Westerners are so caught up in numbers and calculating time, costs, etc. Not that this is all bad as it certainly has created unheard of levels in our standard of living. Numbers and charts gauge accountability and performance—also important. But at what point is the focus so much on the bottom line that one can’t see up let alone forward and beyond? I had a nice conversation with Samantha the other night. She is working at a horse farm and reproduction facility in Ocala, Florida for a six-month internship. For those of you who know Sam, she has been in love with horses since she was a child and to say this is her passion is an understatement. But off to college she went after high school in a completely different career direction, which her father and I could never figure out. But now at the ripe old age of 27, she is back doing what she loves and working toward a second BA but this time in equine science. She commented to me how happy she was just being with the horses again full time but that it was a little late to finally come to it. I reminded her that it has taken me more than 30 years to finally find and follow my passion. And her sister, Erin, who is in beauty school at 33, is finally doing the thing she loves best, too. In other words, it’s never too late to find and follow your passion. However, all three of these passions will not bear much fruit in the area of money. By any Western standard, these three choices might look unwise for long-term financial reasons—and maybe they are? But thus far, I’ve not seen a gauge, chart, or graph for measuring happiness, contentment and love of life. Some things you just can’t measure nor should you even try. They will bear their own fruit in unseen and uncountable ways yet, none the less, they will make their owners some of the richest people on earth.

I just got back from Coya, Perú where I again volunteered my time with a VOSH team from Michigan. Lead by Dr. Mark Cook, our team of 20 volunteers examined 944 patients for eye care, most of whom received new glasses. The Kausay Wasi Clinic is run by two retired Americans, Guido and Sandy Del Prado. Their commitment is awe-inspiring! Check it out online at: www.kausaywasi.org. I believe this is the 6th time I’ve been to the clinic with this group—which continuously evolves with new faces coming and going but always some core friends. And over the years, the ex-pats in Coya who live and work there have become old friends, too. For me it’s like a homecoming in Perú. How lucky to have two—one here and back home in Michigan. Ah, abundant blessings—Que rico!

So in my neck of the woods (Iquitos) I live among a variety of social-economic levels—but frankly, all poor and mostly living in huts on the river or in the street. They all have chickens roaming free-range plus a sprinkling of roosters. Generally, I’ve gotten used to the roosters which start crowing around 4-4:30 each morning. It’s like a snooze alarm. When I hear them, I know I have a couple more hours to sleep. But next door to me there has been a “rogue rooster” which thinks 3:30 in the morning is not unreasonable to begin his day. Monday morning he woke me out of a sound sleep--grrrrrr! So later in the day when I saw the owner, I mentioned how much “I’d like to kill that chicken”. However, I failed to use the right words –ah, the joys of a second language—and actually said, “I’d like to die that chicken”. But apparently I got my message across as she laughed and showed me the correct body language of wringing one’s neck which I heartily agreed. The next morning?--nothing!! Not a peep from my old friend. Once again the neighborhood is at peace and the smell of chicken soup waifs through the air!

FOR RENT: Many of you know I’m heading back to Michigan for 3 months this year. I’ll be there September-November. I want to keep my fabulous apartment here in Iquitos but would love to sub-let it while I’m away. Some of you have expressed a desire to experience living somewhere like Iquitos for a few months. Let me know if there’s interest out there or pass on the word to your adventuresome friends. The cost is very low by Western standards and everything is included except your food and, of course, the beer! Give it some thought—you’ll never regret the experience.