October 11, 2007

Reach Out and Touch Someone

Hey all, hello from San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua. For those following our many endeavors and adventures, yes I am still very much alive. Thanks for your emails.

I apologize for delays in reports. My trusty HP lap top gave up the ghost a few weeks ago. I have since been reduced to working out of Internet cafes which is rather awkward. But we get by.

Meanwhile, I have a little story I want to share with you.

 BE A STAR! REACH OUT AND TOUCH SOMEONE

Its a story about a boy who was on vacation with his family.

One day he was at the beach when he saw a local elder approaching from the opposite direction. 

The local was watching the boy and saw that he kept picking something up and throwing it into the water.  As he got closer, he could see that the boy was picking up starfish that had washed up onto the beach and he was throwing them back into the sea.

As the two met, he said, "Good morning young fellow.  I was wondering what you are doing."

"Well, I am throwing these starfish back into the ocean, because if I don't, they will die."

"I understand young friend, but there must be thousands of starfish on this beach and you can't possibly get all of them.  Besides, there are hundreds of miles of beaches along this coast and the same thing is happening on every one of those beaches.  Can't you see that you can't possibly make a difference?"

The boy bent down and picked up another starfish and threw it back into the ocean.  He smiled at the man and said, "I made a difference to that one, didn't I?"

All over the world there are individuals, children, families who are like a star fish out of water.  They are dying because they don't have some one willing to make a difference. This is especailly true in the poor barrios of Nicaragua. But you bet you can make a difference.

 HOMES FOR THE HOMELESS

The walls inside are seperated by card board and broken bits of plywood nailed together. It is hard to believe but there are 9 other family members piled into the same home.

It's hard living all together," the 49-year-old woman said. "Oh Dios Mio, sometimes it's so hard."

A typical home in Nicaragua

A typical kitchen

A living room with dirt floor

To make matters more challenging, Mrs. Rodrigues has been served with an eviction notice. The small plot of land she has been living on for over 20 years was never been register. 20 years ago, Nicaragua was just coming out of a horrendous civil war that left tens of thousands dead and a difficult time of land reform.

Thankfully the tide of change has come and Nicaragua today has become a popular surfer and tourist destination. Another plus has been the rise in property development. Hotels, surf camps and lotification projects have sprouted up and down the Pacific coast. But with it comes high housing costs and services. Now that development has slowed down, jobs are fewer.

The local under privalleged Nicaraguan finds they can not compete with developers from the USA, Canada and Europe.

The Rodriguez family is among the growing ranks of the soon to be homeless in Nicaragua.

An open living area

Very few posessions

An outdoor facilities

Mrs Rodriguez lost her husband to a fishing accident 3 years ago. She now lives on less than $100. per month. " Sandino was a good man. He didn't make a lot of money but he worked hard and we at least could eat. Our youngest son Juan now goes out fishing in his small open boat. Like his father, Juan works hard. When the fishing is good, some times he can earn $10. in a full day. But when there are no fish..." Her eyes become misty.

"We want to live happy, but times are so hard " she said. "I try my best but now we are told we have to leave our home. They cut off our electricty to force us out. We haven't had lights for over 2 months. Where will we go". She begins to cry....

 Give it a try. Reach out and touch some one.

And may peace and good health always be with you.

Capt. Eric
Nicaragua

Eric Blackburn Managing Director www.worldkidsvoyage.org www.cruisingcentralamerica.com www.expeditionsailors.org
	Box 839, Dana Point Ca 92629
	Phone: Mobile:	011 505 668-1501 (Nica)  959 374-0803 (USA)
eblackb@earthlink.net