Our goal for Friday was to BlueFields to have a chat with the Moravian Bishop and to meet with Father Tony whom we had met at training. We took the early panga from Pearl Lagoon and the weather was threatening. I had heard when rain began on a panga ride, tarps were used to keep passengers dry. Had heard about it, but not experienced it til this morning. Three rows of passengers in front of us were obviously tourists, standing up to take pics and taking selfies and applying make-up during the ride. When the rain began, no one had clued them in on how to behave. What we had been told is-- lean over after the tarp (large piece of plastic) is in place so the driver can see where to steer the boat, No one had told them this and the driver had to stop one time and screamed at them to bend over-- and they never really got it. He was screaming in both English and Spanish and these folks were Hispanic. I took a video to show the chaos inside the tarp as we were going, but I'm having trouble getting it in here. Maybe later/ or not. The folks pictured are the ones in front of me.
The rain stopped and we arrived in Blue Fields in time for our meeting with the Bishop, but first we went to breakfast at the Galleria. Very good food, service lacking --ordered a sweet roll to go with my omelet-- never got it. Could have insisted, but wasn't worth the effort.
Our meeting with the Bishop concerned the two water systems here and their need for filters and other maintenance supplies. Many topics were discussed, along with the possible impact of the new concrete road being constructed between Managua and Blue Fields. The workers need water, so they had a 300 ft. well dug for their own use. When the road is finished, the Bishop has heard that the construction company will give the well to the Moravian church. It is 30 minutes out in the country, but may be available for use at some time in the future. Reports from the filtration systems were discussed, maintenance supplies and the possibility of a mini-warehouse for eastern Nicaragua. Renewing covenants was mentioned and we met Juliette, the Bishop's secretary who is the person to contact if assistance or info is needed. We received her e-mail for this.
After visiting the Old Bank filtration system (named for the neighborhood it is in) we visited with Father Tony at his church. Father Tony is the priest for 27 churches, most of them small towns like Pueblo Nuevo and Orinoco. He answered some of our questions about Pueblo Nuevo about sustainability and communication. He also said he thought there was a Ciber Cafe there-- which no one of the folks we talked to mentioned. He was supportive of our installing a system in one of the two communities. Told us that the Catholic church would be able to assist either town to become self sustaining. He is a positive gregarious person who worked in San Diego in air quality control in his former life. He seems to thrive on his many challenges and all we've talked to appreciate him greatly.
To celebrate the end of a successful trip (so far) we went to a very new and fancy restaurant with white table cloths and filtered water. I ordered a dish called Dedos de Pollo. We had plantain chops on the table (like tortilla chips at home) the food was good and the service excellent. We were staying at the Caribbean Breeze and Yobeth stayed in my room. Flying out in the morning for Managua and eventually home.
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