The trip to the Malnutrition Center is about an hour away
from the hotel. There are five different areas that start with F that we pass
on the way there: freeway, forest, farm, furniture and flowers. Some of us joke that there should be a fifth
F which is fertilizer! The trip is
typically filled with talking and laughing on the way there and filled with
stories from the day on the way back to the hotel.
On the way back yesterday I learned that Angel, one of the boys in the younger toddler group, took his first steps this week. He has now joined with Alex as a recent walker, since Alex started walking just a couple of weeks ago. Today I heard that Daniel came for a checkup, and he has gained weight and is doing very well!
In addition to sharing about our day on the bus ride back to the hotel, we gather after dinner to share our Wow! moments that we encountered throughout the day. It is during this time that we really bond as a team and share about what has impacted us during this experience.
On the way back yesterday I learned that Angel, one of the boys in the younger toddler group, took his first steps this week. He has now joined with Alex as a recent walker, since Alex started walking just a couple of weeks ago. Today I heard that Daniel came for a checkup, and he has gained weight and is doing very well!
In addition to sharing about our day on the bus ride back to the hotel, we gather after dinner to share our Wow! moments that we encountered throughout the day. It is during this time that we really bond as a team and share about what has impacted us during this experience.
Today has been a busy day at the Malnutrition Center. Several of the children have gone to the
clinic in town to get shots. Twenty one of the
children were due for immunizations, and several of the team members went to
help take the kids.
The facility was very different from what we
are accustomed to. The waiting area was a narrow hallway with
wooden benches. An interesting
observation was that the staff was in street clothing and you couldn’t tell by
the clothing if somebody was a doctor or a truck driver. Our children were very well behaved and didn’t
appear apprehensive of the experience or scared of the needles. Most of the children rarely get to leave the
walls of the Center, so some of them were transfixed at the traffic and sights
around them.
Several of us are trying to find ways to serve and show our
appreciation to the nannies, cooks and other workers here in our own ways.
Somebody graciously made necklaces to give to Charlene to pass along to the
workers. We were able to buy a few dozen roses at the market in town to pass
out to the workers as part of goodie bags that we are preparing to give out on
the last day. Jennifer has continued to
cut hair today and is planning on dying the workers hair tomorrow. It really is
amazing how much the nannies have on their plates when we aren’t here to help
them, so it is nice to help give back in whatever ways we can.
We have been blessed by having two of the best translators
on the planet with us this week: Alejandra and Olivia. They have been with us every step of the way,
and as much as we think we love these children, these two women love them
more! They have worked with many groups
over the years, and they are a great resource--not only for translating words
but for knowing the ins and outs of the Center and knowing each and every one
of the kids. Olivia and Alejandra meet
us for breakfast, travel with us and even help us barter at the market. They
are not only talented translators but they are wonderful women with sweet
hearts as well.
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