End of October. Fall is in full swing in Canada, winter is looming. Here, it's hard to mark the seasons, not much changes, I have to keep thinking, What month is this now? There's nothing to relate it to. The weather is either hot or hotter, or sometimes, less hot. It wasn't too bad for the first few weeks I was back, but then the clouds all left town, and every day was sunny and clear, with blazing blue skies, and and absolutely scorching sun. Just the idea of going out anywhere was too much to think about. I learned to time my journeys, out in the morning, lurk inside for the afternoon if at all possible, then venture forth again at 5 when the heat subsides a bit. But in the last week or so the clouds have returned with some blessed relief from that fireball in the sky. And the rainy season is getting closer. Not a drop of rain has fallen on this city in months. The months ahead will more than make up for that!

I feel as though most of the last 6 weeks have been spent in 3 hospitals here in the city. I tell people now - If you can't find me at home, check the hospitals, I'll be there! Start with the Solca, the cancer hospital. My friend Lenny has started chemo for ovarian cancer, and at the same time is having treatment for some TB lesions they found during surgery. So all of that means 5 separate trips to that hospital every 3 to 4 weeks. 2 for bloodwork, 2 for doctor visits, and 1 for chemo. All of which involve many hours of waiting. After the oncology visit, we have to launch off on a round of joining other lines to get the chemo in place for the next day - that usually takes 5 to 6 hours. Then the chemo is a 6 hour session. But Lenny is taking it all in very good form. It's even less fun for her! Her hair has all fallen out, and she's acquired a wig from someone, and in private she likes to whip it off and show me her "coco blanco" - white coconut!! And she seems to be coping quite well with the treatment, a couple of days of feeling lousy after the chemo, but then she bounces back. So in the meantime I pray that this is accomplishing what we're hoping for, a recovery for her so she can continue to care for her young family.
Then too, in between all the Solca trips have been waits on benches at the other 2 hospitals I frequent (I am actually known at these places now, they greet me like an old friend!), with other people who need medical attention for one thing or another. I have to remember to pack snacks, water, a book, and a sweater - these hospitals are vigorously air conditioned in places. Sometimes these visits are successful, sometimes hair-pullingly frustrating. Always an education.

In the midst of all these at times discouraging hospital trips, I've had a big positive. Through a Canadian contact, I've been put in touch with a ophthalmologist here, just when I really needed a good one for a couple of people. He has been wonderful, seeing my patients, not accepting payment, and a couple of weeks ago, arranged an expedition for me and a handful of people with eye problems, to a clinic he is associated with in Milagro, a town an hour away. It was founded and is run by MMI (Medical Ministry International), and is there for the poor. So a van came all the way here to collect me and my group, and took us there, where we were treated like royalty. Forms filled in, testing done, then our doctor saw them all in between his OR patients, and then suddenly, my old friend Julian was being taken in to have his cataract removed - just like that!! That day felt like a gift to me. We're saying it was a milagro in Milagro (the word means 'miracle'). We have another trip planned in a week, to take 5 or 6 kids to see the pediatric eye specialist there. All from a "chance" encounter with an old friend while I was in Canada. Any doubt that God is always working away there, out of sight? Not one!

Our Canadian group is now complete again. The last of our number, Nikki, got back from her time in Canada on the weekend. For a couple of weeks in August, Janna was the only one of us here, all the rest had headed back to Canada at various times over the summer. First me, then the Horst family, then Luke, then Nikki. But we're all back now, and getting on with what God has for each of us here.

I'm looking forward to another trip back to the jungle communities up the Onzole river later this month, finally. It's almost a year since I've been there, and I can't wait to go back and see my friends there. Stay tuned for news on that!