First day of volunteering

Hola! Today was our first day of volunteering, and things went well, I think.

The Lamay Clinic Project was initiated by several medical students from Cleveland, Ohio two years ago. My brother Bill, who officially retired from Cleveland Clinic 4.5 years ago, volunteered to help oversee the service/learning of medical students and residents from Cleveland Clinic and Case Western.

This is the third year that Bill and Maureen have done this volunteering, and my first time. The whole project covers four weeks and also involves other doctors, nurses, nursing students, pharmacists and various friends and family members.
Today's clinic was at the health department facilities in the town of Lamay, Peru. The next three days we will go to two small communities outside Lamay and an orphanage, before returning to today's location on Friday.
Maureen and I helped give out glasses to those who showed up at the clinic with difficulties seeing either distances or with reading. When Maureen and I have done this before, we had to make our best guesses of which glasses to give someone using eye charts. This time there was an ophthalmologist to provide his expertise, which was a huge advantage.
The students have done a wonderful job of planning and organizing this whole project, and their enthusiasm is contagious. It makes for a fun work environment.