A new arrival and more.....

It was lovely to see the children again and they too were excited to see me back. A busy week to get back on my feet again to!

Our new 6 year old who joined us last week from the nutritional project is finally feeling settled. And one of our boys who’s been in the project since before Christmas has returned having put on sufficient weight. Both of them are currently high priority and on their own timetable for feeding . The girl has to have 8 bottles a day with 4oz in each, while the boy has to have 6 bottles with 7oz . (Normally each child has 3 bottles a day each with 8 oz in each.) This means more bottles to prepare and ensuring they get fed at the right time, difficult when there is so much to do! In addition, as the weather is improving we are also giving the children water at 10.00am and 5.00pm. A number of the children are currently being fed through tubes in their noses or stomachs, so the ‘food’ has to be liquidised and sieved twice before it can be used. That is now on my list of jobs to do too !

This week I helped a doctor who was in to check the hands and feet of all the children to check for any kind of infection or fungal growth. While doing this, I was quite shocked to see the state of the feet of many of the older children, which are so distorted and deformed. Normally I see them with their socks and shoes on and we are always focusing on other things. Now I also see the need for the contraptions which are strapped onto their hands and feet to help realign them. BUT its very painful and the children often spend hours crying with pain, sometimes I want to rip them off but then have to remember why they have them. Luckily most of the children are clear of infections.

I think that the nurses were also glad to see me back so that the routine and morning schedule that Lesley and I have set up was back on track! Along with the usual washing and drying, I also washed a whole set of new syringes we received. They had to be sterilised as they will be used to give the children medicine everyday.

Sometimes when I think about the jobs I do, I realise that though they are simple and basic I am really enjoying them. BUT the time spent with the children is the best, I love it!

I continue to encourage Perla to say hola…it’s a slow process.

ANTIGUA

The highlight of this week was the Santana concert at the main stadium in Guatemala City. It was spectacular with amazing lights and the sound in the warm night air was fantastic. Everyone in the crowd was involved and we danced and sang along to the famous songs, finally I understand many of his lyrics! It was strange however to note that they didn’t have any programmes, T shirts or CDs on sale.....just the trademark hat that Carlos Santana wears. The band played for 3 hours non stop and we didn’t get back to Antigua till almost 3.00am. It was difficult to be at work at 8.00am the next morning but I managed it!

The weather continues to be warm and the blossoms on the trees are spectacular. The fountain in central park is adorned in roses and flowers as the whole community enjoys its colourful ambience. School children walk and sit in the park at lunchtimes walking and talking, making plans. Volcan Fuego has been strangely quiet this week.

Today I went to La Merced church to see the new carpet. Its amazing to see what they can do with coloured sawdust and fruit and vegetables. Again so different to the one last week. I also saw a carpet in another church which was lined with bread in the shape of crocodiles and turtles! Sadly we are not allowed to take photos there!
The whole of Antigua is being painted and prepared for Semana Santa, its biggest festival. I am really looking forward to it!

Enjoy

Adios amigos

Goodnight

Xxx