Vaya Con Dios.......Until we meet again

Our final day in El Salvador began at 6:00am, as usual.    Evelyn arrived at 6:30am to start getting us ready for the day.   She has been so amazing all week to have our breakfast ready for us, and every day but today, has sent us out the driveway with a packed lunch. I think she heaves a sigh of relief when we leave the house and she's left alone to clean up. We headed out the door at 8:00am, ready to get to town---a day of plans awaited us.  Our final trip up the mountain road and into the city traffic was bittersweet; on one hand, we wouldn't make that treacherous trip again, taking turns gasping and holding our breath.   On the other hand, we wouldn't make that trip again, seeing all the sights and the people and beholding the view of the gorgeous countryside.   We arrived at the Hospital at 9:10am and went in to begin our morning.   We knew today would be our day of goodbyes; there were patients we wanted to check on, patients we wanted to talk to, staff we hoped to spend time with, and of course, the difficult task of saying goodbye to Sister Julia and Dr. Reyes.    Our first stop of the morning was to check on our young patient who was sedated yesterday.    She was still alive this morning, but breathing peacefully, and not bleeding.   Her mother looked much better, and took the time to answer a couple questions for us before we gathered around her bed and prayed together.   Then we went and said good morning to our poet---again, she was smiling beautifully, and welcomed us.   Estefan wasn't at work today--it was his day off, and we were sad to find out we wouldn't get to say goodbye to him.   Sister Julia greeted us shortly afterwards, and we finalized some plans with her.   It was time to start giving out our "uniform" shirts that Gloria made for us, and we had so much fun giving them to the women and taking pictures with them.   It's amazing what a simple gift a woman's top is, and yet it was like giving a rare treasure.   They were all overjoyed to receive them!!   One patient told us, "I will wear this and will never forget your visit".     Dr. Reyes wasn't coming to  work until 10:30am when his weekly clinic started.    He runs an out-patient clinic every Thursday and sees approximately 50 patients each week.    The hospital provides the patients with all the pain medication they will need for the next week.   We went outside to have a drink and Gloria left us to go and pay for the van rental.   Jane went and sat in the church and the rest of us sat outside.   After about 20 minutes, a male nurse came and asked for Gloria.   Uh oh...........    In my halting Spanish I said, "Gloria no aqui" (Gloria not here), and he understood!!!     He had a look of panic on his face---how was he going to deliver his message without our translator?   Amazingly, even though he couldn't speak English and we couldn't speak Spanish, we soon discerned that Sister Julia wanted to see us upstairs.   Jane joined us as we went upstairs and met with Sister Julia.   She, too, had a look of trepidation when she found Gloria missing from our presence!!   Fortunately, the Pharmacist knew a "smattering" of English and figured out that we were trying to explain that Gloria had just gone to pay for the van and would be right back.  To our horror, Sister Julia began to tell us why she wanted to see us---WITHOUT Gloria!   I felt bad for our friends---I'm sure they felt the need to be hospitable and converse with us, but seriously, we would have been ok to sit and wait until Gloria returned!   It worked out well, though, as Sister Gloria and the Pharmacist showed us where the narcotic medications are kept.   We were shocked at how BARE the cupboards were!   They had a tray of medications ready to go to the clinic, where Dr. Reyes and the Pharmacist would dispense the outpatient dosages, and what was left in the cupboard was minimal.   Somehow, we were able to understand as Sister Julia showed us exactly how much medication our check for $2,150.00 would buy:  less than 3 weeks of just ONE desperately needed pain medication.    They use a lot of Oxycontin at the hospital and ONE bottle of 100 tablets was $575.00.    One bottle would last about 1 week.   Again, my mind raced back home as I thought about how much we waste and how much medication is destroyed, and here was a hospital full of people desperate for what we discard.    I was saddened.   As we were sitting there, Gloria found us, and there was a corporate sigh of relief, both Canadian AND Salvadorian, when she appeared!!   Until that time without her, I wasn't certain I truly understood how mentally draining the week must have been on Gloria.    It was her job to translate every word for us, the staff of the hospital, the patients, her family, and every merchant we encountered!   She patiently answered every question we had, gave us history lessons, lessons on culture, geography lessons, and kept us safe.  Any success we would enjoy from this trip, we owed to Gloria and the passion she possessed for her people, her work, and her friends.   We finished up with some photos and then we made our way outside--it was time for our first party of the day!    Before we came to El Salvador, we decided to do something "special" for the staff on this day, knowing it would be our last.   Once we arrived, we chose to involve the entire hospital, instead of JUST the staff.    Gloria ordered 120 Pupusas and all the fixin's!    A pupusa (poo-POO-sa) is a traditional Salvadorian dish made of thick, hand-made corn tortilla that is filled with pork, beans, and cheese.   They are traditionally served with a light fermented cabbage slaw with red chilies and vinegar and a watery tomato salsa.   We went outside and saw that Sister Julia had already set everything in motion;  tables and chairs were being set up under the shade trees.   Nurses were putting out the table cloths.   Patients who could ambulate freely were beginning to congregate outside.   Everyone knew lunch was being served outside today!   As patients came outside, they carried their own eating dishes.   Staff began to bring patients out in wheelchairs, or assist those with canes or walkers.   Festivity was in the air!   Our dear friend, Estefan, showed up!!   On his day off, he came to say goodbye.   We were happy to see him, and touched by his efforts.   Even though it was his day off, he began helping out, gathering everyone for the luncheon.   Soon, the patients, their family members, the staff, Dr. Reyes, and Sister Julia were congregated, and Dr. Reyes asked for everyone's attention.    He gave a speech about us---he explained who we were, why we had come, what we do for our work in Canada, and how grateful he was that we had come and spent the week with them.  As he was speaking to the crowd, Gloria was translating for us, and we were weeping.   Then he asked a patient to come forward and he said Jane's name.   There were 4 patients who had been selected to present each of us with a gift and thank us for coming.   Jane, Angela, Rose, and I all accepted our gifts with tears and gratefulness.   Then Sister Julia presented Gloria's gift to her and spoke of her passion and the hard work she had done to bring us to El Salvador.   It is nearly impossible to put into words what we felt in those moments.   I just know that every one of us would say it counted as one of the most important times of our lives.   After this very inspiring presentation of gifts, Sister Julia gave thanks to the Lord for the meal, and lunch was served!    It was time for our final goodbyes, and they weren't easy.    In a few short days, we had made life-long friends, and the effect on OUR lives was indelible.   We hugged, took final photos, and then climbed into the van to leave.    As we drove down the driveway, my final vision of Hospital Divina Providencia was watching patients wave goodbye to us amid cries of, "Adios!"    Our eyes were full of tears, both happy and sad.    As we made our way back into city traffic, the next critical decision was about our own lunch---we were very hungry!!    A local Wendy's was the PERFECT choice, and oh, my goodness!    YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!     We couldn't dawdle over lunch, though---we had to get home---we had ANOTHER party to host that afternoon!!!    We drove home to the beach house and had a swim, played in the sand on the beach, and cooled off before we got ready for our Fiesta.   I'm sure you're wondering WHO we would be inviting to this party!   We'd already partied with Gloria's family and the people at the hospital---who else could we invite to a party??    This party would top any other;  we invited the neighbourhood children to come to our house for a Pinata party!   At 5:30, 18 neighbourhood children, ranging from 1 year to 13 years old came to our house.   We had asked Evelyn to invite them for us.   They arrived, looking a bit nervous and excited, too!   Evelyn and 2 other adults came with them.   I imagine Evelyn had to vouch to all their parents for the fact that we were, in fact, very safe, and this was all good!   They were the most beautiful children----they were dressed nice, as if they were attending the best party ever.   They were SO very polite.   I tried my best to hold the two babies that were there, but they weren't having anything to do with me!!   Our hearts melted when "Joshua" arrived.   He came in, hobbling on an old pair of wooden crutches, with one leg missing.   His smile would have captured anyone's heart---ours were instantly his!   He was very shy, but you could tell he was so happy to be there.  We asked Evelyn about his missing leg;  a few years ago, a cement block fell on his foot/leg while a wall was being built.   His bones were crushed so badly, they couldn't save the leg, and they amputated it.   I wondered, as I looked at him, what would become of this beautiful boy.   Gloria asked Evelyn if Joshua had any brothers or sisters and she said, "yes, but they weren't clean, so his mother wouldn't let them come!"   That made us sad, for we know it didn't matter to us, but as a mother, I also understood her pride in sending her children to a party clean and presentable!   It was time for the party to begin.   I'm sure you're wondering what we were going to do with 18 children in our yard---we bought 2 pinatas and 20 pounds of candy!    "DORA and DIEGO" each stood approximately 3.5 feet high and each of them were filled with 10 pounds of candy!   We had gift bags for every child (including Joshua's siblings) that had a hand-crocheted doll in it, a pen, a pencil, and a sucker.   Gloria bought a little bottle of soda for each child, as well.  Weren't we great?   Invite 18 children over, get them all jacked up on candy and soda, and then send them home!!!   It was fabulous!!!!!   We laughed so hard and enjoyed it so very much.   Antonio, our neighbour, came over and strung the pinatas from the tree for us and swung them while the children hit them.    He loved it as much as the children!    Gloria even persuaded Joshua to take a turn at the pinata, and I thought Jane would bust with joy as she watched him participate!!   Even the shyest child loves taking a swing, trying to be the hero that spills candy all over the patio!   Then, as if that weren't enough, Gloria set up a game of musical chairs for the kids.   As the children were eliminated, they were handed a $1 bill.   They loved getting money!!!   Two little girls, warring for a chair, actually broke it into pieces, and we were all hysterical with laughter!    All too soon, the sun set once again over the Pacific Ocean, and it was time for our guests to go home.   Joshua took 4 gift bags home with him, and the other children left happy.    None were happier or more satisfied than the 6 women who lived in that house, though.   We had witnessed human joy in its most beautiful form--the pure laughter of children.   All that remained of Dora and Diego were battered paper mache forms, and the remnants of a resin patio chair sat in the yard.   Our hearts, however, were FULL of joy and contentment as we considered all we had experienced since waking that morning.   As adults are prone to do after a children's party ends, we collapsed on the furniture and talked about our day.   Later that evening, Gloria's sister and family arrived to say their goodbyes.    We couldn't thank them enough for our week and for everything they did every single day to make our visit memorable.    The day ended with last minute packing and sorting.  Alarms were set for 3:30am, and our last goodnights were said.   As I drifted off to sleep listening to the Geckos (yes--they make noise and they're LOUD) accompanied by the ocean waves and the night time breeze, I thanked God for allowing us this week.    We serve a great God!!!!