We felt the earth move under our feet...

...or in our hotel rooms...literally.  Last night there was a minor tremor in David when we were all snuggled in for the night.  This was one of 20+  they've experienced in this area over the past couple of months.  No damage were aware of, but a very odd sensation so that we were not sure what really occurred until morning.

We were asked by Jane at lunch today to think about God's presence during our time together.  Here are my observations:
--Janet literally washing the filthy feet of a stranger
--Dianne and Tom giving up their shoes for that stranger
--Care by the pharmacists team (Lynda, Mary and Dianne) in being sure the right medicine is given to all the patients
--Tom, Tracy and team coming together late yesterday to be give treatment to a child with an infection and using the dentist's chair to be sure it was done right
--Barry, Rhett and Chalino helped care for a sick patient with pneumonia on the bus from Cientaguita to the hospital in David, staying with her until she was admitted, being sure they had money for a bus to go home and communicate with the son for follow up to see how she was doing (she stayed overnight and was released this afternoon)
--The dedicated team for the children's program led by Elizabeth, Julia, Kayla and Austin who worked through many challenges but found creative ways to bring joy and happiness to all who they touched during the week
--Dental team (Pete, Jim, Nancy and Richard) in the care given to treat all the patients; today they stayed late to treat 2 last patients who starting walking at 4:00 a.m. to make it to the clinic "on time" for medical and dental care by the U.S. team
--Our intake team (Steve and Amy) who started out the process with the patients and kept track of helping with prioritizing what was needed
--The team (Bron and Harvey) that coordianted in providing the patients with proper reading glasses and sunglasses
--Bron finding a creative way to get twice as many glasses for the same price when she ordered them on-line
--Our local translators who without their help we could not communicate with the Ngäbe and allowed us to do the tremendous medical/dental work this week
-- Our medical professionals (Tom, Barry, Jane, Amy, Tracy and Janet) who treated the patients with tenderness and compassion
--The work could not be done without the loving care for the Ngäbe and Panama people as exhibited by our local VIM leader - Rhett.
--Reminder by Jane that this one team was never together before and will never be together again...yet we pulled together this week and did awesome work

So we not only literally felt the earth move, we also felt the spirit move within us this week despite the heat, delays, communication challenges and obstacles as we treated the poorest of the poor, the Ngäbe of Panama.

Peace and Love
Nancy Middleton