These kids are waiting to see the doctor and they are happy! Why are they happy, you ask? Because they are not getting their fingers poked to draw blood like they often do. These kids are in the afternoon program at the church in Chiguata, where they get help with homework and food (from a program unrelated to SIM). One of the requirements to be part of the program is a check-up from a doctor every 6 months and part of the check-up is to have their hemoglobin checked. I told the organizers that I wouldn't do that. There are four reasons: 1. There is little benefit of checking hemoglobin levels in otherwise healthy kids. 2. I don't have the reagents to test 150 kids at the moment. 3. I looked at a previous report that had 93 kids listed, and not one had a hemoglobin below 13, which even at this altitude is in the normal range. and 4. Do you want to make these kids cry? And certainly, making children terrified of doctors is not in their best interests.
We went to the Chiguata church on Wednesday with a team of 11 people: 5 missionaries and 6 Peruvians from the San Luis church, which is near our camp. The San Luis church is a fairly young church started by SIM and this was the first time they have left the valley they live in to minister in another community.
Julio checking a student's vision
Pray for the children of Chiguata to grow both physically and spiritually.
