November 3, 2009
Dear Family,
It is almost two weeks since I wrote a letter. I hope you know I have thought of you every day. I feel so very blessed to have your love and support as a part of my life. Thank you.
My back is soooooo much better, I can’t tell you. Rich (my nephew, who is a PT—for the Brown side of my family) had emailed me some exercises and I had been doing them for two weeks. They had helped a lot, but I still was having a lot of pain. The chiropractor Tuli found in Guatemala City is from Minneapolis and educated in the United States. He married “a beautiful Guatemalan girl” and they moved back here 12 years ago. I had an evaluation by the doctor, was taught more exercises for both my back and ankle, had ultra sound and a hot compress to my back, an adjustment and a massage. I got an ankle brace for when I am walking in rough, uneven places. It took 2½ hours and cost $100. It He also gave me the names of two different medicines—one a muscle relaxant that doesn’t make me sleepy and an anti-inflammatory agent that won’t cause rebound headaches. I was still pretty sore for a few days—my back was pretty rigid and hard for him to adjust. But once that calmed down, I have been better than I have been in many months.
The Limburgs (the missionaries here before us) are here visiting. They are such delightful people to be with. Everyone is so happy to see them. Today we were set up at CUNORI with cookies so they could see some of the medical students. Then the faculty classes, past and present, took us to lunch at the most expensive restaurant in town, as their guests. It was a relaxing, rewarding time. Tonight, I am hosting a movie night, meal, and get together at the church for the English students, past and present. Everyone is bringing food. I made chili and will provide nachos—plus plates, cups, napkins, etc. It should be a lot of fun. I had to cancel the kids’ class for tonight, in order to host the party.
Spencer went from Esquipulas to Guatemala City on Sunday, because there was a special excursion coming from El Salvador and the temple was going to be opened for it. There were 17 buses and 500 people. I guess it was crazy. He will probably want to write about it.
We received an email from the missionary department, indicating that unless CUNORI can support the classes by actually making them required and expecting a level of required performance, we will probably not be replaced. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Each year they have said the classes are obligatory. We keep roles and scores—but they don’t really want them in administration. The classes actually are strongly suggested, not obligatory. So as the year gets more intense and students are worried about staying in medical school, attendance dwindles down to almost nothing. We have given the medical administration the lists of attendance and performance, but there are no consequences and no rewards.
Not a lot has changed in our work. The members in the branch are still struggling economically and spiritually. It is an emotional roller coaster to see new people come out and others drop out of activity.
I will post a few pictures with comments on other things, so to complete this letter, go to spencerandjeanine.blogspot.com.
Love, Mom/Jeanine