Here are two pics of Amy distributing eyeglasses. That's what her job was every day while there. She's in the white hat. Not one pic showed her whole face. None of them took makeup with them so everyone hid from the cameras.  Can't say I blame them.

Annie

Look at the queue for eyeglasses! surely they all can't need them and how do they decide what strength they need?

And all that lush green... great pics...

 

 

 

I asked exactly that question, Ava. She didn't see or hear a single one. Said there were some beautiful little wild birds with pretty songs. A Mennonite family who had the group to dinner had a toucan. I have a pic of him but it's very dark.

 

I am sure there were many more people than those whose pics we have, who were not able to walk to the clinics. They walked for miles to get there.

 

The clinic was also for general medical illnesses. They took thousands of infant and pregnancy vitamins plus antibiotics. The doctors in the group worked from dawn to dark every day. They are totalling up the numbers of patients and they think between the two doctors they saw about 100+ patients each day. The auxillary people helped with histories and all the incidental stuff so the docs could work really fast.

 

This area is so far out that the roads are nothing but dirt trails and the group got there by riding in the back of an old Toyota truck. 19 people jammed in the cab and bed of that tiny truck.

The bus that took them from Managua to the end of the paved road was quite a sight. They paint the ceilings in funny patterns.

Annie

 

Annie, my grandkids are here, and my 16 year old is with me while I'm scrolling thru the boards.  She was really taken with the idea of helping out needy people like Amy has done, but she asked me, "Grandma, do you think she had to get a lot of shots to travel to South America?"  I'm thinking maybe a smallpox vaccination...... possibly something for malaria??  ...........

She had to take malaria pills starting several days before they left and contnued for a while after they got home. I have a call in to her to ask what else she did to prepare.

She had to expedite a passport in order to get it before the date they planned to leave. She was very lucky. Hers arrived in less than 2 weeks and now they are saying the wait will be months.

I''ll reply again when I hear from her.

Good grandkid you have there, Barbara.

Annie

 

 

 

 

Amy was lucky as my passport needed to be renewed as it expired a week after I was at home...

New Orleans was shut down due to Katrina so I applied 16 weeks in advance of leaving and had to call three days before departure to have it Fed Ex'd.. I felt I had aged by then and should have sent them another piccy.. bless their hearts!

I had called them after about ten weeks and was told they hadn't started to issue mine and wouldn't get it out on time so it was mandatory to call three days in advance of leaving, with departure date and all information regarding itinerary. This at an additional cost of $75.00 which I notice now they are waiving... rotten buggers!

I arrived in Manchester and could have sworn I was in India.. Are you around Kath hearing this? Turbans were in.....the dress of the day.......

The flight from Edinburgh to Darwin always touched down in Bombay and one year we got stuck there due to weather... I saw as many "blokes" as I did Indians.... 

I just called Amy again. She was current on all regular US vaccines and did not have to take any others. Malaria pills were her only meds. She did comment that the group is checking as to whether they all need to take meds to eradicate parasites. No firm answer yet.

The community they went to was Waslala if you'd like to look it up. The population looks large but they went far outside into the boonies.

Here's a website but the page is not from the group she was with. Mennonites are the main group but she went with the Methodist church group from our town. They work with the Mennonites down there.

Annie

That was a nice slideshow.  Kayla and I looked at it.  She was relieved that no shots are needed.  I hope this sticks in her head, and that if the opportunity presents itself, she may take part in something like this.  Those South American kids are so cute.  The only thing I'd be a little leery of is swimming in that river.  I have visions of leeches. 

Tell Kayla not to be too relieved. Amy works at a doctor's office and she demands they keep up with all vaccines so they don't "catch" something from the patients. She stays current on all vaccines.

 

I doubt that any group would be allowed to swim in the rivers or lakes. They couldn't even eat veggies cooked in the water. They were warned not to allow shower water in their eyes. Amy said she lived on American peanut butter and crackers for most meals.

 

But she said it was all worth it. She enjoyed the people and the work that her group did. I expect her to go back next year. Her doc employer goes every year along with most of the same people who went this year.

They each have to pay their own plane fare to Managua and take money for their food in the airports plus some to leave with the permanent missionaries, if possible.

 

Not trying to discourage Kayla. She needs to know this stuff, although whichever group she goes with will have lots of info before leaving.

 

There are also missionary trips into Mexico and other countries. There are groups going every week.

Annie

Just working at the Fire Dept. and handling the squad reports made it necessary for us "girls" to have up to date vaccines, so we got things most people don't normally get - like the Hep B series.  I also didn't realize that they all had to pay their own way.  Plus leave money for the missionaries.  That's dedication - such great people. 

 

But take a look at this pic from the web site ...am I allowed to post it??  One of the guys is swimming with the locals in something slightly suspicious.....this is the picture

that surprised me, as I assumed any water there was "iffy" to people from the states.

 

       

He's taking a chance of contracting a disease.  Some people just can't believe they can get sick.

Annie