Sustainability -- From Him

So -- it's been a while since I've written any posts. We're in the home stretch now; the last 6 months seem to be going quickly, a sprint. The previous 3 have been a whirlwind, and the next 3 seem on track to continue in the same fashion. March was a month for visitors -- other volunteers using their stored-up vacation days, trainees from the new group visiting sites to see volunteer life, etc. Right now we're travelling down to the remote interior for an Amerindian Rodeo. Yes, to steal a book title: The Cowboys are Indians. Then we'll have a end-of-service week in May; the last group stayed at the best hotel in the country, ate ridiculous meals, and had full massages. That was before the economic collapse. We're getting hammocks in bungalows, no guarantee of AC, a campfire (with smores! the admins say), and karaoke. But hey, we're going back to the States just now, as the locals say, so who really cares? In the meantime, my dreams at night have involved Chipotle, Greek food, and consumer electronics.

So, our organization has an understandable focus on sustainability. Train local partners, create income-generating projects that fund themselves after the grants run out, that sort of thing. The attitude of the locals has, to date, been: Sustainawho? We'll just get another volunteer after you leave. I patiently (and with secret pleasure) promised, over and over, that this would not happen. Now that we're three months from leaving, I think things have sunk in. And in the last two-week period, suddenly 1) a nearby university branch has helped them work out having a teacher for computer classes, and 2) a grant funding infrastructure improvement is tied to HIV/AIDS, which is requiring that my work in teaching coping and life skills is continued, so now I have coteachers sitting in for all my classes (as of the new term starting after Easter). Amazing what some properly-applied pressure can accomplish.

And then, out of nowhere, 3) a Ministry group shows up to start addictions counseling, and now I'm assisting with setting up a community-based counseling center. And all this time I thought my debt-laden graduate degree would be safely set aside for 2 years. Funny how things come together all of a sudden. Also funny how the next (and final) three months became really intense and busy.

In the meantime, we're looking for a new home for our girls, Sumatra and Riesling. With luck, a shiny brand-new volunteer will take them both, so they'll have stability and a continued partnership for a solid 2 more years. We really don't want them to be split up, since they play together so well, and nothing is more sad than a lonely dejected puppy. Wish us luck!

As a final note, it looks like She may be headed to a Spanish-speaking South American country after we finish here, and be finished there in December. I, meanwhile, will be perfecting my Wii bowling and DS BrainAge skills. I've missed out on a lot in the last two years.