Emily in Panama

I watched my neighbor chase his cow around the field for a couple hours in the hot boiling sun.

He tied her up and we milked the poor thing. She had just given birth and was very very full. My first time milking a cow! Hopefully I’ll get better with practice.

Her calf was a day old but already running around. Amazing! It made such hilarious noises. I guess it needs time to learn how to “moo” properly.

FISH TANK PROJECT!

Klaus, the fish and rice coordinator, was gracious enough to bless us with his presence and fish information. Santa Rosa thoroughly enjoyed the classes he gave to them about fish farming. They were very happy to hear about Klaus’s return to help us get an actual fish tank started.

So, here is our crew marching out to the water source we chose to feed our fish tank. The very first day was the muddiest, but we are slowly getting closer to having our very own fish tank!!

These are great because it keeps from overfishing our Rio Changuinola; also it’s a constant source of protein.

Traditional kitchen.

Perch a pot on a triplet of stones, light the firewood and cook!

These girls are ALWAYS over at my house. Either watching me cook/clean/battle bugs. Sometimes we draw together, garden, or swim at the river. They are like a cluster of indigenous fairy guardian children. I brought back this ancient bead set from home and here they are making one of many bracelets and necklaces. I’ve seen their mangy dogs sporting this new bling. hehe!

I mentioned earlier this year an HIV seminar I’m planning. Did I say that I’ve been working with friends in my town to be the teachers? 

This is a great opportunity for them to gain and show some leadership skills and get a taste for the pride that comes with teaching about really important stuff. We’ve been meeting now and then for practice and well, the seminar has been postponed so many times that they were getting bored. So I decided to set-up a practice day at the local highschool. They taught their HIV material to two enthusiastic classrooms and did such a great job! I am so proud of them! Now, we just wait for the actual seminar, which is scheduled for June 4 - 6, si dios quiere.

Helping tie up some leaves for a new roof over the church kitchen.

dug-out canoe piggy-back ridin’ in the rain.

Rice harvesting.