I dream of Helene

Today my thoughts race back to Helene, as I am thinking of all of the wonderful people I met there. I am remembering a lot, but specifically, the days prior to leaving the island...singing “Because He lives" and praying with Sula...sitting on a log and looking out onto the clear blue Carribean with Joy as she tells me about what she hopes for the youth of Helene...speaking Spanish with Ruth as we discuss her baby to be...munching on sugar cane that Ewings brought us...successfully starting an IV on Alisa (after multiple failed attempts)...doing a digital block and then carving out the infected toenail on Jerry's foot...and laying out on the deck under the stars. What good times! Alisa and Deirdre just wrote me with a miraculous story of how God used them to save the lives of both a mom and her baby, who was delievered breach by these two most stellar missionary RNs! Thank God!

As certain memories fade quicly, on thing I do NOT want to forget is the island LINGO...Here’s some very technical Helene terminology:

· Alright and Okay: both acceptable greetings meaning either hello or goodbye
· Bra: bro or brother
· Hey, girl!: how ladies greet each other
· Drink pills: take medications
· Who is he / she for?: Who are his / her parents?
· Backin’ it: to carry a small child (or anything else for that matter) on one’s back
· Dorey: a small boat
· Hail: to beckon for somebody
· Monkey La La: a type of Iguana that can walk on water – AKA Jesus iguana
· Hogplum: type of tree outside the clinic
· Hogito: flavored frozen water in a sandwich bag, like a popsicle – mmm...
· Balliatas: Handmade tortillas with beans and cheese – the best burrito ever!
· Hubuggin’: Word for “bothering”
· Ush!: Gross!
· Molest: another word for bothering (not in the way we use it)
· *hit: it is what it is (not derogatory as it is for us)
· Pressin’: playing video games
· Joog: To cut or to poke (usually in reference to cutting open boils…sorry, that was graphic)
· Bile: boil (very common here and quite painful)
· Bathing in the sea: Swimming in the Caribbean
· The most, eh? The wickedest, eh? Strictly the best, eh?: Ewings’ phrases for “awesome”
· "Good enough for the girls I date," "Ya done know" (more Ewings)
· Angelina's 3-year old sayings: "Yes, girl" "No, mon;" "don't come by me!" (to larry); "the MAN!" (about Joe in his dive skin); "boom baby" (Emily taught her that); "my chocolates on your ba-ack" (after smearing it on Joe's shirt); "stop singing!" (to Camas); "jalisa!!!" (Alisa's name)
· "Wild savage" (our endearing term for each other, except for Margie)
· Yabba Dabba Ding Dongs: ancient artifacts found on Helene (seriously!)
· Bonky: rear end
· More crooked than a pig’s tail: Ewings’ saying for people (oh Ewings!)
· Plus, all words that start with “V” are pronounced as “W” (i.e. “vexed” is “wexed” and “vine” is “wine.” Sister Cheryl can be heard saying, "Abide in the wine!" My personal favorite, probably due to the fact that I grew up with older brothers: “veggies” is “weggies”.)

Alisa, if you read this, I'm sure I forgot something! Help! ;)

Things I do not miss include the 98-degrees-98%-humidity-you-don't-even-know-what-HOT-is-until-you've-done-Helene days and the ever-growing collection of mosquito bites on my extremities. Things I dearly miss are laughing (those missionaries are a hoot), meal times (Larry is an extraordinary cook), clinic, snorkeling and praying with people on home visits. God bless you all...you are not forgotten.