Team Meeting #3

Our third team meeting focused on micro-business development, plus some general information. Ron Vandergriend, who worked in the Bible League and has been all over the world with this organization, spoke on development. It is amazing that $1.25/day provides the minimum calories for life, and that 1/3 of India is living below this absolute poverty level. He discussed how people develop, and our role in helping the Indian people in the communities we will be in to find their own solutions. For the RD's reading this blog, think "Motivational Interviewing" and you get the picture. Very interesting discussion! Ron has had a very interesting life & travels.
We also discussed more of the plans for the medical team. We will have TWO WHOLE DAYS of classes on nutrition and TWO WHOLE DAYS of medical clinic where I would be used for individual counseling as needed. Dr. Blechl & Dr. Anglund will help with the presentation and we will have a translator too. So I have less than 3 weeks to develop a presentation on general nutrition, diabetes, hypertension, and whatever else I think might be helpful. It sounds like we will do 4-2 hour classes on the nutrition class days, with up to 100 people in attendance in each class. We may be able to do a power-point presentation, which would make it easier to include foods from India and make it a little more individualized to them. So I have my work cut out for me, but this will be so.o.o. interesting! I did ask Dr. Blechl, who then asked Ron, about ayurvedic medicine in India, but it sounds like in the area we will be in, it is mostly neighbors telling each other what they should eat or do for a medical concern. (Sounds kind of like here, doesn't it?)
Started practicing my packing & seeing if I can fit everything in my Goshen Health System backpack. So far, so good! I need to get a few more things, but I think everything will fit & feels like it is something I can carry on my back (plus the backpack has wheels so I can roll it thru the airport).
For all who are supporting me with prayer, THANKS SO MUCH!