Hi everyone. I've stayed home from service today to regather some of the strength lost the past week and a half. Our schedule has been insane, and I'm pooped! But I might as well take the opportunity to write a few words and tell you about our week...
Last week in addition to the Memorial and the Invitation work, we had our CO visit. Between the visit, memorial and pioneer meeting, we had 5 meeting nights in a row. We also were out in service a ton to finish all the Invites. In addition to the busy schedule, we have had some incredible storms this past week. We had such heavy rain 2 days ago, our terrace flooded and spilled into the kitchen. (there is a half inch gap around all our doors and windows) So we ended up using the hair dyer to dry under the cabinets after mopping it all up.
Anyway, with the constant climate change, it's impossible for us not to get sick it would seem. But even worse, I'm afraid we are turning into real Ecuadorians, health-wise. When we first got here, almost a year ago, we found their health remedies and explanations hilarious.
-If you get wet on your head or your chest, the next day you will be sick. No questions. You will be sick the very next day.
-If you get stuck on a crowded bus, the next day, you will have a sore throat.
-If you are sick, you have to wrap yourself in hot newspaper and drink coke with sugar in it. The next day, you will be completely healed.
-When sick with any form of illness, make a tea of lime, ginger and panella sugar, and the next day you will be cured completely. If you are not cured, you did not do it right.
-Many think that cancer can be cured with a particular kind of lettuce, called Lion's Teeth. And that skin problems will be gone in a week by taking a tea made from a certain leaf that everyone has here in their gardens.
It's kind of funny (and by that i mean irritating) when you aren't feeling well and every single sister in the hall wants to know everything you ate that day, everything you did, and then prescribes you a ton of remedies that we are never going to use. The flu cannot be cured by tea, even if it does make you feel better for a minute while drinking it!! And worse, people here are very "interested" in what we do, so they always find out if we tried their remedy and we get in trouble for not doing it, and then the illness is blamed on us. Sometimes we just want to be left to our own misery, you know. But I suppose it is their way of showing how much they care about us, which is obviously a nice thing. Just one of the little things you have to change and get use to when you change cultures. Let go of any privacy you had before!! This is not Independant America! There is no such thing as privacy here, althgouh we are trying to introduce it gradually.
Well, we may not have gone to that end of the spectrum, but I do wear scarves outside now, no longer walk in the rain, and I caught Hannah telling a little girl last night not to let her head get wet, as she will get sick. We never use to worry about any of that, but then again, I guess we never got sick every two weeks back home. Also, the excuses work to our advantage sometimes. Because here, they are all so sensitive about everything, if we don't want to do something or go somewhere, we just say "I got wet today in the shower and forgot to dry my hair, so it's better I stay home and not risk it. Even though it's dry now, I better stay home just in case." And it works!
Last week in addition to the Memorial and the Invitation work, we had our CO visit. Between the visit, memorial and pioneer meeting, we had 5 meeting nights in a row. We also were out in service a ton to finish all the Invites. In addition to the busy schedule, we have had some incredible storms this past week. We had such heavy rain 2 days ago, our terrace flooded and spilled into the kitchen. (there is a half inch gap around all our doors and windows) So we ended up using the hair dyer to dry under the cabinets after mopping it all up.
Anyway, with the constant climate change, it's impossible for us not to get sick it would seem. But even worse, I'm afraid we are turning into real Ecuadorians, health-wise. When we first got here, almost a year ago, we found their health remedies and explanations hilarious.
-If you get wet on your head or your chest, the next day you will be sick. No questions. You will be sick the very next day.
-If you get stuck on a crowded bus, the next day, you will have a sore throat.
-If you are sick, you have to wrap yourself in hot newspaper and drink coke with sugar in it. The next day, you will be completely healed.
-When sick with any form of illness, make a tea of lime, ginger and panella sugar, and the next day you will be cured completely. If you are not cured, you did not do it right.
-Many think that cancer can be cured with a particular kind of lettuce, called Lion's Teeth. And that skin problems will be gone in a week by taking a tea made from a certain leaf that everyone has here in their gardens.
It's kind of funny (and by that i mean irritating) when you aren't feeling well and every single sister in the hall wants to know everything you ate that day, everything you did, and then prescribes you a ton of remedies that we are never going to use. The flu cannot be cured by tea, even if it does make you feel better for a minute while drinking it!! And worse, people here are very "interested" in what we do, so they always find out if we tried their remedy and we get in trouble for not doing it, and then the illness is blamed on us. Sometimes we just want to be left to our own misery, you know. But I suppose it is their way of showing how much they care about us, which is obviously a nice thing. Just one of the little things you have to change and get use to when you change cultures. Let go of any privacy you had before!! This is not Independant America! There is no such thing as privacy here, althgouh we are trying to introduce it gradually.
Well, we may not have gone to that end of the spectrum, but I do wear scarves outside now, no longer walk in the rain, and I caught Hannah telling a little girl last night not to let her head get wet, as she will get sick. We never use to worry about any of that, but then again, I guess we never got sick every two weeks back home. Also, the excuses work to our advantage sometimes. Because here, they are all so sensitive about everything, if we don't want to do something or go somewhere, we just say "I got wet today in the shower and forgot to dry my hair, so it's better I stay home and not risk it. Even though it's dry now, I better stay home just in case." And it works!
Here is a random picture of our local market, stall after stall of meats, vegetables covered in dirt, herbs, used shoes, etc... It is one block from our house and open Sundays only. We don't do much shopping here.
Back to the point: I'm sick today. Sore throat. And I can't help but think it is due to the hectic schedule and bad weather lately. Also, germs are passed around a lot here. No one stays home from meeting when they are getting sick or are sick, and everyone in the hall either gets a hand shake, or more commonly a kiss on the cheek. So that probably doesn't help. I am surprised however that our illnesses here have been limited to the usuals; flu, cold, etc... No weird stomach bugs or jungle diseases. Maybe that's because we are so busy here, we don't travel to the jungle much, but even so... We also cook at home, which keeps us from getting sick I'm sure. We've mastered quite a number of Ecuadorian dishes, although they are quite complex and take a while to prepare sometimes. Our favorite, and most simple, is Locro de Papa. It's a potato soup served with fresh cheese, (kind of like goat cheese I guess) lime juice, onion and avocado. It's really good!
The memorial, as I briefly mentioned in the Announcements, went very well. We had an attendance of 319, many of which came due to the invitation, others studies, others friends. There was seating for about 250 maybe, so there were a number standing. We rented the Hall at the local water park. The Hall itself was very nice, kind of lodgey feeling, with log walls and wood details. The Brothers build a stage and rented chairs with white covers, which looked very formal and nice. Fernando Tapia, our CO gave the talk and it was one of the best Memorial Talks I've heard, explaining so simply and understandable the different groups and why we as observers don't partake, etc... It was very nice, although the guy next to us kept scoffing and shaking his head violenty in disagreement. At one point, he slammed his bible shut and crossed his arms in defiance. Then when the bread came, he wouldn't pass it on. He just held it forever, seemingly praying or something, then he tried to drink the wine, but the Witness with him stopped it. Well, he was a bible study, so hopefully, they will help explain things to him. We thought it was kind of funny.
Obviously, the following pictures did not turn out, but if you use your imagination, you can kind of see what it was like...
My study Maria came with her two children and a nephew. Also, a different study that I haven't been able to find home for a while came, and we were able to make plans to continue our study, which we did last Saturday. It was a very nice memorial and it sounds as if many studies were started from the 214 visitors.
Here is a view of field service arrangements being held in a local home in Kichwa
3 comments:
Oh my goodness, Elsie, that is so funny and frustrating about the medical folklore! I can barely handle ignorance here in the US, I can't imagine what it's like there. I especially appreciate the way it is your fault if the 'remedy' doesn't work.You didn't do it right!
And the lack of privacy! May Jehovah give you 2 double blessings for that sacrifice!!
We actually had a mention in a local needs talk last month, stay home if you or your child is contagious! I practically cheered.
I can see you on your hands and knees blow drying the cupboards, what a pain, but hurray for being able to. Better than that nasty moldiness.
I am typing one handed while holding Roman, he's pretty sure he should be typing, too.
love you both.
OH! Now the pics are up! I love the shot of you on the roof. Even though you had long shutter speed on the Memorial shots, I can see that it was very nice looking. Interesting that the market doesn't work out for you, Except for the meats, I would have thought it woulf be great, you can always wash herbs and veg.
Sorry to hear about Edwardo. It is always so sad to see the older ones go with so much history not to be shared anymore. But that too is what will make the resurection so much sweeter.
We have started looking for umbrellas again and hope that others will see your post in time to share them for your friends and our Brothers. Stay safe and healthy.
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