The rains fall hard on the land!
On Tuesday the rains arrived right on schedule. Antolin had informed us they would begin on the 13th. They started in Tecpán on the 13th and in Chivarabal on the 14th. We all hooted with delight when they arrived. The soil is now happily soaking up the moisture and all the farmers are breathing a sigh of relief. Here, rain means life. When there isn’t rain, the water dries up and there isn’t food.
Rain can also mean death around here. With too much come landslides, drowned fields and floods that kill. This afternoon we headed to the land to drop off some supplies and to check out the progress. Shortly after we arrived the rain began. And it came down hard. Suddenly I got a little taste of what it can be like when the hurricanes arrive and bring in the heavy stuff. It’s not something to take lightly. It’s a very fine balance between enough and too much.
Living conditions are far from ideal for such weather
We returned to Tecpán, driving carefully along the curvy mountain roads, now slippery with mud. We passed people riding motorcycles holding sheets of plastic above their heads in an attempt to remain dry! We looked into houses that are pieced together with sheet metal and plywood, knowing well that the roofs are far from leak proof.
A river of mud and garbage on our street
Upon our arrival home, we found our street had turned into a river. A river of muddy water and garbage. Some had hopped up and over the sidewalk and was running into our patio. After dealing with that, we entered our home, which for the most part is perfectly dry and warm (we do have a couple of leaky spots). I felt gratitude for such a luxury. I know so many others are not as fortunate as we are.
-Heather Alicia
