This week, despite being cold very early in the morning, it has been sunny and hot during the day. I was really surprised one morning this week to find the children in their shorts and T shirts, they look so beautiful and relaxed and happy in them. And Perla has grown sooo much. Daily we have been able to get out into the garden and catch up on some sunbathing.. sadly the swimming pool is still not quite ready for a splash. ..maybe next week. This week we also celebrated the birthdays of all the children born in the first three months of the year with chocolate cake and ice cream! One of the youngest girls turned four this week. 
We have tried to keep up with the daily tasks of cleaning and washing and of course for me;
painting more bottles, and help organise a group of young Christian students from USA, who are volunteering for a week. As they don’t speak Spanish I have done quite a bit of translating again which I am really happy about. Its great that the nurses ask me to come over and explain,( it reminds me of my early days here) I am quite enjoying the challenge. Also as they have been singing and playing with the children I have spent time massaging the arms and legs of many of the children to keep the circulation going and to help their muscles. This is really important for the children who don’t move very much and have restricted movements in their limbs.Sadly its also been a week when a lot of the children have been unsettled and sick with colds and coughs, so we have been cuddling them and gently swaying them to hopefully relieve some pain. 
Also a lot of multi tasking!!!One of the boys had to go to Guatemala City for more tests and is looking very ill indeed. His organ systems are failing slowly. We are keeping an eye on him and his monitors.
Also a lot of multi tasking!!!One of the boys had to go to Guatemala City for more tests and is looking very ill indeed. His organ systems are failing slowly. We are keeping an eye on him and his monitors. We also had the first weigh in of all the children after the Christmas break as nearly all are back now. Surprisingly while many have lost weight a few have gained. The gain we have found out has been due to the fact that the parents, frustrated at not being able to feed the children properly, have added sugar to a lot of the feeds to just get them to feed. This has also meant that the children have found it difficult to adapt to normal feeds again. One of the things noticeable about the children with teeth is that most possess rotten teeth. All very noticeable as I walk around brushing their teeth after breakfast.
Bob in Antigua,
Las
t Sunday was spectacular with crowds gathering in and around the park ready for the 
procession which would pass through the town and stop in front of the cathedral. Brass bands played, balloons added colour to the streets and street vendors encouraged sales, children ran around and parents and families waited for the highlight of the day; an outdoor service in front of the cathedral.. There was a wonderful hustle and bustle in the place as the street in front of the cathedral was being prepared with the maki
ng of a spectacular carpet from coloured sawdust. We stood and 
watched as the design unfolded under the watchful eye of the workers. Such care and dedication to create something spectacular. What would happen to it we asked? The answer: the procession would walk all over it and later a team of people from the church would come and clean it up. Ready to prepare a new one the following week!
t Sunday was spectacular with crowds gathering in and around the park ready for the 
procession which would pass through the town and stop in front of the cathedral. Brass bands played, balloons added colour to the streets and street vendors encouraged sales, children ran around and parents and families waited for the highlight of the day; an outdoor service in front of the cathedral.. There was a wonderful hustle and bustle in the place as the street in front of the cathedral was being prepared with the maki
ng of a spectacular carpet from coloured sawdust. We stood and 
watched as the design unfolded under the watchful eye of the workers. Such care and dedication to create something spectacular. What would happen to it we asked? The answer: the procession would walk all over it and later a team of people from the church would come and clean it up. Ready to prepare a new one the following week! 
Later as we watched, the Service in front of the cathedral began, complete with singing and orchestral music. Incense lingered all around us and groups of men in purple robes made their way to the front of the procession, and silence descended as every eye focussed on the very powerful image of Christ and Mary. I looked around, the whole of Central Park was full of people. Quite extraordinary! 
Friday we went to see the spectacular carpet in one of the four main churches in Antigua. Looking at the amazing artwork I was reminded of the Rangoli patterns made during Diwali. It is truly spectacular. Every 
Friday a new carpet is ‘laid’ in the. Church, it stays for three days before they demolish it in preparation for the next one! This will continue every week until the end of Semana Santa week.
Wow!!! its been a fantastic whirlwind of a week with Bob here. We have walked a lot, tried to see as much of Antigua as possible, continued to be amazed by the volcanoes and I have been wined and dined on a daily basis.
Thank you Bob!! Now its back to normal life for both of us. He’s thinking of visiting again! That’s Antigua!!!
Enjoy
Adios amigos
Goodnight
Xxx
Adios amigos
Goodnight
Xxx
4 comments:
More wonderful images of the town and it's day to day changes.
As for Perla, well that really is something for you all to be proud of. If she can develop further - how fantastic that will be. The shots of the workings of the hospital have a new coherence and energy, you get the chance to piece together an understanding of the routines through your words and pictures. Just great....
Antigua assaults all the senses! Back in the UK I am volcano'd, festival'd, taco'd, frajita'd and falafal'd out !
Gosh! The kids would have a bleak existence without Nayna and the others to help!
The nurses barely have time to do the absolute basics.
But as it is the kids are cuddled, talked to, held, played with, given birthday cake, and taken outside into the sun to feel the warmth, breeze and colours there!
But its !*+x*-#g hard work!
Great!
The news about Perla was so touching. Regardless of whether it impacts on her future progress or development, her first word is still a momentous event. And a real cause for celebration.
It must have been interesting to have Bob there and to filter your Antigua experiences through his eyes. The things that have become day-to-day and ordinary for you are pretty intense and overpoweringly real for the rest of us. Thank you so much for sharing your experience and communicating it all so vividly…
Love adrianxx
I wish I could come visit you too!! I would ove to give Perla a hug.
It must be so hard for these children to adapt to coming back from home, but the care that you provide they simply cannot get with their parents...I wonder how they will develop into adulthood.
Another busy week for you, and another week of love and devotion from you! You continue to inspire so much. All my love, Annika xxxxx
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