Nicaragua 2013: Wednesday Feb 13

What an exhausting but exhilarating day. We were already half set up this am - and we were up and running even faster. Everyone had very clear ideas of their jobs, and things ran even more smoothly. We saw 175 people!! The MINSA (the Nicaraguan Ministry of Health) nurses and Dr Vega were really enojoying the day! Lauren tells the story of one of the nurses (Darline) going to the little corner 'store" (people sell drinks, snacks, etc out of their homes in these villages) to buy her a pop - and when Lauren protested, Darline insisted "but we're a team" - which is exactly what Lauren had been saying to them when we shared our meals with them!
We had to make a trip to two local pharmacies at the end of our day to stock up on some items for Thursday and Friday. At the first pharmacy, we were helped efficiently, and had the sense we were given very fair prices. At the second, while the assistant at the counter was finding the items we had requested, the pharmacist from the back came forward with an armful of medications. She asked if we were the team doing clinics in the communities, then asked "can you use these"? That was cool. I'm starting to sound like Peter King!! Cool....

Waiting at the pharmacy

As much as we tried to work quickly, people arrived early in the am, and some waited almost the entire day to be seen. No one complained. No one gave us dirty looks. Everyone was gracious. Tomorrow we will buy bananas at the local market and make sure that we distribute those at strategic moments, and make more of an effort to make sure everyone is drinking enough water.

\Stephany (interpretor) and a child at the clinic

I hadn't finished speaking about our translators, who are all "pequenos" - ie the "little brothers and sisters" who have grown up here at the Casa. Yuridia, Stephany, Nestor, Jeffry, Balthazar, Yomara, Jimmy, Yader, Marbely and Iris have all done outstanding jobs - I hope they forgive me if I mispell their names. We are so impressed by their compassion and hard work. They are truly remarkable young people, and will do great things for Nicaragua.

We had a moving and informative presentation tonight about NPH and how the sponsorship program
works. Two students who are off to university presented their life stories, and how they came to NPH. Clearly they are part of a loving and supportive family, even into adulthood.

These are the thoughts that immediately come to mind tonight. We're going to bed.
Another community (Los Jirones) for clinic tomorrow.
Kirsten and Shannon Blaine