Another Ecuador Episode!

May 17, 2009
We sang in church today! It was a wonderful experience and Spirit was so strong. We sang “Joseph Smith’s First Prayer” to the tune of “Come Thou Fount” in Spanish. It was really cool to know that the congregation was actually understanding every word I sang!  I read a couple of scriptures in Sunday School. I went to young women’s which was really fun and brought back memories! I loved it.
It was a very nice relaxing day! We ate “linner” at the hotel. Once again, the food was great – especially the vegetables. I think I could be a vegetarian when I get home! I miss veggies so!
We went out for ice-cream tonight which was a fun little treat. I don’t know how the ice cream parlor, Fragoli’s, will stay in business once the BYU students leave. I had a mint cream dipped in milk chocolate! It was lovely! I ordered a small, but it was still rather tall!
It was a great Sunday! I’ve sufficiently recuperated and am ready for another week!
May 18, 2009
Compassion is a part of us – a part of us that we share with others. We yield our emotions, our time, and our love to another. We cry together. We rejoice together. Compassion unites us and binds relationships. Because compassion comes from our hearts, it can foster great joy, but it also provides a potential for heartache. Today my heart broke.
My mom was only 18 years old. This was her first baby, and it was girl. I stayed with her for four hour hours. During this time she progressed from 3cm to 9cm. We breathed slowly and deeply. I tried my best to help her relax. I pressed on her knees, providing counter pressure to help ease her pain until my own back ached. I held and kissed her face. She would squeeze my hand till it was pale white and I feared it would fall off. But I stayed with her, so she wouldn’t labor alone. I smuggled her in some water. The doctor told me that if she didn’t bring her own cup, she couldn’t have a drink. Ridiculous. I found her a water bottle to help quench her thirst as she cried out. Between sobs I tried to soothe her and wipe her forehead with a moist towel. It was very hard for me to watch her suffer in such agony. I kept telling her that I knew she could do it, that she was strong, that she was brave. However, when my emotions were tested, I found I wasn’t as strong or as brave.
After practically dragging the doctor to her multiple times for cervical checks, she had reached 9cm. Birth was close, and transitioning is usually the hardest point. The Junta, the organization that runs the hospital had come to pick us up. We were only allowed to stay our allotted time. I wanted to take a taxi home on my own, but was told I couldn’t stay by myself. I had to leave. I had to leave her when she needed me most. It was terrible. I never want this to happen ever again. She screamed for me to stay. She told me I was her friend, and she needed me. I broke down. I couldn’t be strong or brave anymore. I had to pry my hand away and run. My heart was broken and I was crushed. The worst part was that I had to leave her alone, and there is nothing I hate more than being alone. I left her with no one to take my place, with no one to help her. I felt horrible.
I came home, cried, prayed for her, and went to sleep.
Part II
Looking back, I should probably write about the rest of my day… there were good parts too. Earlier that morning I had been able to labor with a woman, providing support and coaching her through birth. It was another priceless experience. I guess the day was just a roller coaster of emotions and on top of it all I was a bit PMS-y. I held a woman who had just been informed her fetus had died at 26 weeks and she was about to have a D & C. She sobbed and wanted her husband. It was her fourth child, and a little boy. I cried with her. I couldn’t express how sorry I was, I can’t imagine what she was going through.
Additionally, I made friends with one of the doctors in the NICU – she spoke lovely English which was refreshing! She answered a lot of my questions. Apparently pre-natal vitamins and iron are free for pregnant women, but there is little education and women do not realize they need them. Additionally, they live far from the cities are barred from care by pure location. Sad story.
After clinical and my recuperation nap, I went out to eat with some girls from my group. We actually got steak, rice, and beans for a dollar! I know! A little different than Wendy’s dollar menu. We also went to the Mercado. I haven’t bought a lot, so I got some cute dresses! The Mercado was this huge building filled with little shops. It seemed like a maze as they all started looking the same over time.