Day 5: Chinandega

Today, we made the 3 hour trek north to Chinandega in preparation for a medical clinic we are running Friday near the border of Honduras, another 2 hours away.  Along the way we stopped in Leon to see the largest church in Central America and have some lunch.  Once we checked into the Hotel San Jose in downtown Chinandega, we delivered clothes, toys and hygiene products to a local hospital and clinic.  We then walked to a restaurant for a delicious supper of chicken and local salads.  The girls received a lot of attention on the walk.  We felt like we were on parade and I heard the word "gringo" more than once.  After supper, we returned to our hotel for a little preparation for tomorrow.  Most of the team went to bed in good time for our early morning drive.

Amanda, doing some sort of dance, during our walk to the local grocery store the night before.

After getting some groceries, we had to have some ice cream.

Shana and Lindsay sharing a new experience.

Mr. MacKay standing guard.

Returning to Jenny's.

The largest church in Central America in Leon.

Inside the church.

Holy water.

Power grid.

A storm sewer with power lines running over it, I think.

Inside the church looking out.

The hospital in Chinandega.

Lindsay and Amanda waiting.

A wheelchair crudely constructed out of a plastic lawn chair.

Tessa visiting the maternity ward.

A reminder of home on one of the walls.

A waiting area.

These beautiful girls were very thankful for their clothes and other goodies.

The central courtyard.

Not sure if this was one family or not.

Intensive Care.

The hospital chapel.

See no, speak no, hear no.

Men making gravel on the side of the road.

The pharmacy the Breens helped build on their last visit.  It's located at a smaller clinic.

Sonja.  It's her birthday today.  Happy Birthday, Sonja.

The nurses' station.

The Warks donated their fan to the clinic.

Pedro.

Amanda teaching Pedro the jellyfish - medusa en espanol.

Tessa, Shana and Jacqueline seeing the light.

Returning to our hotel.

One of the courtyards in our hotel.

Journal writing during some down time.  Later in the evening there was another huge thunderstorm.  It was very pleasant sitting here playing cards while listening to the storm.

Preparing for our walk to the restaurant.

On the way, we passed at least three electronics/appliance/motorcycle stores.

The restaurant.

Waiting for supper.

After supper, the nurses trained the students how to take blood pressure.

"testing, testing"

Hailey and Isaac.

Lexy and Jackie.

Rachel having her blood pressure taken.