May 25th

Today was our final day out in the communities.  We woke up early so that we could pack all of our belongings before breakfast.  The group spent most of the day in Awas Tingni performing educational activities and water testing.   The primary school in Awas Tingni has two sessions in order to educate all the students in town.  One session is in the morning for a certain group of students and the other session is in the afternoon for a different group of students.  Most of the team spent the morning teaching about water education in the first session of the primary school, with Verbo church members Myron and John translating into Miskito. 

The rest of us tested for various contaminants in water sources in the area, including four wells, a small stream, and the Awas Tingni.  (Awas Tingni means “Pine River” in English.  It is the name of a river in addition to the name of the town).  Hopefully the results of these tests will help us determine the best way to partner with the people of Awas Tingni to supply clean water.  The water testing team received some help from the community.  At most of the wells, children would run over and start playing with us and the equipment.  It was very fun building relationships with the young children and with other community members who guided us around town.  After a break for lunch, we resumed our activities.

In the evening, the team gathered at the Baptist church in Awas Tingni to distribute Sawyer bucket filters to the selected families.  While the training and distribution of filters was occurring, large numbers of young children gathered outside.  Jeff, our trip coordinator, brought long balloons to hand out to the children.  Jeff would blow up to the balloons and hand them to Walsted, a twenty-year old community member, to tie off the balloons and hand them to the kids.  Several of us made the balloons into hats or balloon animals, while other children used their balloons as swords. 

After the bucket filters were distributed, we drove back to the community of Pinera for a final meal.  We were served watermelon, Oreo cookies, and some delicious mangoes.  The team then loaded up into the vehicles and drove the dirt road back to Puerto Cabezas, arriving around 9:30 pm. 

-Jared