Last Ravine day

It was very hard to walk through the Ravine and tell people that it will be 4 months before they see me again. I have developed solid relationships with so many families down there and though most of the time, they are not in need of serious medical care, they just like to have me checking on their kids and showing that I haven't forgotten them. They were upset that I was leaving but they were relieved to hear that I am coming back. Two parents called me every day until I left, sometimes 4 or 5 times a day, just to say good-bye and to remind me to think of them while I am gone.

I will miss seeing their big smiles when I walk up. I will miss seeing the trust in their eyes when I give them advice about their children. I will miss the ever-treacherous river crossing and the narrow passageway alongside it. What I will not do is worry - my faithful community health worker, Wesnal, will be walking through the Ravine daily to deliver food to the babies in Sherrie's feeding program and he will keep an eye on my families. He has been a great assistant. I couldn't do what I do without Wesnal.