August 18, 2016
Learning about breast cancer
The herbalist
Continuing good news from our compañeras and our programs! Linda and I just returned from a 2 week visit. We spent 3 days with the women in their August workshop. The inside of the center, which we funded for them a few years ago, had been freshly painted in shades of blue.
We were delighted with the workshop topics. First, a nurse taught the women how to do breast exams. This was new information for them and their was lively interest. Second, an herbalist brought in a number of plants and advised on their preparation and usage for various ailments. A 3rd workshop dealt with the current situation in Mexico and informed about politics, the teaching strike, and the level of violence. As an added treat, a Chilean woman presented a musical interlude with an odd instrument called the chin-chin. It is a drum with two different sides, with a symbol mounted on top. It is worn on one’s back. The symbol is operated by a cord attached to the right foot and the musician both dances and plays complex rhythms at the same time. A fun, cultural break for all!
We presented the three new scholarships (please see photos and information on our scholarship page). As always, we distributed notebooks and pens to all of the 22 current scholarship recipients.
Linda wearing the apron that Teresa made
Nine girls and women were taken to the optometrist for eye exams and glasses. We still had a number of the reading glasses from the Restoring Vision donation, and several of the older women were pleased to get them.
Toy Trucks
Larry Laing of Sequim donated 60 beautifully handmade toy trucks. We carried them down and some were given out to the children who had accompanied their mothers to the workshop. The other trucks will be distributed to the children in the communities. Soroptimist International of Sequim made sure we traveled with the 100 toothbrushes they faithfully donate, and these were distributed as well.
There was one disappointment during this trip. Linda and I had planned to visit our new children’s program in Yajalón (a five hour drive) and stop by the program in Ocosingo en route. Both of these locations are at a low elevation with extreme heat and humidity. We were advised that because mosquitoes there can carry both the SIKA and the Chikungunya viruses, we shouldn’t risk the exposure. In San Cristóbal, the altitude of 7000 feet cannot support the viruses.
The weather was a bit rainier than some years, but otherwise pleasant. Linda and I enjoyed shopping for our Día de Muertos dinner and auction, coming up on October 29. (Go to “upcoming events” from our home page.) We can promise you some beautiful items, including handmade aprons from women in the cooperative!
Judith