Today was deceptive

I awoke as usual and stumbled into the kitchen to make coffee. To my surprise I awoke an hour earlier than normal with no assistance from any of the kids. I took this to be a sign that there would be a lot of work and that today was to be busy-despite having no volunteers.

Well, after being delayed an hour by phone calls, we arrived at Bugambilla around 9:45. Larry, Federico and I went out to Santa Maria to see if the roads were passable, and to see exactly what needed to be done. We arrived to find a wet, but passable colonia. Unfortunatley, many of the houses were built too low and took on water from the storm. Some yards are still better described as ponds. We got to the refuge and school there to learn that in fact many people had used the place as a refuge because of the high ground and concrete ceilings. There is indeed a lot of work that still needs to be done to get the house and school fully operational. Next week I will lead a volunteer group there and will be in charge of creating the space for and installing a window in Margarita's kitchen. I'm excited and a little apprehensive over this task and responsibility, but I am confident in my construction abilities after learning so much this past summer.

After a quick lunch at Bugambilla, Federico and I set out the tools needed for the three worksites so that they would be ready to go on Monday morning when the volunteers arrived. After a little more planning for next week, Larry retired to nap, and I worked on the computer creating a medical form for Dra. Nancy and a form that Larry and I created to better keep track of the food used at Bugambilla. Hopefully the latter form will help control some spending, while also cutting down on the number of trips to stores because it will force the women in the kitchen to use a little foresight. Along with these forms, I was able to be constantly plugged into my e-mail (Probably a comparable feeling to a herion addict sticking a syringe in his arm) and world news. It was a slow afternoon of computer work and surfing the web. Many thanks for the words of encouragement from the friends I chatted with and from the e-mails I recieved. The afternoon was going well until my friend and former roomate gave me an update on the Red Sox /yankees series and an inning by inning announcement of my team's defeat. Scott, you suck.

Thoughout the day there are always other little things that need to be fixed or done. For example, today when in one of the bathrooms, I noticed that the door handle was broken. In order to get out, it required some strength; more than the patients at Bugambilla would be able use. So, I replaced it. Unfortunately, we noticed many many more of these things as we were getting ready to leave at 6:15. The trash was building up, and for some reason (incompetance) the women in the kitchen had not called the trash-men and allowed trash to overflow and bugs to collect. Larry and I spent quite a while picking up loose trash, replacing trash bags, cleaning out the area, trying to kill the maggots, and all of the things related to that. After that, Larry began sweeping an area that Mimi had not swept and that was full of leaves and light debris. We noticed that the lumbar that had been delived earlier had fallen over because it was not stacked well, and that the kids had also messed it up by trying to climb on it. I re-stacked the 2x4 pile until it was neat and then created braces to keep it from falling or getting messed up. After that we cleaned up a large pile of junk, debris, branches, and other things from in front of Bugambilla in hopes of not allowing a place for bugs, mosquitos and rats to dwell. Finally, at 8:45 we left Bugambilla. What at some points seemed like a light day, quickly snowballed into a very dirty and full day.

Other than the plot summary above, the day was also filled with lots of emotions as today marks the decent into my final week. In many ways I am ready to get back, to re-enter a "normal" life with my friends, family and familiar surroundings, but I am also hesitant to leave. I have developed many relationships and care for people down here in a way that doesn't allow me to simply leave; I'm attached to this place, to these people. While I have quelled any thoughts of not making an impact or a difference, another question remains; one of hope and faith. Over the last few weeks and especially today, examples of incompetance, even stupidity on part of some of the people here have been all too evident. Progress will only come to this area of Mexico after a large social reform and much more education. While I am comfortable leaving, knowing that I've done what I can and that there will be those behind me to continue the work, I cannot help but wonder about the future of the colonia, and especially a few of the kids living there. What will happen to them? Do I have hope and faith that things will change and that these kids I've grown to love will turn out alright? It can be difficult to answer in the affirmative after seeing some of the things I have. That is where I am, trying to honestly leave with the faith and hope that progress is coming, and that I have been on the front lines enacting that change.

Sorry for its length,
-Matt