New connections and a day off.

Yesterday I set out to meet a local doctor who is funded by an English organisation SIFT who are connecting with Peace and Hope.  However I arrived to find the doctor wasn't there but met three chaps from an organisation called Fundacion Esperanza.
After a phone call or two which presented some challenges, I shared a coffee with them and learnt about their work supporting the medical clinics and also working with water purification systems. And then the doctor arrived, and we chatted and she gave me a lift to Urbaite but wouldn't leave me until Jose arrived. Everyone has been so caring.
So for a very special day I got the chance to spend more time talking with Jose's  family about so many things. Some questions are quite direct and we shared a lot of personal opinions. They are very interested in my life in England but wouldn't be able to visualise how we live  at all, although of course Jose can as he has travelled to Europe. But likewise, my friends would struggle to imagine what life here is like.
Jose, Jordy, his nephew and I then got the bus and then walked to Santa Teresa, down the dreaded gravel road where I fell off the bike. We met Idalia, Jose's sister and two children and Jesus his brother there, and all had a delicious lunch. I had tilapia with roasted vegetables, I think the best meal I've had this week.
We then set off across the lake in the motor boat with the kayaks behind. A recipe for disaster was me clambering from one boat to the other, but I managed ok.
We then peacefully explored the river seeing local flora and fauna. Jose explained that we were in the middle of two volcanoes,  in the middle of the lake, in the middle of Central America. 
I clearly need to hone my kayaking skills as I got rather wet. On the return journey the youngsters were towed in their kayaks. Then it was the long walk back up the gravel road and it was dark when we got to the main road, and I mean really dark with no lights. We had missed one bus so had to wait a while. Back in Urbaite we did a bit more shopping, Jose had bought my local telephone and it was a good day top up the memory with a special offer and we needed a bit more school uniform. We met one of the children who had come to the meal  who came and tapped me with a smile. Then the taxi came to collect me. 
It has been an incredibly busy week, but so rewarding and everyone just opens their arms to you. 

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