Medicine in the Jungle
Renaisa Anthony, M.D.
Aug 18, 2008 · 1:42 PM
When I arrived in Ecuador I had no idea what to expect. I’d agreed to come with the expectation that I would be joining other physicians caring for the Shuar people and quickly learned that I would be the only physician. As a women’s health specialist...I found this initially frightening. I knew only the basics about general medicine, geriatrics, etc. Fortunately, God had provided a physician’s assistant and pediatric nurse on our group mission trip as well. Together, we got in the trenches and treated “bechos” as the villagers call them (a.k.a parasites), impetigo, chronic pain, dizziness, headaches, anemia, malnutrition, fevers, mastitis, etc. Our team worked to install water filtration to improve the overall health of the village.
The children and their smiles will forever be paved on my heart and stored in my memory. We treated over 150 patients in 3 days. I can’t believe it! We brought our Western world medicine and “fixed” things. Yet, the Shuar taught me about plants that treat fever, ward off mosquitoes and help induce labor.
I know God is the greatest physician and we simply served as his hands, eyes and ears this past week. I am just grateful to have had the opportunity to serve, in the middle of the jungle, without running water, sewage, modern medicine and laboratories. We served, we treated, we loved, we learned, and our hearts were filled with joy. I look forward to returning to the village again to hug the Shuar and continue to build our relationships started just a couple of days ago.
While we left them with medical information, water filters and medicines...the best gift we could have left were our prayers. Thanks to the Shuar for impacting my life and confirming my purpose God has ordained...healing and serving others through medical advancements with love and compassion.
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