Tuesday, July 21, 2009

The day started earlier than some of us would have liked, but eventually we all were up and showered and ready for breakfast. Many of us are trying new foods and new recipes for familiar dishes this week. Kathy made muesli (Swiss oatmeal) last night and put it in the refrigerator for breakfast this morning. It was a big hit with everyone—a healthy, whole-grain start to the day without having to cook (and eat) hot oatmeal on a hot day. We’ll post the muesli recipe for anyone who is interested as soon as we find a minute to do that!

Susan and Kathy, the two nurses on the team, finally met Marina, the Certified Nursing Assistant who works at the Health Center. Kathy and Marina had been talking by phone to plan the health care activities for the week, and we were very eager to meet her and to get to work. Marina showed us around the health center and described her work. The mission is lucky to have such a dedicated, knowledgeable, compassionate person to staff this clinic until a nurse practitioner can be recruited to work with her.

We got to work organizing the materials that we would need for the foot care clinic at the Senior Center in the afternoon. Marina was delighted to see all of the socks, foot creams, powders, and nail clippers that we had collected from Hope and St John and purchased for the clinic. From a nurse practitioner friend of Kathy’s, we also had donations of items necessary for assessing the feet of people with diabetes, who tend to have circulation and neurological changes in their feet. After a quick lunch, to which we invited Marina, we loaded up a mission van and headed for the Senior Center across the highway. Pastor Schwartz came along for support and to take photos, some of which she is posting with this blog entry.






We had enough supplies for 45-50 people, but we had a smaller number who came to the clinic. Marina thinks that despite the posters that she placed all over town, many elders were not aware that we were offering this service today. We had 11 people come for foot care, so we had plenty of supplies and plenty of time to spend with each one. Kyla and Kayla came over for an hour to help, too. Their assistance, along with Pastor Schwartz’s, was very welcome. We were able to make referrals for some elders to the podiatry clinic in Chinle, one of the two closest locations where people in Rock Point can get that kind of care.





While we were working with Marina at the health center and senior center, Shirley, Betty Ann, Kyla, and Kayla continued to paint the walls of the kindergarten room hallway. We all are amazed at the creativity and artistry demonstrated by these talented individuals. The colors are beautiful, and the scene as it unfolded on the wall was truly delightful. As I write this, Winnie the Pooh’s outline has taken shape on one wall, overlooking a stream with a frog sitting on a rock in the middle of it. I think that the frog is Kayla’s pet—she met him last night outside her apartment while he was searching for (and finding) a bedtime snack of beetles. The entire interior of the school is being repainted this Summer, so lots of people are in the building, working on various rooms. They have all admired the work of our painters, and we have admired theirs as well.