Colonial Hills Baptist Church Panama Medical Missions Trip June 14 through June 22, 2013 NOTE: Please keep in mind while the following information is correct at this time, any portion of it is subject to change as plans develop and logistical issues are dealt with. Some parts of the trip are relatively firm while others are still in the planning stages. Please be flexible and understanding as plans solidify. A CHBC STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES booklet will be issued outlining policy and procedures. The following is simply details for this particular trip. MISSION: Colonial Hills Baptist Church (CHBC) will return to Panama to conduct a medical clinic in the village of San Felix. Local missionaries Alex Taylor, Jim Childress, and members of their families will assist with the clinic. Colonial Hills Baptist Church will be taking a number of medical personnel, translators and support personnel to this clinic and will form the bulk of the team. Local Panamanian medical and evangelistic personnel, as well as translators may also assist during the week. The evangelist is scheduled to be Jerry Sivnksty. FINANCIAL INFORMATION: The cost for each individual is currently scheduled to be in the $1,600 to $1,900 range. Meals will be provided on clinic days and team dinner. Meals at the airport, travel days, snacks, and non-clinic days will be the responsibility of each team member. CLINIC INFORMATION: CLINIC SITE: N 08.34032 W 081.82598 This year s clinic will be held at Bible Baptist Church of Molejon (Iglesia Bautista de Molejon). It is located north of the southern highway, Corredor Sur, and is located in an Indian reservation. It is approximately a 6 hour drive west from Panama City. These reservations are called comarcas in Panama. This particular one will be inhabited by Guaymi Indians. The clinic itself will consist of several buildings within a very short distance of each other. The main area which will house registration, triage and most of the primary care is a large concrete slab covered by a tin roof. There are no interior or exterior walls. This will be partitioned off as deemed necessary. Additionally, there is an enclosed building just meters away that houses 3 classrooms. These will be utilized for clinic operations as well. There is also a latrine and a smaller covered area that can be used for a dentist or other needs of the clinic. There is no running water or electricity at the clinic site. However, they do have a generator which will be used to power lights under the structures for the treatment of patients. CHBC 2013 Panama Missions Trip Page 1 of 9 Revised: 9/6/12
The people coming to the clinic will be primarily coming from the Comarca. There are 12 other churches in the region that will be getting the word out to local villagers. An extremely high turnout is expected. The team will consist primarily of CHBC members, but a few Panamanian medical personnel will be assisting. ROUGH IDEA OF WHERE BIBLE BAPTIST OF MOLEJON CHURCH (CLINIC SITE) IS LOCATED EXACT COORDINATES ARE: N 08.34032 W 081.82598 CHBC 2013 Panama Missions Trip Page 2 of 9 Revised: 9/6/12
CLINIC PHOTOS OVERVIEW OF CLINIC SITE. MAIN BUILDING IN THE DISTANCE. MAIN CLINIC BUILDING. THIS ROOM IS APPROXIMATELY 39 FEET WIDE BY 78 FEET LONG: CHBC 2013 Panama Missions Trip Page 3 of 9 Revised: 9/6/12
3 ROOM BUILDING: INSIDE ONE OF THE ROOMS. THEY ARE ALL SIMILAR. EACH IS ABOUT 21 FEET X 21 FEET: CHBC 2013 Panama Missions Trip Page 4 of 9 Revised: 9/6/12
THE COVERED AREA IS THE POTENTIAL DENTAL SITE: LODGING: At this time lodging is expected to be of the 1-star hotel type. The plan currently is to stay in a modest hotel in Panama City the first nights, Friday and Saturday. We will acquire a conference room to allow us to sort meds and attend to other logistical issues all day on Saturday. Lodging near the clinic in San Felix is a VERY primitive hotel. It literally does not have a name and it is the only lodging establishment in the area. There are bathrooms in each room with a toilet, sink and shower. Water, when available, is cold. There is no restaurant or place to purchase food or snacks at the hotel in San Felix. They do have a small selection of soft drinks and water for $.50 each. There is a small primitive store within walking distance of the hotel. Most rooms have air conditioning, some only have fans. All have bugs and geckos! This hotel is approximately a 20 minute ride from the clinic. The plan is to lodge here Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. We have been told that each room has 2 beds. The few rooms that we looked at did indeed have two beds, one single and one double in each. There is no wi-fi. Thursday night lodging is in a decent hotel in Chitre, Panama. This is approximately 2.5 hours from San Felix. This hotel is more modern with hot water, pool and hotel restaurant. It also has wi-fi and air conditioning. The Chitre area has several shops where you can find local artesian souvenirs. Friday night lodging will be back in Panama City, likely at the hotel we initially stayed at on Friday and Saturday. CHBC 2013 Panama Missions Trip Page 5 of 9 Revised: 9/6/12
At this time, there is no plan to need tents. It is expected that everyone will have a bed, although some beds may have to be shared. If tents &/or air mattresses are needed, team members will be notified in ample time to make preparations. All lodging WILL be shared rooms. All plans are subject to change. The KEY is Flexibility & adaptability!!! HOTEL WITH NO NAME: FOOD: Food may consist of simple, local dishes (rice, etc), some fast food (while in Panama City and while traveling) and/or MRE s. Information will be provided in more than sufficient time if substantial amounts of food need to be brought as was done previously (MRE s). It is not expected that MRE s will be needed at this point, however, the food arrangements have not been solidified as yet, due to some logistical hurdles that need to be navigated. As always, non-perishable snacks are prudent. On clinic days, the plan currently is to have locals procure food and prepare a simple breakfast (fried bread) and a simple dinner (rice, chili, etc). In all likelihood, this will be done at the clinic site since it would be logistically difficult to cook at the hotel. Lunch will be sack lunches as in previous years. While in Panama City and Chitre, meals will be at the hotel restaurants and what is available locally on the street and at nearby fast food locations. So far, hotel restaurants we have eaten in have been reasonably priced ($5-10) and very good. Preparations seem to be made in sanitary conditions. We experienced no problems during the scouting trip, even after eating salad and fish. CHBC 2013 Panama Missions Trip Page 6 of 9 Revised: 9/6/12
Bottled water will be purchased (more will be discussed later). Water in the hotel in Panama City and in Chitre is potable. It is highly recommended NOT to drink any of the water at the hotel in San Felix, nor to brush your teeth with it. It would be very wise to bring snacks and consider Cipro. TRANSPORTATION: International transportation will be as expected flights from the US into Panama City, Panama. Which airline and what city we will depart from will be determined by the cost of the tickets. Traditionally, Delta Airlines through Atlanta has been the most cost effective option but that is not set in stone. Local transportation will be similar to last year. Several vans will be rented to carry the team and equipment to San Felix. Other possibilities are being researched at this time. Be prepared to be asked to drive. Everyone will be notified when local transportation plans are finalized. Again, be flexible and understanding. Regardless of which mode of transportation is utilized, restrictions on size and amount of luggage will be in place. YOU WILL NEED TO TRAVEL LIGHT! More information on exactly what to pack will be discussed in detail in the months to come. It will be very similar to 2012. No water transportation is anticipated at this time. No in-country air (plane/helicopter) transportation is anticipated at this time. COMMUNICATIONS: Hotels in Panama and Chitre generally have Wi-Fi connections, (this does not mean you should bring laptops!) We had good cell service at the clinic site. The procedures for cell phone usage will be discussed in future meetings. Remember that travel will be harsh and sensitive electronic equipment may get tossed around, rained on, crushed in luggage, unable to be charged, etc. There is a serious problem right now throughout Panama with their inability to regulate the flow of electricity. They are routinely having power surges all over the island. Be aware of this if you are bringing electronic equipment susceptible to damage from power surges. For those who purchased phone SIM cards last year, they will still be usable this year if you wish to bring them and purchase additional minutes. These procedures will be explained in detail in future meetings. WHAT TO PACK: This will be discussed in depth in the coming meetings, to include packing lists. It will be hot, sunny, and humid with the ever-present chance of torrential rain. We will be there during the height of the rainy season. General guidelines are this: 1. Light, sun-protective, quick-drying clothing, including a hat 2. Sturdy, breathable footwear 3. Rain gear/poncho 4. No laundry facilities are available (other than the bathroom sink) CHBC 2013 Panama Missions Trip Page 7 of 9 Revised: 9/6/12
5. Bathrooms in Panama will often not have toilet paper so come prepared. 6. You are responsible to carry your own luggage at all times. This means that you should be able to do so! Even while potentially walking uphill. Pack accordingly. You will also be given an assigned team suitcase that contains clinic supplies, which you will be responsible for. If you have not gone on a trip of this nature before, please begin a list of questions that you have NOW. We need everyone to be prepared to hit the ground running. This means taking care of gear issues and other items several months before and not waiting to the last minute. ********************PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING CLOSELY ******************** SPECIAL NOTE ON DOCUMENTATION: PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE A MINIMUM OF 6 MONTHS LEFT ON YOUR PASSPORT PRIOR TO ENTERING THE COUNTRY OF PANAMA. IF YOU HAVE LESS THAN THIS AMOUNT OF TIME BEFORE YOUR PASSPORT WILL EXPIRE, IT IS ALMOST CERTAIN THAT PANAMA WILL DENY YOU ENTRY AND SEND YOU BACK TO THE UNITED STATES. THEY ARE VERY STRICT ABOUT THIS RIGHT NOW. BASICALLY, IF YOU HAVE LESS THAN A YEAR BEFORE YOUR PASSPORT EXPIRES, RENEW IT NOW! JUST TO BE ABSOLUTELY CLEAR, YOU WILL NEED A PASSPORT. NOTHING ELSE WILL SATISFY THE DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENT. CHBC 2013 Panama Missions Trip Page 8 of 9 Revised: 9/6/12
ITINERARY DETAILS Friday, June 14, 2013-Panama City Depart Indianapolis via Atlanta, arrive in Panama City. Rental vans may need to be acquired at the airport prior to traveling to the hotel. Lodging: Hotel Avila, Avenida Peru, Between Calle 36 and Calle 37, Panama City. N 08.97110 W079.53585 www.hotelavila.com.pa Saturday, June 15, 2013-Panama City Hotel Avila. Work day sorting meds, acquiring supplies, packing. Sunday, June 16, 2013-San Felix Travel to clinic site (approximately 6 hour drive). N 08.34032 W081.82598 Set up clinic. Check into Hotel With No Name. Monday through Wednesday, June 17 through June 19, 2013-San Felix Full-day clinic operations. Wednesday PM: Breakdown and pack up equipment for departure. Thursday, June 20, 2013-Chitre Early departure from San Felix, approximately 2.5 hour drive to Chitre Recovery day, shopping, and team dinner at hotel restaurant. Lodging: Hotel Versalles N 07.96417 W080.43774 www.hotelversalles.com Friday, June 21, 2013-Panama City Travel back to Panama City. Approximately 3 hours, depending on traffic. Possible trip to Panama Canal museum and local mall. Lodging: Hotel Avila Saturday, June 22, 2013-Indianapolis Depart Panama City, arrive Indianapolis. (Rental vans may need to be returned at airport.) Leave hotel at 5:00 a.m. Breakfast available at the airport. CHBC 2013 Panama Missions Trip Page 9 of 9 Revised: 9/6/12