We traveled from Tulua to Buga, arriving in the dark...hence no photos and no searching for doctors. There was a wonderful feeling in the chapel and with the missionaries there. One missionary was there for the 2nd time... an energetic North American. He spoke enthusiastically of how well the missionary work was going... how much better it was than when he was there six months earlier. We spoke with the counselor in the branch and he talked of the change in that missionary--that he is now a man. I wonder how often it is this way for us--as we grow and change, we see things differently. After a few interviews there, writing up the time in Tulua, and trying to fix James' tripod, we started the trek back to Cali...arriving very late. No travels tomorrow or Monday.
EarlyTuesday morning we left for Popayan, a city over 400 years old known for its central mercado. We already had two earlier appointments with doctors and were glad to get there before 9:00. Off we went to visit those already contacted, and before noon had made the needed liaisons with health professionals in this city.
While walking from the 'health neighborhood' where the medical school was surrounded by a government hospital and a large private clinic, we were greeted by a gentlemen in his late 50's who recognized our style of name tags. Julian was also a member of the local church leadership and suggested a young man who could take us around to see parts of the central city. When we declined, he offered to go with us himself, a real windfall for us. Julian had lived in this city all his life and knew most every corner and paving stone in the streets.
Our stroll took us through the central square, the old markets (locals only) and there was hardly an 'extranjero' (foreigner) to be seen as we
'blended' into the local population as best we could. Half way through our visit to the central government square, just past the ages-old brick archways, I asked if he knew Darwin,
a friend of ours who served in this area 40 years
earlier. I'm not sure if it was my lame accent or a familiar sounding name, but 'of course' he knew him. From then on it was one place or another where our friend Darwin had been seen, had an apartment, or had taught investigators. Wow, was he excited!
After a stroll by the whitewashed government buildings with their red-tiled roofs,tired from walking in the heat and the afternoon rain drove us into a taxi for a ride back to the chapel. Once there, we dug out our computer and actually made a skype call to our friend Darwin--turned out it was the wrong guy, and our Darwin had never even been to Popayan. Too bad, as it is a beautiful town and it would have been a very nice place to count among cities visited.
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| Dr. Rudver is a church member and happy to see missionaries... spends hours of each day teaching in the med schoool-- we caught him in the classroom |
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| Hospital Jan Jose is right next door to the medical school |
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| We caught Dr. Juan Manuel-- Tramatologo betweencases-- he had checked with James' friends inSanta Fe to find why a North American doctor wanted to talk to him-- found out 'he was a good guy'--- will be happy to refer and see missionaries-- but for himself--doesn't want to charge-- What great people they are! |
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| We spotted this indigenous in native dress across from the hospital... |
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| The director of the Clinica in Popayan want the missionaries to contact him to assure getting his personal pricing :) |
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| This is the view from the back of the clinic..one never knows if the construction is waiting 'for hardening of cement' or the builder ran out of money... time will answer all questions... |
While walking from the 'health neighborhood' where the medical school was surrounded by a government hospital and a large private clinic, we were greeted by a gentlemen in his late 50's who recognized our style of name tags. Julian was also a member of the local church leadership and suggested a young man who could take us around to see parts of the central city. When we declined, he offered to go with us himself, a real windfall for us. Julian had lived in this city all his life and knew most every corner and paving stone in the streets.
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| These buses are traditionally painted and loaded on top with things for locals coming from indigenous communities in the mountains. |
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| Here we are across for the market with Julian |
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| The cafeteria inside the market was amazing, although it did not make us very hungry.. |
Our stroll took us through the central square, the old markets (locals only) and there was hardly an 'extranjero' (foreigner) to be seen as we
'blended' into the local population as best we could. Half way through our visit to the central government square, just past the ages-old brick archways, I asked if he knew Darwin,
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| Yes, this is it! The missionaries' apartment today and 30 years ago.. |
earlier. I'm not sure if it was my lame accent or a familiar sounding name, but 'of course' he knew him. From then on it was one place or another where our friend Darwin had been seen, had an apartment, or had taught investigators. Wow, was he excited!
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| This ancient bridge was so beautiful... the thoroughfare for those bringing their goods to market. |
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| We asked Julian where he was headed... to the chapel to drop something off--just what he was doing when he ran into us... we were too tired to walk back and invited him to taxi with us... we arrived in time to write a few things up before the trip back to Cali |
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