Chicken-what?

 “I am surrounded by so many safety systems that I would not be allowed to become truly poor. If I were to become seriously ill, I would be sent back to the United States and given the best possible treatment.  As soon as my life or health were really threatened, I would have any people around me willing to protect me.”  Henri Nouwen, Gracias! (January 20, 1982 p. 115)

While a large part of the world is focused on the Ebola epidemic, those of us in the Caribbean are dealing with a different sickness: Chikunguña.

"What is Chikunguña?" you ask. Good question. I'm not even really sure. I know it is a mosquito spread sickness, similar to dengue. Its symptoms are fever, headache, rash, joint pain, swelling, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea.

When I arrived in Libertad after my vacation, the big news was Chikunguña. Wherever I went, people told me about what symptoms they had when they had Chikunguña, what their children's symptoms were like, how they thought their parents weren't going to survive it (no one in Libertad has died from it, FYI). I only went to one house where they said that Chikunguña had not affected anyone. The next day, that house also was hit.  Literally 100% of the people I talked with had been sick with Chikunguña.

I knew it was just a matter of time until I got it too.

And I did. It started with a little swelling in my left ankle and spots all over my legs. People made fun of me because since I have fair skin, I turned red, a symptom they hadn't seen in anyone else.

See all those little red dots?  Yup. 

Can you tell which ankle swelled?

When my program facilitators found out that I had beginning symptoms, they told me to go to Sincelejo, the largest city nearby. I was upset and frustrated by this; if everyone (no exaggeration there) in the town got sick and got better in town, why should I have to leave? Why should I get to leave? My supportive boyfriend told me, "Probably nothing bad will happen to you, but maybe something bad will happen to you, so you should go." That's paraphrasing, but you can feel the love.

In the end, I understand that they are responsible for me and, in the event that I did get really sick, it is very hard to get out of Libertad to get good medical care. So I went to Sincelejo, where I got the fever and waited for the pain. People spoke of excruciating, unsupportable pain. Also of insatiable itching.

I didn't get either. While I had spots everywhere and turned red, I never felt the urge to scratch. I also never had intolerable pain. I certainly was sore, sort of like after a hard work out, but not in pain.

But even though I didn't feel the pain, for some reason my extremities didn't work. I was very weak and tired, but what's more my feet and hands just didn't cooperate. I spent the day laughing at myself as I tried to walk, open doors, open my toothpaste, and, my personal favorite, wring out my recently washed clothes. I ended up just hanging my clothes up sopping wet because I didn't have the strength to wring them out!

My view all day Wednesday...
I was bored out of my mind,
but I had no energy to do anything!

I almost have all of my energy back now, but for some reason I am still walking around like a new born dinosaur and my hands failed the "open the package of spaghetti by yourself" test. I don't know why! I don't hurt, my hands and feet just don't work right!

However, I am happy because I get to go back to Libertad now and I've survived Chikunguña Lite (that's what I call it since I didn't have it very badly).

A Visit to My Other Home

“Wherever we are, it is our friends who make our world.” –Henry Drummond

At the beginning of October I had the opportunity to go to Minnesota and St. Louis to spend some time relaxing with my family, friends, and, of course, my boyfriend.  I had a great time seeing the beautiful fall leaves, running around the lake, drinking Caribou Coffee, catching up with friends, eating hamburgers filled with peanut butter, pumpkin pancakes, and cereal, surprising my cousins at school, agate hunting with my brother, and just relaxing with my family.  After a week in Minnesota, I went to St. Louis where I spent much needed quality time with Ken.  I certainly am a lucky girl to have a guy like him supporting me!  At the end of my time in St. Louis one of my best friends from college got married.  I am so grateful that I was able to be a part of her wedding!  Congrats Erin and Will!  

Overall it was a great time.  Strangely, the thing that I was most obsessed with while home was drinking fountains.  I could not walk passed a drinking fountain without drinking from it.  How awesome is it that drinkable water comes out whenever you push the button?!  So great!  I am quickly getting used to being without drinking fountains again since they have not been putting the water on very often in Libertad these days and I have been having to borrow from neighbors...  And that water isn't even drinkable anyway!  Haha!  

But honestly I love being back.  People ask if I was sad to leave, if I was dreading coming back, and the answer is absolutely not!  It is always hard to leave loved ones, but I love being here and I have a strong community here that loves and supports me as well!  I love being in the US with my family and friends, but when I am there I miss being in Colombia.  In Colombia I am so happy in the communities and I love the work, but I miss my family and friends.  So either way I am happy and miss something.  But that is life!

So here we go for another year here!

With my grandparents, enjoying fall

A freezing cold boat ride on Christmas Lake

Agate hunting in the rain with my brother

I finally got to meet Audrey- isn't she beautiful!?

Ready for a wedding!

The beautiful bride

Hippos!

A trip to the zoo with Ken

A Year in Review

"Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:4-7

Recently I visited the US for a quick trip to see my family, friends, and boyfriend.  It was fantastic to receive so much loving and energy from so many people!  Thank you to everyone!

On Sunday, the pastor invited me to share a bit about the past year in Colombia.  The following are the reflections that I shared with the congregation, and now I share with you:

This past year I have learned:

1. to ride a donkey.

2. to drive a motorcycle.

3. to make coconut rice, fried plantains, and sweets out of crops like yuca and ñame.

4. to sleep through blasting music, singing roosters, and machines processing rock to make blocks.

5. how much and how quickly dust accumulates in my house and how much I don’t like to mop.

6. to manage living with water that doesn’t always turn on, showering with a bucket and saving water to cook and clean in tanks or pots or pails.

7. to drink coffee with so much sugar that it doesn’t even taste like coffee.

8. to milk a cow.

9. to simply sit and enjoy the company of those around me.

10. but not to believe everything I hear, as rumors and gossip are a major part of the town communication.

11. when it is appropriate to wear flip flops and when I need to wear sandals.

12. the fear and struggle of farmers who do not have land to farm and whose crops all have died due to drought.

13. the desperation of families with no source of income and no opportunities to work, requiring the families to split up in order for members to find work where they can in other parts of Colombia.

14. how guerrilla groups and paramilitary troops were formed.

15. about the laws dealing with transitional justice, reparations, restitution of land, and reconciliation.

16. about the stories of massacres, displacements, sexual violence, and human rights abuses from the mouths of people I love.

17. the complexities of politics and the corruption from the national level to my small town.

18. the patience necessary for doing things the way the system requires and the frustration that even though we do what they ask, they don’t do what they promise.

19. that it is possible for whole communities to organize themselves and demand their rights.

20. the healing power of a hug.

21. how much hope and energy I receive just from watching kids jump rope in my house, throw a Frisbee in my patio, or make faces for a picture.

22. that even though there is hunger, poverty, limited education and labor opportunities, racism, oppression, false promises, and corruption, there is still so much happiness, sharing, and hope for a different future.

23. that the violence and conflict in Colombia is not over but there are many who believe in and are working for a Colombia in peace.

24. the importance of depending on God in all situations and bringing everything to God in prayer.

All of these lessons have taught me the beauty ad the difficulty of living in a small town affected by violence on the Caribbean coast, and the importance and power of prayer, so I'm going to end with three prayer requests:

1. For rain as many of the farming communities are facing a very difficult future for the lack of rain

2. Wisdom, patience, and energy for the community leaders

3. Peace and healing throughout the country