Greatest Thing since sliced bread

Several weeks have gone by since my last blog. In those weeks, there have been very slow, relaxing days, as well as busy, stressful ones. So far in my time at Familia Feliz, I have experienced being physically exhausted many times, but these last two weeks have been not only physically exhausting but also mentally exhausting. My brain has felt like there is constant static, there is always something going on, and I am constantly checking my phone for messages in case of an emergency. In addition, a few of the other student missionaries have also been sick. Even though it has been difficult, there have been fun moments also. A couple of kids needed to be taken into town to get some tests, I got to spend time with the Pathfinder-age kids, and I found a loaf of sliced bread (a rarity in Rurre)!

One of the kids that I took into town needed a specific test done, that only a certain doctor had the equipment to complete. However, when we arrived at the clinic, we were told that the doctor would not arrive for a couple of hours. So, what do you do when you are stuck with a kid in town for two hours? Well, you get ice cream of course. So, that is what we did. Seeing the smile on the kid’s face when the ice cream arrived at the table was so precious and it brought me joy. We eventually got the test done and were able to get back to campus. We were both exhausted and almost fell asleep on the ride home.

This past weekend was International Pathfinder Sabbath. If you don’t know what Pathfinders is, it is a youth group or “club” that centers around teaching and guiding youth to live Christ-centered lives and spread the gospel, through fun activities and earning “honors.” All the kids wore their uniforms, and the other SMs and I who had been pathfinders also wore theirs. We marched in the town of Reyes and had a meeting at the Adventist church there. It was fun to see all the kids in their uniforms and watch how clubs outside of the United States work.

With my many trips into town the past two weeks, whether to upload charting or to take a kid to get a test, I was able to find some new stores. One, in particular, had coconut-flavored yogurt and loaves of sliced bread. It was quite a thing to find that here in Rurrenabaque. In Rurre, most bread is about the same and baked in little bun shapes. With the loaf of bread that I found, I was able to make a grilled cheese sandwich and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The joy that these two simple things brought was surprising. I realized that even things I don’t normally crave at home, I still miss.

The past two days have been very busy. Two SMs got sick, and I had to take them to town to get some tests. Both turned out to have dengue, which is a mosquito-borne virus that causes a high fever, headache, GI upset, fatigue, and muscle aches among other symptoms. There is no “cure”, only supportive care until they ride it out, is about all I can do for them. This entails keeping them hydrated, managing temperature, and checking vitals to monitor for any complications. Today, I started one on some IV fluids. However, both are doing well (with normal vital signs) and in good spirits.

These last two weeks, I have been trying to find things that bring peace and that are positive (oftentimes, I have the habit of focusing on the negative). I found that finding peace on a campus full of high-energy kids is difficult. However, early mornings have become the ideal quiet time. I can sit and clearly think and read while listening to the sounds of the forest around me. There are so many interesting bird and animal sounds. To wrap up, I have been reminded that I did not come here for me and understand that this uncomfortable environment is someone’s everyday normal. I am still struggling with the thought of living here for several months, but I know that God will give me the strength to make it through.