...of an older man

Praise be to whatever god is above, I am a father! My beloved wife has given me a son. He will be christened* tommorrow. They will call him Juan Carlos. I do not know the names well, but the padre has assured me they are good, strong names. I suppose that with a new life comes new names. Many things here are strange, but life is good. The soldiers are unkind, but the padres are good to us. They have taught us many things, like the magic of bringing water to our dry area. We have made a river! I would have never thought it possible, but it is true. But saddness comes with our water and children. My mother's condition worsens. It is a new disease, one the medicine man has never seen before. We fear for her life. But at least she has seen her grandson before she leaves.

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