Working for health...

Today and yesterday the Nicaraguan Doctor and I went to more of the schools that Nicaragua Resource Network supports and gave all of the students and staff the anti-parasite pill as well as Vitamin A. We gave the pills like before classroom by classroom. We explain them and then pass them all out to the students. Class sizes vary from 18-52 students. Everyone takes the pill together and we tell them to hold it in their hand and then put their hand "Arriba, al Centro, y al Dentro" which means (to the top, to the middle, and to the inside. The Doctor and I wear gloves when we pass them out but then when we pass out the water we have to share cups from classroom to classroom. This bothers me in terms of infection control, but we are doing our best with what we have and we didn't have 400+ cups. Parasites like amebas are a big problem in Nicaragua because of the dirty water, the animal feces, and not washing hands or food before eating.

I realized that there is not soap at any of the schools. So when we tell them washing hands is the #1 thing to do to avoid infection, they have nowhere to do that. I could go on and on about how gross not having soap is but I bet you could imagine the necessity at a school pre-school- 11th grade in a developing world country should be so I won't get on my soap box (haha.) Getting soap in the schools and increasing the hand washing is my new objective. The Doctor and I talked about it with some of the school directors. Liquid soap turns into a toy and a lot is wasted, bar soap disappears, and sanitizer is too expensive. So we have decided it will be best to get the baseball size balls of soap that they have here and put it in a bag like the ones they use for onions (plastic mesh) and hang it on the wall near the sinks. One of the schools doesn’t have a sink...so that will be part of the objective too.

Also, the Doctor and I have done some home visits for some students that are particularly sick. One that just got out of the hospital, another that may have TB, another that hit his head really hard and has a big bump and hematoma. We helped the parents understand what the medical information the hospital/Dr. had given them, got the medicines/nebulizer that they needed and prayed with them. It was really neat. Nicaraguans are very welcoming and invite you right inside their 1 room concrete block/tin homes with dirt floors and are always happy to have guests. They smile and wave at anyone that passes them on the street and have a resilient energy and humility about them. Beautiful people!

On another note, I spoke with the mother of host family that I will be moving into next week. We are going to meet Friday evening. I am excited to meet them and really be immersed in the Nica culture in their home. Well, I am going to climb in to my top bunk here at the mission house and head to bed. I'll write again soon.

P.S. the Mangoes are beginning to fall and when they hit the tin roofs we call it "mango bango"...it is loud but so great...the mangoes should be all ripe in about another 3 weeks. Can't Wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love,
Ayla Landry

"Love is the force that transforms and improves the Soul of the World."  ~Paulo Coelho

Here...

I took a relaxing weekend taking naps in the hammock and journaling on the porch rocking chairs. A group from Austin came on Saturday and I know some of the women on the trip. It is fun to have them here at the mission house with me. We all went to play at the orphanage that Nicaragua Resource Network sponsors that is connected to one of their churches and schools. Also, delivered to one school the medical supplies we distributed for them. Here goes some stream of consciousness about the past few days:


I have so many feelings and reflections and epiphanies. I am growing and learning to love. Learning through seeing and reflecting and mostly from empathizing. Life here is so different and so bittersweet. Different from expectations is the so many things I am thinking that I can’t articulate and I am sad and elated at the same time. there is so many reactions in my head to things all around and it drives me crazy sometimes the way I try to problem solve everything but then at the same time have so much peace in that the people are living beautiful lives. Neighborhoods are the best and the worst at the same time. I love it here. And where is the mom or big sister of the toddlers wandering the streets and why doesn’t someone cover the naked men lying on the side of the road. Motorcycle accidents and busy streets. Blood on the highway. Someone was decapitated in another part of the country. They found the body first then the head. It was on the radio in the taxi. All the whistling at me. I react to it differently every time. The pastor emphasizes prayer and God's plan And I empathize with the people. Mothers crying. Children laughing and sleeping. Worshipping with music and dancing and clapping and hearing God so near just whispering to be still and love. Birthdays. Egg on the head. Mariachi band. Pinatas. Popcorn and choclate for dinner. sweet cards and celebrating life. To see them all playing is awesome. Playing is playing. And a ball is fun to play with all over the world and so is a new friend. And falling asleep on the dirt floor of your house.Because now that your mom had another baby there isn’t room for all 10 people in the family to sleep on the only bed that is there. They breast feed until they are older here because the transition from breast milk to food is hard and more expensive and not very accessible. At orphanage the kids fall asleep under a tree, on the cement floor or in your lap all the same. Rest to be able to play and go to church. I am mentally engaged a lot. This feels like home. I can’t really explain it. I am where I am supposed to be...


Love,
Ayla


"To a worm in horseradish the world is all horseradish." ~Anonymous

I made it!!!

Well, where to start....Let's see...I have made it to Nicaragua and I am loving it. I feel right at home. I arrived and have already begun working with the Nicaraguan Doctor named Karla. I am staying at a mission house where I sleep on a bunk bed, common bathroom, fan, breakfast and dinner provided by lovely ladies (Juanita and Yolanda). There is a big kitchen with eating area and big living room with a few couches. Most do not sit in the living room and instead sit on the many rocking chairs on the porches. The temperature has been in the mid/high 80s during the day and lovely low 70s at night. There is a breeze that cuts the sun a bit, but don't worry I am wearing sunscreen. My diet has been mostly rice, beans, tropical fruit, and salad with the occasional ice cream for dessert. Breakfast is at 7am and dinner is at 5pm. The time is central time but Nicaragua doesn't have daylight saving...so when you spring forward I will still be on the same time.


The first day I was here I went to visit several churches and communities that this organization (Nicaragua Resource Network) serves. It was good to see the big picture of what they do, but I was eager to get going on the healthcare work. The following day, I was picked up at 7:30am by Dr. Karla and we went to one of the schools called Rey Salamon to give parasite treatment/prevention pills to the students. We went from classroom to classroom and passed out the pill and everyone took it together. It was chewable but didn't taste very good. We had water to help. We also did a little age-appropriate teaching in each classroom about illnesses caused by parasites. Here in Nicaragua the elementary school (colegio) comes in the morning 7am-12pm and then the high school (secundario) comes in the afternoon 12:30pm-5:30pm. There is not middle school just Pre-School, Elementary which is 1st-6th and then secondary school which is 7th-11th grade. There are 4 schools where I will be helping each with about 500 students. There are a lot of needs and I am excited to work along Dr. Karla and see how we manage the task ahead of us.


The plan is to go to one school a day Monday- Thursday and then on Fridays have a day to do paperwork or other tasks. We will do the parasite prevention/treatment, physical exams on each student including the special education students, nutrition education, mouth and general hygiene, and hearing/vision screening. We will also see the sick children as needed and are working on the documentation. Woo-wee...this is going to be fun!


I'll keep you posted now that I have internet access. WOOHOO!!.......


Love,
Ayla Landry


"Go Heart First."

Ready, Getting Ready, Set, GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

“Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.”~Mother Teresa


So, I am off to Nicaragua in less than a week and have been packing, visiting with friends, resting, and getting ready to head off. I will be at first staying at a mission house with the leaders of the group I am doing the school nursing with and getting oriented. Then, I will be moving into a home with a host family. The host family seems perfect. The mom is a teacher. The dad is a preacher, and I will have 2 little brothers. I'll tell you more about them once I get there.


I have so many ideas about what to do and what I want to see and learn while I am in Nicaragua. Helping set up a school nurse program and referral network, supporting the nurses at the Women's Cancer Clinic, furthering and beginning friendships and professional relationships with those in Nicaragua, volunteering at the clinic that serves the community that lives in the trash dump, spending time loving on the children at the re-nutrition center, being a resource for groups that come down from the US that I know, understanding more of the culture, perfecting my Spanish, reflecting on my experiences to learn.....I think I could go on forever. But the main thing to keep myself focused on is just to serve and love everywhere I go.


Well, I am going to go now. Today, I need to pack and determine what I need to gather at the store to complete my packing. I am bringing one suitcase for me and one suitcase of donations.


P.S. I am working on getting the picture slideshow to work so I can show you everything with more than just my words.


Love,
Ayla Landry