We had to leave Seville right at 12 to have a quick lunch so we could do everything we had to do this afternoon. We left right at 1 to head to the Seville basic school to play! The kids there are 3 or 4 and absolutely adorable. Some of the Northland team was there as well which kept the kids busy! They were walking around with fake glasses, crowns and jewelry. The boys from the teams and the boys from the school played football and bodies became jungle gyms. I adore these kids.
At 3 we left to go to the infirmary where I was greeted with HUGE smiles from Donovan and his "lady friend" Dolores. She isn't able to talk and can only see out of one eye but was absolutely adorable in her communication. She sat right next to Donovan's wheelchair and you could tell she clung on to everything he said and would just smile. At one point he was asking me about a DVD player and I could not for the life of me understand what he was asking for. There was another man there and they were both trying to tell me what they were talking about and all I could hear was "dpt pear." Without saying a word, only smiling, Dolores got up and went to get a stack of DVDs. They all laughed at me when I realized what they were saying! I talked with them for a while and went to find Ryan who wasn't feeling well. I hadn't seen his bed before but they put him in the corner so he could have a tv and cabinet to keep all of his things safe. I talked to Ryan for a looonggg time. Him and I have somehow become friends that act as if we've known each other for years. I sat back today on his bed and tried to look at the world through his eyes. He's smart, funny... no, hilarious, inquisitive and has full mental abilities. He's 22 years old and living in the infirmary. I looked ahead and saw a man rocking back and forth while occasionally hitting himself in the face. Kiddy-corner I saw a man who was entirely yellow and stick thin while the man to the foot of the bed was laying motionless and it was hard to tell whether or not he was breathing. I asked him if he has anybody to talk to there and he said, sarcastically of course, "do these people look like they're fun to talk to? No, I sit here and watch tv or play my games." I can't even begin to imagine what a typical day is like in his life or anybody's life for that matter. My eyes were really opened today and my heart broke. It's terrible that the infirmary exists in the first place- that people are put there to die but to imagine being only 22 years old. Ryan and I went back and forth with our favorite scripture, he showed me his new computer and some of the movies he has. We were about to play super mario bros but the team was already gathered and ready to leave. I think that Ryan's going to be one of the hardest things to leave when July rolls around.
Aside from the sad realizations, the infirmary today was one of my favorite experiences I've had since I started coming to Jamaica. The feeling of community and love that I felt there today was like nothing I've experienced before. The difficulty in communication and the laughs that came with it was more than refreshing. Donovan was having a hard time talking and breathing but when I was saying bye he put his hand to his chest and said "I really love you." My heart left there in an emotional wreck! I was beyond joyful having the loving relationships that have formed there but feeling so down about Ryan's situation. Keep him and everyone at the infirmary in your prayers...
Tomorrow's St. Francis' free day so it's back to town & Dunns River Falls... and I heard a rumor there's this new Greek restaurant in town for lunch with Betty ;)
Blessings
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