Anpil lapli!

"Anpil lapli" - that is what everyone is saying these days. Translated, "Much Rain!". It has rained daily for the last 5 days - and not just for an hour, but on and off, sometimes very heavy, throughout the day. With the temperature at about 72 degrees and very wet and humid, it is very cold for the people inside cement homes and, of course, more so for those whose homes are made of tin, or cardboard.

Days are filled with a whole lot of very different things. For instance, today I was involved in: problems of some of the women at the Center - one had to be taken to our dentist; one had to be treated by our nurse midwife for heavy bleeding due to retained placenta pieces; two returned from the hospital with their newborns - so I put together the small gift they receive (soap, washcloth, toothbrush and toothpaste, cloth diaper, knitted hat for the baby, and a piece of clothing for the baby) and took their pictures. As long as I have 4x6 photo paper, each mother receives a picture of her with the baby.

Then there was the discussion about what to do since body bags still haven't arrived to be given to the health agents who come for their monthly rendezvous in the next 2 days.

More packets had to be made of the ingredients for "serum cholera".

Speaking of cholera, the Cholera Center has been overflowing with patients. Actual numbers are hard to get since not all patients go to the Cholera Center and patients die in their homes. I did hear that 45 people who died at the CC were buried in a mass grave on Saturday. I do know that a number of patients have been treated by our health agents in the mountains and they, too, have informed us of deaths.

But, back to today. I spent time sorting and organizing supplies for the public health program so packs could be made for the 80+ health agents coming.

Then when I returned to the Center at 4:30 the Women had finished making paper chains - out of red, white, yellow, and blue construction paper I had cut for them and we all had great fun putting them up in the halls at the Center in preparation for Christmas.

And how was YOUR day? Take care. Please pray for everyone here that the cholera epidemic loses its virulence, that the demonstrations against the government become less violent, that the rains subside, and that the love of the Christ Child grows in each of our hearts. Till next time, Peace. Mary Ann