A few hazy weeks in the hot sun...how easy it is to forget how cold winter can be!

We had a lovely break from the snow and freezing temps. We were in Santa Lucia, Cuba. It wasn't as hot as usual for this time of year (and it was very windy most of the third week) but the steady diet of sunshine made this SAD-prone gal very happy!

We've been going to the same resort for many years now, and have many friends, both Cuban and repeat tourists that we see every year. I was struck by how many of those people this year remarked how much more "tranquil" and peaceful I was this year. It was quite thought-provoking to realize they were right - I AM more tranquil and contented than I've ever been in my entire life. Chasing down the "why" of that proved to be heart-warming...my new tranquility began taking root the day I landed here in this site, a year ago this month. What an amazing difference this site, you women, and your wisdom have made in my life...and it turns out to be a noticeable difference! It made me think of you all a lot over my weeks away, and made me yet again feel very blessed and grateful to have stumbled - lost, lonely and hungry - onto your doorstep so many months ago.

I'm glad to be back. It wasn't all vacation...some stories to tell...and as always, our work begins all over again in anticipation for next year's visit. I suppose in terms of that ripple-effect, it's because you have welcomed me in and nourished my lostness and hunger, that I in turn am able to "pay it forward" by nourrishing some of the lost and hungry children in the village we call our second home and family.

[ March 18, 2006, 11:57 AM: Message edited by: Eagle Heart ]

Eagle, you are a beauty and a delight and I'm so glad you're back (for our sakes). I'm looking forward to hearing some of the stories when you've had time to decompress. What kind of a time difference is there from Cuba to Canada?

I have chocolate fingers in the fridge! Can't wait to taste them.

[ March 18, 2006, 02:15 PM: Message edited by: Bluebird ]

Welcome Home, Eagle - missed ya'

Love you, Eagle.

So happy your back we need you every bit as much as we are needed by you....All you said about the site and we who frequent it can and has been said many times over about you. We missed you and are so happy you're home again safe and sound...

So happy you have flown home to us again eagle.

We are so glsd to have you back.

smile

Eagle, welcome home. Got a 'special' moment to share with us (from the trip)?
chick

Eagle, welcome back girlfriend. Your voice has been missed. I'm looking forward to *seeing* you in the neighborhood again!

Welcome back Eagle!

What a great testimony about your trip - and people sensing the change. Don't you just feel like a butterfly!

Can't wait to hear more!

danita

Eagle, welcome back! You were missed!

Daisygirl

Welcome home Eagle, glad to have you back.

Sherri

Named: Best New Christian Writer by christianstoryteller.com

So Eagle...can you share some stories with us? We are all waiting to hear how the trip went for you AND the people you help each year. What a wonderful thing you do!

JJ

Thanks for the welcome home everyone! We're still "decompressing" as Bluebird so aptly put it and I'm finding it hard to find my rhythm and routine again. So if I'm not around too much, it's because we're napping a lot these days!

It was a much more hectic month than we anticipated it would be this year. We found the "hunger" more overwhelming than usual this visit. As some of you know, we (my husband's family) unofficially "adopted" a family in a tiny village in Cuba about 13 years ago. They/we have been going back there every year. Because of weight limitations on the chartered flights, we can't take a whole lot, but with anywhere from 4-8 of us going every year (one of his brothers used to go 3 times a year), we've managed to get an astounding array of things to our family over the years, including much-needed medications (anti-biotics are almost impossible to get there) and even a wheelchair one year.

But one thing we've noticed happening in the past two years is that the "family" is GROWING. Last year, I wrote all the names down and had close to 40 people on our list of "family". But every time we went back to the village over this past month, there were more and more people waiting for whatever we could give to them.

We also had a LOT of Cuban friends coming to the gate of the resort looking for us...not just once, but sometimes 2-3 times over the month. It was too much. One day we had a whole string of visitors coming at the same time or right after each other; some of these people have to travel a very long way to get there, have no money to buy food or drinks, and can't get a bus back home until 3-5 hours later, which often means we have to keep them company until the bus comes (and we usually take them somewhere to eat as well).

It's gotten to the point where we have to "draw a line in the sand" and concentrate on the people we've been committed to all these years, or we'll begin (I think it's too late - we've already begun) to feel "donor-fatigue" and will be so exhausted we will no longer be able to help anyone.

But all fatigue aside, it's still clear that our presence makes a difference. We can see the improvements that even the little that we do bring has made in their lives over the years; we try to bring stuff that is useful and will help better their lives.

This year, we managed to bring some really hard-to-get stuff. I would say that one of the best moments was when hubby gave the two fishing rods to the two 14-year-old boys in the village; they couldn't believe that the fishing rods were actually for them - and suffice to say that we didn't see much of them for the rest of the vacation! One of the boys managed to catch quite a lot of fish for many family suppers.

Another highlight was the Spanish Bible for Sarah...Sarah's the matriarch of the family, over 60, but looks about 80, is tired and weathered, very spiritual, but has never - and could never hope to - own her own Bible. Well, thanks to a donation from my aunt, we were able to bring her one this year...I wish you could have seen the tears in her eyes when she realized what it was!

We also gave a Spanish-English dictionary to another older friend of ours. He's a very creative person, loves to paint, read and write...but doesn't have easy access to paints, books or paper. We did manage to find him a set of oil paints and brushes, which brought tears to his eyes when we gave them to him. But it was the dictionary that took his breath away. We gave it to him the first Sunday after we arrived, and by the next Sunday he had painstakingly written in English a beautiful invitation to supper for our family.

I have to tell you about that wonderful supper, but will do it in another post, perhaps tomorrow.

Welcome Home Eagle...your story is such an inspiration...I'll bet your adopted family in Cuba sees you with "angel wings" rather than those Eagle wings of yours...I can't wait to read more...the story of the boys with their new fishing rods is priceless...I have goose bumps!!
I never realized that your trip was so full of purpose and goodness...next year I'd love to make some sort of contribution if you'll let me...my son works for Johnson & Johnson...perhaps i can send you some meds from him or anything else you could think of...what you and your husband and his family do is so important...
I hope you are getting lots of rest now...but I'm anxious to hear more from you...