Orica has no Internet which means that blog posts were unpostable. However, I kept notes of each day so I could relay them to all of you.
Day 1: we had a very rocky ride up the mountain and back down again that included one near death experience, my full bladder was not a fan. After we got settled into our house with no running water we went to the church for our first service. It was exciting to finally meet the people who we have worked so long to see.
Day 2: today was our first work day. We got a lot done. It was interesting to see the different techniques the Hondurans use to build. There were a lot of people who came to see what we were up to. Children were our most frequent visitors, they were everywhere. They tried to help and didn't really play, but eventually we had them singing and dancing with us.
Quote of day: "Joelle, I'm not lying, a dog just peed on tour backpack..."-Levi Young
Day 3 the highlight of today was my visit to the Orica clinic. It is absolutely amazing to me that one woman can be the doctor for 350-400 people a month. The clinic needed alot of supplies and repairs but the dedicated staff still provide for the people of Orice. We ended the night with a very powerful church service.
Day 4- today was a pretty slow day for work. We mostly played with children. We found out we were over budget on the project but within 2 hours or phone calls we raised 2000 dollars with the help of the very generous people at home.
Day 5 we got fried chicken today...I could have cried with joy! We also discovered a very efficient technique for showering...or as close to showering as possible. Tomorrow we poor concrete which will put us one step closer to a finished product.
Day 6: because we were laying concrete today and because there is no running water at the work site it was my job to visit the river with two other girls on the trip, Laura and rebekah, and fill up Drums of water. To say the least it was a messy job. :) the rest of the day has been spent relaxing and preparing for the church service we are doing tomorrow.
Day 6 today we worked not only on the church but on some other side projects. For one lady we poured a concrete floor to replace her dirt floor and built a beautiful oven that Mark used his amazing masonry skills on. While we were working a huge swarm of bees passed overhead and we all had to duck for cover. The children laughed when me and Laura screamed, haha. The service tonight was beautiful. We taught the congregation some new songs that truly lift my spirit when I sing them!
Day 7: today we passed out school supplies to the children at the work sight. It was a beautiful sight. When the crayons were all passed out the children began coloring on the table, it is cool to think that their artwork will stay there for a very long time. We began working on a lady named Rosa's bathroom. We gave it walls. She has been an amazing inspiration on this trip. She works hard to help at the work site despite her 85 years and even though her house is small and somewhat empty it is spotless and decorated with her children's school accomplishments and psalm 123.
Day 8: today was a big day of culture shock for me. We tore the kitchen down in a house and it was infested with termites, cockroaches, and mice. It was hard not to over react and attempt not to offend the people by running away from the bugs they live with daily. One of the little girls brought out her coffee filter butterfly that I made with the children the night before. When we where all getting ready for bed we got a visit from David, the man who's home served as the church before we arrived in Orica. He brought us baskets the indigenous people made for us. They were beautiful.
Day 9: today is our last day in Orica. I woke up this morning and sat outside just enjoying the beauty and simplicity of the morning in the small mountain village I only have one more day to experience. I want to bring this all home with me. The openness, the connectedness, the ease of life. After a hot day of work to finish up the last of our projects we headed out to have some fun at the river. We climbed on old rusty bridges and swam through gentle rapids. We have our dedication service tonight. I sat with the children, it was a horrible yet wonderful decision :) It was so nice to be able to celebrate our work and new friendships with the people we'd labored with all week. For dinner we ate the cow slaughtered in our honor. No joke. The chocobanana place was closed when we finished with the service but no worries, I bought chocobanana chocolate so I can make them at home!
Day 10: we just left Orica. The women who has cooked with us all week woke up at five to make us pancakes and send us off. Before we hit the road we gathered together one last time to pray and say our goodbyes, it is amazing how close you can be with people who don't even speak your language. There are so many things that I am looking forward to as we head to Copan, hot showers amoung them. However, there are just as many things, if not more, that I will miss about Orica.
Stay tuned for Copan updates and trip pictures!
Joelle
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Like the three bears, Zamtan was just right!
Today is our last full day in Africa as we are preparing to begin our 32 hour journey back to the USA tomorrow! It's has been a couple days since we have last blogged and oh what an amazing few days they were! We traveled to Kitwe where we joined the Zamtan COC congregation for what everyone without a doubt agreed upon was the MOST amazing church service of our lives! To imagine what the service was life think of authentic choirs accompanied by traditional African drums celebrating the most joyous occasion...and then multiply it by 10!
We were overwhelmed by the example the congregation gave us of hospitality to not only us but also all the other visitors that day. It definitely is an experience that none of us will soon forget.
On Monday the SIFE team conducted the Zamtan health study. Afterwards we enjoyed a traditional African meal prepared for us by the kaufwa, man those women sure do it all. Not only do they raise their own children and often grandchildren, but they also unselfishly care for the orphans and vulnerable children of the community. In their copious amounts of free time they also volunteer at the local clinic working 10+ hour shifts everyday of the week, and also manage to cook amazing meals for the SIFE and HealthEd Connect team members. This is also done with no source of income by either parent. Which brings us to the critical need that the SIFE team's income generating activity plays.
We have high hopes for the great success this board will have! The team has great leadership, great ideas and most importantly a strong passion and dedication to the children. We have utilized new ideas we learned from Chipulukusu and Kasompe and are eager to work hand in hand with this wonderful board!
We look forward to sharing about our Africa experience with anyone and everyone tomorrow when we return home!
Thanks so much to Jac and Sherri Kirkpatrick of HealthEd Connect for allowing our SIFE team to be a part of such a wonderful experience. Until next time! Peace out.
Team Africa
We were overwhelmed by the example the congregation gave us of hospitality to not only us but also all the other visitors that day. It definitely is an experience that none of us will soon forget.
On Monday the SIFE team conducted the Zamtan health study. Afterwards we enjoyed a traditional African meal prepared for us by the kaufwa, man those women sure do it all. Not only do they raise their own children and often grandchildren, but they also unselfishly care for the orphans and vulnerable children of the community. In their copious amounts of free time they also volunteer at the local clinic working 10+ hour shifts everyday of the week, and also manage to cook amazing meals for the SIFE and HealthEd Connect team members. This is also done with no source of income by either parent. Which brings us to the critical need that the SIFE team's income generating activity plays.
We have high hopes for the great success this board will have! The team has great leadership, great ideas and most importantly a strong passion and dedication to the children. We have utilized new ideas we learned from Chipulukusu and Kasompe and are eager to work hand in hand with this wonderful board!
We look forward to sharing about our Africa experience with anyone and everyone tomorrow when we return home!
Thanks so much to Jac and Sherri Kirkpatrick of HealthEd Connect for allowing our SIFE team to be a part of such a wonderful experience. Until next time! Peace out.
Team Africa
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Fun with the Filipinos
We have had a fun few days! We went to the Crystal Waves resort for a little break before leading our first big meeting with the communities. The resort was complete with 2 pools and a water slide, one pool was a wave pool and the other (greenish) one had many frog families taking it over. Needless to say, we did not get into the second pool. Overall, we had a fun time at the resort laying out and playing in the wave pool and slide. We also hung out with a group of Filipinos who were there celebrating one of their friend's birthday. It was a great time to spend with each other as well as a great time to prepare for the meeting.
We were only at the resort for a day and woke up early to travel back into the communities. This meeting was lead by SIFE and OPI and included each of the communities. We identified each of the needs for their Rice Loan projects and headed in the direction of some potential solutions. And we can't forget the different ice breaking games played, which brought lots of laughter and bonding within the group. It was wonderful for us to hear from the different communities and to hear their ideas on how to solve the issues going on in their community. SIFE really focused on having the community members think outside the box to come up with some new solutions to these projects. This meeting lasted into the evening and our team had built up an appetite! OPI surprised us by taking us to Pizza Hut, which was a treat. I think we all ate WAY too much that night! After pizza we were all satisfied, full and ready for bed!
The next morning we woke up early and rounded up the team for a trip to the beach! The beach is about a couple hours away from our hotel so we wanted to get an early start. Once there, some of us went straight to the beach, while others headed to the Ocean Adventure with dolphins and seals. It was such a nice day out and wonderful to be on the beach and by the ocean! (Sorry to rub it in for all of you back home in the snow) Ian, Hilary and I had the chance to go snorkeling right off the beach and were very impressed with the beautiful fish and coral we saw! When the sun went down, we headed for dinner and back to our hotel.
We were only at the resort for a day and woke up early to travel back into the communities. This meeting was lead by SIFE and OPI and included each of the communities. We identified each of the needs for their Rice Loan projects and headed in the direction of some potential solutions. And we can't forget the different ice breaking games played, which brought lots of laughter and bonding within the group. It was wonderful for us to hear from the different communities and to hear their ideas on how to solve the issues going on in their community. SIFE really focused on having the community members think outside the box to come up with some new solutions to these projects. This meeting lasted into the evening and our team had built up an appetite! OPI surprised us by taking us to Pizza Hut, which was a treat. I think we all ate WAY too much that night! After pizza we were all satisfied, full and ready for bed!
Here are some pictures from that day!
The next morning we woke up early and rounded up the team for a trip to the beach! The beach is about a couple hours away from our hotel so we wanted to get an early start. Once there, some of us went straight to the beach, while others headed to the Ocean Adventure with dolphins and seals. It was such a nice day out and wonderful to be on the beach and by the ocean! (Sorry to rub it in for all of you back home in the snow) Ian, Hilary and I had the chance to go snorkeling right off the beach and were very impressed with the beautiful fish and coral we saw! When the sun went down, we headed for dinner and back to our hotel.
The view :)
Fun in the sun!
Teamwork!!
We got to sleep in a bit this morning and are now getting ready to prepare for another big meeting we have on Tuesday! Shout out to our families, we miss you guys! Also, shout out to our fellow SIFE team members in Africa--you guys are doing great work!!
Until next time, agay!
Team Asia
SIFE FOR LIFE!
Friday, January 20, 2012
Track 1: Day 7-9 - Letters from Nicaragua
Mom and dad - Thank you - For everything that I have and everything that you do for me!!
"Esta Bien" is what Max kept saying to our little friend Josue (8 year old son of Chepita & Pedrito) as we were hugging and as tears were streaming down our faces...
I can't believe the overnight stay in Los Alvarez is over!! Before we got there, I was dreading it... not because I didn't want to do it, but because I didn't know what to expect... Would I be sleeping on the floor? Is there running water? Would I get sick from the food they made? I don't speak much Spanish... how would I communicate? These past two days seemed like 2 hours and there is so much to tell I have no clue of where to begin...
As I came on this trip I couldn't wait to make a difference in their lives. I couldn't wait to build something or make their lives better, but after these past 2 days... man, was I completely wrong!! They have changed my life in ways that I never thought possible. They don't have much, but have more love and care than most people I have ever met... They treated me like their own family, and I couldn't have felt more comfortable and happy about it.
One experience I will share because there were so many, was this...
My friend Juan, the funny one I was telling you about, came running up to my door (my family and I were playing cards). All of us students stayed pretty close by in homes, so it wasn't uncommon to visit each other... Anyway, it was pouring down rain, and all of the sudden Juan pops in the doorway and was frantically telling us we need to come and help...something about Mandarin's and Oranges... so I threw on my shoes and headed out on the muddy road about 100 feet away. When we got there, we realized that a large truck empty with no fruit in it sat at the bottom of a hill... and about 300 yards up the muddy road, were thousands of oranges, mandarines, and lemons that needed to be loaded up into this truck at the bottom of the hill. Because the road was so muddy, the truck couldn't make it up which meant we had to make sure these thousands of fruits got down the hill somehow, so that this family could eat this year... So we proceeded to bag 80-100lb sacks and the men would carry them down the muddy trail. We repeated this process about 100 times... My hands hurt so bad just from bagging oranges, so I can't imagine actually carrying them up and down the hill... Mom and Dad, our group is so awesome!! I have learned so much about hard work from not only the people of Nicaragua, but my classmates and friends from home.
Needless to say, it was an experience of a lifetime. Yes, we finally finished it, but with much more than sore hands or shoulders... possibly a greater appreciation of our own lives. When we started it was just a bunch of oranges... which was their livelihood, But now it's a part of my soul. It became my livelihood, and now I understand... or think I do anyway.
Again, there is so much that happened, that I will share when I get home. I'll try and write again before I see you. I can't make any promises, but just know that i'm growing more and more everyday and that I'm safe. Yes, I'm eating and wearing plenty of sunscreen and the hand sanitizer you bought is getting great use...
It's an experience I will never forget. One that is too special for words at this moment...
Thanks again for all that you do!!
Te Amo,
Your favorite kid in Nicaragua
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Nicaragua Track 2: No Smoking Zone
The last two days, since our return from Santa Lucia, Track 2 has been working in the community of El Túnel to finish the stove that we started on our first work day. Yesterday we built the base for the stove. We used concrete blocks for the outline, a material called mezcla for the mortar, and dirt to fill the inside. Mezcla consists of dirt, sand, concrete, and water. A layer of concrete on top finished off the base and let us level it off to compensate for the slope of the yard. Today we finished the rest of the stove. First we used bricks to make the fire box and platforms for the two stove tops. Then we set the stove tops on the platforms. The engineer had made some modifications to them, like cleaning up the holes for the pots and chimney and putting a layer of concete on the outside as a finish. The mortar we used for this part is called barro, and it includes dirt, straw, ash, sand, and water. For each place for a pot, there are two metal bars running across that the pot sits on, and that help heat the pot.
Once everything had dried pretty well, we made a mix with concrete in it for a finish. Justin tried his hand at it, but the engineer did most of the work with the finish because it definitely takes skill and practice that none of us have. The benefit of that, though, is that we got to spend some time playing with the kids while the engineer applied the finish and attached the chimney. The first day they were a little shy, but today and yesterday they were eager to play. We played the matching game with animal pictures, and boxes and dots. We also played kickball, especially Arlyn. The kids absolutely loved his animal imitations. They also really seemed to like it when we sang to them, even though most of the songs were in English.
The grand finale to the work was testing the stove. The engineer asked the family not to use the stove for about a week so everything can set and dry completely, but he thought it was fine to do one test to see how it worked. Remember, one of the major benefits of the stove is that since it is enclosed, the smoke goes up through the chimney instead of being open and filling the house. Some people were also not sure if the second pot would get hot since it is not directly over the fire. Three or four nearby families came to see the finished stove and the demonstration. The fire was only lit for a few minutes, but the chimney drew smoke and both pots got hot, so I think overall it was very successful. Tonight I am on a computer without a place for my camera chip, but when I can I will post some pictures.
The two Track 1 groups have switched, so now we have Group A here in Masaya with us. They made spaghetti for dinner, and it was kind of nice to have food from home. The food here is always fantastic, but it is definitely not what we are used to eating. After dinner we went out and had ice cream. In the store there was a local man who spoke English, which no one was expecting. He was also born on the same Nicaraguan island as one of the Alcance Nicaragua staff members. Small world, huh? Tomorrow we are off to new adventures and experiences. Wish us luck!
Anna Cleland-Leighton
Once everything had dried pretty well, we made a mix with concrete in it for a finish. Justin tried his hand at it, but the engineer did most of the work with the finish because it definitely takes skill and practice that none of us have. The benefit of that, though, is that we got to spend some time playing with the kids while the engineer applied the finish and attached the chimney. The first day they were a little shy, but today and yesterday they were eager to play. We played the matching game with animal pictures, and boxes and dots. We also played kickball, especially Arlyn. The kids absolutely loved his animal imitations. They also really seemed to like it when we sang to them, even though most of the songs were in English.
The grand finale to the work was testing the stove. The engineer asked the family not to use the stove for about a week so everything can set and dry completely, but he thought it was fine to do one test to see how it worked. Remember, one of the major benefits of the stove is that since it is enclosed, the smoke goes up through the chimney instead of being open and filling the house. Some people were also not sure if the second pot would get hot since it is not directly over the fire. Three or four nearby families came to see the finished stove and the demonstration. The fire was only lit for a few minutes, but the chimney drew smoke and both pots got hot, so I think overall it was very successful. Tonight I am on a computer without a place for my camera chip, but when I can I will post some pictures.
The two Track 1 groups have switched, so now we have Group A here in Masaya with us. They made spaghetti for dinner, and it was kind of nice to have food from home. The food here is always fantastic, but it is definitely not what we are used to eating. After dinner we went out and had ice cream. In the store there was a local man who spoke English, which no one was expecting. He was also born on the same Nicaraguan island as one of the Alcance Nicaragua staff members. Small world, huh? Tomorrow we are off to new adventures and experiences. Wish us luck!
Anna Cleland-Leighton
We're pretty much locals!
It has been a few days since we have last blogged and a lot has happened!
Our team was very excited because we got invited to plant rice like the locals!! Our group met up with some community members and traveled to one of the many beautiful rice fields to kick our shoes off and get dirty...literally. In order to plant the rice you must go barefoot in the mud, take different seeds and plant them one by one. It was such a fun way for us to experience the everyday job of our many community members. (And let me tell you, it is NOT an easy job to have!) Here are some pictures from that day.
After our rice planting experience we headed to the community of Spang Bato to celebrate the birthday of one of their members, Tony. This birthday party was complete with delicious rice desserts and dog intestine, which only a few of us brave ones tried. It had a chewy texture and tastes as bad as it sounds.
Guess which one the dog intestine is...(the black one)
After the festivities, we summed up the night with some dinner, showers and bed!
The next day we prepared for our overnight stay in the villages. We started off our day with a meeting targeted to figuring out the common issue of all of these communities. The meeting was led by the federation (selected representatives of each community) as well as some input from our team, but we were mostly there to observe. It was a successful meeting and our team gathered lots of much needed information.
We then split up into separate groups to become better acquainted with each of the communities we would be staying in. Hilary and I went into Spang Bato, Thomas and Ian visited Samanatayo and Ethan and Trent went to the village called KPK. All of us had great experiences with the families in each of our different communities. Some got to make traditional Filipino dishes, some farmed, and others rode the Water Buffalo. And we can't forget the unforgettable, Trent Ranney getting an accidental bite by a dog. Now, Momma Ranney, don't worry we took him to the hospital ASAP and he has been administered the correct vaccinations needed to prevent any diseases possible (rabies).
Overall, the community stays were a wonderful experience and a great time for us to build lasting relationships with the people in these communities. We woke up early this morning in the villages with the roosters and came together as a group to compare notes of our overnights.
It has been a very successful few days and SIFE and OI are starting to make some great headway to bettering these communities and their projects. We enjoy the memories we are making here and look forward to what each new day brings us. Tomorrow we are headed to a resort for a little R&R!
See you on the flip side, Kuya!
Team Asia
SIFE FOR LIFE!
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Nicaragua Track 2: Returning "Home"
The community of La Prusia held another work party the next morning after the water lines were completed. We woke up early in the morning and made our way to the shool for the final time for this trip. Leaders of the community divided up the work between painting the bathrooms, installing new bathroom locks and general landscape cleaning. It was great to see the community come together and work on a project that benefitted their children. Arlyn also helped the teens in the community take care of a rodent problem that they were having. All I can say is Arlyn is great with his boots.
The day before we were presented with an option to travel to Santa Lucia for the evening. It was the only time we would be able to make the trip and we jumped on it as soon as we heard about the opportunity. As we got closer and closer the memories of the people, landscape and relationships we had made the previous year continued to come back to us. We got a chance to see and spend time with the families that we did our overnight stays with last year. Even though our time was limited it was great to see them and exchange stories once more. It was a very bitter-sweet ending to our day.
On the 17th we traveled back to Masaya and finalized our plan for the work we needed to complete in El Túnel. We will be assisting in the building of more kitchen stoves as well as restoring the floor in the school. Time is limited but we plan on working hard to complete our projects and objectives on time. The day ended for us by meeting with Track 1 for a visit to the market and Catarina. The view from Catarina was beautiful and we all got to enjoy a ride on a motor-taxi when we left.
Tomorrow we begin our work in El Túnel and we look forward to the challenges ahead.
Hasta Luego!
Justin Wallace
The day before we were presented with an option to travel to Santa Lucia for the evening. It was the only time we would be able to make the trip and we jumped on it as soon as we heard about the opportunity. As we got closer and closer the memories of the people, landscape and relationships we had made the previous year continued to come back to us. We got a chance to see and spend time with the families that we did our overnight stays with last year. Even though our time was limited it was great to see them and exchange stories once more. It was a very bitter-sweet ending to our day.
On the 17th we traveled back to Masaya and finalized our plan for the work we needed to complete in El Túnel. We will be assisting in the building of more kitchen stoves as well as restoring the floor in the school. Time is limited but we plan on working hard to complete our projects and objectives on time. The day ended for us by meeting with Track 1 for a visit to the market and Catarina. The view from Catarina was beautiful and we all got to enjoy a ride on a motor-taxi when we left.
Tomorrow we begin our work in El Túnel and we look forward to the challenges ahead.
Hasta Luego!
Justin Wallace
It's a great day to go to school!
Mui shani(hello) to all from Zambia! Today has been another great success here in the village of Chipulukusu. We started this morning out by implementing a school and trash clean up, that helped prepare the area for the big ribbon cutting ceremony that followed soon after. Although our morning did not run entirely as planned one of the only problems we encountered was having too many excited children show up to be a part of this very exciting event!
We were joined by hundreds of children, Zambian dignitaries, and other community members to celebrate the grand opening of the new school building at the young peacemakers school. A few SIFE team members scaled a nearby water tower to get aerial shots. Following the ribbon cutting ceremony we were served traditional lunch of rice and sausage by the talented kaufwa.
Today was also very lucky for the students of Graceland SIFE as we were able to shadow the kaufwa on the home visits. We met with patients who seemingly had all of the cards dealt against them, and yet maintained high spirits through and through. They shared stories of how the kaufwa have played a critical role in their healing process. It truly is humbling and inspiring to see how the efforts by Jac and Sherri have profoundly impacted the lives of others.
Tomorrow we travel to Kasompe a village located 2 hours away in the city of Chingola. We are excited and eager to see what new adventure awaits us.
Peace,
GU SIFE
We were joined by hundreds of children, Zambian dignitaries, and other community members to celebrate the grand opening of the new school building at the young peacemakers school. A few SIFE team members scaled a nearby water tower to get aerial shots. Following the ribbon cutting ceremony we were served traditional lunch of rice and sausage by the talented kaufwa.
Today was also very lucky for the students of Graceland SIFE as we were able to shadow the kaufwa on the home visits. We met with patients who seemingly had all of the cards dealt against them, and yet maintained high spirits through and through. They shared stories of how the kaufwa have played a critical role in their healing process. It truly is humbling and inspiring to see how the efforts by Jac and Sherri have profoundly impacted the lives of others.
Tomorrow we travel to Kasompe a village located 2 hours away in the city of Chingola. We are excited and eager to see what new adventure awaits us.
Peace,
GU SIFE
Track 1: Day 3-6 Letters from Nicaragua
Hi Mom & Dad! Sorry it's been a few days since we last talked. Glad you liked the pictures I sent in my last letter. We've been really busy here, with little to no sleep... surprisingly, I'm doing fine (At least the students are fine anyway)!
Just because you asked me to when I called you a couple of days ago from the internet cafe, here is what I have been up to:
After our long walk We went to the park and had fruit smoothies. The staff here want to make sure we are eating enough fruit and staying hydrated... I guess they know how to get us to eat our fruits and veggies (are you sure you haven't been calling them?!). And you would not believe it but we were break-dancing in central park Masaya with the local Nicaraguans...(another story for a different day)
We came back to the OI office and learned about tools and did dramatizations with the tools we would be using for the "Water Line" project in the community the next day.
Then to end the night we practiced for the cultural talent night, which we were invited to perform at the next evening. It was hard coming up with something as a big group but we did it. Those summer camp songs you hated so much the week after camp was over, finally paid off!!
Next day...
Breakfast was at 6am sharp. I slept alright, but the morning comes so early and no, I still didn't see the sunrise.
We left for La Prusia (city in Nicaragua) to work on the "Water Line" project. We spent 1/2 day trenching, laying pipe, and reburying the line. It was very hard, but such an awesome experience working alongside the community. The project was successful and we were able to complete it in less time than expected. Our group really got in there and worked hard. It was so worth it - the community was very happy with our work.
After lunch at the OI office, we returned back to La Prusia for our cultural night talent show and it was so cool. At first we were very nervous to perform. It kinda felt like high school where the boys and girls were on different sides of the room, except it was split between us and the community. But after the talent show and by the end of the night, we were singing, dancing and having so much fun we didn't want to leave.
Next day...
Has it already been 6 days?!?! It's gone by too fast.
Has it already been 6 days?!?! It's gone by too fast.
This morning 1/2 of the group went to do home-stays in San Lucia, and the other 1/2 stayed in Masaya.
I'll talk about the home-stay in a few days, because we are about to have another delicious dinner,but a quick rundown of what we did in Masaya today was this:
We ate breakfast, visited the market, went to the park in Granada, and took a boat tour of the Islands on lake Managua... "Amazing" - sooo cooool!
Now we are headed back to the hotel for some "reflection" time (deep, I know!).
Everyone is still pretty awesome!! Especially this one guy on the trip that says really funny things, and only eats peanuts for meals. I'll tell you more about him later. They call him Juan...
Anyway - Yes, I'm wearing plenty of sunscreen, drinking plenty of water, and looking both ways before crossing the street.
Hasta Luego (Until next time...)
Your favorite kid in Nicaragua!
Monday, January 16, 2012
TIA (This Is Africa)
Hello to all from Ndola, Zambia. Where the GU SIFE team and HealthEd connect have teamed up to work in the village of Chipulukusu. First and formost I want to apologize for any typos you may find while reading this. Our Internet and even electricity are somewhat unreliable so I am trying to write as quickly as possible.
Upon our arrival to the village of Chipulukusu we were greeted by 300 kids all screaming musungu (literally meaning person who walks in circles) but to most children here basically white person. We were all honored as they excitedly shook our hands and gave us hugs.
We spent this first morning reading to te school children and made initial steps of setting up the library in the Young Peace Makers School. We then followed by splitting into groups, some meeting with the Kaufa (health workers) and others with the school board. We are very excited with the progress and excitement that has been made since Jac and Sherri's last visit in June. As a SIFE team we all can agree that it is an absolute honor to get to team with the life-changing work that the Kirkpatricks create on a daily basis.
Last night we celebrated a team members birthday with a very traditional dish of nsheema, juicy catipillars and very crunch termites!! Mmmm. Nothing like fetching up some grub to make all of our lion king dreams come true!
Today was very successful as we completed our first health screening. We were able to exam approximately 200 children' eyes, height, weight and mouths. After personally looking into the children's mouth I can attest to the strength every child here demonstrates on a daily basis as they hardly ever complain of pain. While some SIFE students assessed the children's physical needs others addressed mental ones as they implemented environmental programs and school pride by collecting trash in and around the school yard! We are excited to have the school looking in tip top shape for the ribbon cutting ceremony of three much needed new classrooms!
We are heading to bed now. As we must get an early start on our work tomorrow. Thanks for reading and please check out healthedconnect.org for additional comments from our great partners!
Upon our arrival to the village of Chipulukusu we were greeted by 300 kids all screaming musungu (literally meaning person who walks in circles) but to most children here basically white person. We were all honored as they excitedly shook our hands and gave us hugs.
We spent this first morning reading to te school children and made initial steps of setting up the library in the Young Peace Makers School. We then followed by splitting into groups, some meeting with the Kaufa (health workers) and others with the school board. We are very excited with the progress and excitement that has been made since Jac and Sherri's last visit in June. As a SIFE team we all can agree that it is an absolute honor to get to team with the life-changing work that the Kirkpatricks create on a daily basis.
Last night we celebrated a team members birthday with a very traditional dish of nsheema, juicy catipillars and very crunch termites!! Mmmm. Nothing like fetching up some grub to make all of our lion king dreams come true!
Today was very successful as we completed our first health screening. We were able to exam approximately 200 children' eyes, height, weight and mouths. After personally looking into the children's mouth I can attest to the strength every child here demonstrates on a daily basis as they hardly ever complain of pain. While some SIFE students assessed the children's physical needs others addressed mental ones as they implemented environmental programs and school pride by collecting trash in and around the school yard! We are excited to have the school looking in tip top shape for the ribbon cutting ceremony of three much needed new classrooms!
We are heading to bed now. As we must get an early start on our work tomorrow. Thanks for reading and please check out healthedconnect.org for additional comments from our great partners!
Philippines - New Experiences!
We have had an eventful two days! Yesterday our team had the pleasure of meeting the OPI (Outreach Philippines Inc) staff. We got to ride on tricycles (motorcycles with side cars attached) in Cabanatuan City, which is a common form of transportation in the Philippines. Now transportation is a loose term...the dividing lines on the road are meaningless. Each intersection is a competition to see who can make it through first...we are basically playing "Chicken" the whole time. Don't worry mom, I would wear my seat belt...if they had one. There was a valuable lesson learned that day concerning the origin of the word bumper; after all..."bumpers are made for bumping."--Andy Betts
We then went to the OPI headquarters for introductions and to go over the outline of our trip with the staff. After a long day of meetings we got to experience a very unique Filipino cuisine--pizza :) Which was located in one of the largest malls in Cabanatuan. After dinner we returned to the Amada hotel for a much needed sleep because 7am breakfast (hot dogs, rice and eggs) was going to come fast!
Today we were aquatinted with the Jeepney: a colorful, elongated, seat belt-less, open doored ride! (Pictures to come) We took our pimped out ride to each of the different communities passing many beautiful rice fields and village workers transplanting seeds on the way.
We visited 5 different communities today meeting the various elected men and women leaders in each different community. Our team learned about the projects in each community and their prioritized needs. We were very impressed to visit these places and to see what great influence Outreach International has with these people. We quickly learned that the culture of the Filipino people embraces visitors and welcomes them into their homes with a friendly face. The children were especially quick to interact with us and weren't afraid to show a big smile.
We are looking forward to these next two weeks with all of the wonderful people we met today.
We then went to the OPI headquarters for introductions and to go over the outline of our trip with the staff. After a long day of meetings we got to experience a very unique Filipino cuisine--pizza :) Which was located in one of the largest malls in Cabanatuan. After dinner we returned to the Amada hotel for a much needed sleep because 7am breakfast (hot dogs, rice and eggs) was going to come fast!
Today we were aquatinted with the Jeepney: a colorful, elongated, seat belt-less, open doored ride! (Pictures to come) We took our pimped out ride to each of the different communities passing many beautiful rice fields and village workers transplanting seeds on the way.
It is way past our bedtime here, so I am going to leave you with a picture of one of the native dishes we ate for lunch. Pig blood soup aka PBS.
Until next time,
Lololong!
Team Asia
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Nicaragua Track 2: Cultural Integration
The last few days we have been talking to the Alcance Nicaragua staff about integration, an important step in the PHD process. They have given us advice and guided our exploration of the process, and so yesterday and today we got to try it out. Yesterday we spent the morning in El Tunel and the afternoon in La Prusia. In both communities we were with families who were building a new stove. The traditional stoves are open-topped, so a lot of smoke gets into the house and they need a lot of wood to heat the whole area. With the help of Alcance Nicaragua, some families are trying a new stove design that requires less wood and channels the smoke through a chimney and out through a hole in the roof so the family is not breathing it in. This makes them more economical and better for the health of the families, although the community as a whole has not fully adjusted to the idea of using a non-traditional stove. In the morning they were just beginning the project, so we helped make the cement stove tops. In the afternoon we helped another family finish a stove by adding the stove tops to the cement and brick base and putting a finishing layer of cement on the outside. Like any project here, it was humbling because there was nothing we could do that they can't do better, from squaring the molds to mixing the concrete, but they are gracious enough to let us participate. We used our limited Spanish and gestures to communicate with the adults, and played the universal game of tag with the children. Although we are far from being experts at integration, these trips were a good practice and a great learning experience.
Today we joined with Track 1 and returned to La Prusia, this time to the school. The project for the morning was to put in a water pipe from the existing line to the school's water tank so that the school would have running water more consistently. In the afternoon we returned to the school for an intercultural exchange in the form of a talent show. Members of the community performed traditional dances and songs, and Graceland students shared our musical talent, mainly in the form of campfire songs. The work went well and much more quickly than anyone expected and the talent show was a lot of fun, but the really important part was the insight this experience brought to many students. For some it was the realization that spoken word is not the only language. For others it was that people in another country are not so different from us in the emotions they express and some of the things they value, like music and laughter. Each person brings away something different, but I don't think there is a single student or chaperone who will not take home powerful memories. Tomorrow Track 2 will return to La Prusia in the morning to do more work with the community at the school, so we are looking forward to those experiences.
Anna Cleland-Leighton
Today we joined with Track 1 and returned to La Prusia, this time to the school. The project for the morning was to put in a water pipe from the existing line to the school's water tank so that the school would have running water more consistently. In the afternoon we returned to the school for an intercultural exchange in the form of a talent show. Members of the community performed traditional dances and songs, and Graceland students shared our musical talent, mainly in the form of campfire songs. The work went well and much more quickly than anyone expected and the talent show was a lot of fun, but the really important part was the insight this experience brought to many students. For some it was the realization that spoken word is not the only language. For others it was that people in another country are not so different from us in the emotions they express and some of the things they value, like music and laughter. Each person brings away something different, but I don't think there is a single student or chaperone who will not take home powerful memories. Tomorrow Track 2 will return to La Prusia in the morning to do more work with the community at the school, so we are looking forward to those experiences.
 |
| Graceland students help dig trench for water pipe to the school |
Anna Cleland-Leighton
Traveling Across Honduras
Hola mi amigos! I don't know if it is a good or bad thing but I find myself forgetting that I don't have to try and speak Spanish with the people in my group. I hope that means I am closer to being understood by the locals.
Yesterday was quite an experience. When went to a waterfall and by to I mean in! It was scary and exciting. I lost my shoes, but it was worth it!
When we got done at the waterfall we traveled to a congregation in Calabay. It was completely overwhelming at first. Despite the fact that we share a religion our worship styles were completely different which was very surprising to me. Just because it was different didn't make it bad though! I was truly blessed when I was able to sing along to This is the Day during the most joyous offertory I hav ever been apart of! The people were so excited to worship. It reminded me that church isn't a job, it is a blessing and a time to roconne t with God.
After the service I was feeling unable to connect with the People and I sort of withdrew, but one outgoing little girl showed me discipleship in action. She pulled me over a introduced me to all her young friends. I was a little jealious that an 8 year old girl was so much more outgoing than me :) Another girl put a flower in my hair, a gift I will treasure for he rest of my life.
When the lights wee turned out in the building no one was ready to leave and so we danced and sang outside by cell phone light.
We are now eating breakfast at a Honduran restaurant on our way to Orica. It will be a 10 hour bumpy drive but I'm so tired I don't thing I'll notice!
I can't wait to experience the bonds we have in Christ with the new friends I am about to meet.
Joelle
Yesterday was quite an experience. When went to a waterfall and by to I mean in! It was scary and exciting. I lost my shoes, but it was worth it!
When we got done at the waterfall we traveled to a congregation in Calabay. It was completely overwhelming at first. Despite the fact that we share a religion our worship styles were completely different which was very surprising to me. Just because it was different didn't make it bad though! I was truly blessed when I was able to sing along to This is the Day during the most joyous offertory I hav ever been apart of! The people were so excited to worship. It reminded me that church isn't a job, it is a blessing and a time to roconne t with God.
After the service I was feeling unable to connect with the People and I sort of withdrew, but one outgoing little girl showed me discipleship in action. She pulled me over a introduced me to all her young friends. I was a little jealious that an 8 year old girl was so much more outgoing than me :) Another girl put a flower in my hair, a gift I will treasure for he rest of my life.
When the lights wee turned out in the building no one was ready to leave and so we danced and sang outside by cell phone light.
We are now eating breakfast at a Honduran restaurant on our way to Orica. It will be a 10 hour bumpy drive but I'm so tired I don't thing I'll notice!
I can't wait to experience the bonds we have in Christ with the new friends I am about to meet.
Joelle
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Track 1: Day 2 - Letters from Nicaragua
Dear rents',
We started the day off with a hardy meal... Eggs, Beans and Rice (Pico de Gallo), cheese, and awesome freshly squeezed grape-juice.
We headed straight to the OI office and the training began. We started by writing down our goals and objectives and what we wanted to get out of our experience here in Nicaragua. It's kinda funny because I was nervous to share with everyone, but after this exercise, I realized we all wanted the same things... Aprender (to learn)!
After an intense day of training We went to an old fort (Prison) built in 1889 by the liberals to protect Masaya from the conservatives, called Coyotepe. It was a historic Site that taught me so much about the history of Nicaragua (I told you I would learn something...).
After that, we went back to the OI office and Bayardo (staff member) gave us the history of Alcance Nicaragua, which was really fascinating. I was surprised at how much we have grown with such little resources in such a short amount of time.
After what seemed like another long day, we played cards and dominos and headed back to the hotel to catch some shut-eye.
I heard a quote from one of my new friends Jamie that really captured a lot of how most of us are feeling, or I think anyway..."I came on this trip because I wanted to see what life was like in a
developing nation. What you hear about and see in pictures, is nothing like being here in person. I am very much anticipating the adventures tomorrow will bring."
So with that... i'm anxious, but looking forward to what tomorrow will bring!
Hasta Luego (Until next time...)
Your favorite kid in Nicaragua!
We started the day off with a hardy meal... Eggs, Beans and Rice (Pico de Gallo), cheese, and awesome freshly squeezed grape-juice.
We headed straight to the OI office and the training began. We started by writing down our goals and objectives and what we wanted to get out of our experience here in Nicaragua. It's kinda funny because I was nervous to share with everyone, but after this exercise, I realized we all wanted the same things... Aprender (to learn)!
After an intense day of training We went to an old fort (Prison) built in 1889 by the liberals to protect Masaya from the conservatives, called Coyotepe. It was a historic Site that taught me so much about the history of Nicaragua (I told you I would learn something...).
After that, we went back to the OI office and Bayardo (staff member) gave us the history of Alcance Nicaragua, which was really fascinating. I was surprised at how much we have grown with such little resources in such a short amount of time.
After what seemed like another long day, we played cards and dominos and headed back to the hotel to catch some shut-eye.
I heard a quote from one of my new friends Jamie that really captured a lot of how most of us are feeling, or I think anyway..."I came on this trip because I wanted to see what life was like in a
developing nation. What you hear about and see in pictures, is nothing like being here in person. I am very much anticipating the adventures tomorrow will bring."
So with that... i'm anxious, but looking forward to what tomorrow will bring!
Hasta Luego (Until next time...)
Your favorite kid in Nicaragua!
Bad luck, play dough, and the Beauty of Simplicity
Alright guys, because I don't want to call it stupidity, I guess I'll call it bad luck and chalk it up to the fact that it is Friday the 13th. I have had some pretty rotten luck :)
1. I was "unlucky" enough to pack liquids in my carry-on (and play dough which apparently resembles plastic C-4, who knew, obviously not me...)
2. Almost missing a connecting flight and having to run to catch it just in time.
3. Leaving my boarding pass in the bathroom.
4. Leaving my retainer at home
5. Need I say more?
On the plus side, Honduras is beautiful! We all arrived safely to the San Pedro Sula church where we were warmly welcomed :)I am excited to visit a waterfall today and worship with a congregation near La Buena Fe tonight! I have been amazed by how beautiful the simplicity of Honduras can be. I look around me and feel rejuvenated.
We are headed to Orica tomorrow so Internet may be hard to find.
My previous goal was greatly tested yesterday. I prepared all week before leaving and still came completely not ready for the experience. So again, the only thing to do is let go and let God. I just bought toothpaste at the gas station, no surprise, God provides.
My friend Laura has been here for the past week and has amazing stories to share! Check back to here about her amazing experiences at the Honduras Youth camp!
Thanks for reading!
Joelle
1. I was "unlucky" enough to pack liquids in my carry-on (and play dough which apparently resembles plastic C-4, who knew, obviously not me...)
2. Almost missing a connecting flight and having to run to catch it just in time.
3. Leaving my boarding pass in the bathroom.
4. Leaving my retainer at home
5. Need I say more?
On the plus side, Honduras is beautiful! We all arrived safely to the San Pedro Sula church where we were warmly welcomed :)I am excited to visit a waterfall today and worship with a congregation near La Buena Fe tonight! I have been amazed by how beautiful the simplicity of Honduras can be. I look around me and feel rejuvenated.
We are headed to Orica tomorrow so Internet may be hard to find.
My previous goal was greatly tested yesterday. I prepared all week before leaving and still came completely not ready for the experience. So again, the only thing to do is let go and let God. I just bought toothpaste at the gas station, no surprise, God provides.
My friend Laura has been here for the past week and has amazing stories to share! Check back to here about her amazing experiences at the Honduras Youth camp!
Thanks for reading!
Joelle
Track 1: Day 1 - Letters from Nicaragua
Dear Mom and Dad,
First of all, WE MADE IT SAFE!! (Alright, now onto the details...)
We left Kansas City at about 6:00am this morning (Wednesday) after a night of about 30 minutes of sleep (the excitement was just too much for most of us to handle). The plane ride was uneventful and most of us slept through the first flight to Atlanta (which meant no cookies or drink). The flight to Nicaragua was bitter sweet as we were all excited, anxious, and nervous to get there and finally experience everything we had been
preparing for. :)
We finally arrived to Managua, Nicaragua, shed the winter gear and threw on shorts and sunscreen (I know what you're thinking... rough life right?!?). After we got our passports stamped, we loaded our luggage, and our adventures on the ground had finally begun...
The 30 min. ride to the hotel in Masaya was a bumpy one (Nicaraguan drivers are fast and seldom stop for pedestrians). We saw so much, just in the first 30 minutes some things the same, but mostly all surroundings different. Don't worry...we arrived safe and sound to the Hotel Masaya, unscratched and starting to view
our worlds from a different perspective.
We got all settled into the hotel and the accomodations are more than we could have hoped for... Beds, air-conditioning, showers and bathrooms! With low expectations of what was to come, this was a comforting surprise.
Wait.. there's more!! After a long day of travel, it didn't stop there... we went to the office of Alcance Nicaragua to meet the wonderful staff we have all heard so much about - They are great and really seem to know what they are doing. We had a great lunch, learned more about OI, went to exchange US Dollars into Cordobas and finished the afternoon off with visiting the market and having smoothies in the park...
We went back to the office and played cards and dominoes. Everyone here is really cool and we are all getting along really well - lots of laughter and divertido (fun). Yes, I am learning a little bit of Spanish... It was a lot, but what a cool and life-changing first day.
After what seemed like the longest day eveeeer, we turned into the hotel for a good nights rest. Safe and sound!!
Hasta Luego (Until next time...)
Your favorite kid in Nicaragua!
First of all, WE MADE IT SAFE!! (Alright, now onto the details...)
We left Kansas City at about 6:00am this morning (Wednesday) after a night of about 30 minutes of sleep (the excitement was just too much for most of us to handle). The plane ride was uneventful and most of us slept through the first flight to Atlanta (which meant no cookies or drink). The flight to Nicaragua was bitter sweet as we were all excited, anxious, and nervous to get there and finally experience everything we had been
preparing for. :)
We finally arrived to Managua, Nicaragua, shed the winter gear and threw on shorts and sunscreen (I know what you're thinking... rough life right?!?). After we got our passports stamped, we loaded our luggage, and our adventures on the ground had finally begun...
The 30 min. ride to the hotel in Masaya was a bumpy one (Nicaraguan drivers are fast and seldom stop for pedestrians). We saw so much, just in the first 30 minutes some things the same, but mostly all surroundings different. Don't worry...we arrived safe and sound to the Hotel Masaya, unscratched and starting to view
our worlds from a different perspective.
We got all settled into the hotel and the accomodations are more than we could have hoped for... Beds, air-conditioning, showers and bathrooms! With low expectations of what was to come, this was a comforting surprise.
Wait.. there's more!! After a long day of travel, it didn't stop there... we went to the office of Alcance Nicaragua to meet the wonderful staff we have all heard so much about - They are great and really seem to know what they are doing. We had a great lunch, learned more about OI, went to exchange US Dollars into Cordobas and finished the afternoon off with visiting the market and having smoothies in the park...
We went back to the office and played cards and dominoes. Everyone here is really cool and we are all getting along really well - lots of laughter and divertido (fun). Yes, I am learning a little bit of Spanish... It was a lot, but what a cool and life-changing first day.
After what seemed like the longest day eveeeer, we turned into the hotel for a good nights rest. Safe and sound!!
Hasta Luego (Until next time...)
Your favorite kid in Nicaragua!
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