UUMC Panamá Mission 2007

Photos From the Field

Gray day, Sunday morning - started well - ahead of schedule and a Panamanian breakfast at Waikiki (What's that? A beach in Hawaii, silly) instead of MacDonald's. We settle into the long ride to Volcan.  Bumpy ride in the bus as the Pan American highway is a misnomer.  Background hum of multiple conversations - sharp sound of motorcycles reving and passing - on the right - blur of multiple colors - then another and another. Jan says "They may be needing our services¨and John adds, "Or mine" as they race on ahead of us and we go back to our discussions or books.  Short time later - traffic ahead and then we see the line of cycles and others who have stopped.  One of the cyclists has left the road and is down the embankment. We stop to see if we can help. Wes and Jen run back and then relayed requests for IV equipment. Which of the carefully packed bags now under the tarp on the roof?  What about the green bag on the back seat?  Alan goes to see if he can help.  John and Jan leave the bus.  Yan and Will shuttle back and forth and the rest of us watch the loose luggage now spread behind the bus at Raine's request. Cars and trucks stop (some with children) to add to the spectators.  Someone (maybe Miguel) says the ambulance is enroute.  Minutes later, we see it. Word filters back to the bus, "It doesn't look good." The ambulance loads and pulls away.  Spectators begin to leave and most of our group return - except Wes and Jen who are on their way to the hospital with the cyclist. Alan doubts he will make it.  Raine says how grateful the other cyclists are that we stopped.  John has prayed with all by the side of the road.  We repack the top of the bus and some of the cyclists wave salutes of appreciation as they pass us - on their way to the hospital perhaps.  We turn around and backtrack. At the hospital, the ambulance is still there.  Is that good news?  Alan goes to learn what he can.  A minah bird lands on the mirror of the bus and begins packing at his own image - scolding loudly.  The word comes back with Alan.  He didn't make it!   John goes in and shortly returns with Wes and Jen, Jan and two of the cyclist's friends.  We stand in a somber circle on the gray asphalt of a Panamanian hospital - weeds poking through - John offers a prayer of thanksgiving for the life of Michael.  We learn he was an American - former GI - met and married a beautiful Panamanian and returned here to live with his wife and two daughters.  What put us all together this gray day in this moment?  Volcan, Bongo, and Jacu are still miles and hours ahead.  It begins to rain.

– Carlene Nelson 

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Irene Gattis
Posts: 1

Such a sad story about the motorcyclist. . .
Reply #1 on : Wed July 18, 2007, 21:37:11

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Thank you for your story. I am so sorry to learn of the accident/death of the man on the motorcycle. But I am glad that you all did everything you could to help in the situation.
What memories you are making as you involve yourselves there!