A week of hard work. Many more patients than week one, for some reason. As usual, saw some odd, some mundane, and some sad human conditions. The old, old man, dirty, unkempt, accompanied by his young grandson. Both can learn from each other. Generally the old people are well cared for in the family home. But as in the U.S., it is a process to know when this strong, independent paternal figure can no longer care for himself. And the sad, sad story of senseless violence: A 60 year old gentleman living on the outskirts of Ocosingo who came to market very early one morning last year, and returned home to find his wife murdered in their home. It is hard for me to even relay this. The horror of it. No one has ever been accused. No reason ever found. He is sad beyond words, also that her loss is a loss for his home and land. Without her he can no longer keep up his little plot. He is Catholic, he prays to the saints, lights candles, and does some ill defined sorcery as well. He said he had no one in the church to talk with. Grief here is suppressed. We prayed with him and laughed that maybe the Presbyterian prayer would give him some peace. We offered for him to talk with anyone here. There are a lot of troubles and sadness here, a lot of social challenges.
He came in with back pain.
And another lady, my patient, came in with her sister, for a bad taste in her mouth. Only in talking for a few minutes and from our dear little friend, Margarita,
who knows the lady, did we learn that her son, an Ocosingo Policeman and a Christian, was killed in an altercation last week here in town. Apparently, he came out of his home to help with a disagreement between others, and was shot. They took him 2 hours to San Cristobal and despite surgery, he could not be saved. The pain churns my insides.
But it is not all doom and gloom. There is more happy than sad, and through it all, there is such innocence and joy! They do not know any other way, and they just cope with what has been given them. They are content, and happy with small things. Us coming, a bag of Tylenol, lots of smiles, a day without rain, a day with rain, enough corn and beans for the day.
The smiling, toothless (well, he had one tall one sticking up...) man who was a bit confused. Didn't know how old he was. He said yes to everything and we had him going for awhile! Still not really sure why he came!
Lots of kids with scabies today... And the usual bolitas, cu'x (pain) all over, gastritis, colitis, hot feet, numb arms, overweight diabetics who cannot eat a thing! High blood sugars, 
high blood pressures. A little girl with a "granita" a little dry itchy spot on her eyelid. I had trouble seeing it. Kids with growing pains, and belly aches, but who manage to daily eat lots of cookies, Sabrita snacks, Coka colas, and sweet "juice". Poco a poco we try to make changes. Will we ever get there? Will it ever be a perfect world?
Do I yet know why I am here?
Again, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest! I would fly far away to the quiet of the wilderness."
I know that I am already here in the wilderness. I think I will rest and contemplate matters.
More later. Love from me.
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