River walking, Yoltamel, States Side, and What to Eat

AsoFenix did a micro hydro turbine in the community of Malacatoya in 2007, but it only produces enough energy for 32 houses, so AsoFenix is looking for a way to produce more energy for the rest of the community. In order to know how much energy could be produced from another location in the community we needed to take head and flow measurements. So it consisted of measuring a volume and finding out how long it takes that volume to move a certain distance and then walking a portion of the river with a plastic tube and pressure gauge in order to calculate the change in elevation. In most parts of the river it was around shin height so the rubber boots worked well, but there were spots that were deeper and we got wet up to our upper thighs. Part of the experience was to train the interns (Nicaraguan, North American and French) how to do the measurements. We also found a nice waterfall and pool for swimming, so we made sure to take advantage.

We have also spent a lot of time with our dear friends Ricardo and Santo. Santo taught me to make Yoltamal (new corn tamales). More or less you grind up the new corn and mix it with water to make a dough, then you put a certain amount in a banana leaf, fold it up and put it in boiling water. Once the tamales are done you eat it with sour cream and cuajada (salty cheese)...it was pretty good, but three was too much for me.
Also, we enjoy walking around their land and seeing all they have planted (beans, corn, watermelon, tomatoes, cucumber, onions, granadia (like passion fruit), banana and papaya trees, as well as many other things). They also always give us vegetables or fruit to take with us. The last time we were there they sent us home with a huge watermelon...it was delicious.

The Nicaragua MCC team has started the send off of many workers to be ending their terms this year. The first send off (going away party) was for the Forry family. Seth and I spent quite a bit of time with Steve, Colleen and their kids (Zach, Nathaniel and Sebastian) over our time together. They became good friends and we are excited for the adventure they are now undertaking. They are following God's leading and will be returning to live in Northern Nicaragua. They are not sure what that will look like, but they trust our Almighty God to provide for them. The Forry's are currently in the States spending time with family and friends.

I had the opportunity to do a nutrition workshop with 16 teenagers in a community called Potreritos. AsoFenix has an intern, Fiona, working there and she has been doing all sorts of workshops with the kids on environment and water protection and saw the need to educate more on nutrition. Being a nurse and having done workshops on nutrition I offered to help her with the workshop. The students where receptive to the information and it felt good to be able to share my health related knowledge.