hazards. The priest had to learn the language and make visits to
distant barrios, most times on foot. There he would baptize, marry
couples, advise and comfort the sick, build schools and community
health centers which could double as places of worship, and act as
liaison to public officials. He also instilled in the people the idea of
social justice. In doing so for more than 10 years, he said it matured
and changed his views of life and the world.
The third was the rural town physician who among other things,
supervised the eradication of malaria thru mosquito control, ini-
tiated the use of toilets so as not to contaminate the water supply,
maintained mother and child centers to instruct midwives and
mothers in the proper care of pregnant women and infants, and
cured the sick. He ended up courting and marrying the peace corps
volunteer, came to the USA, trained and got his boards in anesthesia,
and worked for 25 years in a city hospital on the eastern seaboard.
Looking back on the experiences of such productive lives, and
reliving them with all their joys despite the sacrifices of sweat,
blood and tears behind them, was such great pleasure. It will never
be duplicated because those places are now updated with modern
facilities – the mission was accomplished.
dren? Would they be as motivated and have the courage to stick
to their ideals? We hear and read of young children in elementary
schools who collect food, shoes, schoolbags and toys for the less
fortunate. High school students are motivated to go to the inner
cities to tutor, to chaperone affairs or teach younger one’s appropriate
sports. Others join clubs to build habitats, to bury the dead, visit
nursing homes. Goodness is inherent in man’s nature and the more
the children are exposed to the real poverty of mind and body, and
gain insight to the plight of others, the more they will see the need
for their talents to help bring those less endowed out of their dol-
drums. After all, these children will be the leaders of tomorrow. The
earlier they learn the lesson that there is more to life than luxurious
materialism, the more satisfaction they will get out of it.
As a bonus, when they reach their golden years, they may even
have the luxury of lounging in the warm sunshine under a banana
tree, and watch the ducks swim in a quiet lake, whenever nature
throws a winter tantrum. There they can review rich lives, well
lived.
Dr. Oropilla is a retired psychiatrist.
But what about the generation we have raised and our grandchil-
PROFESSIONAL
ANNOUNCEMENT PACKAGE
Do you have a
new physician
joining your
practice?
Are you
opening a
new satellite
office?
Are you
moving to a
new office
location?
The GLMS Professional Announcement Package provides mailings
and printed announcements in the monthly publications to let
your colleagues know about changes in your practice.
Outsource your next mailing to GLMS.
CONTACT
Cheri McGuire, Director of Marketing
502.736.6336
[email protected]
MARCH 2017
15