Spring in Oaxaca

Spring in Oaxaca is a bit different from what I was used to in the US.  We actually only think in terms of wet and dry season, and April is towards the end of dry season and ushers in our hottest weather of the year.  The rains should start by mid May, and they cool things off considerably.  This photo shows what I think of with early spring here — blooming jacaranda trees with wonderful purple blooms. 

Spring is also a time for me to get caught up on administrative type work for Semillas de Salud.  Because nearly everyone is off work or school during Holy Week and Easter Week, with much travel to villages of origin and such, and because the evangelical church tends not to observe Lent nor celebrate Easter, it’s a good time for me to be at home and get computer/paperwork done in preparation for the next series of trips and projects. 

So what’s coming up?

First, the Mexico Mission staff is hosting a retreat for pastors and spouses of the Iglesia Evangelica Misionera del Pacto (Mexican Covenant Church) April 30 – May 3.  We are trying to provide a time away from church responsibilities (and children) so that they may relax, reflect, renew, and recharge during the 4 day/3 night retreat .  The theme of presentations and workshops will be “Shaped by the Word of God.”  I’m excited because once again we will be offering basic health screening to all pastors and spouses with a team of 8 health professionals coming from my home church, Bethany Covenant, in Bedford, NH.  Vision, hearing, anemia, diabetes, and hypertension screening will be provided as well as physical exams.  We will also offer educational opportunities on diabetes and on how to deal with common physical complaints, such as low back pain, arthritis, etc…  This is the second time that Bethany is participating in this ministry of health evaluation for the pastors — they came to our first ever pastors’ retreat 2 years ago and were a true blessing to the pastors and to me.  It’s a lot of fun to be working with friends from home.  Look for photos and update during or after this time.

After the wrap up of the pastors’ retreat, I’m back to the isthmus for a continuation of the school health screening project funded from last year’s VBS offerings.  I will write more about the good things coming from that project in a future post dedicated to that, but if you want to see a clip of the inauguration of the project, check out:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzNrwum2Tis&feature=related    and  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H55Flh2-WsE&feature=channel_page

One of the fun aspects is that I will be going up to the most distant part of the municipalithy of Tehuantepec to bring the project to several very poor communities — the fun part is that this is the area where Dra. Elidia is from.  She is the local physician who has been of inestimable help in getting the project recognized by the local authorities and in participating in much of the screening.  These are extremely poor communities with very limited resources, but we are committed to trying to work with the communities from the outer areas moving in towards the center.  So often projects start, and they begin in the center, the place with the most resources.  Ideally, everyone eventually gets to participate, but unfortunately there is often a lack of funds, energy, or vision (or a change in government) before the furthest communities are reached, so the poorest communities often never get to participate.  With that in mind, we are trying to intentionally visit the most marginalized communities first, bringing them services that they need and finding ways to get the resources for the treatments needed for each community and for individual children with special needs.  It’s a slow process as relationships and networks need to be built in each community, but with relationships come the ability for ongoing screening and care.

While in the isthmus, I’ll also be training people from 2 additional churches to participate with Semillas de Salud in the school health screening project as well as for projects in the local jail and other projects in the community.

So I’m keeping busy, and am on the road more than 50% of the time.

In a future post I will give the more detailed background and current status of Semillas de Salud, to catch everyone up to where we are at present.

I look forward to comments.

As always, thanks for participating in this ministry with me.

Cindy Hoover, aka Oaxacadoc

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