one of the smoothest trips we have
had so far, minus the turbulence and near medical emergency
in the air. We arrived at the hotel at 12:30 and were given
our room assignments.
 Saturday morning came early, but we all gathered and discussed
the specifics prior to going out and refamilarizing ourselves
with Peru. We visited two museums and learned more about
the Peruvian culture. I was shocked to learn about the terrorism
that ended in the not too distant past. In fact, it was only
one year prior to the first OSA Mission Trip in 2003. At
the Art Museum, Irene Townsend left our OSA mark on the centerpiece.
Don't worry, this was a display in which you were supposed
to paint on. You will find our OSA and a cross that Irene
painted just below a fish and above a heart that was already
there. I think that is a perfect spot for it.
Due to the volcanic ash, we will unfortunately not have
our fabulouosly entertaining Scottish dentist Jim Estill.
We will miss him tremendously. We anxiously await the arrival
of West and Becca Ficken and BobbieAnn who will arrive this
evening. They with Kent Boozer will make up our American
Dental team. We will also have a Peruvian dentist and doctor
joining our group.
Keep us in your prayers! We will keep you posted on our
activities here in Peru. |
Missions
Update - Peru / Spring 2010