Filed under: Giving Back/Community Impact
We lost our internet connection for most of the day yesterday, so we were not able to post an update. No biggie! We have, however, created a Flickr account to share some of our MANY photos. Check it out: http://www.flickr.com/photos/73986441@N06. We’ll continue to add more as we go.
As this is being typed, we have all packed up and loaded ourselves in the van–leaving La Libertad. A bitter-sweet day. Words cannot describe how grateful we are for the kindness, generosity and hospitality that has been shown to our team. We arrived just a few short days ago–curious, anxious and unaware of what to expect, truly. We leave with memories, friendships and humbled by our experience. The people of this small town will forever hold a place in each of our hearts. We will NEVER forget you.
Gini speaks for all of us (above), her tender heart does a better job than mine of expressing our feelings. We did love the times in LL.
Last night, a small band of our party set out to ride the Ferris Wheel. It is near carnival week and the carnies have set up shop in the street. They’ve erected a three story Ferris Wheel that would likely rival that of the State Fair of Kansas or perhaps Wyoming. It has fluorescent tubes running along its circumference, wooden slat chairs, and stinks of diesel and grease. During test runs, this monstrosity is observed doing 40 revolutions per minute. I counted. As soon as I saw it, I craved a ride, and others are bit with the same bug.
The day we arrived, our guide told us to stay away from the carnival, “Bad people, not so nice, go there. You will not like them.” I was … intrigued. On Sunday, no less than a member of the church board warned us off the carnival in the strongest possible terms. We asked to take his daughter on the Mighty Ferris Wheel, thinking ourselves noble for offering to accompany a small child in her moment of fear and adrenaline. “No, senor, por favor!” the man said in a most serious tone. “We do not take our children to the carnival, it is not safe.”
Hmm, I found this odd and explained that our county carnivals represent a sort of rite of passage. His body language led me to suspect that he now thinks Norte Americanos to be a crude breed, especially Tejanos. (This is not altogether an untrue observation.) “Senor, la carnival es solamte por Catolicas y borrachos.” A left-handed challenge if ever I’ve heard one.
Our friend’s final statement hooked us better than had he said the place was filled with zebras, chimpanzees, and tattoo artists. Catholics and drunks? We had to go. We waited, biding our time like teenagers at church camp.
We waited until our last night. Waited until everyone else had retired. Waited until our chaperone locked himself in for the night. Then we cheated our way out of the building like Tom Sawyer and his Indians headed for the forbidden zone, the Carnival.
With the stealth of a Navy Seal Team, we crept up the block. OK, really, we were cutting up as soon as we got out of earshot. Craig walked up to the five guys operating the Ferris Wheel and asked how much to ride.
“Tomorrow.”
“What?!? We leave tomorrow.”
“Then we see you next year.”
“We will pay.”
“No. Sorry. Come back tomorrow.”
Clearly, La Libertad has something to hide. Satan lives there. The Grinch walks her streets. Candy is made of steamed carrots and the only pies are minced meat. All shoes are dress shoes. Sermons are long, church is every night, and you have to dress up. Christmas is only celebrated on leap years. The Red Queen is in charge. La Libertad was in chains.
International Tebowing is better than local Tebowing
Sadness reigned until we walked up the block, Tebowed in front of the Christian radio station, and found a friendly convenience store (Tecate!). Order was restored. La Libertad was liberated. The clouds parted. Our hearts re-inflated. We returned to the club level of our hotel, scanned the full-moonlit terrain and laughed away the blues.
Who needs a Ferris Wheel? We have friends.
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