Day 5 - Barangay Lugsongan

What a day! I don't even know where to begin, which is unfortunate, because I can't go to bed until I get a beginning, middle and end written.
Today was an awesome day, which began as we drove by one very large sow and ended up on Leyte's southern tip awaiting our transportation. Bear in mind, it seems as though everything drivable or floatable on this island is miniaturized and our ride to Limosawa was no exception.

Unfortunately I decided to break the ice and bring the first mission injury upon myself. (Selfless? I think so!) I ran to catch up to our "ferry," a very small outrigger canoe with a motor that perpetually sounded as though it would die and leave us floating between two islands praying the current would get us back to one or the other or that the sharks would eat us quickly should we go mad from all the sunshine.
Anyhow, I digress. So as I run to the boat, I managed to roll my bad ankle and snap, there went at least one ligament and we had barely begun.

I wasn't going to be a burdon so the team got me some ice and ibuprofin and I made it to the island with very few shed tears.

Today our clinic was held in Barangay Lugsongan, a community of about 1,200 people. As we set up, people started gathering at the door waiting to be seen for various injuries and illnesses. Our first patient was barely newborn boy whose cut umbilical cord was badly infected.

Unfortunately Don was unable to drain the pus, but he was given antibiotics and asked mom to return with her son before Friday.
Additionally, there was one young man who came in with a thyroid disorder. His blood pressure was sky high, his neck was swollen and his eyes were bulging.

All told, none of these are good signs and he will need surgery to have his thyroid removed. If not, he will likely die. Please keep this man in your prayers. We may try to fundraise to help pay for it if possible, but for now, he needs God to intervene and either perform a miraculous healing (not out of the question,) or that God may bless us with the ability to help him get further treatment.

There are two things we also noticed. In general, there are a lot of thyroid issues on this island and Leyte. This is likely from a lack of iodine and vitamins. Also, there is an eye condition on Limosawa that many people have. I don't have the details on this now, but will find out more. All told, we treated about 60 people. There has been discussion about us staying on the island so we can have time to treat more patients. It takes about 3 hours to get back and forth and we have to depart well before nightfall. If so, I won't have access to the Internet...or likely electricity, so we may be out of touch for a few days.
I was fortunate enough to be able to explore the town and learn more about the people living there. The primary income is through fishing for various local fish, such as tuna, and squid and selling it for about PHP 40 per kilo. That is less than one dollar.

Most of the fishing is done with a drag line. The squid is caught by dropping a barbed basket into the water and pulling it back up with about 10 small squid. They are left to dry in the afternoon sun before they are sold to buyers.
The island was struck by a tsunami in 1984, which wiped out all of the waterfront huts and decimated the community's fishing lifeline, which took time to rebuild. Many moved to higher ground, including this woman and her husband who found the highest property they could afford. Not a bad view in my opinion.

Of course the entire island is simply gorgeous. You could look at it from the water and imagine it being a tourist haven. However, most of the population lives in poverty and many of the elderly have never left the island.

I have a LOT more i could say, however I must get my foot elevated and get some rest. Anyone that knows me, knows I won't let something like torn ligaments in a major part of my body hold me back. Today I managed to play duck duck goose, Simon Says and do the Hokey Pokey with the local children. They somehow seemed to flock to me like the Pied Piper. Maybe it was award winning personality or my pocket full of sweets and toothbrushes. I prefer to think the first one is true. Now my ankle is swollen like a small orange. I'll have to let you know tomorrow whether it was worth it.
All of us are feeling incredible, although perhaps a bit dehydrated. Please continue to pray for our health and safety. Pray also that people will come to know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through this mission and the earnest prayers of Mary on several local pastors.
I'm looking forward to what God has in store for us on the rest of this adventure.
God bless,
Sheldon