47% incapacitated

So it`s hard to believe it`s been almost a week since I`ve written.  So much has happened in 6 short days. So on Thursday, Jana and I went to the clinic by ourselves because Paul was busy.  We got there at 8:30am, and went in to talk to the director, whom we had not met.  She barely gave us the time of day, spoke super fast, wouldn´t let us get a word in (we`re still a little slow but we can say what we need to say), and sent us to work with the nurses checking heights, weights, and blood pressures.  bleh.  It was frusterating, but we helped for about four hours, listened to a lecture on TB for two hours, then went home.  We also got the privlidge of folding gauze for about two of those four hours. The other nurses were making cotton balls during the TB lecture.  Thant`s right. Making cotton balls. So the next day, Paul went with us to talk to her and help us explain why we were here.  She at first tried to send us away and only talk to Paul, but Paulito did not let that happen.  So we talked to her about what our objectives are here, and all the ways we plan to and want to help the commmunity.  She started listening a little better when we told her all of the resoucres we could have for her.  She now understands that we will help in the clinic when we can, but we want to survey the general health needs in Pimampiro and its surrounding communities and help out with what we can. 

Friday afternoon we went to Ibarra with Paul.  We took with us a truckfull of goods, a little girl and her grandmother.  They were moving from their home in Pimampiro, which Paul told us was in horrible shape, to a brand new house in Ibarra, the "big" town about an hour away.  Angie (the little girl) was very excited and happy.  Their new home was safe, clean, and beautiful.  It is actually directly behind a small clinic in Ibarra that their family is somehow connected to.  We got some decals put on Paul`s truck and bought some nice white nursing shirts for Jana and I.  Yes, I shall wear white again. Appearance is a big deal here, so we need to look a little more professional than we have been looking.  We are getting our names embroidered and Paul`s Mountains of Hope logo embroidered as well.  Pretty spiffy indeed.  We then went to a coffee shop in Ibarra and met up with a girl named Sonia. Sonia has known Paul for a long time, and Paul has helped support her through her schooling.  She was always the top of her class and an otherwise gifted student.  Someone from the states met her, and is supporting her through college.  She wants to be an English teacher.  She rents a room in Ibarra for $30 a month, but goes home to see her family every weekend in Paragachi, a little town just outside the main town of Pimampiro.  She showed us her room and all of her things.  She showed us a photo album with pictures of her friends and family.  In this she has a picture of her and Paul, from what looks like to be quite some time ago, maybe 5 or 6 years.  This to me speaks wonders.  It was a wonderful day.  Drank a realy latte, had apple pie right out of the oven, and I rode home in the back of the truck, which going 60-70mph along the Pan American highway was quite an intense feeling.

Friday evening we went out with our new mom on a walk and went to her friend`s store and hung out and talked.  Saturday we finally slept in, it was marvelous.  We came to the office, which was blissfully empty, and worked all day.  We prepared a written letter to the director of the clinic, made documents to evaluate health conditions, and so on. Elena`s daughter came into to town from Quito and stayed the weeked with Elena.  We hung out with her and her friends for a typical Saturday night in Pimampiro.  Drove around the town about 30 times, finally stopped at the central plaza where there were several other pods of people hanging out, and drank beer out of one cup.  people share cups all day everyday.  for us to get our own cup (except at home with elena), is a speical occasion.  even the kids at the beach, we had two large bottles of water with two cups to share amongst the 14 of us. so the 8 of us sat in the park listening to music, sharing plastic cups of beer, watching others do the same thing all over the park.  it was fabulous. 

Sunday, big day.  We got up, scarfed a little breakfast, went immediately to Sue and Paul`s to help prepare for the large dinner event that night.  The man who has givin Paul and Sue money in the past was coming to visit Pimampiro for the first time, and they planned a dinner for 50 plus people in his honor. live music and all.  We stayed at Sue`s all day, chopping, cleaning, chopping, mashing, i made a slide show for the event, and trying to get everything ready.  Showered finally! and went to the dinner.  It was a very nice dinner, people from many different towns, some pretty far away in the mountains, came to welcome Ken, the guest of honor and his daughter Daphne.  Many people spoke and gave thanks to Ken, there was some dancing (yes i danced), and lots of food. We were all exhausted, but it was a good day. 

Monday we went with Paul, Sue, Ken, Daphne, Sue`s friends, Catherine, Carlota (the secretary), Blanca (the gardener, cook, everythinger), Fernando, Ramiro, up into the mountains to see some of the projects Paul and the others have been working on.  We packed a number of us in the back of the truck and headed up (arriba).  The drive up was amazing. Some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever witnessed.  The projects Paul and his team are working on are amazing.  They started bio-intensive organic beds on school property in very small remote communities.  The students have done a lot of the work under the guide of Paul`s team members, and are learning a lot in the process.  They have taken ideas they learned and started the same technique of gardening in their homes. It`s pretty incredible.  People are also learning how to eat and cook from Sue.  The area is so rich with an incredible amount of fruits and vegetables, but a lot of the people don`t know how to prepare them so they sell the good stuff and eat rice and potatoes.  Sue has lead several cooking classes to teach people how to use everything they are growing.  We went to several different communities during the day, then ended up in Paragachi in the late afternoon.  Here we saw several more gardens, and also a project in the soccer field.  They planted 1000 trees around the local soccer field to block the wind, keep the ball in (it`s kinda on a cliff), and for general prettiness.  We ended up playing the local kids in a friendly game of fútbol, the old people versus the young healthy, inshape, athletic kids.  We had numbers but they have skill and youth.  These kids I sweat could run faster than I could kick a ball accross a hard dirt ground. We did however have the old man from Colombia, who walked with a walking stick all day, but turned out to be a very energetic and mobile soccer playing.  We played for about an hour, maybe more.  Not really sure who won.  After Paul anounced for the 5th time, that the next goal wins, it began to get dark and we stopped. It was some good exercise and a lot of fun.

So much more to say, but it`s getting late. So a few random things.

This girl who works for Elena showed us her pictures in her wallet one day.  One was a regular ID card, but below it there was a card that declared her 47% incapacited by the country of Ecuador. She is clearly slow, and has some issues, but a percent!? I would hate to see mine. We asked later and they said that she gets discounts and other perks. At least there is something.

There are termites in Elena`s house. Every morning Jana wakes up with a pile of wood shaving on her legs. There are also three or so piles that show up in the bathroom. I chose the good bed apparently.  Last night we ate pizza with either spam-stuffed or hot-dog stuffed crust. delish