In just under 1 month I will be back stateside for a month's long vacation! Last weekend looking at my schedule up until leaving I wasn't sure I would make it, but after a mini working "vacation" I feel like I can make it.
The majority of us missionaries just spent the last week translating for a medical brigade that comes to the Trujillo area every year from Little Rock, Arkansas (and a scattering of other locations). This year there were 98 volunteers. They were a mix of doctors, nurses, various other medical personnel, plenty of non-medically employed and some teenagers. They set up 4 different clinics across multiple towns to provide whatever free medical care they can for 6 days.
Even though it was a working vacation it was great to get out to some of the surrounding areas and meet the people. It's easy to see that even though we live "simply" here at the Finca we are incredibly blessed with riches. It was a good reality check of how much better I can do to truly not just serve the poor but live among them. That hit home even more when at the end of the day we were blessed to go back to a nice bed with feather pillows, air conditioning, a pool, hot showers and incredible food. That is definitely more than we could ask for.
I spent the 6 days working in the pharmacy as a translator and also assisting with reading glasses. Towards the end of the week we were running out of the more fashionable pairs of glasses and some patients weren't happy that they had to have large ones. Some even left without any because they refused large lenses. At times it was hard to not be a bit jaded when you know some of the patients who come only see you as a rich white person there to give them free stuff, but that is definitely not everyone's story. There is a lot of gratitude as well. There was one 93 year old woman who despite barley being able to walk came in with her granddaughters. With a shaky hand she reached out for mine after giving her a pair of the strongest reading glasses we had. She took my hand and said, "May God bless you. I can now see your faces and make out the trees!" There were so many heart warming moments like that.
The last day we had a party to thank all our local volunteers and many of the kids came to who had greeted us in throngs every morning. They'd hangout by the windows all day long peaking in and asking for any little toy we might have. This year someone brought down dozens of stamps and by the end of the day every in of the "clinic"/their school was covered in the colorful designs as well as our arms.
One of the young girls (Michel) would write me notes saying I was her best friend and she'd even write in broken "Spanglish". I asked her how old she was and she told me she'd be 13 on Saturday (the day after the clinic ended). I made a point that we should give her one of the crew shirts and save her a pair of the kids sunglasses as a birthday present. The day of the party I handed out snacks to the volunteers, but she wouldn't take any until I told her it was my present to her. Then one of the teens gave her a friendship necklace and one of the older guys on the pharmacy team played her a song on guitar. By the end of the song she was in tears. A bit from all the attention, but also the affection. She gave him a big hug.
One of the local volunteers brought in his very ill 2 year old son. I think he may have severe cerebral palsy. It has led to malnutrition since he cannot chew and tends to aspirate liquids. All the doctors could do was to treat his lung infection and provide vitamins. The mom told me last year the doctors prescribed pediasure, but the problem is they cannot afford it. I would like to somehow get them pediasure or something along those lines.
Leaving those kids after just a few hours each day for a week sure makes me realize how hard it will be to leave the Farm after 2 1/2 years.
As for other things happening at The Finca we've now had our first 2 radio programs performances. The girls went first and the boys just went this morning. I am so proud of them and inspired by their knowledge of the faith and willingness to share their love for Christ. At first some of the older teens didn't want anything to do with it even asking if it was obligatory. I told them they had to at least participate the 1st time. Those are now the ones who have really stepped up.
In the coming weeks we have some fun events coming up. This Friday some of the kids have earned a ice cream and movie night. Then on Saturday a handful of the older kids and a few missionaries are going for a boat ride to the other side of the bay to go snorkeling. At the end of the month one of our girls turns 18 so we are planning a large zombie themed party for her. Throughout all this I will be cramming to get double the work done so that all my events/activities and lesson plans are taken care of for the duration of my vacation so that a summer volunteer can take over.
I then fly out on July 15th and after a couple days in Chicago will be back in Minnesota and hope to see many of your wonderful faces!
Blessings,
Kit
It's a small world after all! This is one of the buses that transported us to the clinics.
The pharmacy team!
Waiting to see the doctors. The local school was converted into the clinic for the week.
Kiddissa and Dr. Robbie who she helped translate for.
Dr. Ed and Jaimie
The little boy on the left (eduardo) and the little girl (blanca yolani) are siblings.
She had to try on my glasses... so Cute!
Eduardo practicing his name.
One of our many adorable patients.
Michel!!
Blanca and Maggie one of the teens who helped out.
Hard at work!
Showing off!
A break for music
Maggie and one of the many little girls her call her "mom".
Super curious!
Time for a birthday love song.
The song truly brought tears to her eyes.
Most of the volunteers at our clinic site.
Me and some of the local girls.
Juan Carlos playing drum for the radio program.
Reading their skit about the good samaritan.
The girls during the big debut of "The Finca communicates with the community".
Nahomi not shying away from the mic.
Sharing the beautiful singing voices.
Looking on as they tell jokes.
Big smiles during the final song.
