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Letters from Mexico: Excerpts from my journal

Saturday, March 24th, 2007
We leave for Cancun today, and since Thursday I have felt rushed from one place to the next. MUlation was Thursday, then I picked up some of the medical equipment that John told me was available. Friday morning I received a vision exam by a retinal specialist, and now have visual field testing scheduled for just after Step 1 to absolutely rule out the possibility of a nerve cell tumor or impingement of my optic nerve from drusen deposited around the cup.

Friday night I packed, and my tension continued. Packing and laundry interspersed with phoning family engrossed my evening until 11 p.m., at which point I felt I might truly rest. I was in bed by 1 a.m.

I awoke at 6:45 a.m., none too rested. With two hours to spare I still felt stressed and rushed...My general lack of control of the trip leaves me feeling inadequate...

Sunday, March 25th, 2007
The night passed harshly, as the sound of the air conditioner kept me up much of the night.

Our morning meeting was at 7:30 a.m., although our breakfast was at 9 a.m. Prior to 7:30 Bret and I went for a walk, and we came across the large cathedral at the square. Going closer we could listen to the hymns in Spanish, and the poetry of the responsive chant. The haunting sound was beautiful, and the sound of it all will be etched into my mind.

We went to see some Mayan ruins after a brief Sunday service by Doug Hornok, our leader. It was a relatively recently uncovered site, Ek Balam...

After that we went to a swimming hole in a cavern. It was a very refreshing reprieve from the hot weather. The lighting came from a large hole in the ceiling, which now has the roots of a tree descending to the rock island in the center....

"We're all important in God's eyes," was Doug's words this morning. But I want to feel valuable to people. I want people to be invested in me. I want people to think I am special, too...

Tuesday, March 27th, 2007
...Yesterday we worked in a clinic, and the system of seeing people was rather hodgepodge...The whole operation was somewhat organized except for the area where the doctors were gathered. It was something of a catch basket.

My first patient was a woman with eye problems, and I expected it to be a great opportunity to do a fundoscopic exam, until I ran into her bilateral cataracts. Several patients I saw on my own, only consulting a doctor when I had taken a history and physical. I find my increased depth of knowledge is profound compared to last year....

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