Internet tower hit by lighting yesterday. Sorry for the missed blog day.

Taxi to the Garbage Dump Community

The patients we will be seeing

I am writing this blog entry on Sunday Night.  The internet has been down for the last two days so I am not even sure when this will be posted?   Anyhow…  Lots to report.  

The team arrived on time last night and cleared Nicaraguan customs with ease.  We were met at the airport by a 72 passenger bus borrowed from the Fuenta De Vida Orphanage, a support ambulance to transport the extra gear and six Bomberos (Firefighters) to help with the luggage.  Everything and everyone were loaded and we hit the road by 10:30pm. 

The drive got slightly exciting when a black horse jumped in front of the ambulance on the pitch black highway.  The ambulance in the lead was able to swerve and avoid the horse, the bus however was not that lucky.  The driver did a fantastic job of keeping the bus shiny side up but did clip the horse.   Half of the front cowling on the bus was destroyed, and the horse had to be put down.  The remainder of the drive was uneventful with a 2:30am arrival time. 

Suunday

Today the most of the team woke up early with only about 3 hours sleep and hit the waves.  The surfing at Monty’s Beach Lodge was great and the water was warm.  The morning consisted of a team meeting with project assignments being handed out.  Boxes of supplies were unloaded from the bus and equipment for the week of clinics were prepped.  The team then jumped on the bus to head into Chinandega.  The bus wouldn’t start due to the horse accident the night prior, so the team then jumped off the bus.  Repairs were made and the team headed into Chinandega only a half hour late.  The purpose of the trip was to introduce everyone to the people TWECS strives to help the most.  The poorest of the poor in developing countries around our globe.  Today we were able to meet the residents of the Chinandega garbage dump, whom most certainly fall into this category.  There are over 3000 residents working and living in the city landfill.  These people scavenge for scraps of food and anything they can sell.  Typically an annual wage is about $100.00 so a pair of glasses is a dream that could never be realized.   A short meeting was held with the 2 Ladies who oversee all the residents of the dump and they were invited along with the 3000 residents to visit the free clinic that is to be established on Thursday and Friday.   Needless to say their excitement was profound.    The team then continued their city tour riding on the roof, hosebed and tailboard of a Nicaraguan Firetruck.  Not a bad way to see the city.  After a brief stop to pick up last minute supplies the TWECS members returned to Monty’s Beach Lodge and ran through some training simulations and an orientation session for all the new members.  All passed with flying colors in record time.  Fortunately the training session ended early as just down the beach the local Sea Turtle Conservation Society were releasing baby turtles.  This was definitely a highlight for the teams half day of rest and relaxation prior to the commencement of the project tomorrow. 

On the walk home from the turtle release a typical Nicaraguan electrical storm started to brew.  We made it back to the camp just prior to the torrential downpour.  Thunder started to crash around the camp and the cellular tower just behind the camp was hit.  So, unfortunately I am at my computer writing these entries and I have no idea when the cell tower will be repaired and I can post this.  Let’s hope soon? 

-David

Nica Day 1

Up at 2:30am and Garry checks in at ten to 3!!! Good god Garry, ok I’m on time, I’ll pick you up by 3:30am.  No traffic!!! No red lights!!! No road blocks!!! No highway construction!!!  I actually pick Garry up at 3:20am – go figure. 

Arrive at the Vancouver Airport before 4am!!! Garry and I unload the rental truck, pack all boxes onto carts and I leave to return the rental truck.

Return rental truck, catch a cab back to the airport and still arrive before anyone else arrives!!!  Repack boxes 2 to a cart and voila Katherine and Georgina arrive.  Before 4:30, all boxes and carry-ons are safely inside the terminal.

Brad arrives and to his surprise, we are all ready!  Kathy does an amazing job of assigning little labels, boxes, declarations, while Brad packs in-coming totes and all new comers get acquainted… voila we are still way ahead of schedule!!! 

Check-in and security with out a hitch!!!  3 cups of coffee and still time to have breakfast… unbelievable!!!  I think we need Katherine and Georgina to organize us more often   J. 

Flight and seating is comfortable (but we did have to de-ice the plane) burr!  Minus 2 degrees and most people did not wear warm jackets… go figure!

No sleep on leg one of my journey to Houston… glad I packed a few sudoku’s to pass the time.  On the transfer flight through to Managua, I did catch 40 winks.

The pick-up of boxed eye glasses at the airport went seamlessly (well done Katherine).  Then it was the jamming everything into the school bus (yellow cheese wagon) for the 5 hour ride to Chinandega and then onto the trenched 5km skid road to Monty’s for our 3am arrival.  That was a long 25 hour day… whew!!!

At 3:15am Marina had the nerve to inform us that it would be up at 7am, swim/surf/shower/run then breakfast at 8am and orientation at 8:30 and by the way… have a safe, comfortable, restful 4 hours sleep!!!       I even had to take a break and put my pinkies into the inviting warm ocean before retiring for the night.

Nica Day 2

5:45am and the sun is already up.  Ah, that shower water is cold!!! But, it is refreshing…  Jonathon is already to go surfing, oops here comes David ready for a morning swim… there’s Dana ready for a run… these guys are ready for action.

After a great breakfast of spicy rice, scrambled eggs with red and green peppers, fried bananas, and coffee. We mounted in the cheese wagon, and took off for Chinandega City.  There we toured the open market place.

Then we climbed on board fire engine that had been donated from Prince Rupert Rotary to Chinandega and went for a tour of the city and the “town on the active garbage dump.”   The dump site is where we found the “poorest of the poor” in Chinandega.  There are about 3,000 inhabitants, of which 1,000 are children.

    

Following the tour, we had time for some orientation, a swim, a snooze, a wobbly pop, then a walk on the beach.  We encountered freshly hatched baby turtles, the most gorgeous sunset, and then a shrimp and spaghetti dinner.