As I mentioned in my previous post, our last visit turned out to be a little out of the ordinary. You could even say adventurous. Far more adventurous than planned!
After distributing the gifts, we weren’t heading straight home — the plan was to stop by a farm, take down a tent, and then make our way back. Circumstances had led us to find a new route some time ago — quite literally — as the last few kilometers run along a stretch that was only recently opened up. I enjoy this road, because even though we rarely meet anyone out here, when we do, everyone is wonderfully kind.
We were on our way when, on that last stretch, the dashboard signaled a flat tire. More precisely, it showed that one of the tires was losing air — and fairly quickly. We hoped to make it to where we were headed. We did! Spare tire: check! Parts: after a bit of searching, also check — except for the wheel wrench. That was the first challenge. And also the first proof of just how helpful and big-hearted the people around here are. The person who had accompanied us went back to the village and borrowed a wheel wrench from someone. A few hours later, every obstacle had been overcome, the spare was on, and we were ready to go.
In theory, something could have gone wrong again — another flat, perhaps — and we might not make it back to the paved road safely. But honestly, I found that unimaginable. It would have complicated things so much that I didn’t even want to think about what would happen if… I had barely gotten that far in my thoughts when the second flat hit. A blowout, this time. No chance of even making it out of the middle of the forest. And all of this already in the early evening, with dusk closing in. The spare was already used up.
In the first few seconds, I tried not to believe what had happened — as if not believing it could somehow undo reality. But of course, that’s not how it works. We had to face what lay ahead: a long walk, in the dark, through the forest — where the leopards behind the bushes were probably having a good laugh at our expense.
I won’t go into the details of the walk, because I spent most of it trying to switch my brain off as much as possible. I’m afraid of the dark — and in a forest, on unfamiliar terrain, even more so. I couldn’t wait to finally reach our little village! Fortunately, we had internet in the car, just enough to arrange our way home from the village. We were supposed to meet at the main square — I assumed our son would be standing there alone, waiting for us. How wrong I was! There were so many people at the football pitch — matches were being played! As it turned out, a charity football event was taking place, in support of a community member who had been injured. We arrived sweaty, disheveled, and utterly exhausted — which I was very sorry about. I barely had the energy to take in what was happening around me, but even so, I could feel what a wonderful community atmosphere there was. If we hadn’t been so completely drained, we would have loved to stay — it was something special to stumble into. We hope there will be another chance to be part of something like that — rested, clean, and fresh.
Late, and worn out, we eventually made it home safely. But the problem wasn’t solved yet: we were racking our brains over how to get the wheel out of the middle of the forest, where to take it to be repaired, how to get it back, hoping no more flats would follow… but before we could even think it all through, help had already arrived. The owner of one of the ranches and his colleagues practically became our guardian angels: they retrieved the first wheel that had been taken off, took it to be repaired, then came with us back to the stranded car and changed the flat. But that’s not all — they went along the entire stretch of road and cleared it, one by one, of the little tree stumps that had caused all the damage.
For me, this kind of selflessness is profoundly moving.
When people talk about wealth, they usually mean money, possessions. I believe that the truly wealthy person is the one with a big heart, full of goodness — and fortunate is the one surrounded by as many such people as possible.
Chino, Renan, Vicente, and the others — thank you all, so much, for making sure our unplanned adventure turned out so well in the end.
We are not a foundation.
We are not an NGO.
We are simply two people who saw poverty and felt a quiet certainty: we needed to do something — even if it was small. Even if it only brings a few smiles to a few children. Some people have already joined us, once or more than once.
And if anyone feels called to join – in any way, at any time – we would be honored.
If you’d like to support in a practical way, or simply learn more, you’ll find details on the Support page.
If you’d like to reach out personally, feel free to contact us.
Creciendo juntos, floreciendo juntos.
