Monday, October 12, 2009

Moniquira celebration of the Dia Blanco (white day)

A downtown street in Moniquira, a city of 30,000 about 4 to 5 hours by car from Bogota, over rough, windy roads. We went there at the invitation of officials of the municipality and of the Fundapedis, a non-profit organization set up to try to meet the needs of disabled people in the city. The Church had donated substantially to the city and to the foundation, including wheel chairs, crutches, canes, and big bundles of blankets and clothes. In addition, a multi-stake single-adults conference included humanitarian work by 450 young people in the city, including painting, cleaning up, repairing, etc. A four hour ceremony was held on Saturday, including a catholic mass and performances by some of the disabled young people. This Saturday was Dia Blanco, a day for world-wide acknowledgement of the disabled and a celebration of their accomplishments. The Church's contributions were acknowledged and praised. We brought with us additional donations, two big bales of clothing and 1500 pairs of prescription glasses.

Royal and Edgar Gomez from the office who drove us up eating breakfast. The night before we had trout in this restaurant. Trout is suppose to be quite a delicacy in the department of Boyaca.

Edgar holding a very big cockroach. This is one of two I saw Saturday morning!!

We were pleased to see Elder and Hermana Chapman along with two missionaries sitting on the front row waiting for the program to begin. Elder Chapman proceeded to take the photos for us.

Royal and I standing among the various donations from the Church.



Royal visiting with one of the dignitaries present.

At the end of the lengthy program (about 4 hours) they served a rice dish that they cook inside the pig. I was brave and ate some and it was actually quite tasty.

This young man has downs syndrom and the young lady is deaf. They performed a darling dance. Instead of clapping, the audience waved their hands in appreciation.

They had several musical numbers performed by the gentleman in the hat. He was joined very enthusiastically by this downs syndrone young man.

We were enjoying the performance of the young deaf dancers.

The gentleman standing next to me was the recipient of a cane. His left foot is a stump and his right foot is almost completely turned around. He gets around pretty well and was so grateful for the cane.

These ladies (minus me) did a very energetic dance and seemed to have a good time doing so.