The work begins in earnest tomorrow...

Buenas noches.

We are just getting back to the hotel, 2350, after a long evening.

We walked from our hotel to the Pastor´s house, where we had lunch together. As I said, this is Census Day, so the streets were quiet. We heard that the police were questioning people on the street, but we didn´t have any trouble. After a simple lunch together, we each took the time to tell the group a little bit more about how we came to be here, what the Lord had done to prepare us for this trip. Many of the team had been on several trips together before ... I think Martha said she has been on 27 since we met in Peru in 1998 on both our first trips. There are some amazing stories about the way in which our Lord works. And it was wonderful to see the pastor´s family again.

After lunch, the medical providers met for a few minutes. We do have another family physician on the trip, Alejandro Estrada, who has been working as a missionary pastor in Uraguay. I´m thankful to have another physician to call upon, particularly since he speaks the language. Phill had mentioned that they had placed me in charge but that really isn´t true. I began the meeting by recognizing the deep experience in the room, and certainly don´t feel qualified to take charge.

We spent the evening at the home church of our pastor host, Carlos Angulo. The people were so gracious. It was wonderful to see Wendi sharing greetings with the women, with the warmth and compassion that the Lord has placed in her heart. Dr. Alejandro was asked to preach, and spoke about Matthew 9 35 ... The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.

We then had the toughest part of the day ... we spent a couple of hours waiting to be served at a local restaraunt. In front of a stage. With extremely loud music.

We´ll be up early for breakfast at six, and a day of work in Chao. This is the desert farm town where I saw the growth of a new section of town after the flooding in 1998. Pastor Juan Angulo has a modest church there, built with adobe dug from the back of the church lot. Adobe walls, dirt floors, even adobe roof and adobe pews! The work awaits...

Thank you all for your faithfulness in supporting Wendi and I. After an all day clinic tomorrow, we´ll be staying for an evening church service, so it looks to be a long day....