Trinity PCA Medical team

Last week we hosted and worked along side again the saints from Trinity Pres, Tuscaloosa, Alabama. We had a great time attending patients from the Parque Industrial and Arevelo communities. We averaged 70 patients a day and used the time also to invite all the non-members to visit our churches. The team was comprised of three doctors, 5 nurses, and several more support personel whom worked with the children and helped with patient flow. Thanks so much to the Alabama team, and we can't wait until next year!

Update on Milagritos

Some of you may remember this post from April, discussing the Patient Assistance Fund. One example of a patient who has been helped by this fund is Milagritos, a 14 year old girl with cancer.

A few months later, Milagritos' condition is better, but not yet stabilized. She recently had some tests that indicated that the cancer was present, but decreased. She is losing her hair, but is eating better. Yesterday she started her fourth round of chemotherapy. She will continue with the chemotherapy until Saturday. After this round of chemo concludes, she will need a CT scan to determine whether or not more chemo is needed. This is an expensive procedure in Peru, costing about 2,200 soles. Our Patient Assistance Fund exists exactly for expenses of this nature. If you would like to donate to this fund, checks can be sent to the address below. Please keep Milagritos and her family in your prayers as they go through this trying time.

Christian Missionary Society
P.O. Box 53363 Knoxville, TN 37950-3363
Phone: (865) 684-4580
(Wichanzao Clinic Patient Assistance Fund written on the memo line)

FPC Jackson in Cajamarca

First Presbyterian Church Jackson made their annual trip to Cajamarca this past week. The team had 36 members, consisting of dentists, doctors, dental hygentists, translators, and a VBS crew. The week was very busy in the temporary clinic--the doctors and dentists saw over 1,000 patients. The VBS team had sessions in both the morning and evening and enjoyed sharing crafts, songs, and the story of Jesus with the children of Cajamarca.

Here we see Dr. Johnson pulling a tooth:


The medical team from FPC Jackson: physical therapist, psychiatrist, dermatologist, adolescent medicine specialist, ER nurse, pharmacist, surgeon... and more!


Thanks, First Pres Jackson for your hard work in Cajamarca! The Mission & the Medical Ministry both cherish our partnership with you all.

Paint & Tile!

Two recent short term teams have greatly helped with renovations to the clinic. Bethel Pres from Lake Charles, LA kicked things off by beginning the tiling process. The clinic has previously had concrete floors, but they are currently being upgraded to tile. Here's a shot of the main hallway of the clinic, after the tile was completed.


The downstairs area of the clinic has been tiled completely & we hope the upstairs is soon to follow. Thanks, Bethel, for your hard work!

Our next short term team hailed from First Presbyterian Church of Gulfport, MS. They pushed through baseboard difficulties & confusing Spanish paint names and repainted the first floor of the clinic. The bright blue walls have been replaced with a more wearable taupe color (which coincidentally looks great with the new tile). Here's a smiling Gulfport team member, ready to paint:


The first floor of the clinic looks better than ever, and the second floor will hopefully be renovated soon, as well. We're so thankful for the opportunity to continue improving the environment of the clinic, as a service to the community of Wichanzao. Thanks, Bethel and Gulfport!

Summer Interns

In addition to a plethora of short term teams, the Mission is pleased to have three Fellows working in the clinic this summer.


Beth Nagle is a 4D medical student from Tennessee. She came to Trujillo (with her husband, Mark) on a rotation for the month of June. She participated in a medical campaign and saw patients daily in the clinic. Also, she conducted home visits, giving care to patients who were unable to come to the clinic to receive it. She and her husband recently returned to Memphis and they are greatly missed.


Christine Balistreri (left) and Ruth Ann Broom (right) are the other two summer interns in the clinic. Unlike the photo might lead you to believe, they have not been spending all their time in the Sacred Valley. Christine is a rising senior at Washington & Lee University, double majoring in Economics & Environmental Studies. She is interested in working in the Public Health sector one day and is greatly enjoying this opportunity to observe the health systems of a developing country. Ruth Ann is a rising junior at Mississippi College, pursuing a double major in English Literature and Spanish. She loves being able to sharpen her Spanish skills as she communicates with patients at the clinic. Both Ruth Ann and Christine assist around the clinic wherever needed... sometimes triaging patients and sometimes removing paint from the baseboards with paint thinner. You never know what you're going to get into around here. Both girls will be with us until the end of July.

June Dental Campaign

This summer the medical clinic is thrilled to be hosting serveral short term teams! We are expecting groups from Tuscaloosa, AL; Gulfport, MS; Kosciusko, MS; Lake Charles, LA; and Jackson, MS. Some will be serving alongside us medically, others will be helping with some construction improvements to the clinic.

The first team we had the pleasure of welcoming this summer was a group from UMC Dental School in Jackson, MS. The team consisted of two first year dental students, four fourth year dental students, and two professors. They provided dental treatment in Wichanzao and surrounding areas, including Parque Industrial, Palmeras III, and Santa Rosa.





The group did a plethora of fillings and extractions and also provided children with fluoride treatments. Additionally, the team brought & distributed dental health information for kids and parents. Parents recieved a book teaching them how to care for their children's teeth and kids were given health kits that included a toothbrush, a brushing chart, and plaque disclosing tablets.



The team was a blessing to work with... fun, flexible, and great with the kids. We're grateful for their gifts of time and talent and excited about the work that was done in the area. We eagerly await the arrival of the rest of the short term teams. Stay tuned for an update on the team that recently arrived from Lake Charles, LA.

Changing of the guard

The end of May marks a sad time for the clinic. Both Agnes McKowen and Patty Kinsey leave us, returning to the states to continue their studies. Agnes will be in Physicians Assistant school in Alabama and Patty hope to enroll in nursing school. Their impact in the Wichanzao community has been tremendous, showing the love of Christ to the patients not only in the clinic, but to those outside in the neighborhoods around. The Fellowship program of the mission is a great tool for helping these young ladies mature as Christians, and here at the clinic they have matured as future health care professionals. May the Lord bless them as they go back to continue their training, and hopefully bring them back one day to work with us again. In the photo are from left to right, Terri Attardo, Agnes McKowen, and Patty Kinsey. Next week look for photos our our new fellows!