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Nicaragua 2013 Day 6: Weeks Work

After a week of work on the fence line we managed to put up 550ft of fence line. The team coming for next week will hang the chain link and add to what we have started.

It was a long tiring week with a few injuries here and there, but when it’s all said and done it was all worth it. We joke that as Christians we should be tearing down walls/barriers/fences and here we are building one. However in the process we forged new friendships and learned a little bit about ourselves. I think every guy on this crew would say they have change for the better.

Here’s hoping this fence continues to protect the children of the orphanage for years to come.

Nicaragua 2013 Day 5: Head Trauma

Well it wouldn’t be a day of work in Nicaragua without taking a pipe to the head. This one at least drew some blood so it looked cool. The work day was good on a whole as we look to decide what we need to get done before the next group takes over for next week for us. We were able to put up one section of chain link, which isn’t that impressive but is a moral booster can you can say you completed that section. I spent a lot of time welding today which gave me plenty of opportunity for head injury, but ended the day with only the one additional.

For dinner the cooked a whole hog which was great. The one thing that made this a little different is that we/they bought a live pig. So this morning the pig went from livestock to dinner. Obviously this process takes places hundreds of times a day. However we get so used to getting meat in a package at a store we forget what it means to really prepare your food. It made me appreciate both the work it takes to prepare your own food and that I don’t have to prepare mine quite as much.

Tomorrow is the last work day so here’s hoping no head trauma or other bleeding injuries.

Nicaragua 2013 Day 4: Enunciation is Important

Well today is Wednesday and you can see the work taking its toll. If you were to graph our work output for the week it would definitely show a downward trend. Muscles are tired and at half way point you can’t quiet see the end of the road. The team rallied and cranked out a good amount of work. Thursday should bring a renewed spirit as we see the light at the end of the tunnel….or fence.

Working the line today we were practicing our Spanish. They quizzed me, what is “tengo hambre” mean? With my limited Spanish I said “I want a man?” wondering why that would be a term I would need. Well Mitch and David got a good laugh and said “no it means I’m hungry”. What a difference a letter can make.

So when you wonder what a difference the little we can do, just remember what the difference a letter makes….a BIG one!

Nicaragua 2013: Day 3 - Working the Line

Day three, the second work day, is the great equalizer. Everyone feels the pain from day one and moves just a little more slowly. But we worked through it and mange to get up post to over halfway or 260ft. We had a few injuries today, mostly to mostly involving me. In the morning I was using a hole post digger and proceeded to bend down as I lifted the handle out. This resulted in bump/scratch to my head. Then, to keep with the theme of head trauma, I was holding an upright post when the top cross bar fell and hit me on the face and arm. That was actually lucky. Well not cause I got hit but because I could have been really cut.

The food continues to be great except. Eggs and bacon at breakfast and great tacos for lunch. Dinner was tuna salad which is not my thing, so it was a jerky dinner.

We closed the day with a great devotional by Mike and the tired muscles of a meaningful day of work.

Nicaragua 2013: Day 2

I was going to call today’s post “Holes” after the move since we dug so many holes for the fence. Then this evening before dinner I captured this photo of two girl playing at the orphanage. Then I remembered this isn’t about us, it’s for the orphanage and the children.

All that said, let me tell you about our day ; )
The first day of work is always interesting as everyone finds their assigned job and we try and find our equipment…hoping it works. A couple guys headed out to fix two holes in the fence where thieves cut out sections to steal cattle. The men in the bodega started to build sections of fence and four of us started clearing the way and digging wholes. We made a lot of progress, which is typical when you have a fresh team ready to go.

After work we ran up and bought our “treat” pop in bottles, which Josh swears is better. Either way I’ll drink it. Tonight Joel, the facilities manager, is going to share his story how he went from the streets to running the orphanage, building his own house and getting married.

Tomorrow is another day of 90 and HOT sun. Bring on the sunscreen.

Nicaragua 2013: Day 1
Day one, our easy day, started with a dorm full of mosquitos. So not the greatest start but such is life here. After a quick early breakfast we left the bugs behind and headed to church. This year we went to the missionary church so it was in English, which helped us gringos.

After church we had our traditional last supper/lunch, then picked upped a few last minute tools and groceries. I picked up a toothbrush that didn’t make it and our can of Raid (thank god they have that here) to take care of my little friends.

The second year is easier since I know what is coming and a lot of the guys I met last year are back which makes for great team camaraderie (aka smack talk)

The weather is a little warmer than last year, just over 90, but we are ready to hit the ground running and start building some fence tomorrow.

Nicaragua 2013
Starting the blog for this years trip. Stay tuned.

True

11:366 - Aerial Church on Flickr.

Ariel of my church Wesley UMC in Bloomington,IL

53:366 - Meter It on Flickr.

Trying out a light meter