WEBVTT NOTE Automatic audio transcript; may contain errors. 1 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.560 I'm Rick. I'm Linda. And we just got back from Panama. It was um, 2 00:00:06.000 --> 00:00:07.220 it was very hot 3 00:00:07.820 --> 00:00:08.880 the whole time. 4 00:00:10.220 --> 00:00:15.240 The best thing that happened to me while I was there as far as the heat was that I 5 00:00:15.240 --> 00:00:16.360 sweated so much 6 00:00:16.360 --> 00:00:18.860 that I didn't have to get up at night and go to the bathroom and 7 00:00:19.670 --> 00:00:23.830 fight my way out of the mosquito net. So I made it through every night while I was 8 00:00:23.830 --> 00:00:25.930 there without getting up until morning. 9 00:00:29.140 --> 00:00:34.970 Because I've been there the year before, I was very anxious 10 00:00:34.970 --> 00:00:36.350 to get there again. 11 00:00:36.650 --> 00:00:40.710 I just wanted to cry because I couldn't wait to see the people again. 12 00:00:41.790 --> 00:00:44.550 And Jaime was there waiting for us. 13 00:00:50.100 --> 00:00:54.560 Good morning friend. My name is Jaime Dixon. 14 00:00:55.660 --> 00:00:58.480 We, the people from here, lived without water. 15 00:00:59.300 --> 00:01:00.860 David and Joellen came here. 16 00:01:01.480 --> 00:01:04.940 Through their generosity, they came and started a health clinic 17 00:01:05.480 --> 00:01:07.780 and installed water tanks for many in the community. 18 00:01:08.320 --> 00:01:10.840 They came and gave scholarships for the students to study. 19 00:01:11.920 --> 00:01:13.400 They have continued to help the community 20 00:01:13.400 --> 00:01:15.560 by bringing different groups like doctors. 21 00:01:16.220 --> 00:01:18.300 Our friends from the United States have continued 22 00:01:18.300 --> 00:01:20.080 and shared many things with us. 23 00:01:20.620 --> 00:01:22.320 And for that, we are very grateful. 24 00:01:22.320 --> 00:01:27.020 Muchos problemas para tomar agua. Muchos problemas 25 00:01:27.020 --> 00:01:32.150 y yo hacer trabajo con mi esposo. 26 00:01:34.680 --> 00:01:40.380 Un pozo y nosotros tomaba eso. Y no era 27 00:01:40.380 --> 00:01:46.000 bueno que nosotros tomara porque había vaca, gallina, 28 00:02:04.390 --> 00:02:08.630 Good afternoon to everyone, before we lived very poor and we did not have anything. 29 00:02:10.090 --> 00:02:13.470 Thanks to them they came and now we have our own water. 30 00:02:14.690 --> 00:02:18.990 They continued with the clinic, with medicine, and with the lessons that they gave 31 00:02:18.990 --> 00:02:19.290 to the 32 00:02:19.290 --> 00:02:19.530 children. 33 00:02:20.010 --> 00:02:20.810 I like this a lot. 34 00:02:21.950 --> 00:02:26.310 Thank you for the water tank and the clean, healthy water that we are now drinking. 35 00:02:27.570 --> 00:02:31.350 Because before this, there were many diseases from the water, and many children 36 00:02:31.350 --> 00:02:31.750 suffered 37 00:02:31.750 --> 00:02:32.370 from fevers. 38 00:02:33.730 --> 00:02:36.530 Before we drank dirty water, even water that smelled bad. 39 00:02:37.690 --> 00:02:39.190 So I give thanks to them. 40 00:02:40.610 --> 00:02:46.330 I felt like I was respected there and that 41 00:02:46.330 --> 00:02:48.610 they thought I had something to say. 42 00:02:49.370 --> 00:02:55.330 And they were paying attention, they were paying close attention to the times 43 00:02:55.330 --> 00:02:56.150 when I shared 44 00:02:56.150 --> 00:02:56.690 with them. 45 00:02:56.910 --> 00:03:02.770 They were very, very excited about our visit there and they were very excited to 46 00:03:02.770 --> 00:03:02.890 hear 47 00:03:02.890 --> 00:03:03.850 more and learn. 48 00:03:03.850 --> 00:03:09.770 I felt like I was personally doing what I was supposed to be doing in 49 00:03:09.770 --> 00:03:10.550 my whole life. 50 00:03:11.420 --> 00:03:17.240 Sponsoring the children to go to university, go to advance 51 00:03:17.240 --> 00:03:19.040 their education a little bit. 52 00:03:27.840 --> 00:03:31.930 Here's a photo. I love it. 53 00:03:33.180 --> 00:03:38.960 He really liked the letter that you wrote him and especially the part about him 54 00:03:38.960 --> 00:03:39.900 losing his life. 55 00:03:48.700 --> 00:03:54.200 Por estar ustedes aquí apoyándonos a mi familia, a mis hermanas y a mi 56 00:03:54.200 --> 00:04:00.100 poder seguir estudiando porque sin ustedes no sé si yo puedo llegar hasta 57 00:04:00.100 --> 00:04:05.000 aquí estoy ahorita en el pecho, no sé cómo agradecerle. 58 00:04:05.000 --> 00:04:10.020 He don't know how to give you guys tanks in what way, you know. 59 00:04:10.380 --> 00:04:12.560 Okay, so this is how he can thank us. 60 00:04:12.740 --> 00:04:14.160 Yeah, all right. 61 00:04:14.460 --> 00:04:15.400 He can work in hard. 62 00:04:23.450 --> 00:04:24.530 Like you have them. 63 00:04:24.750 --> 00:04:25.910 Like he has. 64 00:04:27.770 --> 00:04:29.050 Staying away from girls. 65 00:04:33.010 --> 00:04:34.550 And tell the right time. 66 00:04:57.870 --> 00:05:03.830 I had three occasions when I made kites and because I had made a kite before I 67 00:05:03.830 --> 00:05:04.310 took some 68 00:05:04.310 --> 00:05:08.710 garbage bags and I would just have the boys go get a couple sticks and I had some 69 00:05:08.710 --> 00:05:10.010 fishing 70 00:05:10.010 --> 00:05:15.330 line and some duct tape and we made kites and you know the funny thing was not one 71 00:05:15.330 --> 00:05:15.450 of 72 00:05:15.450 --> 00:05:21.360 those kites flew because there wasn't enough wind but the neat thing was 73 00:05:21.360 --> 00:05:23.080 not that they didn't 74 00:05:23.080 --> 00:05:28.940 fly. It didn't matter if they flew. The kids loved to 75 00:05:28.940 --> 00:05:30.960 sit down. We just did it right on 76 00:05:30.960 --> 00:05:36.220 the cement or on a piece of dirt and we made these kites and they liked doing it, 77 00:05:36.280 --> 00:05:36.680 the action 78 00:05:36.680 --> 00:05:39.800 of actually building it. They didn't know what it was even at first until it 79 00:05:39.800 --> 00:05:40.000 started 80 00:05:40.000 --> 00:05:45.520 taking shape and taping the things on and they all got to hold it down and put the 81 00:05:45.520 --> 00:05:47.720 tape on. Then they wrote their names on it. 82 00:05:47.720 --> 00:05:53.020 When we went over to the elementary school we went into their classrooms looking 83 00:05:53.020 --> 00:05:56.800 at one of the chalkboards. You could see right through the chalkboard to the 84 00:05:56.800 --> 00:06:02.260 outside it was so rotted but they still used the part of the chalkboard that 85 00:06:02.260 --> 00:06:08.200 they could use. The desks that they sat in were just like one 86 00:06:08.200 --> 00:06:09.340 person desk and 87 00:06:09.340 --> 00:06:13.580 they had the wooden top on it and you could lift the top off. Just to 88 00:06:13.580 --> 00:06:17.800 clarify those tables weren't meant to be able to come off. They just fell 89 00:06:17.800 --> 00:06:22.540 off. They would have for their desktops so hopefully you know next time we go 90 00:06:22.540 --> 00:06:28.240 down we can bring some desktops with us. There are two teachers that live on 91 00:06:28.240 --> 00:06:28.620 site 92 00:06:28.620 --> 00:06:33.670 in their little cabin as big as a closet and 93 00:06:33.670 --> 00:06:36.070 you know they're offering us 94 00:06:36.070 --> 00:06:41.990 fruit. One of the teachers sat on a busted up old stool as chair for 95 00:06:41.990 --> 00:06:42.590 her desk 96 00:06:42.590 --> 00:06:45.570 You know, and I just, it was so sad to me. 97 00:06:48.040 --> 00:06:52.760 My name is Belkis, Belkis Kiros, and I am the teacher of the Valle Grande School. 98 00:06:53.300 --> 00:06:56.180 In this community, there are approximately 110 inhabitants. 99 00:06:59.050 --> 00:07:01.230 Our principal problem always has been water. 100 00:07:01.510 --> 00:07:03.890 Water is our vital resource, and we don't have enough of it. 101 00:07:04.190 --> 00:07:07.190 Eight years working in this community, I've gotten to know the organization 102 00:07:07.190 --> 00:07:09.350 that have made our quality of life better, 103 00:07:09.530 --> 00:07:11.050 bringing reserve tanks of water, 104 00:07:11.050 --> 00:07:14.850 helping us in our small communities that have been forgotten by government 105 00:07:14.850 --> 00:07:19.990 organizations and institutions. So two years ago they brought the tanks. We 106 00:07:19.990 --> 00:07:23.910 have a tank here now. In previous years other members of the community have 107 00:07:23.910 --> 00:07:26.970 benefited not just the school but in various homes they've installed 108 00:07:26.970 --> 00:07:31.810 reserve tanks. Our communities feel totally grateful with this benefit so 109 00:07:31.810 --> 00:07:35.070 we are able to improve like I said earlier our quality of life and have 110 00:07:35.070 --> 00:07:40.770 water. Bringing us from a cruel past to a better quality of life. The 111 00:07:40.770 --> 00:07:43.590 The students have many difficulties to be able to continue studying. 112 00:07:43.890 --> 00:07:48.550 We don't have books, we don't have chalkboards, we don't even have enough chairs to 113 00:07:48.550 --> 00:07:48.730 be able 114 00:07:48.730 --> 00:07:50.450 to teach our class the way it should be. 115 00:07:52.090 --> 00:07:53.930 Many of these communities have been forgotten. 116 00:07:54.590 --> 00:08:00.520 We aren't able to get enough of the most important resource, the fountain of life, 117 00:08:00.660 --> 00:08:00.800 which 118 00:08:00.800 --> 00:08:01.240 is water. 119 00:08:03.210 --> 00:08:07.530 In past years, when these organizations did not exist, members of our community 120 00:08:07.530 --> 00:08:08.070 died 121 00:08:08.070 --> 00:08:09.130 for many illnesses. 122 00:08:10.040 --> 00:08:12.820 skin infections, amoebas and many other parasites. 123 00:08:15.240 --> 00:08:17.740 So thanks to all of you, your collaboration, 124 00:08:18.760 --> 00:08:22.880 the love in your heart and your support has brought a drop of hope of happiness to 125 00:08:22.880 --> 00:08:24.040 our lives. 126 00:08:25.320 --> 00:08:29.120 If I could define the word of gratitude we have toward all of you, I would say that 127 00:08:29.120 --> 00:08:29.940 you are our hope. 128 00:08:32.050 --> 00:08:35.430 The hope reflected in the love in each one of your actions. 129 00:08:35.790 --> 00:08:38.250 We thank you with all our hearts. Thank you. 130 00:08:43.980 --> 00:08:48.240 The water tanks, the clean water that's going, 131 00:08:49.000 --> 00:08:53.100 you know, when those kids are healthy that 132 00:08:53.100 --> 00:08:57.200 comes from drinking clean water, they can go so much farther. 133 00:08:57.640 --> 00:09:02.560 Some of them, some of the people actually die, things that happen from not having 134 00:09:02.560 --> 00:09:02.780 clean 135 00:09:02.780 --> 00:09:03.180 water. 136 00:09:03.500 --> 00:09:06.140 I had one miscarriage from working hard. 137 00:09:06.140 --> 00:09:11.860 When I had these children there were no neighbors or family 138 00:09:11.860 --> 00:09:13.580 around to help take 139 00:09:13.580 --> 00:09:19.240 care of the children. I would wake up and look for water with two big buckets in 140 00:09:19.240 --> 00:09:25.120 my bag. I would haul water for me to cook because it was not a well close by. I 141 00:09:25.120 --> 00:09:25.380 had 142 00:09:25.380 --> 00:09:31.380 to go really far and wash in the creek. It was hard on my belly and I lost the 143 00:09:31.380 --> 00:09:36.820 baby and on a scourge. We had to go to the creek far, far into the jungle 144 00:09:36.820 --> 00:09:38.240 and look for water. 145 00:09:39.230 --> 00:09:45.190 But now we have no problem. Now I thank God because we have water nearby. We have 146 00:09:45.190 --> 00:09:45.470 three 147 00:09:45.470 --> 00:09:51.070 wells now, very close. Provided by these brothers, we have come from far away 148 00:09:51.070 --> 00:09:52.710 from the US to 149 00:09:52.710 --> 00:09:57.530 help with these water projects for this place. Before, when we drank water, there 150 00:09:57.530 --> 00:09:57.950 was not 151 00:09:57.950 --> 00:10:03.750 good water. It was dirty water and we got sick. Now we 152 00:10:03.750 --> 00:10:05.530 have clear water and now my 153 00:10:05.530 --> 00:10:10.430 family is not getting sick. So it's very important to have the catchment tanks and 154 00:10:10.430 --> 00:10:14.930 the wells that if there's any way that you can support 155 00:10:14.930 --> 00:10:18.530 by providing a water 156 00:10:18.530 --> 00:10:23.910 tank, more wells that sort of thing that's all a good thing too and you 157 00:10:23.910 --> 00:10:27.610 could designate it specifically for those areas but anything you can do is 158 00:10:27.610 --> 00:10:33.570 going to be very good for the people of Panama and also an opportunity to 159 00:10:33.570 --> 00:10:33.750 share. 160 00:10:34.710 --> 00:10:40.110 The joy that came to them when we arrived was a blessing. 161 00:10:41.170 --> 00:10:45.970 Everybody was glad to see us and it was very good. 162 00:10:46.270 --> 00:10:51.280 It's pretty unbelievable just how happy these people are. 163 00:10:51.460 --> 00:10:53.540 I've never really seen anyone really upset. 164 00:10:53.540 --> 00:10:56.220 that they've always had smiles on their faces. 165 00:10:58.370 --> 00:11:01.930 And it's just for what they have, 166 00:11:02.170 --> 00:11:03.610 like the little shacks that they live in, 167 00:11:04.170 --> 00:11:07.840 the food source that they have, 168 00:11:07.980 --> 00:11:10.420 I would say to someone who might want to come down here, 169 00:11:10.840 --> 00:11:12.360 is do it. 170 00:11:14.950 --> 00:11:17.670 It's a huge blessing and it's a huge eye-opening 171 00:11:17.670 --> 00:11:21.750 to truly see what real poverty looks like. 172 00:11:23.620 --> 00:11:25.560 I can definitely say that I've changed 173 00:11:25.560 --> 00:11:29.180 and there's probably some things I'm gonna change when I get back home. 174 00:11:30.320 --> 00:11:33.460 I know for one it's like these guys literally have pretty much nothing 175 00:11:33.460 --> 00:11:36.220 and I have way too much of everything. 176 00:11:37.460 --> 00:11:40.560 Another highlight would probably be 177 00:11:41.740 --> 00:11:44.700 me being a balloon artist that I'm not. 178 00:11:46.680 --> 00:11:50.990 It didn't matter whether it was a weird sombrero 179 00:11:50.990 --> 00:11:54.690 or a cat which wasn't a cat or a dog or whatever. 180 00:11:55.710 --> 00:12:01.550 I would blow up a balloon tight for the kids and whether it'd be just a snake or if 181 00:12:01.550 --> 00:12:01.650 it 182 00:12:01.650 --> 00:12:05.990 would just be some random thing that I tied, they'd always just laugh and giggle 183 00:12:05.990 --> 00:12:06.730 and play 184 00:12:06.730 --> 00:12:09.050 with it until it popped and I'd blow them up a new one. 185 00:12:09.450 --> 00:12:15.280 And just to see the happiness over a simple balloon, it's like the highlight 186 00:12:15.280 --> 00:12:15.660 of their 187 00:12:15.660 --> 00:12:15.880 day. 188 00:12:17.300 --> 00:12:22.980 You go out and you spend from like nine to about five-ish working whether it'd be 189 00:12:22.980 --> 00:12:28.720 Well, did we do. We laid out cement, we put in wells, we dug 190 00:12:28.720 --> 00:12:32.200 wells, we played with kids. 191 00:12:33.040 --> 00:12:36.160 And there was Internet. Yeah, Internet! 192 00:12:37.290 --> 00:12:42.090 I'm Evan. I have been on the trip two times now, last year and this year. 193 00:12:42.490 --> 00:12:46.350 Mostly giving my time and my labor. 194 00:12:46.350 --> 00:12:52.070 However, we want to train them and have them invest time and in trade for the time 195 00:12:52.070 --> 00:12:52.210 that 196 00:12:52.210 --> 00:12:57.410 they invest, we can give them a tank or part of a water system. 197 00:12:58.050 --> 00:13:02.770 That way we're not just giving it out, they have to invest something and then they 198 00:13:02.770 --> 00:13:03.050 would 199 00:13:03.050 --> 00:13:07.730 feel more responsibility because they've put their time into getting it. 200 00:13:08.030 --> 00:13:13.760 The people I've connected with are, you know, they 201 00:13:13.760 --> 00:13:15.220 know some English. 202 00:13:16.640 --> 00:13:21.940 Those are the people I was able to connect with because we were able to really 203 00:13:21.940 --> 00:13:22.420 communicate 204 00:13:22.420 --> 00:13:25.560 and share some of our lives with each other. 205 00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:31.840 You start to learn how to communicate without words and realizing that you can 206 00:13:31.840 --> 00:13:32.260 work with 207 00:13:32.260 --> 00:13:38.020 people and you can work together towards a common goal even though you can't 208 00:13:38.020 --> 00:13:38.340 speak. 209 00:13:38.340 --> 00:13:43.820 Like what we are doing and have done, I could only imagine that, 210 00:13:44.120 --> 00:13:46.920 you know, they have less 211 00:13:46.920 --> 00:13:50.080 health problems because they have cleaner water sources. 212 00:13:50.660 --> 00:13:51.620 It's life changing. 213 00:13:52.320 --> 00:13:53.620 Absolutely life changing. 214 00:13:53.820 --> 00:13:55.480 You will see things you can't see here. 215 00:13:56.260 --> 00:13:57.160 I can tell you that.