Visits and the Red Cross...

Today was a good day. Long, but good.

After getting up and having breakfast, we headed out to the Red Cross headquarters, several blocks from where we live.  Our neighbors had told us that they were offering a free clinic for a couple of days, and I wanted to take advantage of that to have the girls see a dentist. I still haven't totally figured out the local health center here. The one day I tried to go, all the doctors and nurses were on strike, and the health center itself had been closed while they were removing some fiber glass ceiling panels.  I was trying to work up the gumption to try again.

So the free clinic seemed like and easier option.  We arrived around 9:00 and there was quite a crowd there.  To make a long story short, we spent the rest of the morning there.  We did have to wait awhile, but the results were worth it; a visit to the dentist including a fluoride treatment, a free tooth brush and tooth paste, two immunizations that Abigail needed, vitamins for Abigail (who is "underweight" again) and some medicine for Carolyn's cold.  For all that we didn't have to pay a dime.

Plus, we had some conversation with neighbors, met some new people, and got a better feel for the community.  Not bad for a morning.

We returned to the house and made lunch, letting Carolyn take her afternoon nap, and Abigail rest for awhile and get over her sadness about the two shots she had to get (one in each arm).

Then we headed out again. We wanted to pay another visit to a couple of Wounaan families who live in a squatter neighbor hood at the edge of town.   The neighbor hood is called "La Gloria", after the farm that they partially took over.  The invasion happened about a year ago, so some of the houses look settled, while others are still temporary shacks. 

Both visits were productive. The first house belongs to an old friend of Alex's.  They grew up together and find plenty to talk about.  Neander (Alex's friend) doesn't much enjoy attending church, but his wife has been my most eager participant in our women's bible study.  We talked mostly about the recent struggles over land rights that the Wounaan communities have been facing, since Neander just returned from a meeting in the community of Rio Hondo, where a government official handed them the legal rights to the lands. The struggle is not yet over, because the government still has to remove those who have already settled on the land.  Besides that, the issue of what will be done with all the wood that has been stolen from their lands has not been decided.

From there we went to the house where our long time friend Yariani lives with two sisters, her brother-in-law, and some other relatives I have yet to place.  Yariani was a student in the Home program we ran at the base, and is now in the university. We chatted about how her classes are doing, and she asked for some help with her English studies.  Meanwhile Alex talked with her sister, Evidelia, who is also in the University, and having a difficult time.  While she struggles to pay for her own studies, she is also responsible for her sister Yery, the youngest in the family, who is in high school. Yery lives with their sister-in-law and Evidelia worries about whether the situation will work out, and how she can better help Yery.  Evidelia hopes to be a teacher someday.

Alex and I walked back to our house as the sun was setting, discussing the situations they were facing, and the needs we saw among the Wounaan people, in this community and beyond.

As soon as we arrived home, our young neighbor, a 12 year old girl, popped her head in the house. Lately, she has been there whenever we are home.  A sweet girl, the youngest with 6 older brothers, I think she craves a little feminine company.  She has taken to the girls, and they to her, and she is always bringing something over for them: some crayons, a notebook she no longer needs, etc.  I enjoy her company, but have to find creative ways to ask  her to go home in the evenings without hurting her feelings. 

After the girls are bathed and in bed, Alex and I try to have a short prayer time and make up for missing our morning prayer this morning, since we hurried off to the Red Cross.  While bathing the girls, I lay down on Abigail's bed for a moment and realized that my body is not used to all the walking we have been doing.  Living in this small community, we walk everywhere.  My feet told me that they did not appreciate the extra work I have been giving them.

And so ends our day.  The pattern of life here is starting to settle in around us.  It's ALMOST starting to feel like home.  One day at a time.  Like a person just learning to paddle a canoe, it's taking us awhile to catch on to the rhythm.  I am confident we will get it eventually.