"Picking Flowers" in the back 40

We had one of those ‘charming’ breakfast discussions the other day … topics that seemingly pop out of mid-air.  Oftentimes they are non-consequential … but sometimes they strike a chord in my heart.

This was one of the latter.  And of all the things to talk about at breakfast: latrines! 

This conversation started because when we were shopping for cement fence posts, Cecilia had asked the cost of the piece of molded cement that serves as the base/floor of a latrine as well as the cement structure that serves as the stool.  Apparently they were pretty inexpensive!   People would also need 2 sheets of metal lamina sheeting to serve as a roof.  The families themselves would construct posts and hang towels or sheets or use heavy plastic sheeting to serve as walls.  The families would also be responsible for digging the hole for their latrine.

 

This is the base and stool made out of cement.  This is a NICE latrine!  Lamina walls!

Many just have heavy plastic or boards, or sheets or towels which serve as walls

 

The Pastoral Teams sees a latrine project as something quite necessary in the communities.  I thought there was an NGO currently working on a latrine project because I’ve seen some really nice latrines as we have driven through the cantons.

I asked Blanca about that and her answer was – yes.  ProVida and FISDL had latrine projects.  ProVida and FISDL worked in 3 of our cantons.  But not all the families in those 3 cantons received a latrine.  They didn’t provide them to an entire community.  For example: they might have had a latrine project in Loma Alta … but possibly only 24 of the 70+ families received them. 

I’ve been to MANY of the villages.  And I have walked door to door in many of the villages.  I have seen – and used some of the available facilities in the cantons.  When lucky enough to encounter a ‘real’ latrine – it’s humbling enough.  But when one is in need and encounters a ‘home-made’ structure – or worse … none at all – well.  For those of us accustomed to some of the ‘finer’ things in life – it isn’t a pleasant situation to be in.

There apparently are still many families who literally have to go out to the ‘back 40’ to go to the bathroom. 

So I asked the Pastoral Team to write up a budget for me and here is the synopsis:

$32  total cost for the cement base and stool (this cost includes the transportation to make the purchase)

$16  total for the two sheets of metal lamina sheeting
$2    per toilet for transportation to the communities from the Pastoral House.

So for a grand total of $50 – a family can have a clean and hygienic place to go potty.

$500 would take care of 10 families …

$1000 would take care of 20 families (the whole community of La Llanes for example!!)

So I’m writing this blog to see if anyone wants to ‘adopt a toilet’

Or even on a church-wide level – would a church that has been looking for a manner in which to support the Our Sister Parish mission like to support a few hygienic toilets?

Can’t you just see your next Christmastime efforts?  We at Heartland Presbyterian used to have an “Ángel Tree” for the children of people in prison … and we had a “Mitten Tree.”  This could be the year of the “Toilet Tree”

Hmm.   Maybe not.   There is probably a better way to raise funds for this sort of project.  Someone could bring a (clean) porcelain toilet to church, set it in the foyer and make a sign to put on the raised lid:  “place your $50 donation to provide a toilet to a family who has pee in the back yard

I daresay you might have a more eloquent way in which to create your signage!

I sometimes approach these things a bit tongue in cheek – but – this is a serious question that is coming next:

Anyone (or many ones) or any churches want to take this on?   

This sure makes a statement! (Thank you water.org)

 

 

 

The Simple Things

We are now without a delegation – it has been 2 weeks full of very wonderful activities.  The first group came after only 3 weeks back from being in Iowa for my son’s wedding and we only had three days in between the two groups so I haven’t gotten much done.  Such is life sometimes in the Pastoral House … and I wouldn’t trade the time with our delegations for naught. 

I could write volumes about the past two weeks with our two groups but I’ll be brief. (haha)

The first delegation was only 2 people – from MY home church of Heartland Presbyterian Church in Clive.  Heartland has been in a partner relationship with Tablón since 2001.  They come twice a year.  This trip, there were only 2 people – but the small size of the group certainly did not ‘minimize’ the quality of our time and activities!  I posted a photo album on Facebook with some of our highlights.

The second delegation was a brand new group.  There were 10 of them plus the two RUMES (PCUSA’s Joining Hands El Salvador) coordinators.  The delegates were from New York and by ‘chance’ … ‘fate’ … God … they made a connection with RUMES.  And RUMES – God bless them – decided we at the Pastoral House could potentially serve their needs as a mission group as well as benefit our communities. 

It was a fabulous four days with this group.  They provided workshops in two elementary schools with a healthy eating and dental care focus.  They also did a biblical re-telling of the Good Shepherd.  Each of the 3 workshops had different age appropriate and hands on activities.   I put a photo album up on Facebook (check out my home page) so you can have a pictorial account of their time here.  It was fabulous (in my humble opinion).

So … here I am today – they left at about 8:30 this morning.  I’m feeling a bit like a zombie (but in a good way) and trying to get a few things done – things that don’t require tons of concentration but important pieces of work nonetheless. 

Aminta and Margarita came to help with the post delegation clean-up and laundry.  With 12 people there are lots of sheets, blankets and towels to hand wash!  As I was working at my desk I heard their chatter and their laughter and the gentle whooshing of their work in the water and suds and bed-clothes.  Very lulling actually – but I managed to keep my eyes open.  I cannot take a nap knowing that the Pastoral Team and our ‘support staff’ - who are also quite tired - are so busy with their physical work.

 

The tin roof serves as the 'clothes dryer' - there is minimal sun in Berlin during the rainy season.
Putting things on the roof means they will dry in one day potentially!

 

Late morning, we got a visitor.  Margarita’s daughter Cesi came by.  She didn’t want to be home alone so decided to come and spend the day here since her mom was here working.  She is always a welcomed face.

It was almost lunchtime and the tortillas had not arrived yet … and the ladies asked me to make pizza for supper and we had no cheese.  So I offered to go to the market for the tortillas and look for mozzarella cheese.  Cesi (Margarita’s daughter) accompanied me.  It was a pleasant walk with her.  I think she is 10.  And she is a delightful, charming, sweet, bright, polite (think of all the good personality traits you can and that is her).

We went to several stores and finally found the cheese – but no pizza bread.  French bread will serve fine so that was not a problem.  We found the tortillas.  Then I decided to buy a machete for Mike … and by the time we were done, Cesi and I walked for almost 45 minutes. 

We got back to the house and we all had a simple lunch – mostly eating leftovers … and me just a tortilla with some cheese.  We all continued our various tasks. 

A while later, Cesi came into the office to show me something: a very cool seed pod.  She told me to squeeze it so I did.  And I jumped!  It ‘exploded’ in my fingers and curled into itself and dropped its tiny seeds.  How funny.  We both laughed.  Then, of course, I had to find out which plant produces this fun toy!  They look like impatiens on steroids … very simple flowers but about 4 or 5 feet tall! 

So we spent a little time looking for more pods and me taking pictures and Cesi explaining all about this incredible bit of nature.  Add ‘fine and patient teacher’ to her list of qualities.

The pod has 'seams' - those split and the 4 or 5 sections curl tightly after you squeeze the pod.
Such and incredible piece of nature!

Cesi is an incredibly young person!

 

It’s been a lovely day.  But now it is 8 p.m. and I’ve had my bit of pizza and now I think it is time for me to go to sleep!  

:o) 

Post note: I really do miss our delegations when they leave.  I am so blessed to have the opportunity to work with and share time with some very incredible people!

The not so cool stuff in the country ...

I recently wrote about some of the cool and beautiful things in the cantons and posted lots of photos in an album on Facebook.  Today I was reminded of some of the uglier and not so cool things. 

You have to remember that I am here in the middle of a poverty ridden country.  And the people we serve live ‘en los campos’ – in the country.  And it is POOR out there. 

Most of you who read this blog have either been here or have heard a lot about the poverty and what we are trying to do here as a mission. 

This past couple of weeks we have been strumbuntzing in the cantons.  We’ve been doing a final verification of the slow sand water filters that people received a couple of years ago.  Making sure those who are using them are using them properly … if any need repair (lots have needed this and those filters have been repaired!).  We have found lots of rusted out diffusors and lids and really gross PVC tubes (the exit point of the purified water) so we have been replacing those.  We’ve been giving cantaros (water jugs) to the families actually using their filters (information obtained from a prior visit by Ismael).  We’ve been re-educating people about using the filter daily and other basic hygiene issues.  It’s been quite a bit of work, but worth the effort when people say that their health has improved … they have less diarrhea, fewer stomach issues … and something rather cool: in two different communities, 3 different families individually said they talked to their doctor about the filtered water … asking them if it was worth it?  Or if the carbon based filter they received from another project (another NGO working with water tanks) was better.  Dr. Vladimir, the director of our Berlín health clinic, said the slow sand water filter was the best!  He highly recommended the people continue to use them!  Hooray!

Entonces … este trabajo vale la pena!  So this work is worth the effort!  But man is it hot work.  We drive out to the communities but often times a home with a filter is well off the beaten path and we cannot get the pick-up anywhere near it.  Such was a case this morning.  Well, actually, 3 homes were well off the beaten path!  We were in Tablón Centro.  There are only 15 families actually using their filters in this community.  We didn’t think it would take us too long to deliver the cantaros.  We were wrong.

This is ok.  I really don’t mind the walking.  It’s good for us!  But Pastor (that is the man’s first name… not his title) lives WAY WAY WAY WAY (and I repeat: WAY) off the road.  First we took a turn off the main road and went down the smaller road in the pick-up to their soccer field.  That is where the truck had to stay.  Knowing how far we had to go, we took all the materials with us.  Normally we scope out the filter in each home to verify its use - then go back to the truck for the goods. 

We had 3 houses on this ‘road’ we had to walk – so we took three sets of material with us: 6 cantaros, 3 lids, 3 diffusors, and 3 exit tubes.  And we walked.  It wasn’t too far UP to the first house - only about a half kilometer.  And the next house was just a couple hundred yards from that.  Then we started the climb to Pastor’s house.  Good Lord.  Blanca, Cecilia, Ismael and I hiked.  And sweat.  And hiked some more.  And it was all UP hill, walking on a rutted and often slippery, muddy, poo-riddled ‘road.’    We finally got there and thankfully someone was home.  And also thankfully, they were indeed using their filter properly!  So we chatted for a few moments, sat in the shade of the house for a spell, gave the new parts to them and started the hike down. 

Photos do NOT do this hike justice

Pastor's home ... the pitted water jug is why we were motivated to give cantaros to our filter families

Now I’ve said before that it is absolutely beautiful in the country.  You’ve seen some photos.  You’ve seen some cool individual things … the countryside … the newly planted corn … the hills … the volcano in the distance … the myriad of flowers … the children … (go see my Facebook album for cool photos).

Well.  The mud is not so nice.  The rutted roads are not so nice as well.  The dirty faces of the children and their filthy bare flat feet with broken toe nails, fungus, cuts and callouses break your heart.  God bless them.  But to me, the children are still beautiful. 

Smells aren’t always very nice – but one ‘overlooks’ that and makes NO mention as to not offend anyone.  There is usually no realistic way to avoid the smells. 

The smells today were horrible.  There were lots of pigs where we were hiking.  Pigs have a peculiar and distinct odor.  There are no huge factory farms here, but even one or two piggies create an ‘interesting’ smell.  Of course you have their excrement mixed in the mud around people’s homes and the walking paths and roads.  And the excrement of the cattle, dogs, chickens, ducks, and whatever else is roaming the same paths people take.  Then you have the mangos and other fruits which have fallen and are rotting on the ground where you walk.  All this brings the flies. 

Piggies do roam freely all around (and often inside) homes

Rain water tank ... used for everything ... washing, cooking and yes... drinking.  But when it is filtered ... it is ok!  Even I can drink it then.  But lots of people chose not to filter.

Somehow the rainy season makes the smells more pungent.  And you always have to watch where you walk.  One house in particular was really bad.  I’m not an overly sensitive person – I can usually ‘weather’ whatever smell comes my way without showing ‘distaste’ – but walking by this one house today reminded me of the ugliness of poverty.

My friend Bob always said – you don’t just see poverty.  It invades your senses: you hear, smell and taste it. 

Walking by this house today really brought that concept home.   

Poverty stinks.  Figuratively and literally.

How is it??

How is it I always end up with the chicken?

And since Alejandro was driving, it ended up on my lap for the entire hour ride back to Berlin.  BUMPY ride I might add.  And I am pleased to say it did not poop on my once. 

The following pics are just some beautiful things I saw in Virginia today.  We were doing the 'final' water filter verification, changing lids, diffusors and exit tubes and giving two new cantaros to those who continue to use their filters.  We had 18 family visits today.  Going door to door. 

I know what hard work this is ... it takes a long time and much muscle.  But she is beautiful.

I LOVE this chair. 

These and the following were all in one person's yard. 

Two families up this path ... two water filters in good use! 

And Cecilia has such a lovely grace about her. 

Even in the most rocky, muddy paths - she seems so elegant.

Natural beauty

Elias is holding a MONSTER mango.  Irma is laughing at my disbelief!

A 'normal' mango on the right ... the monster mango on the left. 

Nances are in the guacal in the upper right corner.   All were gifted to us before we left.

Irma said our visit was so special ... she said she spends so much time 'crying' that our presence brought her a great joy.  I don't think there are many visitors that get down to where she lives ... the road is quite bad - and as the winter here contines - it will only get worse and eventually un-passable.

I call these 'lobster claws' - but I daresay they have a real name. 

Absolutely incredibly beautiful and unique.

These also have a THICK petal (or leaf - it might be a 'fake flower'  I know there is a technical term for that ... I just can't think of it - when the leaf is vibrant to attract birds/insects because it really has no flower - someone help me out here!!  haha)

All of these plants are in Irma's yard 

Even "just the green things" are beautiful

Here is another thing about El Salvador - and I imagine many other places where elder care has not been institutionalized.

Maria Elena Coreas - November 2010

An aunt of Cecilia, Idalia and Blanca has been ill. Her name is María Elena Coreas and she is 73.  She has not been healthy for a very long time.  She has always been very thin – she smokes a lot and has for years.  She has had spells of weakness off and on since I’ve known her.  But this past month and a half she has been basically bed-ridden.  She hardly eats – maybe a half a tortilla a day or half a tamale … they buy her Gatorade and juices but she doesn’t consume much of those either. 

For the past month and a half, she has not been able to get out of her bed, hammock or chair without assistance.  She has had a couple of days where she could at least ‘help’ herself get out.  But for about 3 weeks now, she has not even been able to even help her helpers.  So if she needs to use the bathroom (which of course, is outside a ways) she has needed someone to basically carry her.  And the ladies say she is HEAVY.  They wonder how someone so thin can weigh so much. 

She won’t go to a doctor but my guess is she either has cancer or emphysema.   It’s a ‘logical’ assumption but certainly not based on any real knowledge I possess.

So someone is with her 24 hours out of the day.  During the day, it is mostly Cecilia’s father who spends time with her.  Alejandro has spent many days with her.  Blanca’s sisters from San Salvador come.  Other people bring food - which she doesn’t eat for the most part – but the food suppliers make sure whoever is watching over her is fed. 

During the night, it has been Cecilia, Blanca and Idalia taking turns spending the nights: vigilantly watching over her.  This means, that every 3^rd night, one of these women does not sleep because María Elena does not sleep.  She cat naps during the day and dozes occasionally at night.  And she talks.  She sometimes talks to people who are not there. 

You might ask if Cecilia, Blanca and Idalia catch up on their sleep during the day.  Short answer: no.  They go about their work as usual: laundry, cooking, doing the books, going out to the communities for whatever task needs to be done on whatever given day. 

I can see it is taking its toll on them.  They have a constant ‘cold’ – bags under their eyes.  They drag a little. 

But no one complains.  They might comment how tired they are.  But it isn’t a complaint.  If María Elena lives in this condition for the next 10 years – they will continue watching over her as they are. 

They talk about her a lot and worry.  As Cecilia said this morning because it seems she is getting worse: “we’ll have to see what God has to say about this.” 

I saw María Elena 3 days ago.  Blanca’s sister from San Salvador was with her.  And she is as thin as anything.  She was in bed – covered up to the neck with several blankets in spite of the heat of the afternoon.  But she did not feel warm to the touch.  She recognized me and we chatted a bit.  I crawled under her mosquito net to sit on the edge of her bed for a bit.  It’s hard to talk through netting.   Mostly I asked her how she was feeling: do you have pain? Are you able to eat? I tried to acknowledge what she was feeling – to try to understand –

She was worried about her own mother’s gravesite.  Did someone go out and put flowers up for Mother’s Day?   We assured her it was done.  And the next day I took a photo and printed it for the family to show her.

Family is a treasure. 

I don’t think I would have it in me to do what Cecilia, Blanca and Idalia are doing.  For that matter, what the rest of the family is doing also.    

But even if there was a nursing home facility anywhere near – I don’t think María Elena would be there.  Family takes on that responsibility. 

God bless them and all care-takers of the elderly and ill.  Whether they are family care-takers or hired care-takers or the loving care-takers in our own elder care facilities.  A special blessing to those at Spurgeon Manor in Dallas Center where my own mother is receiving such good round the clock care. 

And God bless those who are in need of care. 

Bless the Children

We’ve been monitoring our Bio-Arena slow sand water purification filters this past 8 months … and we are on the final ‘pass-through’ visits – verifying that folks are using them and using them correctly.

 Sadly, not everyone has put ‘value’ on them - meaning that they are not using them.  We cannot force them – but if the filter is fine, we hope to remove them from the home of the family who won’t use it … to a home who will.  The idea is to provide water that won’t do damage to people’s systems! 

About half of the families who received a water filter are using them. 

Most of our communities have had at least two visits – verifying, re-educating, repairing any leaks, etc.  Now we are going a 3^rd time to replace the water jugs (cantaros) that receive the water from the filters – and also giving a second cantaro for storage of the filtered water.  Also, many of the lids and diffusors have rusted so we are replacing them as well.  And the tubes where the water exits the filters are gross – almost all of them.  Originally, the PVC parts were glued together.  This just made it harder to clean them because dust and dirt stuck to the glued parts.  So we’ve been replacing those as well.  (the parts will make sense when you see the photos I think.)

The people who use their filters have been happy with the continued support for this project. 

We have been to Corozal, San Isidro, El Recreo, Rio de los Bueyes with cantaros for the ‘final’ verification.

Today we went to Casa de Zacate.  There were only 14 families to whom we needed to deliver cantaros.  We could drive to some.  But there was a problem – there was no way to get the truck down to 7 of the homes using their filters.  We tried to decide if the truck could squeeze between a tree and other obstacles.  Then I noticed a couple of children watching us and I decided that they could help us if they were willing (but I really had no doubts as to that willingness!) 

I asked the two young girls … would you like to help us?  There was no hesitation whatsoever - as is typical -   They followed us to the truck – and almost immediately, 3 young boys came to ‘play’ too.  So between all of us, we were able to make ONE trip with all the goods to the far away homes.  14 cantaros, 7 tops, 7 diffusors and 7 tubes.  None of those things are heavy – just awkward.

This was a wonderful way to work: with the collaboration of the children in the community.

This to me is evidence of a community with good values.  When the children are so helpful – it seems obvious to me – there is unity and collaboration within the adult population as well.  What a beautiful thing.  

And it was fun to boot!!

Young and willing helpers !

Ismael explaining how the extended tube fits into the lid of the cantaro

Demonstrating how the new tubes fit the shorter cantaro

Most of the families really are trying to keep thier water clean! 
A towel over the dripping water helps keep the flies and dust off.  Well done!

The children were really getting into helping!! 
Two cantaros each ... one with a hole in the lid ... one without!

Using some of the 'pita' to tie two cantaros together -

So they could be easily transported by bike!  Clever children!

Even the littlest ones wanted to help! 

It wasn't always easy!  But they persevered!

Ismael giving a new top and diffusor

Ah ... the very cute things one encounters on home visits.  Too bad they don't make those things adult size!!!
He was having SO much fun in his bath!

Caught some children helping each other with their math homework!!

Hanging out just before we left ... chatting and thanking everyone for their help

This is just too cute for words
How beautiful it is to have had such willing and capable helpers!

I don't want to offend you but ...

Blanca said to me … ‘I don’t want to offend you … but your people (the people in the states) have no idea what it is to live in this reality.  You know more or less – but – you don’t REALLY know.  We live this.’ 

She is right.  I do know ‘more or less.’  But I will never truly know the struggles people have here – because I am typing this as I nibble on a mini-snickers bar in my clean and dry office knowing that my lunch will be healthy, plentiful and will undoubtedly be ready sometime between noon and one p.m.   And I can have a glass of pure water as well.  She is right.  And I was not offended. 

We were specifically talking about farming families.  And the fertilizer they need to produce a more or less decent harvest due to the seriously nutritionally depleted ‘soil’ here.  We had just finished delivering a gift of fertilizer to one our communities that has an Iowa church partner; each farming family received a 220# sack of fertilizer.  I was working on their report and also thinking about our last delegation a week ago where they were hearing their partner community members talk about (among other things) loans available for farmers.

And after almost 4 years here, I do know that families cannot afford to buy fertilizer.  Sure, some farmers can afford it.  Those with larger farms, those with family in the states … but many, many families rent their tiny piece of land. So they have to pay a landlord anywhere from $25-50 per manzana (which is about 1.6 acres).  They have to buy the seed if they used a hybrid rather than their ‘ancestral’ seed.  They have to buy the weed deterrent and insecticides.  They have to buy the fertilizer.  Most people do not have ready cash like that!  They have to sell any excess corn they harvested the prior year … or sell a chicken or 10.  Or sell whatever they might have that is marketable.

I was asking about the loans some organizations offer.  I was asking about their interest rates.  Some are in excess of 42%.

Good Lord.

Bank loans are at about 20%.

When people grow their corn and beans literally to be able to put a little food on their plates (and that food may just be a tortilla and a tablespoonful of beans once or twice a day) – at about $40 per sack of Sulfato or $60 per sack of Formula – how the heck can they afford fertilizer?

How would they ever get out of debt with interest rates such as that??  Especially if the weather does not cooperate and there is crop loss?

If a family member has work in someone’s fields they might earn $5 per day.  IF they are lucky enough to even have that kind of steady job, it would take them either 2 or 3 weeks of work for just that one sack of fertilizer.

This year, San Francisco, Virginia, Casa de Zinc, Casa de Zacate, San Isidro, Muñoces, Corozal and La Llanes received fertilizer assistance from their Iowa partner churches.    

We wish we had a ‘fund’ here to help those communities who do not get fertilizer assistance from their partner churches.

Some communities are small – 30 to 50 families.  For those, a purchase of the less expensive Sulfato would be an investment of about $1,200 to $2,000 – prices of fertilizer change weekly.  Some communities are a little larger – 60 to 80 families.  You can do the math.

Small to moderate sized Berlín communities we would love to buy fertilizer for:  San Felipe Abajo, Media Agua, Cerna, San Lorenzo, and Santa Cruz.  And we would love to help some of the other Berlín cantons but they are just too huge – some have in excess of 300 families:  Colón, Loma Alta, Las Delicias …

We have such dreams here to help those in the greatest need.  We are so blessed to have Iowa partner churches who are truly working hard on behalf of their partner communities.  But we feel sad for those without partners.  We do what we can – we help them with little projects with proceeds from the Don Justo Coffee with Dignity project – but those proceeds are minimal.  Definitely not enough to cover the cost of fertilizer.  Unless everyone starts drinking more!!  (hint).



5 San Francisco men came to help load their truck ... 110 sacks of Sulfato - each sack weighs 220#

The first of 3 trucks needed for San Francisco's fertlizer

Mirna - the President of San Francisco's Directiva getting ready to call names

Sign here ... Cecilia making sure no one gets left off the list

We forgot the inkpad for those who can't sign

Thankfully I had a marker in my bag!  I asked him to be in charge of painting pinkies

He helped download 220#  sacks for those who couldn't

Several folks from one of the more distant caserios within San Francisco awaiting a pick up truck

Fertilizer is such a necessary evil ...
without it - very little grows in the nutritionally depleted land. 
People put their hope in the harvest to feed their families all year round.
Blessings to all our Iowa Church partners