I leave for another outreach tomorrow morning. We have a long drive, and a four hour hike into the mountains. I hope I can sleep; the anticipation is already making my brow moist. Hopefully I'll have some nice pictures to show you when I return.

Peace,

A.W.

Breast Cancer in Young Women, Common in the Philippines

A heath student in training, I watched, wincing at the painful cries from the other side of the room: the pressure of tissue scissors, cold surgery sounds, and a young girl aware that half of her breast would soon be removed contributed to the tremendously tender operation. I had expected to see this kind of surgery during my internship in the Philippines. But apparently, and unfortunately, mastectomies are far too common here.

Helen, a young mother and faithful wife, was diagnosed with late stage breast cancer, and without surgery, she may have lived little more than a year - maybe missing her twenty first birthday.

Helen lives in a remote area of Mindanao, the largest island here in the Philippines, where women are at a high risk for developing breast cancer. Whether it’s to blame on poor genetics or environmental carcinogens, doctors are unsure; but sadly, most having little or no access to health care, both geographically and financially.

Dr. Evans and his surgical team are the only medical staff providing free surgery and consultation in these remote areas. His organization receives funding from church sponsors in the U.S. and uses mostly donated medical supplies, though they have gone through many financial hurdles to keep the show on the road. Reach International has recently made a connection to the Mennonite church, in hopes to expand their ministry. Needless to say, there are many sacrifices that Dr. Evans has made, and I feel privileged to work and learn alongside his efforts.

Echoing sobs etched a different picture in my mind that day. Strangely, I was reminded of the birthing process. The pain seems to last forever – or so I’m told - until at last the process is complete, and then peaceful thoughts of longevity remain. As I watched Dr. Evans finish up the stitches, I knew Helen and her young family had a far brighter future than just two hours ago.

Helen told me the next day how grateful she was that her tumor was gone.

“[The] staff was awesome! Even though I felt shy at first, I began to think more about my health,” she said.

As I prayed with her for continued healing and grace, it amazed me that a willing staff, surgeon, and a little hope could bring such immediate life change.

More to come!

A.W. Hall

special thanks to Charity Corkey, a gifted editor, and great friend!

Here are some shots of the Philippines. I hope you enjoy them.

The first four are of my friend Genel, a jack of all trades, and master of most of them. He fixes a flat tire on our way home to Davao City.

...Internet Cafe minus the Cafeine...

Currently, I am sitting in a small "internet cafe" down a cobbled street in Davao. They only serve internet here, no coffee or food. I never expected my first day here to be this much fun. Before I could even finish my breakfast, I was whisked away to drain Dr. Evans hematoma, my first sterile procedure. I drained over 6 of the 12 syringe fulls of stale blood after anesthetizing my puncture site. (It was a big hematoma: last week they drained 18 syringe fulls.) That's almost a liter of blood (900 mL)total!

Elizabeth, Dada, and I went to market earlier. I grabbed some fruit, veggies, and chicken. I've never bought pineapple so cheap, 4 pineapple for the equivalent of 50 cents. Walking around the crowded streets, catching a glance from a curious passersby, hearing kids shout and laugh, "hey Joe," I'm struck by how foreign I am here, and yet how I feel at home. I can't wait to adventure away from the city, meet more people, and learn new perspectives.

Well I've got two minutes left for my computer, so I gotta jet! Bye Bye!