New job, new friends, new address!

    I realized the other day that I have spent a lot more time writing about clinic construction (which is a huge part of our lives here right now) and not a lot of time writing about my work in the clinic.  I have really so enjoyed getting back into practicing medicine. As you have seen in the pictures, there is a family medicine/pediatric clinic in front of the new ophthalmology clinic. Right now I am currently working with a wonderful family practice physician from the UK named Anjanette. She has been such a blessing to me these past few months, not only in medicine, but she has quickly become a very dear friend. It has been very comfortable "to settle" back into practicing medicine with her by my side ready to help me and answer any questions that I might have. I have also been greatly blessed and encouraged by Abby, a nurse working in the clinic from the US and our 3 Peruvian nurses as well. Right now there are only women working in the clinic, but we will quickly be joined by many other physicians, as the rest of the Mission to the World Cusco team will be arriving in a few weeks.

Anjanette and I working in the clinic in our matching vests

   I have really enjoyed offering most of the women's health services at our clinic, La Fuente. Anjanette has been kind enough to allow me do most of the women exams, which I love. It has been really amazing to get to serve and love these women, and to be able to answer many of their very simple questions, which have never been answered before. Unfortunately, I have also seen many hard, sad cases in my short time working in Peru. It is not uncommon to see young girls who have been raped, sexually and physically abused. Pray with me that the Lord would allow these circumstances in their lives to draw them unto Himself, and that if I might be a small part of that, He would allow me to share His love with them. I am so thankful that the Lord is allowing me to be a part of His work at La Fuente.

   On a different note, life in Cusco changed forever yesterday as a new store called Maestro opened here. This is a store very similar to Home Depot or a large Ace hardware and literally has EVERYTHING that you could ever want to buy for your home or for construction. This the first "mega store" of its kind in Cusco. The inauguration was yesterday and there were people from everywhere in the mountains that came down to take a look at the new store. This is probably the beginning of many large stores and malls to come to Cusco. For us, this is a bittersweet moment, because of course a store of this magnitude makes our lives so much easier, but at the same time is really going to hurt the business of the local hardware stores. It is also a bit different to be in such a non-industriliized city and then to be in a large store such as this one. When we were there yesterday (with every other person in Cusco) I felt like I was in the US. But then I looked around and saw the quechua mamas in their dresses and top-hats, and saw that all the words on the aisle signs were in quechua, and I was quickly reminded where I was!

  A huge thank you to those of you who have written and asked for our address. For those of you who have asked about sending packages, please do not send anything of great value, as someone in customs might decide that they would like to keep it. We cannot receive any boxes, only envelope mailers, and they must not weigh over 5 pounds. 

Here is the address: 

Nathan and Kristen Henson

Casilla 985

Cusco, Perú

Here are a few other random pictures of our "daily life" in Cusco.

A day in the market. This is where we buy all of our fruits and vegetables

There are over 300 different types of potatoes in Peru. These are just some of them in the market

This is the quechua "mami" selling potatoes 

We live in such an incredibly beautiful place

The view of the city from our living room window