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| Travel with Canadian artist David Kitler to the remote jungles of Panama's Darien Province to learn about the magnificent but endangered Harpy Eagle - the world's most powerful bird.
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| WNAG Flag Expedition Follow-Up: Delivery of School Supplies |
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The impact of the first-ever AFC (formerly WNAG) Flag Expedition continues.
It is Monday, March 12. In a remote village in the Panamanian Darien jungle, a few lucky kids are starting the school year with brand new backpacks, notebooks, pens, pencils, etc.
David and his wife Ly have just returned from Llano Bonito, where they handed the villagers hundreds of pounds of school supplies and baseball equipment, as well as other donated items, including fabric, toothbrushes, toothpaste, etc. It took five horses (and a 3-hour hike) to get all of the supplies from the closest town to the village. Thanks to all who donated, and the generous logistical support of Advantage Tours (www.advantagepanama.com), there were a lot of happy faces. The natives were simply overwhelmed by the fact that so many people, from so far away, had cared so much as to try to help their children and their community.
If you are have been a part of this effort, take a minute to pat yourself on the back. The community of Llano Bonito thanks you. Your kindness and generosity has made a real difference in their lives.
Sad News
The Kitlers had promised that they would give the natives copies of all the photos taken during their first visit. The natives are not used to seeing themselves in print; so they had a lot of fun passing the photos around, something that was inevitably accompanied by much laughter and giggling. David and Ly also plaque-mounted the "family portraits" that were taken on that occasion, so that the photos would withstand the humid conditions in the jungle.
For one of the ladies, Ilma, the delivery of her family portrait was followed by tears. She explained that one of her sons, 9-year old Omar, had been killed five months earlier by a snake (fer-de-lance). The Kitlers worried that the photo had upset her. On the contrary; it turns out that she was sad, but grateful, because now she would always be able to look into Omar's little face.
If you look at the photo of the villagers taken during the Kitler's first visit, Omar is the little boy holding the AFC/WNAG Flag behind Ly, and his mother is the smiling lady standing behind him and to the left.
Omar's story stands as a reminder of how precious each moment of our lives is. None of us knows what tomorrow might bring, so we should not put off doing the things we feel led to do today.
The tribal "tatoos" might be fading (David was the one who got painted this time), but the Kitlers will never forget the renewed friendships and the time spent, once again, among these special people. |
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