Agape


For our Tundra Mobile Medical Clinic 2003, Agape has brought a lot of excellent medicine that can take care of 95% of most human diseases we will encounter, as well as a portable laboratory, ultra sound machine, EKG, dental equipment, and eyeglasses. Nenet people were coming by reindeer sleigh from all over the tundra to our clinic. Some people drove reindeers for two hours and some for 24 hours to see us.
Somburg clinic reindeer parking spot.	This is the Somburg clinic we worked in. The local medical staff is made up of wonderful people who work really hard with what they have. The problem is that they don't have much. In 1998 Agape was able to give our microscope to their hospital. When we came back this year the microscope was still there and in use.
Every day we had a crowd of people who wanted to see our doctors. Everyone had to have a waiting number to go to our registration and fill his or her patient card. Within just a few moments, all the waiting numbers had been snapped out of Max's hands. After registration, patients could then see a doctor. The doctor would then send them for more research to our laboratory if necessary. While patients were waiting to be seen, the rest of our non-medical team had a chance to talk to them and answer their questions about why we came so far to help them.	Dr. Bill introducing our Agape team and explaining the way our clinic works.
Betty is testing the vision of a tundra lady who could not read or write.	Eyeglasses were an excellent addition to our medical program. Our eyecare division was the first to start working at the clinic, and the last one to finish. The elderly tundra people often can't read, write or count. We had to fill out a patient card for each patient. Sometimes we would get incredible answers: in response to the question "How many children do you have?" a man said "three" and then clarified, "I have three girls and one boy". Another man's answer to the question of "Your phone number?" was also interesting. He asked "What is it?"
The ultra sound machine seemed like space age equipment for many tundra people. For some patients it was the first time to receive such advanced medical care.	Valery, a Russian doctor, performs a liver ultrasound test. We met Valery at our medical clinic in Kemerovo. He wanted to come and work with us again.
Dr. Bob, an American dentist, is working on a young man's teeth.	Dr. Bob was a great hit among the local people. Patients tried to persuade him to stay in Somburg longer (for the rest of his life!). Although the Somburg clinic has a dentist office and even a drilling machine, none of the equipment worked. The drills were missing. Agape brought along a dental chair, equipment, medicine, and tools. Dr. Bob was able to help hundreds of people in this remote and isolated village. Patients were amazed that the removal of teeth could be painless! On some people whose teeth were in such bad shape, Dr. Bob had to remove four, five, or even six teeth at once!
	To see the stories and photos in sequence click Page 5