I actually slept well. For me that is unusual the first night in a new place. We start the day with Devotions and Team Meeting. We then drove into town for breakfast and then we set up the clinic. Celso recruited his Lions members to help and their sons to interpret for us. Our interpretors are Victo, Juan, Chrisian and Giovanny. Jacob, Emma and Celso's son also helped out here. We also got to know Linda, Emma's sister.
I worked dispensing today. Our room would really get crowded at times as we had both dispensing and fitting in the same room. It is always a pleasure to find a pair of glasses that someone liked and could see out of. We received many smiles. Our Mexican friends always appreciated our attempts at Spanish. I would try to shake their hand and greet them with Buenos Diaz (or Tardes if afternoon) when they sat down. When they were finished, shake their hand and tell them Adios and Da Nada when they told us Gracias. We tested 112 people today and gave out more glasses than that. If a person needed both distance and reading, they would get two pair. Many people also received sunglasses. We also gave away many children's sunglasses. We have a real need for sunglasses of all kinds and a bigger need for kids ones.
When we were finished for the day, we were fed a great supper. Emma then took us out to where the Indians stay. They come up from Mexico City. They could earn about 800 pesos (about $8) which is more than they could earn around Mexico City. Everyone, even the toddlers, go out and pick chile peppers all day. The living conditions are very poor but Emma says they are better than they could be. Up until a few years ago, the lived outside, but Emma got the rancher to build more permanent housing. Emma got after the residents for all the trash laying around and told them to pick it up. The kids were having a fun time and liked to follow Emma around. The older kids watched the younger ones and they were all very happy people. Emma told us that running water for showers and flush toilets had been provided but the people would not use them as they were not use to them.
I will never forget Linda in those high heels and short dress raking the trash out of the drainage channel. I will never forget how the children flocked to Emma. I will never forget the smell. Yet, I will never foget the happiness, caring and love they had for each other. As long as you have family and loved ones around, life is good.
Before we got to the place these migrant workers lived, we stopped by a couple of permanent residences. One was the home of a young lady we gave glasses to last year. She had been injured in a car accident. Emma had arranged for medical care but the husband had refused. She was paralyzed. Soon after, the husband had left her with her two young children. Her father cares for her now and Emma makes sure she has what she needs.
After this sobering evening, we headed back to the motel. We were all reflecting on what we had seen. We stopped at a store on the way back and picked up drinks, water and snacks.
Our room smelled funny and Celso checked it out. He said it was sewer smell and to run the ceiling fan and flush the toilet extra. Celso said it was great to have us test run the motel before he opened it to the public. Thanks Celso!
We had devotions, reflected on the day's events and had fellowship. It was early to bed for me.
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