Mi primer dia en Wacuco

Friday, October 27, 2006

First, I would like to apologize for slacking on the updates, but it has not been easy to get internet access and to have the time to sit down and write as much as I would like. But, anyhow...

I am finally in Wacuco after two months of being in Tocumen and getting acclimated to happenings of Panama. It has been a good time for me to get adjusted to the culture and learn the language better.

So, yesterday I said goodbye to Tocumen and to many friends I had made there to make my way here to Wacuco to start working on the water and other projects out here. It was sad to leave, but not painfully sorrowful, because I was filled with feelings of excitement for Wacuco and I knew that I would be returning there once every couple months to reunite with my friends and community there. I mean to write more about Tocumen and some great people I had met there, but maybe I will have to save that for sometime in the future when I have the time.

I went with Padre Lorenzo (Father Larry), Laura, and Gabriel (Nathan) to the airport yesterday to pick up Padre Pablo (Father Wally). Father Wally was on vacation in the States for the past month, but even though it was vacation, he still managed to work most of the time on raising funds and getting donations for the work in Wacuco. This time he managed to obtain a heavy roller to do more road construction. He is pretty excited about it and it should be coming in a big crate by boat sometime in the next couple months. Its always fun to get new toys, especially when these new toys can help the community here.

Last night Father Wally, and I stayed in Chepo at a Cappuchin Friary which is about halfway between Tocumen and Wacuco, because driving at night here is pretty dangerous, especially when there are no street lights and very big potholes. I made it here safely and have already started doing some small things around here. My first task was to fix the leg of the table in my room that fell off when I moved it; oops. After that, I saw how they dry the rice that they harvest here in these huge kerosene burning dryers. I also am currently trying to figure out how to fix this house heater that was donated, so we can use it to dry more rice. This one burns any kind of oil, so we will use the oil that has been used up and is no good anymore. It would be wonderful if we could get it to work, so we could use the oil we have so it does not go to waste and could be used for something useful. Otherwise it would be no good for anything else.

Well, Wacuco is good so far. It is definitely a change from the city style living of Tocumen. It is amazing, I didnt see a bus or hear loud music or anything like that today. This country living thing is nice. But, of course, there are things that could be considered downsides, like limited electricity, telephone and all those creature comforts I have come to know and love. But, I think this will be a very good opportunity to read, pray and reflect more. Especially during the night, because without light, there is just not as much to do. Well, maybe with all this reflection I am going to be doing I will have more profound things to say next time. I hope you all are doing well and enjoying your lives and working toward something in your own life, whatever that may be. Please let me know how you all are and if there is anything that needs prayer. La paz de Cristo!