Assessing needs

The day didn't start off well but we achieved plenty in the end. I pulled the curtain rail down trying to pull the curtains , but then it's only a rod through holes at the top! A gheko leapt off the table, I spilt my tea on my embroidery and had to wash it under the tap. It could only get better. At least I had plenty of water. Marvin told me they only have water part of the day in the summer because the water is so low.
Silvia tells me I'm to have a different breakfast tomorrow, a bit more variation she said, but having had a weekend in Granada I can manage a couple of days the same, besides I'd bought some guava jelly to go on my biscuits and Saturday I'm going to Villa Paraiso, a treat I've promised myself.

But today was Gallo pinto, scrambled eggs and banana.   I had time for a beach walk and bit of sewing before being collected.
Once at Marvin's we went thought the priority lists and collated some information ready for shopping. We found that some of the things can be bought locally which is great, but we need to go to Moyagalpa for some things and we plan to go tomorrow.  So on the list are rakes, brooms, mops, storage bins, litter bins, lots of stationery, some speakers, ........most of which we should manage.

After lunch we visited the secondary school. I hadn't looked around here; the primary school hadn't really encouraged it. But I'm glad I went.  The building is in sad shape. The classrooms are open with no glass windows. So after the holidays everything is filthy. Two classrooms had been broken into and the locks broken, the light bulbs stolen. We suggested looking into movement activated lights,

One classroom had only a rough concrete floor which was dreadful. I couldn't imagine students working safely in such an environment.

We are going to look into some repairs and maybe tiles with the help of parents.  The external paths are also extrememly dangerous and they have a disabled student to consider.

So a lot of projects here, including, repair of speakers and ICT equipment.

We left the school to visit the family who had received baby clothes, that Nikki had kindly delivered just before I left. We had visited last year. But yesterday the mother had come to the pulperia and Sylvia had given her the clothes and we mentioned we would visit and take a couple of photos. The children ran to hug me, they recognised me from last year, tiny, brown children with an open countenance who clearly accepted their life as it is. The father appeared older, but tiny, the mother very young. He collects anchovies on the shore of the lake and sells them. I asked if the children will receive uniform but Marvin explained how the parents never send them to school, uniform or not.  Three are school age.   

We were invited in, such an honour to invite me into the intimacy of their home. It was tiny, cramped , dirty and tatty. Real poverty. 

I presume the six children and two adults sleep in the two beds I saw. One had a torn and dirty net over it. There was stuff everywhere, They seemed so pleased that I had come. I wanted to give them money, then I remembered last year and Ronnie for whom I bought a uniform, then he hardly attended school. I have to accept the things I can't change.  But we will buy them food. Perhaps I can find some baby things in Moyagalpa. 

Next we visited Daniel the carpenter, he has made several things for us but gave a quote for some furniture repairs despite being busy. We 'll see if Pedro Antonio can give a quote too.

Next we visited Santo, he is the chap who goes fishing with gallon plastic bottles strapped to him because he has no boat.  He too, was pleased to see us. He was skilfully sharpening his machete. His three children will receive uniform. He asked if I liked fish and said he will get me a tilapia and deliver to Sylvia to cook for me.

 I found this a moving day, it reminded me again of the things we take for granted and how some situations are just accepted for lack of any capacity to change them. Perhaps we can make things a little better, show them we care.