Off to Nicaragua

Back to dirty water, poisonous snakes, and rice in abundance.

Back to smiling brown faces, stumbling through different languages, and stickers for the kids.

Back to sweaty scrubs, dirty wounds, and handing out medications.

Back to malaria, parasites, and fever.

Might sound a bit uncomfortable or intimidating, but it is like music to my ears. It is like going home. Tuesday evening I will step foot into Nicaragua for the next three months with my 16 other companions. It is my final semester before graduating in May with the classes Emergency Care II, Global/Public Health, Relief Infrastructure Practicum, Travel & Tropical Medicine, Jungle/Coastal/Ocean Survival, and International Relief & Mass Care. The fun is that these aren't the classic "sit in a desk and listen to a lecture" kind of classes. We get to get our hand's dirty building wellheads and other community projects around the villages. We get to don scrubs and hike out with supplies to do medical outreach clinics. We get to sit in a little boat for 24 hours anchored out in the ocean, enjoying the misery of surviving together.

As with any trip overseas, I don't know what is going to happen and if we will do what we've been planning on. But I do know that I will enjoy it immensely and be challenged immensely. And I hope that I will also grow immensely closer to God.

Updates on this blog will happen whenever possible when we travel through towns with internet. Otherwise, I will see you all the end of April!