Getting settled

A lot has happened in only a few days. All of us interns keep saying that we feel like we've been here for weeks rather than days just because of how much we've done.

Climbing Cerro Negro (a volcano whose name translates to Black Mountain of Death) on Sunday was a lot of fun. We lucked out on the weather - it was a little overcast and less hot than usual. I took the easy way, which was less sandy and more stony. It was also a lot easier to take pictures, so I took a lot. It took about 40 minutes to get to the top, and when we got there, we cheered on the people who were coming up the steep, slippery way. When everyone got to the top, we took some fun pictures before sliding back down the side (which almost destroyed one of my two pairs of tennis shoes).

Monday morning was another visit to the dump. For me, it felt miserable. It was hotter, so the smell of garbage was worse. We had to walk through the trash because the rain had sort of washed away the path we had taken the last time. All I wanted to do was leave. And when we finally got through the dump to the community living next to it, there was nothing to cheer me up. There were no happy, hopeful faces, only people whose goals consisted only of existing.

One of the staff reminded us that the reason we come back to the dump every week is to remind the people there that Amigos for Christ is still there and still working. Maybe they can begin to see that we're here to stay and that they can trust us, that God has bigger plans for them and that we are dedicated to helping carry those out. These people already do a lot with very little, so I can only imagine what they could achieve if they had just a little more to work with.

After the dump, we headed to El Chonco to dig and move rocks. That afternoon and the following day, we worked on building retaining walls for the water system they are putting in. Working with the community felt like a huge party. People of both genders and all ages came out to help. Little kids carried small rocks, men shoveled and moved boulders, women formed assembly lines to move rocks, and music was played (in particular, a Backstreet Boys album - the 90s have hit Nicaragua). Everyone was joyful and hopeful - they will have abundant water in just a few weeks! The kids can be clean, and the health of the community can be improved.

It was so much fun working alongside the kids. One little girl, Bianca, would not leave my side. First, she was kind of in the way, but when I showed her what we were doing, she was eager to help. She carried the biggest rocks she could manage right alongside me, and it was beautiful. She knows something big is coming, and now she gets to be a part of it, too.

Tuesday was also the day that we sort of started our healthcare charla ("chat") project. We came up with a survey of questions about health problems in the community. On Thursday, we will head out into the community to ask people a little about how and what they cook, their daily hygeine, how they get sick, and how they try to get better when they are sick. Here in Nicaragua, people have some strange beliefs. They think drinking cold water makes you fat because taxi drivers drink it and they are fat. They think putting a small spoon in a fresh pot of beans ruins it. We need to know how they view things related to personal health and what challenges they face daily before we can help them improve their health. I can't wait to get out into the community and get all the info!

Today was super chill. We played with kids at the handicapped orphanage with the mission group that is currently here, ate lunch in Chinandega (I went to Smudi, a smoothie and sandwich shop), and went shopping. I got a Nica cell phone number, which was really exciting. We also got stuff for our new house - lamps, a mirror, and some shelf-type things. The girl intern house is yellow and green, with a really tiny porch. Adorable. We have two bedrooms, a big front room, a bathroom, and a little kitchen. I can't wait to move in on Friday!

I've taken lots of pictures so far, so I'll be sure to put at least a few in my next post :)