Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Peru Trip 2011

Last year we had the opportunity of going to Peru
with the Hands and Feet Medical Missions 
organization at UTMB.
We had such great time together, and really
enjoyed serving in that capacity Jordan decided to 
join the leadership team in the Spring of 2011. 
During the school year they go on about 2-4
short medical trips on the weekend to Laredo, 
while still planning the week long trip to Peru over
the Christmas break. 
Because of various reasons, I didn't go this year,
but Jordan was able to go thanks to wonderful
donations by family-which we were very grateful for.
This is a youtube overview of the trip to Peru 
one of the students made if you'd like to watch:


Here is a photo from the group inside the church:
There were a total of 25 people on the trip-some pictures
are translators, students and faculty. But this made 
up the team that ran the clinic:)
The clinic was held at this 4story church in the middle of the village.
All in all they had a:
 Laboratory, Triage,
Physical Therapy, Eye Glass Clinic, a Pharmacy
and Medical Exams.

these bags are filled with medications!
It was a long hard journey through 
customs, but they made it:)
the bag on top is a really neat, its a hiking
backpack turned into a Medical Lab
in a bag created by students at Rice University
and they allowed Hands and Feet to
us it again this year. You can read about it here
This is Jordan and Kael showing the students how to use
the glucometer tests from the backpack.
They were able to feature an eye glass clinic
to give out readers for those who needed them.
A lot of sorting and planning went into this, but they
did a great job.
These are the medical students that went on the trip.
Jordan and Kael were the 2 upperclassmen, 
the others are 1st years-hoping they come back
next year;)
There were many other students there as well, they ranged from
nursing students to Physical Therapy. Each played
their part in making the clinic run smoothly:)
Dr. White is the doctor that came with us from 
UTMB. He practices Internal Medicine. Here they
are seeing a patient in one of the exam rooms.
There were other Peruvian doctors that Dr. White had
contact with in Peru that came to help with clinic.
Jordan with Cherie and Sarah-a PA and Nursing student
that came last year. 

gifts from the church:)
Jordan, Brian and Eric-(Eric is the new UTMB
BSM leader-he did a great job)
After 4 days of clinic, they had a tourist day!! These
are some pictures from that.
I think this was meant for me and not the person
that took the picture....hmm...
sharing a small rock.
It was very beautiful there!! We didn't see this area last 
time we went.
I'm not gonna lie, I missed him while he was gone..



They saw over 850 patients in only 4 days of clinic!
 What a blessing to be able to share not 
only medical healing, but also to 
have the opportunity to pray with the 
patients for spiritual healing as well.
One man was led to the Lord, and that made the 
whole trip worth it. Jordan and the
other leaders for Hands and Feet did so
much work planning this trip on top of
a vigorous school schedule, and for that
we are very proud of them!

















Sunday, February 5, 2012

Christmas in Galveston 2011

For Christmas this year, we stayed in Galveston, and the
Carls decided to come join us!
The first night they were here, we went on a snug
little carriage ride through Downtown Galveston:
Girls side:

Boys side:

Pretty Emma and the horse that pulled us:

 The kids enjoyed playing video games with Jordan/
or under his direction it looks like:)
Christmas Even we opened sibling gifts.
We got Emma a Battenburg Parisol
and Gabe a Cowboy hat-
they look pretty cool



all of us squished on the couch!

yay! pretty tree;)


Christmas morning:
We got up around 5:45am...whew, Jordan and I were out
of it, but it was fun watching the kids open all the gifts
and the excitement!
Gabe got a BB gun! and some really cool
cowboy gear

Emma and her basinet and baby doll, doesn't it 
go well with the parasol?:)


Then we ate our fruit pizza and monkey bread...
i love food "traditions" :)


 Really cool Longhorns Gabe got to put up in his
new room! These are pretty awesome,
how did Santa get those in our house?

Emma really loved her splatter goo...not sure the 
proper name for it. 


Jordan with his new toys + his other 
favorite possession: Zeus. He kind of matches

Hanging out with Bells.
We missed being with the Landers this year.
It was our first Christmas that they weren't there!
They sent us a super cute Christmas picture though:)

The next day, my Birthday, the Carls had to leave
pretty early in the morning to head up to
Kansas to see the Landers and spend New Years 
with them, so we opened my gifts pretty
early! 

I love this bluetooth keyboard case. It makes the iPad
so much more functional, and great for work.

I think they really bonded.

 26 Years old on the 26th- Its my golden birthday!
Check out my super original cake....cinnamon buns 
from the nearby Arlans and a banana. It doesn't get any 
better than this!!

It was really neat having out first Christmas ever at our 
own house, and on top of that getting to have
one side of the family over (yes, I totally
missed my side of the family:(
We are so glad they came. 
The next day Jordan left for Peru (I'm going to post 
next about that trip:)
So for new years I didn't do much
 (Jordan was in Peru). And although
God did many wonderful things in 2011 
for us and through us, we also had many
unforeseen trials that strengthened 
us, but even still, we are glad to
put that year behind us and move
forward to 2012 to the things He has planned for us
in the New Year. :)

Thanks for reading!
Rachel