We had an interpreter while we stayed on the San Blas Islands.
He stayed with us anytime we went somewhere and to ensure our safety.
He told us about their culture, their beliefs and the way of the people. On the
islands, there are numerous albino people than I have ever seen
in my lifetime. They are considered to be cursed. Every
morning the men would get up and get on their boats to catch
food, or to trade. While the men were out, the women took care
of the family. If someone was able to care for the family, the
rest of the women would go to the mountain tops to pay
respects to their departed loved ones. The children played and
helped around the hut.
Once a week the people would gather for townhall meeting and speak with the chiefs before anyone was allowed to
enter into the island. A young girl around 4 years old at the time came to me and just stared at me. She sat quietly during
this meeting as we were waiting for our interpreter to let us know if we were welcomed by the chiefs to stay. The little girl ran outside and came back with a hibiscus flower and put it on my ear. I thought she was so sweet to do that.
Suddenly, I felt something, somethings crawling on me. The flower had ants,
lots of them.
I could not excuse myself to leave the meeting, but I was getting uncomfortable. The chief spoke to me directly as he
could see that I was not comfortable. When I told him what
was going on, he understood very little English, and he began to
laugh. So did the people in the meeting. Then he asked me
why we should be allowed to enter into his island. I told him
we were going to give medicine to the hurting and give anyone
who wanted, Jesus. He had already asked Jesus into his heart
and we were allowed to enter the island.
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