numbers aren't just numbers

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11 weeks of quarantine/lock down.  The vasty majority of our population not able to work.  Not even sure what will be coming in June if that will change much, or how quickly.  

We are continuing to roll with the punches as it relates to travel, construction, education, and...well, everything I guess when you think about it.  

As we have been doing food distribution, we have had some changes and ideas as we tweak and see what we can do and how. 

Maria asked last time if she could have some bags for here in Tegucigalpa for the guys that are continuing to try to walk up and down the streets selling food or whatever they can.  That can be a hard life even when everything is open. Now, harder to imagine.  Seemed like a good idea, and she has a good eye, so it was an easy vote.  Just 5 or so of the 600 we were able to do for these two weeks.  Small number.

Today she sent me this picture from a gentleman she encountered, selling avocados, green peppers, onions, tomatoes and raspberries.  He is deaf, so she did not get his name, but she sees him come by with frequency.  

She also sees a couple other guys that help him and work together trying to do this in quite a few neighborhoods.  They live about a mile away, across the four lane road. 

They are technically violating the quarantine.  Selling food probably usually gets them a pass...but they are also at risk at getting picked up and having all that taken from them at any time as well.  But what is the alternative?  Hard to imagine.

But at least he will get to eat tonight. 

I wanted to record this somewhere and it seemed too long to post to Facebook.  The clinic this month, as the pandemic rages on and almost everyone is trapped in their homes most of the time, has been getting busier and busier, even with the distancing and other restrictions we have to adhere to.  We were able to add dental services back this month...we are trying salaried dentists now so that hopefully eventually we can schedule staff, pastors and the Milk Project kids to get seen and helped, that will be a big change.

494 General Medicine patients 
143 Gynecology patients
14 blood pressure checks
155 ultrasounds
41 pap smears
(I won't detail all the other misc. services provided)
157 eye exams
31 eye checks
3 ambulance trips
144 teeth pulled
13 teeth cleanings
60 fillings
20 temporary teeth
(and a bunch of other dental services)
around 660 laboratory exams

Numbers show part of a picture...but they always miss the tear jerking moments, the sweat and effort of the staff who keep going non-stop, and looking people in the eye over and over again who are afraid how they will survive another week.