In cool-down mode before the next set of patient swab tests, meaning no hood, face shields, or tape. Still, we’re absolutely drenched in the heat. We’re in a season where the requests for our ambulance, medics, and services are constant. It’s quite tiring because these activities aren’t like our other projects. Our computer classes and seminars have a start and end date and specific times. Our feeding programs are also on a solid schedule. Relief distribution depends on our own calendar. But EMS is nonstop and cannot be scheduled. And we can end up having to respond as we’re headed home to rest, like yesterday’s case with the child and the hit-and-run we happened upon at the exact moment they needed us.

Right now, Jerry and I are the only members of our team available to work for a number of reasons too varied to mention here. We consider it a privilege, but we can’t wait until our whole group is firing on all cylinders again. If we look kind of out of sorts it’s not because we’re physically tired. There are a lot of hurting and sick people out there and we don’t have the ability, resources, and finances to help them all. But we wish we could and not being able to do so is emotionally exhausting. So we pray for help so that we can help others. And I’m yearning to get in the ocean again wearing scuba gear…not PPE swimming in sweat.