I am sitting in a small hot shop in Tacuba typing on a computer keyboard with the letters handwritten on the keys and Spanish symbols in place of the ones I am used to using on my keyboard at home. All of that to say, there will most likely be typos in here, but this … More Bigger is Better.
One bite at a time. I first heard that phrase at Equip International during my Appropriate Technology training. No matter how overwhelming something seems, just going step-by-step makes it manageable and possible. Ok, I know that is not a very tasteful analogy (pun intended!), but it is one that comes to my mind often on … More How do you eat an elephant?
Ah yes, I also have other important supplies (clothes, tech gear, first aid, etc) for my two-month long project in El Salvador, but the trail mix is, by far, my favorite item. I am leaving [really] early Monday morning for San Salvador with teammate, Jess. We will meet another teammate, Raul, at the airport in … More 4 pounds of Trail Mix
This is a current photo of Carlos & Victor using the well we drilled and installed back in March on Isla Bastimentos, Panama. This borehole well taps into a spring that flows year-round. It is so cool to see about half* the members of the community really using and benefitting from this source of safe … More My Favorite Photo!
After the storm cleared up, we went back to the site to assemble the piping between the septic tank and leach barrel. I told Jess and Pat it would take about 35 minutes to complete….nearly 4 hours later, we finally made it home. The mud was so sticky, thick and difficult to walk in that … More stuck…Stuck…STUCK!
A storm rolled in this morning that has kept us from working on the Latrine so far today…which gives me time for a quick update. We have been working on a little bit of everything for the past week. Hygiene education, latrine construction, Kinkajou home repair, drilling boreholes, pump repair and boat building. We spent … More “It will be here tomorrow…”
I am nearly at two weeks here in Panama and I am excited to share some photos from my project, host family and daily life in Bastimentos. I have had hygiene classes for the community on germs, how water is contaminated, why we should wash our hands, how we should wash our hands, shared the story … More Tippy Taps, Island Pets and more!
That’s how I feel when I am speaking in front of more than four people. Here is a video file of me sharing at last week’s Missions night at church. I only had a couple days notice so I was extra nervous (although I’ve never actually given a speech when I wasn’t nervous even when … More My tongue is too big for my mouth
Here is a 2 minute photo montage video from the last 5 months worth of projects. A quick synopsis: Costa Rica (spanish school) El Salvador (spring water source scout) Panama (well drilling, borehole) Haiti (latrine construction, livestock) Ecuador (hygiene, sanitation, water management community training) Ecuador (water purification installation)
Home from Ecuador! I am a wee bit behind on updates (yea, I know…I say that often, right?) so here is a quick overview of the past month: My first project in Ecuador – the MedWater education program – went really well! After we trained the team of Community Health Promoters (CHP), we went to … More Back in Jersey!
How Many Cows 