Tuesday Feb. 3

Felt my 1st tremor last evening. I learned that there had been a major earthquake here in 2001. They told us that they have these small tremors daily we just don't notice them as much. It was very slight and everyone else was sleeping. Larry, Kathy, John and I went on home visits in the AM. That truly opened our eyes to understand where these people were going to after they left the clinic. For example in Friday we had seen a mother in a wheel chair at the clinic with her 3 children the young boy wanted his photo taken so that is how I remember them. The mother has severe rheumatoid arthritis. John and I went to her home. It was a Cement room with 2 burner "camping" type stove, Beds for her and the children and their clothing and utinsels. They did have a window. Many of these homes do not. The roof is tin sheeting so it was extremely hot in there because the sun was out. Felt like I was in a sauna. She did have an electric wire running in so they had a light bulb attached. The husband abandoned the family when the boy was born. She tries to earn a little money selling some food items which amounts to about less then 5 cents a day. Her and the family are on the home food delivery and 2 children are funded by CFCA so they get help with school clothes, books, etc. She is in desperate need of a new wheelchair because the other one is falling apart. The 12 year old daughter is the care giver and helper around the home. There is 11 year old girl and 9 year old boy. They have no running water, there is no bathroom not even an outhouse. It is truly a daily struggle for this family but the young 12 year old has not lost her dream of being a lawyer some day. We found that most people here have a very strong faith and the church becomes their community center and support. I could go on and on but the others have their stories to share. Bernardine