- June 28 (Sat): Team gathered to leave for Veracruz at 7:45, on the road by 8:00. The final gross count of
the patients seen is over 1,400 for the week, with more than 5,000 dose packs of worm medicine given out
(not counting our own!). Had lunch in VC airport while the vans were checked in with Hertz; flight to
Mexico City smooth but tight (I would say something about Fokker 100's if it weren't so open to
misinterpretation...) and good connection at Mexico City to San Antonio, arriving 8:30. David drove us
home, with me dropped off by 02:15—long day, but a good one, home grateful for so many good things and
so many great people. I can hardly wait for next year!
- June 27 (Fri): MP 7:30; both teams to the town of Camalotal, also in the cane country. The town received
us very well, with the folks all lined up and ready, thanks to the hard work of the local priest, Reverenda
Erica. (We find she is moving soon to Chiapas to open a new church...interesting possibilities there!) With
so many doctors, we were able to work at a quick clip, and pull out early, leaving the dentists to finish their
work and give our tired workers a welcome rest. Gave myself over to the joys of Benadryl, having
sustained more close encounters with the flea population. Bleh.
- June 26 (Thu): MP 7:30; Red Team to La Esperanza, a nice small town in cane growing country, near to the
Blue Team's unit at Sta. Maria Obispo, where they worked in a covered basketball court, after having to
wait on the local school finishing up a dance festival. Finished our work at Esperanza by 2:30 and moved
our unit over in support of Blue–a brilliant bug out that took all of about 15 minutes, when set up for the
clinic usually takes 30-45 minutes. What a team! Close and miserable encounter with the fleas of Sta.
Maria—I deserve it for wearing shorts, but I don't like my reaction to the Flea-bitis.
- June 25 (Wed): MP 7:30 and then Red team to Arroyo Zacate, a small village to the southeast, while Blue
went to Nigromante, where they were received with fireworks. Red team experienced a good turnout for
the small commuinty, and found itself under fire all day from mangoes being dropped on the tin roof of the
palapa (open shed) where we held the clinic by local fellows (one in his 80's!) climbing in the trees to harvest
the mangos. Sounded like gunshots every time one hit the roof. Redeployed two of our docs including
David Walston to Nigromante to help with their overload of patients midafternoon. Pulled out a little early
ahead of a whopping rainstorm. Blue worked later and arrived about an hour late for Dinner. Then to the
hotel for bed.
- June 24 (Tue): MP at 7:30, then we broke into Blue team (four cars including the dentists and Dr. Bob
Birdwell and the Overalls) going to Santa Teresa Barrio Pacheca, while the Red team (including me and
David Walston, whose Spanish is very impressive) went to San Felipe de Zihualtepec, a 1.5 hour trip
southeast. Wonderful community and very well organized by Pdre. Sinovio, we were greeted warmly and
were able to serve 192 or more of these delightful and gentle people. Some rain today, but that kept us
cooler than usual. Back at Playa Vicente, found that Helen O. was feeling low, possibly from her encounter
with local food. One team member, Kim Cromack from Brownsville, received news his brother in law died
yesterday, but he has elected to stay with the team for the duration.
- June 23 (Mon): Team formed up at 7:30 each day for Morning Prayer and announcements. The full team
working together today at a village called La Joya in Oaxaca state to show our new members the ropes and
work out kinks. We are 33 in number: 5 each from Beaumont and Brownsville, 23 from Corpus Christi;
nine physicians counting the student doctors, three nurses, two pharmacists, one dentist and two dental
assistants, four optical workers, one priest and 11 other escorts, orderlies and helpers. About half the team
are fluent in Spanish, but then we encounter four other native languages besides Spanish in these
communities. The patient load was lighter today in La Joya than previous years–we had unexpected
competition from a government health lecturer,and that was disappointing, but we did see 155 patients today.
- June 22 (Sunday: Pentecost VI): On to Playa Vicente! Team formed up for the 4.5-hour ride south at 10:
00. Eight rented vehicles–we almost looked like a drug cartel or State Dept. entourage–keeping in touch all
the way with radios. Safe trip and into the hotel in Playa Vicente by 3:00. Holy Communion with local wine
and tortillas at the hotel at 4:00 and then to our usual team restaurant (La Selva) by 5:30. Supper and back
to the hotel and to bed early.
- June 21 (Sat): Travel Day. To the airport at 7:30, met up with the team bus from Corpus Christi without
trouble. More than usual problems at the ticket gate with bags, but it worked out due to team leader Dr.
John Navar's very persuasive ways. Each team member checks one 60-pound duffel bag full of medica-
tions in addition to his/her own personal luggage. (60 # x 30 duffels = 1800 pounds of meds, approx.)
Mexicana Airlines flight left about 10:00—easy flight to Mexico City and process through customs and on to
flight to Veracruz. Very easy move through customs in Veracruz and on to hotel there for the night. Met up
with additional team members coming from Brownsville by bus and student doctors Ann Marie Navar and
Joel, her fiancee who flew in separately. Pleasant evening supper with the Beaumont team and others.
- June 20 (Fri): Betty off to Virginia to see her Mom for the week. Spent the rest of the morning finishing
packing for the trip and making last minute calls. David Walston picked me up to meet the team at church at
1:45. Some quick office work and on the road by 2:00; arrived at San Antonio to spend the night in a
hotel. Nice supper with the team, the mandatory trip to Walmart thereafter, and to the hotel and sleep by 10.
- SOUTHEAST MEXICO MEDICAL-DENTAL MISSION 2008 begins
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