I respectfully address the entire community today. I’d like to share some of the photos I took to show the crazy weather we’re experiencing right now, where heavy rain falls, but within seconds the sun comes back out as if nothing had happened.
You’re walking—whether you want to or not—and it makes you think about so many things: what’s happening, how to deal with it, and, above all, that the first task of the day was to go get some grinding wheel and a little sand—which is ideal for mixing with cement—and with a little flour added, it makes for a pretty firm mixture.
We can clearly see the deterioration of the asphalt due to the weight of time and, above all, the weight of all the evil that continues to dwell in my country, in my beloved little town, in my streets—evil that brings with it pain and sadness, feelings that cling to a heart that beats to survive in this world that Venezuela has become so hostile.
And what I’m saying isn’t just empty complaints; on the contrary, I say this in recognition of the resilience and strength that sustain us—the strength that has always told us to stand united and has always made us big-hearted.
This uneven pavement holds thousands of stories and anecdotes, and “Canaima” is the name of this area—a cluster of houses that make up one of the oldest parts of the town of Punta de Mata.
In the town in general, there are all kinds of fantastic stories like the one I’m about to briefly tell you:
This woman and her nurse’s uniform—which apparently is from the pediatric ward of some public hospital, though I shouldn’t say “some” since here in Punta de Mata there’s only one hospital—but in reality, this young woman embodies that unbreakable spirit I’m talking about. We’re far enough from the hospital to walk, but between the weather and the sudden heavy rain, it’s not a very good idea for her as she heads off to her daily duties. However, more than more than 40 minutes had passed since we started waiting for a vehicle. When I arrived at this spot—which is considered a bus stop—as you can see, she’s under a bush and I’m under a sort of makeshift shelter. Sorry for not taking a selfie.
The point is that we can’t help but look around and take the time to observe other people’s struggles so that we can recognize and see our own internal struggles—that no one can truly put themselves in someone else’s shoes or understand just how difficult each person’s situation is.
Brother, thank you so much for all of this. It’s for my progressive friends who have really cheered me on and supported me in this situation, but I must emphasize that I still need your help, brother. I haven’t been able to repair the main beam of the house—it’s quite concerning whether it’s holding up for now. I had to replace some zinc sheets on the front part because, as the entire structure weakened, these beams collapsed and bent, which caused it to an overwhelming amount of water to pour into my home whenever it rains. As you can see, this has been partially repaired, but honestly, I’d like to ask for your help and support to repair the main beam of my house. If you’re not familiar with the issue, please check out the following post;
Remember that, just like this street, there are sometimes cracks in our lives—but no matter where they are, we know we can keep moving forward and walk right over them.
