Being a parent in a third world country is not always easy!!! Especially when you have full awareness of germs and all the ways they like to get into our bodies. If you've ever watched those TV specials about all the little bugs that live on your pillowcase and even find their homes in your eyelashes.....you know the obsessive compulsive results full awareness of germs can bring :)
I say all this to tell you of a traumatic event that happened today in the life of the two men I love most.
We decided today to try out the real Guatemalan experience and eat at the market. Sundays are completely packed with people and smoke from all the grills going. We took our friend Evelyn and her 3yrs old son Christian along to help us with how to order in this kind of setting. We ended up ordering enough food to feed 6 WWF wrestlers, but enjoyed it to the fullest.
At the end of the meal the two little boys had to use the bathroom. Drew was voted as the one to take them. Before he left he gave me all his small bills so that I could pay the bill. Little did we know this was a dire mistake.
So they get the bathroom door and discover you have to pay to get toilet paper....I have all their money. But they go ahead and proceed like REAL MEN. Thankfully Drew assummed everyone had only to go #1. Unfortunately, this was not the case for Isaiah.
There were three stalls in this stinky room so they had to wait in line. When they finally got one, Drew, Isaiah and Christian crowded in. Much to Isaiah's dismay they found that the toilet had no seat, and was covered with other men's urine. Remember they had no toilet paper either. So, Drew, being so brave and valiant, wiped the raw sewer off with his lovely yellow jacket, so that dear Isaiah could place his little bum down and try to do his business.
Either it was the lack of a toilet seat, the knowledge of no toilet paper, or trying to relax in the presence of your dad and your friend....but he couldn't go. Not only couldn't he go, but something snapped. He started howling, crying out of control.
When Drew finally emerged from this hole of despair, things didn't look good from a mother's point of view. We still had a good half mile to walk home and Drew was intent on getting there as fast as possible to take a bath in clorox. Isaiah howled nearly the whole way home, his trauma echoing through the little streets of San Lucas. Snot and tears covering his face which he wiped away with the back of his germ covered hand.
As I write this my left eye has started to twitch. Even though we are safely home and Isaiah has been able to relieve himself, has been bathed in disinfected water, Drew has been showered and changed, all the clothes are in the washer, all the shoes have been disinfected.... and I've made us all drink a bacteria killing concotion...it's still a lot for a mother's nerves!!
Living in Guatemala has definately taught me my dependance on God Almighty. I just cannot control all those germs. I cannot control a little boy from getting dirty. I cannot make all the men in Guatemala have perfect aim for the toilet. I just have to TRUST. Trust that the God that can heal the sick and raise the dead, is looking out for us and protecting my little boy!!
pregnancy, love, and helping orphans in a 3rd world country
