top of page

Christmas in October

Writer: Christy Stoller
Christy Stoller
Oct 19, 2025
2 min read

After a saga-worthy number of delays, the long-awaiting container arrived last week.

Backed up to Bodega Joe with a baleada-fueled crew ready to unload.


After it's last 4hour delay by a washed-out road a mere 12 miles from the hospital, the laden semi-truck powered it's way up the rough jungle road to arrive at approximately 6:30pm. Followed by a rather impressive display of skill during which it pulled a U-turn in incredibly tight quarters. It was late, it was dark, yet nothing was stopping this team. Within an hour the truck was emptied of its contents and on its way again. The saga had come to a close.


As there were no emergency cases the next day (only GYN cases with Dr. Michael were still being done), I stayed home with Jake to move our things up to the house from Bodega Joe.

We learned a lot with this container shipment. For example, our efforts to organize (Tote #3 = T3), was of no interest to Aduanas (customs) as we found lid T11 on box T8, and items from T4 in box T5, etc.


It is a blessing afforded missionaries here working with Cornerstone Foundation, the ability to put things on their yearly containers delivering items for the hospital, school and children's home here in Balfate. We are thankful to be reunited with our motorcycle, and it is doing beautifully up and down the mountain. Jake is also trying his best not to be overwhelmed with the fact that his list of things needing done just doubled. Battery pack and generator are sitting in our bodega waiting to be put to use. We decided we are going to prioritize installation of the lights and fans in the house before moving on to those. Taking it one task at a time.


Thank you to all who are remembering and can relate to these hectic times of transition. Juggling service and work with home and social is a balance game all it's own.


Much Love.

 
 
 

Recent Posts

See All
The A Team

"It's our last two batas," Sergio explained to me while holding up a surgical gown of thick rough green canvas. I laughed knowing he ment it as an apology, which I also knew that he knew was completel

 
 
 
The other side

This is my view today. Our hospital administration recently did some number crunching. It was prompted by the fact that clinic was overrun the other day, and we had to start triage down at the hospita

 
 
 
Sterilization break

God took liberties with his sunset the other evening. We are heading to a friend's wedding this weekend, and in preparation I had arranged for General Surgery coverage for myself. I filled up the surg

 
 
 

1 Comment


Guest
Oct 21, 2025

Yeah!! SO very glad your things finally arrived, but sorry to hear the pain-staking task of trying to be organized was to little avail...I can only imagine the frustration/amazement in finding this, especially after we just moved - feeling overwhelmed with the task of unpacking and trying to find and organize everything!! Just remember - Rome wasn't built in a day!! 🙃

Denise

Like

©2022 by My Site. Proudly created with Wix.com

bottom of page