'tis the season

On Friday morning we arrived at the clinic with bags of holiday gifts. The children were waiting for us with eager smiles. Most were dressed in their best outfits. It seemed like everyone in the clinic was ready to spread the holiday spirit. The staff members were laughing and joking around with one another. Dr. Lesley, who is typically very composed man, was posing for pictures and hugging Esmo and Coco.

We started things off by asking all of the kids go to the backyard of the clinic for a group picture. Unfortunately, some of the little ones were not excited about posing for our cameras. Maria Magdalena started crying first, then came Jerohan and a few others. We decided to postpone the group shot and move right along to the gift distribution.

One by one each kid came into the conference room, received their present, and posed for a picture wearing a Santa hat. As you may imagine, the kids looks absolutely adorable. The Spiderman toys were a huge hit with the boys, as were the purses with the girls. The little ones delighted in their new baby toys.

We also had a little surprise for the mothers. We gave each of them a 5lb bag of rice and a 5lb bag of beans. Because the price of beans has been on the rise, many of the moms have not been able to afford it. They were, therefore, extra thankfully for the gift.

November Milk Days

This past Wednesday and Thursday the whole Manna crew went to the clinic in La Chureca to run Milk Days. When we arrived on Wednesday, the doctor and Esmo were nowhere in sight. After getting a hold of Dr. Lesly and hearing that they wouldn’t be at the clinic for another 40 minutes we decided to go ahead without them.

Never have Milk Days run so smoothly! Everyone had their job mastered. Geoff and Tessa measure and weigh each kid. After a child’s weight and height have been recorded, Dane takes the mom and child to one of the consultation rooms and relays the weight/height information to the Program Director who is stationed there (either Matt or Erin).

Once Matt and Erin are given the weight/height info they compare the measurements to the previous months’ data. Matt and Erin then talk to the mothers to find out how their child has been doing, answer any questions the mother may have, and give them advice based on whether the child has gained or loss weight. Once the meeting is over the mom comes over to me to receive the monthly supply of milk, oatmeal and vitamins. During this time Julie snatches a cute picture of the little one to send to his/her sponsor. Julie also gives each kid who celebrated a birthday during the month a cute birthday bag filled with goodies.

I have to admit that it makes me really excited to see how well we are working together. What’s even more exciting, however, is seeing how well the mothers are responding to us. It’s incredible to see how much they have warmed up to us over the past few months. I believe that we owe Erin the credit for this. She has done an awesome job getting to know all the moms in the program.

As the moms warm up to us, so do the kids. Some of the kids who wouldn't smile at all are now full of giggles. The first time I saw Wendy smile was during the October field trip but this past Thursday she actually walked over to where I was, sat next to me, and asked me to play! And let me not forget Jerohan....this was the first time we've been able to get a picture of him smiling!

A final highlight: we had perfect attendance! This is the first time this has happened!

Vandy Visits La Chureca

Yesterday the Manna house said goodbye to an amazing group of Vandy students. The group of 10 spent their entire Thanksgiving break in Nica, learning about Manna's programs and working alongside Program Directors. One of the highlights of my week was taking the group into Chureca.

Prior to coming, the Vandy group asked if they could put a presentation together for the mothers in our Child Sponsorship Program. Without any hesitation I told them yes and said that they were free to choose the topic. They decided to focus their health talk on HIV/AIDS.

At 9:30am on Wednesday the students sat down in front of the mothers and began their talk. It was clear that they had spent a long time researching and practicing for this day. They touched on all the important facts without using fancy terminology and they kept the moms' attention by making the talk interactive. Of all the health talks I've listened to in Chureca, this one was my favorite. Watching the way they delivered the presentation and reached out to the mothers made me so proud to be a Vanderbilt graduate.

After the health talk was finished, Matt took the group on a tour of Chureca while I stayed behind to talk to Esmo. I met up with the group about an hour later and noticed how their expressions had changed. Seeing their faces and hearing what they had to say about La Chureca reminded me of how I felt the first time I walked through the dump.

It also made me realize that after being here for 4 months, and going to the dump so many times, I have gotten over its shock value. It made me sad to think that I have grown accustomed to watching little kids running around naked, seeing youngsters sniffing glue, and school-age children sifting through trash in search of food, recyclables, and toys.

Familial Introductions

On the Tuesday before Thanksgiving I had the pleasure of taking my parents and younger sister, D'Arcy, into La Chureca. Driving through the front entrance, we saw several men pointing at our micro. I made a joke to my parents that even the people in Chureca make fun of our transportation. However, one man was so persistant that we stopped to see what he wanted. Little did we know that we had been dragging a branch-- which really qualified more as a small tree-- for quite some time. If they had not told us, we absolutely would have gotten stuck in the mud twenty feet ahead of us. In true Nica fashion, ten men appeared out of nowhere to help us, not allowing us to touch the branch. As soon as the crisis was averted, they all disappeared just as rapidly as they came. When we got back into the micro, my dad asked what their motivation was to help us. While I do not know the exact reason, I do know that they were not looking for a handout, but rather looking out for us.

So began our journey. My family saw all the sites: the clinic (where Esmo declared my sister and I twins), los Quinchos (an alternative school for kids who sniff glue), the "hole" (where we saw children bathing in rainwater collecting in the middle of the trash), and finally the school (where my entire family became jungle gyms for preschoolers to climb). My mom's favorite memory is of a little boy trying in vain to eat some soup the school had given him. Unfortunately, using his hands was causing more soup to fall onto his lap than to enter his mouth. The girl sitting next to him saw his plight and without a word dropped her own spoon into his bowl. Unfazed, the boy took the spoon and went to work on the soup.

Every interaction I witnessed in Chureca on that day seemed more significant because I was seeing it through my parents' eyes. I love that they now have personal memories and that they have met some of the people that have shaped my experience here thus far. Additionally, the thought that my Nicaraguan family knows my actual family means that they know me more personally, hopefully allowing our relationships to grow even deeper.

Where's the Milk?

After hearing some murmuring that moms might be selling the milk, we as a Manna team decided that we needed to change some of our practices. Therefore, this month (at the end of our field trips) we gave out the milk with the label removed and the date written on the jar. If moms do not bring back those specific containers next month, then we have a pretty good idea that they're selling.

On Tuesday, while Geoff and Marcela were giving tours to some of our friends from Cedro Galan, I went around to visit families. The moms were excited to see me, saying that it had been a long time since I had visited (I've been sick and infrequent in my Chureca visits lately). I always felt welcomed in-- Hector's grandmother showed me his report card (excellent scores) and Milton's mom asked me some questions about the antibiotics he had been given for his teeth. After chatting for a bit, they were all more than willing to show me the milk and vitamins that they have left. Some even made the comment that they were glad we had decided to do this because they don't think it's right for some mothers to sell. One mom put it this way: "you've given us a gift. I'm going to follow whatever rules you make because I know you care about our children and you're doing this for them."

Although there were one or two moments in the morning where I could perceive some annoyance, that mothers' words seemed to be the general consensus. It felt good to know that the mothers can see our commitment to their children and that they want to work with us in improving their health.

Field Trip Day 2

This past week, we decided to provide the mothers and children of our child sponsorship program with a change of scenery. In so doing, we hoped we could, if only for a brief while, help them escape the harmful environment that infiltrates every aspect of their life. In addition, we sponsored a talk with the famous “Señora Soya” who provided the mothers with demonstrations on cooking with soy. By promoting soy, we are hoping to provide community members with an alternative form of nutrition that is free of many of the toxins contaminating the foods they normally obtain.

Once we loaded all of the mothers and the children in our microbuses, the looks on the children’s’ faces as they experienced their very first car ride were priceless. As I peeked back, I saw an absolute sense of awe as they watched cars and people pass and felt the new and strange sensation of sitting in a moving vehicle. Once there, the mothers were put to work in the kitchen while the children played.

Though the mothers were working very hard, there was no doubt that they were having a great time. Watching them in the kitchen, I marveled at the sense of camaraderie they displayed and saw smiles from people I never thought possible. All the while, the children were simply being children on the play set and soccer field. Running around and laughing with them certainly wore me out, however while laying down for a nap afterwards, I felt so fortunate that I could give them the opportunity to enjoy a healthy atmosphere for playing. I cannot wait until the next time we take the mothers and children to the land, seeing them away from the dredges of their everyday life gave me new hope and inspiration.

Field Trip: Day 1

Today was an early morning at the Manna house. After chugging our respective cups of coffee our group started loading up the micro. By 8am we had filled up the car with milk, oatmeal, vitamins, cooking supplies, art supplies, and toys. We then went off to the ranchon...

Tessa, Julie and Dane got dropped off at the ranchon. They took care of set-up while Geoff, Matt and I drove to La Chureca to pick up the moms and kids in our program. Because of the heavy rainfall that Managua has experienced over the past two weeks, the dirt road into La Chureca was in terrible conditions. Thankfully, however, we had Geoff at the wheel. He managed to get us in and out without a glitch.

It was about 9:30am when we drove out of the dump. Instead of having food and supplies in the back seats, we now had a handful of excited children. Milton and Wendy were particularly adorable. Throughout the drive they looked attentively out the window and pointed things out to one another. It's amazing to see how happy kids can be with the littlest things. A simple car ride was an adventure for them.

Once we arrived at the ranchon, we set up two scales and started measuring the kids. As soon as a child was done being weighed he or she could get started on their coloring activity. Most of the kids were eager to color in their turkey. We even had some mothers that were happy to pick up a crayon and chip in.

Around 10:40am we gathered up all the mothers and had Maria (better known to us as the Soy Lady) begin the presentation on soy. While the mothers listened attentively to Maria, we entertained the kids. With a video camera on one hand and Josue on the other, I walked around the ranchon video tapping the kids as they played soccer, swung on the swing set, ran around, and ate their fair-share of cookies.

The mothers, meanwhile, were being put to work in the kitchen. Maria had them slicing and dicing, cooking and cleaning. The mothers seemed to be really enjoying themselves. Together with Maria, they transformed soybeans into a delicious cinnamon flavored soymilk. They also learned how to convert soybeans into soy meat. I have to admit that when I first saw the soy meat I thought it looked more like a paste than anything else. As soon as I tasted the chorizo and fried tortes that the mothers made out of it, however, I was won over.

The Gringos are coming! The Gringos are coming!

After weeks of planning, the Austin Samaritans, led by Dr. John Doty, flooded into clinica Funjofudess today to provide not only general health care but also to screen women in the community for cervical cancer and its precursors. The doctors, nurses and interpreters entered the clinic and presented their willing hands to the clinical staff-- a gesture I know the staff appreciated. From the very beginning, it was obvious that they day was not about paternalism or trying to pull people out of the dirt, but rather cooperation and walking hand in hand to create change.

I had the pleasure of interpreting for Dr. Lane and Nurse Earline, as we saw the three major complaints in Chureca: respiratory, dermatological and gastrointestinal. By the end of the day we had seen so many patients that I knew the prescription dosage for bronchitis in two year olds by heart and was admittedly a little worn out. Nonetheless, Lane and Earline never slowed down and were ready for more. I thank them for their hearts, their hands and the love that they showed the community in La Chureca.

In 3 and a half hours the clinic staff, Manna Project and the Austin Samaritans saw 12 gynocological and almost 20 general cases, in addition to completely restocking our pharmacy and bringing countless smiles. It was a good day.

Hanging round, downtown by myself...

So things in Nicaragua work a little different than in the states. It is a rarity for people to be on time. Most of our students are very punctual because they are on our schedule, but people not accustomed to our ways are traditionally late. This is especially the case with the nurse we work with at the dump. Usually we arrive by 9 or 9:15 with the plan to work with her, but she'll stroll in around 10 or whenever she feels like it. It's frustrating, but it's part of living in Nicaragua.

So yesterday, Erin and I waited until 10 for the nurse to show up so we could explain what is going to happen this week. We have a medical brigade coming in from the United States who are going to screen for cervical cancer. They are also bringing in a nutritionist to give a talk to the mothers in our program. After explaining all this to the medical staff at the clinic, we walked around the town, meeting with mothers to explain the situation to them. It was really impressive to watch Erin in action. She has really gotten close with the mothers in town and they really seem to consider her a friend. She is doing a great job. While I usually end up spending the majority of my time in the dirt, playing with kids, Erin has really worked closely with the mothers (and grandmothers) and formed some really incredible bonds.

Dropping by to say hi

After a bit of rearranging, Matt and I were able to add a new Chureca day to our weekly schedules. We both wanted to spend more time walking around the dump and talking to the families, so this came as a welcome addition.

Last week marked our first Friday-morning excursion. We got off the bus at 9am and made our way into Chureca through the back entrance. It hadn’t rained very much the previous day, so we were able to arrive at the clinic mud-free. Once we got to the clinic, however, my excitement dwindled a bit as I realized that the clinic’s gate was locked and the staff was nowhere in sight.

Determined to have a productive day, Matt and I decided to venture off on our own. We started by visiting the houses closest to the clinic. Although we made a few navigational mistakes as we strolled through Chureca’s dirt paths, we ended up having a really worthwhile day.

At our first stop we saw Kenan and Marlon. Kenan was full of smiles and he looked absolutely adorable in his white button-down shirt and khaki shorts. Marlon was not quite as cheery but seemed to be doing well nevertheless. We then walked over to Erik’s house where Jenny greeted us with a warm smile and invited us in. Jenny asked us if we wanted to see baby Erik, but since he was sleeping, we opted for staying outside and talking to her.

After saying our goodbyes to Jenny we made our way to the Vanegas' household. We got there just in time to catch Miriam and Katy walking out the door. Miriam told us that they were on their way to the pediatrician’s office. As the two of them waved us goodbye, Matt and I started walking towards Salezka’s house.

When we arrived we saw Salezka’s mom working hard on the family’s laundry and Salezka sitting outside, watching her. Salezka’s mom informed us that Salezka hadn’t been feeling well the past few days. When we asked her if she had taken Salezka to the clinic she told us that she had, but that the doctor couldn’t do much because Salezka’s condition was viral in nature.

We then took a few steps over to Danilo’s house, where we found him mid-bath. Danilo’s mom had a sad expression on her face, so Matt and I spent some time just talking to her about how she was doing. I was truly touched by how open she was with us. I only wish that I had more to offer her.

It’s really hard for me to see individuals dealing with such difficult situations. I often hear people say that where there is a will, there is a way. As badly as I want to believe in those words, I have to admit that being in La Chureca makes me question them at times. One of the most challenging things for me is seeing our kids getting sick all the time. I try to remind myself that the reason I am there is two-fold: not only is there an acute need for improvement but there is also a very tangible opportunity for change.

Hanging out in the Clinic

On Tuesday Geoff, Matt and I went into Chureca with the goal of visiting families. However, like is often the case here in Nicaragua, circumstances made us change our plans.

As Geoff mentioned in the previous post, after months of speculation, one of the mothers in the program was just officially diagnosed as HIV positive. Dr. Lesly made it clear to me that we have to change several of our practices: 1) while we traditionally make coming to the clinic to get the milk and vitamins a responsibility of the mothers, we will have to be more proactive with this mother, insuring that she does not breast feed and increase the possibility of infecting her daughter, 2) we need to include discussions about STD's and HIV/AIDS in our weekly health talks with the mothers, and 3) someone has to locate the father, who we've heard has moved to Masaya.

Obviously, the conversation I had with Dr. Lesly and Esmo was somewhat daunting, but in other ways it was encouraging. After three months, we, as the new Manna Project directors, have begun earning the respect of the clinic staff. I sat in front of Dr. Lesly, a notoriously gruff man, and he asked for our help and said that we needed to work as a team. In doing so, he counted me as an equal, an important part of healthcare in Chureca. It was a great honor.

On Wednesday I saw that that respect extends not only with the clinic staff, but also with the mothers. Rita, Jose Angelo's mother, dragged me and our two friends, Micah and Mark, to her house to introduce us to her mother and grandmother-in-law. The abuelita, MariaJoseOrtegaMolina (she insisted we use all four names as one), thanked us for giving her great-grandson milk and told us that she would pray for us. I felt so honored and humbled that this precious 90-year-old woman with no teeth will pray for us, some gringos who happen to give out milk every month.

When we got back to the clinic, some of the mothers were complaining about the requirement of going to two health talks a month. I told them that the reason we require the talks is not to annoy them or to make their lives more difficult, but to empower them so that they have the knowledge to care for themselves and their children. When I finished, several heads were nodding in agreement and I felt that I had some friends in the room. It was an incredible moment.

Chubby babies need loving too...

Manna Project was very active in La Chureca this past week. On Tuesday, Matt, Erin and I made our weekly trip to check up on the mothers in our program. In two hours we visited between 15 and 20 houses and we spoke with many families. All of the reports from the mothers were good. We had recently had a milk day so no one was running low. Most people were still running off their last month’s supply. One family stuck out to me during the visit. There was a mother with her child sitting on her lap. When looking at the child she appeared very chubby to me, even fat. I brought this up with Erin as we left La Chureca. She is more familiar with each family because she meets with them individually each milk day. She told me that this particular mother is HIV positive and therefore cannot breastfeed her child. This chubby baby is not in our program because of malnourishment, but because there is no other safe way to feed the child. It made me realize the difficulties of feeding a child, especially in the developing world.

A group went on Wednesday to administer our weekly health talks, but I didn’t return to Chureca until this past Friday, when there was a party at the school in La Chureca. Our friend Norman, who is the preschool teacher at the school, invited us to attend a school wide party. The reason for the party was not very specific, but the kids all turned out wearing costumes. There was a little red riding hood, a gypsy, superman, a power ranger, three queens, and of course, a clown. The kids played, while everything was being set up, then they lined up outside the school and marched through the community, ending up back at the school. The march was followed by many presentations which were very entertaining, which included some plays, dancing, and singing. It was such a joyous day, it was easy to forget that we were in the middle of a dump. I had a child sitting on my lap, in my arms, or laughing with me pretty much the entire time. It felt so good to be with the kids and share with their happy time. I feel like I made many new friends that day. I will be sure to look for them next time I am in La Chureca.

Milk Day Take #2

Upon returning to Nicaragua from a brief respite in my hometown, I felt both a sense of longing to return to the comforts of my life in Texas while at the same time a welcoming optimism upon coming back to a country in which the pace and everyday concerns of life are far more simple. My first morning back, I returned with the group to La Chureca for this month’s second milk day. I was immediately pleasantly surprised to find many of the mothers with their children waiting on the front porch of the Funjofudess clinic. However, when I heard that neither Esmo nor the doctor were there with the key, I knew I was back in Nicaragua.

Due to the absence of our team member Dane, who accidentally ingested copious amounts of Nyquil which he believed to be Dayquil, I took the responsibility of leading mothers and their children from the height and weight station to consults and then to get their milk, oatmeal, and vitamins. Upon doing so, I realized how inspired I am by their unwavering optimism in the face of a daily poverty, the likes of which I had never previously experienced. Though I cannot help but be saddened to think of what the future holds for these playfully innocent children in such an impoverished setting, I know what we do gives them hope for a better tomorrow.

As I escorted family after family, I learned that the new vitamin had effectively increased the children’s appetites and as a result, many gained weight. Witnessing the children come closer and closer to a healthy weight during my time here has enabled me to see firsthand the difference we make. To see the priceless look on the faces of the children and mothers alike as they left the clinic made me take pride in yet another successful month for MPI-Nicaragua’s child sponsorship program.

Dia de Leche

Wednesday started off with a 6AM phone call from Esmo. I have to admit that I was less than enthusiastic when she informed me that she would not be able to come to the clinic. Milk Days are definitely the busiest days at the La Chureca clinic and being that it was only my second time organizing it, I was a bit worried that things would get out of hand.

To my delight, however, everything ran extremely smoothly. Mothers showed up in a timely fashion, the vast majority of our kids gained weight, and throughout the day the mood inside the clinic was one of happiness. What made this an especially good trip to Chureca, was the interaction I had with the mothers and the children. The mothers were noticeably more comfortable around me and consequently, so were their kids. Esmo's absence ended up being a blessing in disguise.

When the time came to start packing up, the only kid we were still missing was Danilo. He is one of our special cases- while there is no question that he needs to be in the program from a health stance, his mother's constant absence from the health talks makes it difficult to enforce our program rules.

I decided right then and there that if he wasn't coming to us, we would go to him. Together with Geoff I made my way to Danilo's house for the first time. Once we got there Geoff and I introduced ourselves to Danilo's mom and I explained to her that today was Dia de Leche. I asked her if she would be willing to come with us to the clinic for 15 minutes so we could weigh Danilo and give her the monthly supply of milk, oatmeal, and vitamins. She agreed. It was a great day.

Taking It All In

On Monday morning Erin and I took Brian Shumway to La Chureca. Brian is a photographer from NYC who is staying with us for the next 3 weeks. He came to Nica with the specific purpose of photographing La Chureca, and the people who live and work inside of it. Since Monday was Brian's first time in the dump, we began our visit with a walking tour. The school (Colegío La Esperanza) was our starting point. From there we climbed to the top of the hill that overlooks Chureca.

It is from this spot that you can fully grasp how imense the dump is. Although I have stood in that same place several times before, I still needed a few minutes to take it all in. When I'm in that spot, looking down on the endless mountains of trash and the homes made out of scrap metal, I can't help but wonder...will this place ever cease to exist? Will its residents ever be given the care and attention that they deserve?

The truth is that I don't expect to answer these questions during my time here. For now I'm content with answering the smaller, day-to-day questions. The interactions I've had with the children and mothers in our program thus far have shown me that there is plenty to be done. Plenty that I can do.

Charla on Lead

In order to be in our program mothers must attend monthly health talks (or "charlas" as they are called here). The talks are given on a weekly basis at the La Chureca clinic. Speakers for the charlas include Esmeralda (better known as Esmo), Dr. Lesly, nutritionists from the Ministry of Health, and outside professionals.

Esmo, our head nurse at the clinic, gave this week’s health talk. The talk focused on the dangers of lead. This is an especially relevant topic because just last month all of our kids were tested for lead and five of them showed elevated levels. While none of the kids required immediate attention, it was another reminder of the hard conditions these children live in. What I found encouraging, though, was the number of mothers who came to us and requested that there be a charla on lead. The fact that these mothers are taking interest in their kids and are trying to educate themselves on issues that pertain to their kid's health shows me that our health talks are serving their purpose.

I left this week's charla energized and excited. Watching the way Esmo spoke to the mothers and connected with them really made me see what a vital role she plays in our team. She spoke with authority but always in a soothing voice. The mothers respect her and know that they cannot give her flimsy excuses when it comes to their kid's health. I know that trust takes time to earn and I sincerely hope that in the coming months I will be able to form a similar bond with the mothers.

Venturing Out into Chureca

One of the goals for this year's child sponsorship team is to develop relationships with all 34 families in our program, specifically with the mothers. On Tuesday, Geoff, Matt and I began this journey as we set out to find houses where our children live. With Sandra, one of the women who keeps Clinica Funjofundess running, as our guide, we visited 11 homes made out of scrap metal, political banners and anything else they can claim.

Some mothers were receptive, eager to become our friends. Lidia and Zayda's mom took us all around her house, showing us where she keeps the oatmeal, milk and vitamins. She did not show us the three bent bed frames where the family sleeps, their foam mattresses falling through to the floor. When we knocked on Erick's gate, we found his mom making lunch as Erick bounced in a baby seat. He has her eyes, big, dark and full of innocence and happiness.

Kenan's mom, who runs a venta (small sundries shops), told us that she already sells soy milk packets and is planning on selling soy meat as well. This prospect greatly excited us, as soy can be a viable and nutritious alternative to the fish many families eat from the contaminated Lake Managua. We plan to continue to pursue this option, possibly partnering with Keenan's mom and grandmother. Sandra told us that the 15 cords (less than one American dollar) that they would charge in the ventas is still cost-prohibitive for many Chureca families. Our current thoughts are to sell crude soy on the Funjofudess porch, but this is still under consideration as we do not want to compete with a family in our program.

However, not all visits were as pleasant. The most discouraging visit was our encounter with Danilo's mother. Because she frequently does not come to milk days, she was the only mother we had not previously met. She didn't invite us into the house, we had to ask to see Danilo and she said he wasn't drinking milk or receiving the vitamins. Obviously, our whole group was frustrated until we asked Esmo (the Funjofudess nurse). She told us that her husband prohibits her from leaving the house, which is why she doesn't come to any of our events. At that moment, all frustration disappeared as we started to comprehend the realities of her life.