So Much More than a Clinic

While Medical and Dental services is a focus of the clinic, we are excited to include so much more once the infrastructure is in place.  

 We will be able to host construction missions, water improvement, proselytizing, educators, sports, medical internships, and so forth. We see every day there is so much that can be done, and our goal is to include everyone that has a skill or resource to share will be welcome here. Living old panama is a sight to see. Experiencing it will change you for a lifetime. Artisan quality, hand made everything, and a genuine kindness and love for people the way it was meant to be. We hope you will all see for yourself. We love visitors!!  

 Thei clinic land entrance  

This is all of the resource material at the local school. After 65 years the school just got electricity. They need wifi and computers! We need volunteers! 

The Vacunadera

Another great example in rural Panama is the Vacunadera. The community gathers together from all over the area to help out with vaccinating and branding the cattle. The Junta, or gathering together, is a grand tradition where everyone helps everyone else. Panamenios grab the cow by the tail and trip them up from behind. Here Chichin gets the throw of the day!    
Then everyone piles on. Everybody comes together to help everyone else. They are all their best resource. Some people brand, others rope, and some have a great ground game and tackle cows. 

  Chiqui is a great roper. They all are. But working together they get the job done and have a great time.  

The junta vacunadera is is a great example of working together. Panama Medical and Dental Mission operates the same way. Join me junta style to build this beautiful clinic. Together we can! It will change so many lives. And the happiness is more than riding in the back of a truck. Asa knows! 
   
Objects in this mirror may be happier than the average person! http://www.theclinicfund.org

The Junta

Traditional Panamanian living is a sight to see. Living it for a while has changed the way I look at life.  

 While cutting rice by hand or building a house with mud, and growing your own food is a great experience, the way that it is done is what makes it so special. The host will walk around community and invite people to help out. A call to action so to speak. The next day everybody shows up and does their work and the entire event is full of comradery and music and fun. They are happy. And at the end of the day the job is done.  

 It is a lot like building Clinica Campesina. Theclinicfund has called to action. When everyone shows up the project goes together to make something special. Will you join me with a contribution?  Imagine driving through the interior and enjoying the beauty all around. You come around the corner and see a welcoming, modern medical facility, beautifully landscaped and buzzing with activity of happy people having their basic medical needs taken care of. Free. This is only possible with your help. Partner with us! Donate some cash, and together we can build something we can all be proud of. http://theclinicfund.org  Together we can do it!   

 

 Along with The Original coconut Bob! 

The Tiniest of Visitors

  I could swear the jungle floor was moving in the distance. It was. And that movement was coming our way. Warrior Ants.  They bite like a fire ant and swarm their prey and devour it in seconds. Natures carpet cleaners. Even scorpions were fleeing and we watched the ground and the cabin walls blacken with millions of ants. The entire cabin inside and out was  a black, moving wave of ants all working as a team to clean the jungle floor and any other thing in their path. They all work together and they cover every nook and cranny. And then they were gone. The ants taught me that together,  even the tiniest creature can accomplish so much. These next few days as we all work together to build the clinic, get the word out, make some noise and cover all you know in your circles, and do this together, we will reach our goal.  Every day new doors are opening. More people are sharing, and the project is starting to pick up speed. I am in Washington the next few days on errand for the impoverished and afflicted friends of my region. They know why I am here but I can’t do it alone. Thank you KIMA tv Yakima for the upcoming opportunity, and everyone else that is sharing and donating and making it all come together. And ideas are coming to life!  Share any good idea you have to fund this clinic. Thanks every body. 

The Opening Bell

Building a house in rural Panama is an adventure for sure. The mud house, or casa barria is a great example of what we’re doing here.  

 The whole community comes together to build the house. Some stomp mud, others stack, tie sticks, or cook. It is a harmonious thing and it all comes together cooperatively. It’s beautiful! Like the rancho roof, everyone helps, and at the end of the day you have a beautiful, functional shelter. One stick and one penca at a time. 

    
 The clinic will be the same way. Can each of us come together to help a people in need?  Together the task is not hard at all, and actually a lot of fun. Please join me for the people of the peninsula. Tuesday I will be launching the indiegogo fund. Let’s make some better lives. Together. 

Monkeys Roosters and Cows (oh my)

Morning wake up in Agua Buena is always a hoot. Or whatever, but it’s always entertaining.  

 The howler monkeys go first. About 5:30 the whole surrounding area comes alive with echoes from one group, or troop to the other. If you’ve never heard a howler monkey, it’s worth the trip. Loud and awesome! The monkeys wake up the roosters. Then they take a shot at it.   

 Then cows moo and everyone is up. 

 I don’t know if they know it’s a tradition, but they’re pretty regular.   I guess we are all that way to a point. We just do what we do. Here’s something to think on. Let’s do something special today. Partner with me and help me build the beautiful people around here a medical facility we can all be proud of. Nothing like it in Central America. Word is that this will be the model mission clinic. I like that. Let’s make some better lives. 

Mission Clinic Plans

  I am very happy today as we have the first draft of the clinic plans. We took a 1550 square foot single doctor clinic theme and turned it into a 1 doctor and 1 dentist medical building. I like it but still open for suggestions. There will be large, covered outdoor seating and waiting as well. My first thought was to make the doctors exam room a little bigger, and the nurses station and triage just a little smaller. Check the new site http://www.panamamedicalmissions.org and let me know what you think. Que tenga tan buen dia!

The Mission

Panama Medical and Dental Mission and Clinica Campesina is committed to provide medical and dental care to underprivileged and under-served residents of Agua Buena, Panama and surrounding communities on the Azuero coastline. We are committed to improving the quality of life for afflicted families with little or no resources by giving access to health and dental care not available. 

 
Helping with basic needs and providing sustainable employment is also an important goal of the mission. What more important work can be done than to provide jobs, opportunities, and health, to enhance the lives of families and individuals?  

 Phase 1 of consruction provides 6-8 months of consruction work for a dozen men, while phase 2 will provide work in the restaurant, transportation, facility maintenance, grounds keeping, and tourism, and add another 10 to 12 permanent jobs. We will be one of the largest employers for several miles of the coastline. The average pay in the area is $17 to $20 per day, and right now the men have to travel out of the area to get that. This is a great opportunity for great changes in rural Panama.  

 This is the site for the clinic that a local rancher donated last week. About $200,000 piece of property. I can’t tell you how excited I was to get that offer!  Wow!