This morning we started out our day by actually visiting the Managua dump, also known as La Chureca. It made the dump we saw in Chinandega look like just a small pile of trash. Here we carefully walked through mounds and mounds of garbage that has been piling up for at least the past fifty years. We had to watch every step to avoid stepping on used needles from hospitals, bones from carcasses, broken glass, and even cow pies from the livestock that are constantly feeding there. Unfortunately some of us (aka myself) weren’t so apt in dodging the cow pies. Our visit continued as we passed through the nearby homes (made of salvaged supplies– old tin roofs, tarps) that surrounded the dump. From our health classes and visiting various clinics, we have learned that one of the main causes of death comes from respiratory disease. After spending only an hour there, our whole group was having troubling breathing from inhaling the fumes from not only the fresh trash being brought in but also the trash that was self-combusting. Despite all of these tangible hardships, it was so evident how happy and welcoming these people were.
Later, the group split up into three separate groups: teaching handwashing to a local children, helping with a feeding program at a nearby school, and working to improve another school by pouring concrete and painting buildings. As the afternoon progressed, the group joined together again as we all worked side by side mixing concrete, carrying it in small buckets, and finally spreading it out to form a walkway. It was great getting to see everyone participating and not minding getting a little dirty in the process!
Now, we’ve all come back “home”, are showering, and getting ready for another non-Nicaraguan dinner: chinese?
Miss yall and love yall (those of you i know…),
Haven
