San Lorenzo

For most of our time here in Shell, Paul has occasionally visited another clinic on the Northern coast of Ecuador to help a missionary surgeon who has a small clinic and operated one week out of every month.  This Spring, the rest of us were able to go with Paul.  The kids brought their week of school work with them.  They weren't too thrilled about Mom being their teacher, but we got it all done.  We stayed in a house next to the clinic and slept under mosquito nets - a new experience for us.

One difference we noticed in San Lorenzo was that we stood out!  A LOT!  Shell has had missionaries for so long, that no one gives us a second look.  But in San Lorenzo we had kids at the windows of the house where we stayed all day long and we won many more curious looks when we ventured out from the clinic compound.  One of the beautiful results of this was that after we finished school work, our boys played with these kids and they all made new friends, especially with the kids of a family of 6 kids, most of whom are boys.  Here they are with their new friends.

Paul had a busy week of surgery and I was able to fit in a couple of pediatric visits with the children of some of the staff.  Paul plans to go back most months for the surgery week and maybe we'll have another chance to go back as a family.

Naomi

About a month ago, a baby girl was dropped off at Casa de Fe by a woman who said she was 10 months old and left a can of formula.  Other than that, we don't know anything about her.  She weighed about 10 pounds and on exam, she has a colostomy due to a congenital condition causing a blockage in her intestinal tract.  The area around the colostomy was red and irritated and bleeding, much like a terrible diaper rash.  After a brief hospital admission, we brought her to our house since we were still trying to figure out how to best deal with the malnutrition and the colostomy.

There was a steep learning curve to learning to how to care for her colostomy, especially here without home health and specialized nurses.  But with some long distance help and lots of Internet research, we were able to get her raw skin healing and fatten her up a bit.

Now she is back at Casa de Fe and the ladies who work there are fast becoming experts in colostomy care.  Her skin is mostly healed and she over 13 pounds.  She came over to play last week and we were delighted that she is a smiley, chubby baby!  I don't know if she remembered us, but she relished being the center of attention of a crew of boys for a time.

Armadillo by morning...

Remember that country western song, "Amarillo by morning, up from San Antone...."  Well, this song echoed in my mind as I enjoyed a breakfast of armadillo several weeks ago in the jungle community of Suraca.  I was asked to accompany several employees and a pilot of Mission Aviation Fellowship to this small village where they are conducting a year long bible study.  In an effort to minister to some of the more remote areas of Ecuador's jungle regions and at the request of the village, Mission Aviation Fellowship employees and missionaries spend one weekend a month ministering to the people there.  

Arrival in Suraca

I was asked to accompany the team on their most recent visit to offer some medical assistance and help with the bible teaching.  We left on a Friday evening from Shell and flew for about 45 minutes and touched down in Suraca around 5:30pm.  After setting up our things, we visited with the community and, as darkness fell, we began with some introductions and sharing our Christian testimonies followed by the beginning of our teaching about the fundamentals of the Gospel and sanctification.  We closed the evening with prayer and, after showers, spent a restful night in our hammocks.

Jorge, one of the MAF employees, with his portion of armadillo 

The next morning, we expected to have to prepare our own breakfast.  However, we were soon greeted by the son of one of the village elders who motioned to us to join him and his family for breakfast at his house, a short stroll through the jungle.  The trees gave way to a small clearing filled by several huts with no walls and thatched roofs.  Behind them was an even greater, 2 story, wall-less house.  Living quarters were above and downstairs was a large open dirt floor bordered by a low bamboo fence.  Our host  directed  us to one corner where a table was set for the four of us and him.  Each place setting had a bowl of soup and in the middle of the table was a plate of yuca dough balls.  We took our seats and it was then that I noticed in my bowl, as well as everyone else's, a small claw protruding above the surface of the soup.   On closer inspection, it was a small animal's claw, arm or leg, and shoulder in the vegetable broth.  I was afraid to ask an my stomach was not at its best so I kept quite and looked around at my host and colleagues.  Wilson, one of the team members prayed and we were all encouraged by our host to enjoy the

armadillo soup for breakfast.  I poked around the edges of the soup for a while but soon discovered that the others, even the gringos, were enjoying it.  Well, it was time to take the plunge and I picked up the claw in my hand and went for a bite of the darker meat.  And you know, it was pretty good.

Marco, our host and patriarch of the family, told us of a time when he and his young family lived closer to civilization in a larger community.  Most indigenous people in the Amazon can hunt and grow enough food themselves.  However, the combination of years of hunting in the area and the growth of the population of that community,  it became difficult to find food in that area.  He and his family therefore moved to Suraca and have since enjoyed the  abundance of what the jungle has to offer.

Marco's son with the large bagra

While eating, Marco's sons walked up from the river carrying two "bagra", a jungle river catfish.  The smallest one would be quite a catch at about 5 pounds; the large one weighed in at about 20-30 pounds and about the length of Marco's 13 year old son.

Bible teaching session

When our meal was done we went back to the meeting house and continued our lesions on God's salvation for us through Jesus and how he changes our lives drastically from the time of salvation to the moment we die.   We emphasized how daily we are to change and become more like Christ in our actions through the help of the Holy Spirit.  

That session was complete after about 2 hours and we changed gears.  I conducted a clinic where I attended to the basic medical needs of the villagers while the others in the team installed a radio system for the community.  Late that afternoon we were again invited to Marco's house for a late lunch, early dinner where we again had soup, but this time the bagra was on the menu.  Though it wasn't deep fried like I get in Texas, it was really good.

Wilson holding bagra backbone from his soup

The next day was Sunday and we worshiped with the community and then reviewed the precepts that had been discussed earlier in the weekend said our goodbyes and left for Shell.

Me sampling "chicha", a drink made of fermented yuca

What a wonderful weekend spent with fellow believers, both missionaries and indigenous people, and to see how God is working in their lives and encourage them to know him deeper.   

Oh,  I almost forgot but I bet you haven't...armadillo tastes like...pot roast.

Fall Holidays

While we think of pumpkins and turkey in the Fall in the U.S., Ecuador celebrates Dia de los Difunctos.  Although it has similar origins to Halloween in the U.S. and Day of the Dead in Mexico, this holiday in Ecuador has evolved into more of a Memorial Day, where families remember and honor their ancestors by visiting their graves.  Traditional foods are hua-huas ("wa-was") de pan -  bread shaped like babies and colado mirada - a hot spiced fruit drink.  Thanksgiving is not an Ecuadorian holiday, but our kids have a school break on Thurs and Fri, so we traveled about 10 hours south and west to the Andean town of Cuenca.  Instead of turkey, we found ourselves at Pizza Hut for Thanksgiving dinner!  We also visited Inca ruins and learned how the mis-names  "Panama" hats are made here in Ecuador.  

Halloween

Hua-Huas de pan from a local bakery

Our version or bread babies (and other shapes) 

Incan ruins in Cuenca

weaving hats

pressing the hats

"Daniel" and his multi-colored coat

We made it back to Ecuador late this August 2012 and shortly thereafter I resumed my post as one of the anesthesia providers at Hospital Vozandes del Oriente.  One of my first patients was an 8 year old boy who had been burned.  Daniel's clothes had caught fire at his house about 3 weeks before and he suffered 2nd and 3rd degree burns on his left flank, shoulder, arm and thigh.  His initial care was given at a public hospital about 6 hours away by car.  From what we could surmise, his care was adequate but, as is typical with burn care, the recovery process is long and arduous which includes multiple potentially painful dressing changes which can be helped by sedation medications.  Looking for a second opinion and partly, I believe in hopes of speeding up the healing process without using so many sedation medications, Daniel's father brought him to our hospital.  He had already been through a great deal by this time so, upon initial inspection of his wounds, we were reluctant to recommend that we take him to the operating room for another debridment and careful inspection of his burns.  Daniel's face told it all which was a mixture of exhaustion and exacerbation by this whole process.  Hesitantly, Daniel's father agreed to allow the procedure but I assured him we would care for him as if he were our own.  We found a sizable area of infected tissue but, thankfully, much more healing or healed.  Daniel would go on to need many more daily sessions of sedation for dressing changes and the days seemed to drag on and on for him.  Wondering how to creatively cheer him up, I prayed that this would be an opportunity for Daniel and his father to learn about Christ's love for them and how the could trust Him for their salvation.  Daniel is the same age as my son Nathan so I got the idea that Nathan and I could visit him and give him some paper and markers to draw some pictures.  Later that week, we did just that and what a wonderful boost it was.  Each day when I would visit him for his dressing change, he would show me another picture that he had drawn.  I also got the idea for Nathan and I to cheer him up with a little "r/c airplane" therapy.  The boys and I have built several model airplanes together and so I decided to show him how our "red baron" plane flys.  Behind the hospital is a small grassy area where I had Daniel and his father meet us.  Nathan pointed the plane into the wind and off it went.  Wow, what a pleasure to share a hobby of mine with Daniel and his dad.  They really enjoyed seeing that thing loop and dive over the hospital.  Afterward, I prayed with Daniel and his father that the Lord would heal, encourage, and show Himself to Daniel and his father in the coming days.

Several days later I entered Daniel's room and he again showed me his collection of artwork.  I suggested that he ask the nurses for some tape so he could decorate his room with the pictures.  I was pleased to find out that he was being discharged home that day!

Throughout his stay with us, Daniel wore a child sized hospital gown which was brightly colored so began to call him "Daniel and his multi-colored coat." This reminded me of the biblical Joseph and his multi-colored coat.  Like Joseph, Daniel has undergone a lengthy ordeal in his life and I hope and pray that, as Joseph did, Daniel would continue to trust in God's care for him knowing that God truly loves him and is ultimately in control.

Samuel turns 10

We are completing our year of furlough in the US and are now in Vermont for a week for some R & R before heading back to Ecuador.  Our first day here was Sammy's 10th birthday and one of his presents was a zip-line tour over Okemo mountain with dad.  We had fun watching each other zip off into the trees.  I worked on my landings and after a few zips was landing on the platforms like an eagle on it's nest.  I was also inspired by the construction of the whole thing and am inspired to build one of our own in Ecuador!

Here is Samuel's final zip.  He almost doesn't make it to the platform!

Barton Boy Update

In lieu of a post per birthday boy the next few months, I'm going to summarize the goings-on with the younger Bartons in one post.  We think they are all pretty Super!

Nathan celebrated his 7th birthday last month with a Star Wars party.  There was great debate in the first grade class about whether the girls were interested in this theme, but they ended up agreeing to be invited.  Nathan is very conscious of others' feelings and did not want anyone to be left out.  Of course, he managed to stretch his birthday out over a week or more and I made at least 4 separate cakes or treats!

  

Paul (Master Yoda) made a great Jedi Training Course with light saber moves and a paintball slingshot from the x-wing fighter, culminating in a Death Star pinata...

...and light saber cake.  Note to self:  making a cake out of ice cream does not allow much time for decorating without melting.  Also, the freezer needs to be big enough for the whole light saber!

Nathan reports that soccer and baseball are his favorite sports and science is his favorite subject; reading is a new passion, having recently "clicked" for him.  Nathan loves being a jungle boy spends hours every afternoon with his friends building a fort in a small patch of jungle behind our house.  No adults have been permitted to view this creation, but it entertains him for hours and leaves him completely muddy and happy.  Nathan recently switched rooms with Isaac to have his own room and takes great pride in decorating, organizing and keeping it neat.  Star Wars tops all his passions - if he's not out in the jungle, he is probably playing light sabers or playing with his x-wing fighter.

Josiah turned five this month, a long-anticipated event.  

He requested a space shuttle and jungle party.  We ended up putting Curious George on a space walk from the shuttle and had quite a mish-mash of decor including a Lightning McQueen pinata.  (This worked out well here since there is a limited selection to choose from.)  The jungle-space games were suspiciously similar to the Jedi training camp of the previous month!  Josiah had a great time as did his friends.

The cake, as usual was due to the baking skills of Mom and the construction and decorating skills of Dad.  One of our more impressive cakes, especially tying in the jungle with Curious George, which was all Paul!  So, a close-up.

Speaking of construction, Josiah is quite the master builder.  He has recently joined the lego craze in our house, but continues to spend hours building with his magnatiles - magnetic construction shapes.  His creations are only limited by the number of sets that we have.  Josiah tells us that he is going to be a detective (or a spy) and an artist - possibly an artist who draws things and then builds them.

Samuel's ninth birthday comes later this summer.  He is already planning a solar system party which promises to tax his parents' creativity.  This reflects his deep interest in all things space and his hopes of being an astronaut (or basketball player.)  He recently explained to us exactly why Pluto has been demoted from planet status and one of the things I look forward to about homeschooling during our furlough next year is the things the boys will teach me, especially Sammy!  He will keep us on our toes.  The past 2 months he has been taking guitar lessons from a missionary high school student here in Shell.  He has been quite dedicated to practicing and seems to be progressing well and enjoying it.

Sammy continues to be our bookworm and loves mysteries.  He is working his way through the Hardy Boys series.  His teacher has challenged his class to read the entire New Testament before school is out and he is close to finishing and earning an ice cream reward from his teacher.  If he is not reading, he is playing Wii and loves the challenge of improving on his previous games.  He is a sweet brother to Isaac and alternates between sweet and bossy with his other brothers.  He proved to be a great help with Josiah's recent birthday party and made it possible for Paul and I to get everything done in time since doing it in advance didn't really happen.  He is still out little boy, but more and more often slips into pre-teen mode.  

Isaac is the last to have a birthday later this summer and is close to three.  It is hard to believe how big our baby is and we would be even sadder if we weren't enjoying this stage of his so thoroughly.  He is 100% boy and loves balls, planes, cars and Cars, asking to watch the latter at least once a day.  He is quite the baseball player and asks us often to go out and throw the ball for him.  When he connects with the ball, look out!

He is quite a talker, like his brothers and repeats things ad nauseum until he gets the answer he wants.  He reminds us of the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18 and usually get the same result by wearing us down.  So at least he has learned one Biblical lesson well!  The older boys dote on Isaac for the most part and are fighting over who gets to share a room with him when we are in the States next year.  We went to a zoo recently and Isaac asks constantly to go to the zoo and see the animals.  

He also sings "Awesome God" and chants "It's the Dad life!" from a youtube video he has seen.  Basically he is as cute and sweet as can be, unless he is tired.  Then he gets mad easily, sends himself to his room and either falls asleep or recovers his good humor.  Although he will always be our baby and Mom enjoys every baby moment left, we are thrilled to see his own personality and talents emerge. 

Although I can't bring myself to change the banner of this blog, I offer an updated picture here: