Paraguay

In August 2004, we visited Paraguay. Our purpose was to go to the tiny village of Pindoyu where my daughter Melinda had worked in community health as an Amigos volunteer for six weeks in June/July 1998. We found, to our delight, that the impoverished village of Pindoyu had improved significantly. Melinda had supervised the construction of over 40 latrines, and the ones we looked for (see photos) were still in good shape and functional. Everyone in the village greeted Melinda with warmth.

The images appear on four pages. Click on any image to get an expanded version.

Entering Paraguay. Border city of Cuidad de l'Este. Most people crossing are smugglers or shoppers. We'll go deeper, into the heart of Paraguay.	Rich farms in Paraguay near the Brazil border, mostly owned by Brazilians.	Paraguay countryside near Caaguazu, where Alexander works
Our hotel in Villarrica.	Our hotel in Villarrica.	Meeting with Lidia Sarubi, who lives in Villarrica, and had contacted the Diaz family for us.
Church in Villlarica	Villarrica	Buying a snack in Villarrica.
Cows on the road again.	Melinda with termite mounds	Countryside near Villarrica.
Getting directions. We are on the right dirt road. It helps that our driver speaks Guarani.	On the road to Pindoyu. We learned later that the driver of this ox cart was Francesca's husband.	The Diaz home. If anyone is there, they are deep in siesta.
The Diaz home. Have they left for Villarrica, or are they in deep siesta?	Walk to the home of Francisca, to see if she is there.	Warm greeting from Francesca's mom, Mrs. Ogaro.
Francesca Ogaro and her daughter Lisette appear.	Melinda gives them a photograph of the day when little Lisette was born.	Elizabeth and Francisca in the mom's home
Looking at the photo album.		Lisette's favorite pig.
Francesca's new home	Francesca's living room -- with TV and sewing machine	Francesca's ox
fruit trees	fruit tree	Francesca's farmyard animals

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