Can't We All Just Get Along?

11/7/2012
Today we woke up to the news of Obama's reelection.  I won't talk about this much, and it was interesting to see Facebook blow up with people's opposing opinions.  But I will say that no matter who leads my country, my faith is what guides me and God is who I follow.  I wish people wouldn't act like one person can completely turn their life upside down or that the fate of everything lies in who holds this position.  Your heart is still yours.  That's all I'm sayin!

11/8/2012
After a couple of days dealing with a really upset stomach, we decided to take Matt to the clinic.  Turns out he probably has an intestinal infection. Meaning, he ate something bad. NO SURPRISE that everyone agreed it was from the 50 or so shrimp he decided to eat (against my will) while we were on the coast. That guy sometimes, so stubborn!!  Anyway, he's been a good sport about it and the antiobiotics seem to be helping.  After getting some rest and postponing our second session at Map International's office, we decided to go visit the orphanage with babies and kiddos up to 5 years old, where Jonathan and Stephania used to live.  We took a bunch of shoes with us.  Of course this was a difficult experience.  Once we got in, two little girls immediately sprinted outside to greet us. Carrie had worked with them when they were just babies.  One girl, Angelica, seriously jumped up to Mick, who she had never in her life seen before and gave him the world's biggest hug, as if she loved him dearly and had been waiting eagerly to see him. She seriously just didn't want to let go.  They proceeded to give the rest of us hugs, and of course Angelica wanted right back into his arms. Carrie told the guys to be prepared for extra attention, as they practically never see men.  When we went into the main room with around 20 of the 24 kids at this orphanage, Matt was instantly covered in children, he had one hanging on him in every possible place. Haha.  One woman, a true hero, ran this room. She never sat down, and was constantly rotating through kids to change their dirty diapers, washing their hair with spray bottles, attending to screams and cries...and she's done this for years! What a heart.  We stayed there for about an hour and even though we had hardly any words for them, they truly loved our company.  Imagine when you have 1 or 2 adults for the 24 kids, how often kids get attention or affection, because the adults truly can't do more than they already are.  Kids go days without touch, aside from being fed or changed.   One baby in particular was a bit hard for me because she was sitting alone and silently in a crib against the wall.  She had crusty eyes, nostrils and even crusties around her mouth. But her face was so sweet and innocent.  So I sat in front of her crib for like 5 full minute until it was her turn to be changed, and I reached my hand into her crib and played with her little toes and then held her hand. And she seriously just stared into my eyes the whole time, with a tiny little smile.  GAH.  It was so awesome to see their water filter in use and we are planning on taking them another one.  And the kids just LOVED their new zappatos (shoes)!  They couldn't wait to try them on and once they had them, they ran around showing us over and over, so proud.  After we left, Matt said that it had never been more apparent to him that children desire attention so badly, and will do whatever it takes to get it, negative or positive. It was really heartbreaking.  The way the kids appreciated the new shoes...I couldn't help but think of the many kid parties I have attended where the kid sits next to a pile of presents, opens one and looks at it for 2 seconds, before tossing it aside and reaching for the next box to open.  I know they don't know better. But wow, what a contrast.

And my trauma increased on the way home after witnessing (and hearing) a dog get hit by a car on the freeway.  We stopped for a much needed meal, before hitting a store to buy new clothes for the 8 kids at the other orphanage.  What a blast we had picking out outfits for them!!  We wrapped up with a yummy drink and a beautiful little Cafecito with great music before calling it a night.

11/9/12
We started our day with a visit to the museum of the Ecuadorian artist, Guayasamin. I've honestly never been so moved by art in my life! Matt felt the same way.  I think we all did.  He believed that art was a way to pray, and also to cry.  He wanted to inspire peace in the world, and truly captured human emotion so intensely.  He had seen so much suffering in his life, and was obviously passionate about sending the message that we are all humans who should be united and who should love each other. One of his quotes was, "I cried because I did not have shoes until I saw a child that did not have feet".  I am so glad to have been introduced to his art.

I am feeling very irritated right now!!  After a long day of searching for buckets for the water filters, we were tired and hungry.  We walked down the street to a Colombian restaurant, where our server immediately brought us a round of free shots.  Fine....We eat our dinners and then go for the shots (Carrie wasn't feeling well so she refrained). Normally, none us take shots, nor would we ever take drinks that we didn't order. But you also don't know what is rude in a different culture, you have a sense of adventure when traveling...and we were just tired on top of that.  We didn't really think of any of that until the second round of free shots came, and then Carrie was like, he wants us drunk....so he can rob us.  Yep, him and his 5 shady ass looking friends who are just standing around the bar are plotting against us.  And once we realized this, we noticed that they all kept looking at us. Time to go.  We quickly walk out the door and when we get a few steps away, we look back and sure enough, the server had come out and was looking both ways, definitely looking for us.  Time to RUN!! We haul ass back to the hostal and seeing that we ran to the gate and were out of breath when they let us, of course the people there were like, WTF?  Without even finished our story, they knew for sure that we had just avoided a really bad situation.  I am NOT okay with this!!  Yes, the people we've met and worked with have been incredible people, full of love and kindness, so generous to us.  I've been moved and my eyes and heart have been opened.  BUT, I am feeling tired of not feeling safe almost everywhere I go.  Just the other day, another restaurant owner ripped us back after our second visit to his restaurant....Yes I realize that this is a vent but I also don't think that I should feel guilty about it.  I don't think that this makes me a snob or sheltered, it makes me someone who thinks there should be a balance between the presence of a culture, love for each other, humility...and I will tell you I think we are absolutely lacking a lot of those things in the US. But what about decency? Respect? Honesty?  We certainly have to worry about those things everywhere in the world. Again, just eye-opening. My experience tonight, while we avoided any real problems from occurring, really made me think.