Today was a great day at clinica Caris. It was one of our twice monthly pap smear and procedure days, and we had 12 come in. We are especially glad that one of our patients, who has had her first-ever pap smear come back with early cervical cancer, showed back up today for her biopsy. She was very nervous and came in with her husband, who was more than supportive. We prayed together and discussed the possible treatment options depending on the results. I let her know that having that pap smear helped save her life.

We also saw a 40 year old woman for a pap smear that in addition had been suffering from a chronic cough and fevers, and weight loss for more than 10 years. Today she weighed 81 pounds and looked like a skeleton. I did the pap smear, but tried to stress the importance of investigating her more chronic illness further. Her husband was also very supportive and we agreed that she would start at the health department with sputum samples to rule out TB. Next week our team from Eastside Church of Christ will be bringing HIV screening tests, which will be a big cost savings for this patient. They appreciated the prayer time and promised to come back for follow up.

Today, Sheri saw a woman whose baby has died inutero. She said she hadn't felt any movement in 3 weeks--the same time her little boy died from complications from parasites. They prayed with her and she agreed to talk to her husband this evening to go in to the hospital for treatment.

It is hard, but also a priviledge to be alongside people when they are scared or sad or in desperate situations, to be able to stop and say, "lets pray about this and ask God to help you through, or to give you wisdom or peace." And when they are facing the possiblity of death, to share with them the hope we have in Christ.

I sought the LORD, and he answered me;

he delivered me from all my fears.

Psalm 34:4