tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29238477719110874322024-02-19T17:15:41.846-05:00Amazon Pueblo BlogA blog about our efforts to help indigenous youth of the Colombian Amazon to develop sustainable business.Benjamin Angulohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07271021177857576894noreply@blogger.comBlogger221125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923847771911087432.post-92175164874145883292024-02-19T17:15:00.000-05:002024-02-19T17:15:09.200-05:00Our email to the president of Colombia (and the governor, mayor, secretary of education, etc...)!<p>For people who may not have seen it, we have started a social media campaign to call attention to the deplorable state of the school in La Libertad. As part of the campaign, we emailed various government members in the Amazon and Bogota. Here is what we said:</p><p>Subject: Greetings from the community school of La Libertad, Amazonas, Colombia. PLEASE HELP US!</p><p><b>The community school of La Libertad, Amazonas,
Colombia. It is more important that we improve the school rather than assign blame.</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3QD_3cIfB69OQ7EGSckPIAsMtbtS7LNWgBlCi1Dinoje5MZtY80-MQfekEoXsib0mAPOV-rB0LDQgTsj0Z3GyECZjeCg1tdxthb7Fao1nxMcEd2OTDe4SKoxuWQfol5gJ9otSUTmy0E1Cy3z2n6eH2UZvtFYaLte4Y78D9D_TMrVHVfqD-g0o0Lr4_oS/s864/20%20roof%20destruction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="637" data-original-width="864" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3QD_3cIfB69OQ7EGSckPIAsMtbtS7LNWgBlCi1Dinoje5MZtY80-MQfekEoXsib0mAPOV-rB0LDQgTsj0Z3GyECZjeCg1tdxthb7Fao1nxMcEd2OTDe4SKoxuWQfol5gJ9otSUTmy0E1Cy3z2n6eH2UZvtFYaLte4Y78D9D_TMrVHVfqD-g0o0Lr4_oS/w400-h295/20%20roof%20destruction.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first damage to the roof occurred on September 29, 2022. It has not been repaired.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Greetings Mr. Petro,</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My name is Benjamin Angulo.
I am a volunteer with the USA-based organization Amazon Pueblo. Our mission is to help the students of La
Libertad, Amazonas, Colombia, to improve their educational opportunities. We have been working with the community since
2012.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Our Help</b></p><p class="MsoNormal">This year, we expect to provide at least 50 small
scholarships to the students of La Libertad and associated families. We are also slowly building a health care center in the community to assist the currently available health services of Leticia
and the department in meeting the health needs of the students and their
families.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Problems with the School</b></p><p class="MsoNormal">First, as a result of a lack of maintenance and storm
damage, the roofs, ceilings, and wooden structures of the school in La Libertad
are in deplorable conditions. The main
parts of the damage started from a storm that occurred on September 29<sup>th</sup>,
2022. The damage has continued with
subsequent wind storms. This, combined
with wood rot, has resulted in structures that are unsafe to use. This safety concern extends to the teacher
housing. The walls, floors, and roof of
the teacher housing are unsafe.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Provisional Solution</b></p><p class="MsoNormal">Second, the organization with which I volunteer is happy to
loan the use of the health center as a provisional classroom. While the structure is not finished, it does
have an excellent roof, walls, and a door that may be secured. At this time, the construction of the health
center is suspended. We expect the
construction to resume in September 2024.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>A Plan to Go Forward</b></p><p class="MsoNormal">Third, we (our organization, the students, parents,
community members, and teachers) request that repairs be made as quickly as
possible. La Libertad is one of the most
vulnerable communities in the Amazon. We
see education as one of the surest ways to improve the community and to help
create competent people, workers, and community members. A school in good repair sends a strong
message that the students, teachers, and community are valued. This helps to promote positive self-esteem
and hope for the future.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please contact me so we may find solutions to the problems
of the school in La Libertad. All the
time we wait, the higher the probability that our students leave school to work
in illicit activities in Peru.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you for your time,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Ben Angulo</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">More photos of the school:</p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6SGO1vzp6aEdt5wlVRegou0VLmjNBiRMWh6nXXsFi35D60Gf6VzOKyF3_JEeQDH10xfsBcAFNICAdvbgtzZMuXopmHdtBL8cJsRpk-vh9yWDrDLP16V3AZJ28dkjtNyCGPh7Mha-0-5-wBNFmTTSNwikR_9zVSqaJk_r0cvpq-2B_BJILxM6NW7zGe3G/s494/10%20La%20Libertad%20colegio.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="494" data-original-width="468" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6SGO1vzp6aEdt5wlVRegou0VLmjNBiRMWh6nXXsFi35D60Gf6VzOKyF3_JEeQDH10xfsBcAFNICAdvbgtzZMuXopmHdtBL8cJsRpk-vh9yWDrDLP16V3AZJ28dkjtNyCGPh7Mha-0-5-wBNFmTTSNwikR_9zVSqaJk_r0cvpq-2B_BJILxM6NW7zGe3G/w379-h400/10%20La%20Libertad%20colegio.jpg" width="379" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7A-Jb8oNr7vWU25RnrKlyBbBgTONCjgBMPvcnBD1r3z2GrCcGbsTcRWfjwvJUrEym83UGUdwWXsiE0eFRF6BpL5cgMtZBmp4tNEePb99yHmxyE6zZxbIO3h2RM-b_dZZXobJnENx65X7R1uGOR6gFPYwKNwD_MKzAD83lVpFbKRXceHSIm1McbSID76pP/s864/30%20teacher%20housing%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="864" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7A-Jb8oNr7vWU25RnrKlyBbBgTONCjgBMPvcnBD1r3z2GrCcGbsTcRWfjwvJUrEym83UGUdwWXsiE0eFRF6BpL5cgMtZBmp4tNEePb99yHmxyE6zZxbIO3h2RM-b_dZZXobJnENx65X7R1uGOR6gFPYwKNwD_MKzAD83lVpFbKRXceHSIm1McbSID76pP/w400-h400/30%20teacher%20housing%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Qm85Boofsx-Dv7nRR4BALKxQcJMXay3FMyCP11UsvjU_Kw1gQeZET-5_cHOlHl1h_E7XUWfjgNV7KTlBlWwviZvDE13g_uxCU2_UDxyOcjEu0izYNQ5ZCeOhFAC5SbnyPnUsoHHvNhZMZiR9ismYNcYeChAIPozNviNULNXXUonOA2T8-AMdJ5YpYDFb/s864/40%20interior%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpIyCbrpPTKWKyD53PqiyktM1Za8gKW1BEHrwsDSU4idyzCNhv0Z2-FFXhk0_w8dL5ez-hROGuiYxgV_EO8yVBauQB0zWwY2_bAhnI4yZxNeyrY-zYJQqWvI9Cj4Nj4aejf-pMmPQroZzxuLmzJQ9aKQJ0JgGiyekHOhr9c4wxtFpBxls7q1HRMCw-HCce/s864/60%20back%20walkway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="581" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpIyCbrpPTKWKyD53PqiyktM1Za8gKW1BEHrwsDSU4idyzCNhv0Z2-FFXhk0_w8dL5ez-hROGuiYxgV_EO8yVBauQB0zWwY2_bAhnI4yZxNeyrY-zYJQqWvI9Cj4Nj4aejf-pMmPQroZzxuLmzJQ9aKQJ0JgGiyekHOhr9c4wxtFpBxls7q1HRMCw-HCce/w269-h400/60%20back%20walkway.jpg" width="269" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk_tm8DE-hwGsNRHZlV_JriYR_T-PobFho5qsKIdONShsqhUCGeOj4MLsNqVYzgiGJ6oi4U3X1_qtL3wZV66kKDs9_Kdu0dBPsugjKRR8Dm9C6y6oyOTQ6anIzmtLc9rvW2pDIDk70HfuDVJtAXbhDLDQzVni7_hSog1iCjBfMfrvuNrEkAfCg-73EBEQ2/s864/70%20tanks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="752" data-original-width="864" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk_tm8DE-hwGsNRHZlV_JriYR_T-PobFho5qsKIdONShsqhUCGeOj4MLsNqVYzgiGJ6oi4U3X1_qtL3wZV66kKDs9_Kdu0dBPsugjKRR8Dm9C6y6oyOTQ6anIzmtLc9rvW2pDIDk70HfuDVJtAXbhDLDQzVni7_hSog1iCjBfMfrvuNrEkAfCg-73EBEQ2/w400-h349/70%20tanks.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_WXtTl1qSYBHjHY8doowgVMhw_BR27yqCHKcJ0v7K6WaR6WuuAyBs2m5cxSHT1rp6T47jPaMlQI2a7OM0wPObS1uDVxz7h2Ih2B7FQf84pbSRKqPMyw0XlplxSH4VFK7PWX03zud-HWWDBryQuXz29UwxhO6_TYE1VzF7ejAA0mgFlgJv-ZIduP557E1w/s864/80%20bano%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="617" data-original-width="864" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_WXtTl1qSYBHjHY8doowgVMhw_BR27yqCHKcJ0v7K6WaR6WuuAyBs2m5cxSHT1rp6T47jPaMlQI2a7OM0wPObS1uDVxz7h2Ih2B7FQf84pbSRKqPMyw0XlplxSH4VFK7PWX03zud-HWWDBryQuXz29UwxhO6_TYE1VzF7ejAA0mgFlgJv-ZIduP557E1w/w400-h286/80%20bano%201.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Benjamin Angulohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07271021177857576894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923847771911087432.post-57501928383795676842024-02-19T11:25:00.001-05:002024-02-19T11:25:54.928-05:00Adventure returns to the village: Visit us in the jungle!<p><b>Tourism is returning to the village of La Libertad!</b></p><p>Part of what helps us to do this is our internet connection. That allows us to help connect, plan, and support. We connected our guide in the village with our guest, translated, and helped to coordinate his visit.</p><p>Tourism in La Libertad has been very slow since the pandemic.</p><p>We thank Stefan, from Germany, for visiting us in the Amazon. Please enjoy these pictures of his trip.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOl0bi1O0OLBhZ-I_q7m5gm6C-JRsULqecUzhNSasL2SsY5wV8OEcNaI_0qiXJPzkFV7t658Y2Wdgz-SLFK1Y3vc_dB2v5NVb_zWMfVis8L8l863lqwSjQhPDmeRS649_0FpfaD1gMts5GwX89SdUPcvuZmHT7DX8x4ZQNxQe-c1D1aAQx8fahNYZuB1e/s1460/90%20Ceiba%20tree%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1460" data-original-width="714" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOl0bi1O0OLBhZ-I_q7m5gm6C-JRsULqecUzhNSasL2SsY5wV8OEcNaI_0qiXJPzkFV7t658Y2Wdgz-SLFK1Y3vc_dB2v5NVb_zWMfVis8L8l863lqwSjQhPDmeRS649_0FpfaD1gMts5GwX89SdUPcvuZmHT7DX8x4ZQNxQe-c1D1aAQx8fahNYZuB1e/w195-h400/90%20Ceiba%20tree%202.jpg" width="195" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">At the base of a giant ceiba tree.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9B2HD-QrOEDsGWcOX7T5sBH5pnb4gvQGpcuhCq2SznKzjuLunlSoMEBHCH4V-2sDdTUbiQfbcYPe7Qmd-tVIzfYvdx-i2EeTLtvE0w-lSTWekMZYs01jC6ROi28kIWrteDi3uTcqY5pHBMxLyBlwd3QWZXd_sgKefkZLB0pN4RS3iGrqQR-_Gn3o8k5bn/s1000/10%20arriving.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9B2HD-QrOEDsGWcOX7T5sBH5pnb4gvQGpcuhCq2SznKzjuLunlSoMEBHCH4V-2sDdTUbiQfbcYPe7Qmd-tVIzfYvdx-i2EeTLtvE0w-lSTWekMZYs01jC6ROi28kIWrteDi3uTcqY5pHBMxLyBlwd3QWZXd_sgKefkZLB0pN4RS3iGrqQR-_Gn3o8k5bn/w400-h225/10%20arriving.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Arriving at the shore of the village. La Libertad is slightly more than a one-hour speed boat ride from the city of Leticia.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDhzmCvVD_OF3Q_jljRfI85IbuG15UzzhVrFulTSZ6y9bZuU2PCwKv6vQwMd3zX0OBwnP8JE9PC-82VZO-ECxvs8us57EjSqxBFBND3I1kuF6Y2FfiSDsaOBzpuJI8O10DGBfJGS9kLr2KIdxoSpWcrtbzNUYIbqYPKM7eouIAi6IlFE3NxP8e0a1XuJv/s1000/20%20view%20from%20river.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDhzmCvVD_OF3Q_jljRfI85IbuG15UzzhVrFulTSZ6y9bZuU2PCwKv6vQwMd3zX0OBwnP8JE9PC-82VZO-ECxvs8us57EjSqxBFBND3I1kuF6Y2FfiSDsaOBzpuJI8O10DGBfJGS9kLr2KIdxoSpWcrtbzNUYIbqYPKM7eouIAi6IlFE3NxP8e0a1XuJv/w400-h225/20%20view%20from%20river.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The view of the Amazon River from the village's port.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzkmxSsAlgdHp3Xr4ikfRuthFVRzk60L2BA12zA9G_-D5wms4Q5rrFrIc23G5cwoZAs0hXTD7C_eCT8Vll1hPhfMVuxSYmbGhtbCUYrIdScwm0wc_TZYURoC3WNZ_thnSeB2Rf-rA23HKd8VJV3actJv04AZJVg0NN7Zh2C5TsSX-ZJzrl_j2vE-HVK-Y/s707/30%20front%20of%20guest%20house.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="707" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzkmxSsAlgdHp3Xr4ikfRuthFVRzk60L2BA12zA9G_-D5wms4Q5rrFrIc23G5cwoZAs0hXTD7C_eCT8Vll1hPhfMVuxSYmbGhtbCUYrIdScwm0wc_TZYURoC3WNZ_thnSeB2Rf-rA23HKd8VJV3actJv04AZJVg0NN7Zh2C5TsSX-ZJzrl_j2vE-HVK-Y/w400-h268/30%20front%20of%20guest%20house.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A photo of the new walkway in front of the volunteer and guesthouse.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBzp8TfFTOdcG52ig5Z2-SagUQoNKsUgaVo9K7O4ayywrENEx1_vnNLBYJ1dc1fESU04RikHDh8U84D3a9B19wS6IoBefI_LrzmwnvDfqfgXJvQMxZUqcP5Gxtz3-a3I-nzBl7c-812iZUv757kWrA4AbL_VhhgudGK6ydXgZeQPOMGsrrQYTOYhQiBjE5/s1599/40%20guest%20house%20door.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1599" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBzp8TfFTOdcG52ig5Z2-SagUQoNKsUgaVo9K7O4ayywrENEx1_vnNLBYJ1dc1fESU04RikHDh8U84D3a9B19wS6IoBefI_LrzmwnvDfqfgXJvQMxZUqcP5Gxtz3-a3I-nzBl7c-812iZUv757kWrA4AbL_VhhgudGK6ydXgZeQPOMGsrrQYTOYhQiBjE5/w400-h225/40%20guest%20house%20door.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Gustavo in the doorway of the guesthouse.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQuWoWz4EjVJHZIEGREtE7cU9Xji5punnGM7lv_8Kd9PruduCax67cgxNLTJD1q98PXaKawzMj21SGBEcJlC2QhqbL12_LOX9s66MnFo3zuh0QiRWel6OBUuO9X4U_pGVXz_GGSell4TfQSznzqP0JSICwsfk-iQsImykJZiKlwtvfeuWRA6ZrL7LAPpLz/s1599/50%20inside%20guest%20house%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1599" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQuWoWz4EjVJHZIEGREtE7cU9Xji5punnGM7lv_8Kd9PruduCax67cgxNLTJD1q98PXaKawzMj21SGBEcJlC2QhqbL12_LOX9s66MnFo3zuh0QiRWel6OBUuO9X4U_pGVXz_GGSell4TfQSznzqP0JSICwsfk-iQsImykJZiKlwtvfeuWRA6ZrL7LAPpLz/w400-h225/50%20inside%20guest%20house%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The inside of the guesthouse. It is clean, comfortable, and mostly bug-free!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifdKBGyjFZMW-HJB1-QEmd3_rC6G6pmw_MUsDAJrNp96BgTuQC861a1YLVGQFlOcz458qYKiDcK4lF4SaX5-ATri-0BU3YJuBqtvFHStW7E4R4-2IKgycBsKxUDH03Q-mGTzLsciREK3Vs3WCbNz4Jxbe9hWcmBz53yXgZh7NLh2t0TlRoJuyG-Go5ILZz/s1280/60%20inside%20guest%20house%201.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifdKBGyjFZMW-HJB1-QEmd3_rC6G6pmw_MUsDAJrNp96BgTuQC861a1YLVGQFlOcz458qYKiDcK4lF4SaX5-ATri-0BU3YJuBqtvFHStW7E4R4-2IKgycBsKxUDH03Q-mGTzLsciREK3Vs3WCbNz4Jxbe9hWcmBz53yXgZh7NLh2t0TlRoJuyG-Go5ILZz/w400-h225/60%20inside%20guest%20house%201.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The mini-stairs were design to make it easy to access the upper bunks.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4fno-8trdL2S2g13C6sXs1_GFFfpeDlsdFjNwDdi90Dc3Nl-89DuHoWg3Lbw99JYNOt-2Fx5ECSsQkT3mXOg83Fvxi_zWhaCx3KGj5Iht14fao_jcly0lHOofbTlgD105cOLXyZOHrMc1KMRQevCXXGPXTGNM8dHAKxkUi7tHeDoZYqr2maPK7wd_djJ_/s1000/70%20jungle%20hike%201.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4fno-8trdL2S2g13C6sXs1_GFFfpeDlsdFjNwDdi90Dc3Nl-89DuHoWg3Lbw99JYNOt-2Fx5ECSsQkT3mXOg83Fvxi_zWhaCx3KGj5Iht14fao_jcly0lHOofbTlgD105cOLXyZOHrMc1KMRQevCXXGPXTGNM8dHAKxkUi7tHeDoZYqr2maPK7wd_djJ_/w400-h225/70%20jungle%20hike%201.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The start of a mini "caminta" or hike.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMaVCu2epLUIv3fgpdafRXtRr3b9yLmmnvpPuQtyOpsOHZV8GajbnmMMhXR1mqmjC0L34NQIiPmB-NQOSoIjGPWddgSAAREikgJDF5HGI1yQwY9MXTPtRVcOqayfqcfkda8FgQ7nJOiR-Fq56ei-8d1KbUCO7kqMtgugpfie7dPL3LergtfZXKigUyMmSL/s1000/80%20jungle%20hike%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="563" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMaVCu2epLUIv3fgpdafRXtRr3b9yLmmnvpPuQtyOpsOHZV8GajbnmMMhXR1mqmjC0L34NQIiPmB-NQOSoIjGPWddgSAAREikgJDF5HGI1yQwY9MXTPtRVcOqayfqcfkda8FgQ7nJOiR-Fq56ei-8d1KbUCO7kqMtgugpfie7dPL3LergtfZXKigUyMmSL/w225-h400/80%20jungle%20hike%202.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A plantain tree.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGbe0n31pHzjwoysjcEGRvh82-zyn1oBX53R33osHjxp0M3u2d81q0a7kbsC2vtuZjMzkxO589wEoXv7oP8sq3A9PadX22EqDlLaS6Oso8JqXru3Pd3rbUO60xPOPacK4-8MlqUshl1H5KXgZ0-0JYCeT6db4m-qF2DcE6FasX1rD-YBMAkXNDBVI13_6x/s1600/100%20fire%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGbe0n31pHzjwoysjcEGRvh82-zyn1oBX53R33osHjxp0M3u2d81q0a7kbsC2vtuZjMzkxO589wEoXv7oP8sq3A9PadX22EqDlLaS6Oso8JqXru3Pd3rbUO60xPOPacK4-8MlqUshl1H5KXgZ0-0JYCeT6db4m-qF2DcE6FasX1rD-YBMAkXNDBVI13_6x/w180-h400/100%20fire%202.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Cooking plantain and fish on an open fire.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP5LUYvVtpcQouh9cCViyOxs4fjzk-YGrBq26TP8VyKURFczNs9YkKQ4eumQZN_7-TyLTPHILk0s4FP6LOpggWA9lflb4rLkmtxhGCix7KROCB04RjPkQ-8gE7joN54t-FSP8lUnsRH_tYwq8MCc7A-SBqG1utG91BOHq7luxnyq8SKTuhs6YUERr0ghll/s1600/110%20fire%203.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP5LUYvVtpcQouh9cCViyOxs4fjzk-YGrBq26TP8VyKURFczNs9YkKQ4eumQZN_7-TyLTPHILk0s4FP6LOpggWA9lflb4rLkmtxhGCix7KROCB04RjPkQ-8gE7joN54t-FSP8lUnsRH_tYwq8MCc7A-SBqG1utG91BOHq7luxnyq8SKTuhs6YUERr0ghll/w180-h400/110%20fire%203.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Accompanied by delicious jungle fruit.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ms0qP2r4anEaIe7nN0MGLAffpAcHuy0Z2aAoPulz0A5gpnSk-R1NE6aBbD-5vfYP5iSM_fdto1DmE-gVqeQPU-B9hClNwjJEwr0aoYv8MYyzLvEyELLd44UgmwVtAMozSzy3Pod8mKnos8qVbWwX_4K6ZT5itOI1x_ky2tcUIx2b-X0MMJTOibP9Zx6i/s1600/120%20plantain.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ms0qP2r4anEaIe7nN0MGLAffpAcHuy0Z2aAoPulz0A5gpnSk-R1NE6aBbD-5vfYP5iSM_fdto1DmE-gVqeQPU-B9hClNwjJEwr0aoYv8MYyzLvEyELLd44UgmwVtAMozSzy3Pod8mKnos8qVbWwX_4K6ZT5itOI1x_ky2tcUIx2b-X0MMJTOibP9Zx6i/w180-h400/120%20plantain.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Mil gracias, Stefan!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Please stand by, more beautiful pictures of Stefan's trip are to follow in a future post!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">To learn more about how to visit the village, please check out our website, <a href="https://amazonpueblo.org/visit-us-in-the-amazon/" target="_blank">https://amazonpueblo.org/visit-us-in-the-amazon/ </a></span></b></p><p><br /></p>Benjamin Angulohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07271021177857576894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923847771911087432.post-69151993052846663132024-01-15T19:09:00.002-05:002024-01-16T16:53:51.023-05:00Sanitary Pads for the Young Women of La Libertad<p>Thank you to HIS Handiwork Guild, the Long Beach-based group that makes and donates washable reusable sanitary pads. Muchas gracias, Nancy and Irene!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtnnJs5WJUc6lcnM7qLt1gzk4HEfqKD99mcWLkjgTGOufApjGWcsoSurUW_YXlpnsTIGCNYA2Rf6HffqOJHLpyO14QtiiKldlLN5kuXixDLcX_2CDzoadDWoUuitckraQ4-XlPUQPJxofWKMCFr3rOJ5CAjCTAE5J6Q24ogQ73cediYXa79XSr3LcXSM5/s864/pads.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="864" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtnnJs5WJUc6lcnM7qLt1gzk4HEfqKD99mcWLkjgTGOufApjGWcsoSurUW_YXlpnsTIGCNYA2Rf6HffqOJHLpyO14QtiiKldlLN5kuXixDLcX_2CDzoadDWoUuitckraQ4-XlPUQPJxofWKMCFr3rOJ5CAjCTAE5J6Q24ogQ73cediYXa79XSr3LcXSM5/w400-h310/pads.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">HIS Handiwork Guild donated 100 pads to the young women of La Libertad.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>At first, we didn't know if the women would like and use them. It turns out that the villagers loved the pads and the fabric patterns! We plan to take 200 more the next time we visit the village in August. Would you like to help us? Take a trip to the Amazon and bring some with you! Please contact us for more information at <a href="mailto:info@amazonpueblo.org">info@amazonpueblo.org</a>.</p><p>From Nancy, one of the coordinators of the group:</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><blockquote>"HIS Handiwork Guild gathered yesterday to continue making Washable Reusable Sanitary Pads. We meet approximately once a month for two days, so we will be sewing today as well. In 3 years we have made 23,000 Pads that have gone to 19 countries around the world! It truly is a blessing for all involved. We have more fun than we should be allowed to have and the girls receiving the Pads are blessed beyond measure! The need for these is dire! The Pads allow girls to stay in school and just be able to leave their homes."</blockquote><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpc7NVakLpGufaVJanuSymt7eypthnIUBdrpXktiQm1xvvi45f-aEt4k7HugxDX72XXBJFE1wqnsue2tPUb3etUlytSprh22bzakquwQXuTf2oWgQDX4Wl5XiBYTRxZxjHBXksb20A1CFIvvBz3j9l5nuTD5qpUq9oN_oVPAeXgO54WoE_jbcQaxi1zQB/s960/making%20the%20pads%201.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpc7NVakLpGufaVJanuSymt7eypthnIUBdrpXktiQm1xvvi45f-aEt4k7HugxDX72XXBJFE1wqnsue2tPUb3etUlytSprh22bzakquwQXuTf2oWgQDX4Wl5XiBYTRxZxjHBXksb20A1CFIvvBz3j9l5nuTD5qpUq9oN_oVPAeXgO54WoE_jbcQaxi1zQB/w400-h300/making%20the%20pads%201.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The group works in Long Beach, California.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQAw9EQOpTklpwfg5Aygu73zGys017mct4cr4_yG_QOoNQJkSQ3rhjiTIwpltfBIQ1_1nSMCFwGpXXiVBUbj4ETL2ixz36fsxAYmWhzr07RItL5D4mLSaYz1XGEqZXKA2KYicsPTh9xbGV-bAweHGV-OfqAF0o8u1HYO8fhM58izTjiR6L7vviTcnGBdK2/s864/clothes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="631" data-original-width="864" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQAw9EQOpTklpwfg5Aygu73zGys017mct4cr4_yG_QOoNQJkSQ3rhjiTIwpltfBIQ1_1nSMCFwGpXXiVBUbj4ETL2ixz36fsxAYmWhzr07RItL5D4mLSaYz1XGEqZXKA2KYicsPTh9xbGV-bAweHGV-OfqAF0o8u1HYO8fhM58izTjiR6L7vviTcnGBdK2/w400-h293/clothes.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In addition to pads, we have had donations of baby clothes for the mothers and babies of the village. Thank you, Crystal and family!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p> </p><p></p>Benjamin Angulohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07271021177857576894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923847771911087432.post-59158919997819232442024-01-07T19:17:00.000-05:002024-01-07T19:17:29.998-05:00Amazon Pueblo: How we procedurally became, and continue to be, a nonprofit organization.<p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">A step-by-step accounting of what we have done!</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">After helping a friend who is planning to start a nonprofit, we thought it might be interesting or helpful to others to know how we did it and what we continue to do to keep our nonprofit organization up and running. Here is our story.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpvmobqYjF1Abw4LH8zVsn9QcNQkzyqlIBjjpQccxDwrZKV36hnK_col-q76L9MCXg_rb9u6frVnN9UpwO1Qsfy4EzE7Wtu2vkJBcJV40uWmtpBhyphenhyphen4W03Wit2jXNLtTVimne9qJwAHspn6Rf_RpefKvC_lnF6J5f6nuC2WZQ3L_hQWwf-MiU-GMzTHBrPh/s864/stairs%20200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="635" data-original-width="864" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpvmobqYjF1Abw4LH8zVsn9QcNQkzyqlIBjjpQccxDwrZKV36hnK_col-q76L9MCXg_rb9u6frVnN9UpwO1Qsfy4EzE7Wtu2vkJBcJV40uWmtpBhyphenhyphen4W03Wit2jXNLtTVimne9qJwAHspn6Rf_RpefKvC_lnF6J5f6nuC2WZQ3L_hQWwf-MiU-GMzTHBrPh/w400-h294/stairs%20200.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It seems like a lot. We guess it is! We have been doing it little by little since 2012.</span></span></p><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>S</u><u style="font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit;">teps we took to becoming a nonprofit</u></span></b></div><div class="" id="x_geom_inter_1704595703982_75_11" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br aria-hidden="true" /></span></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1) Initial plans</span></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br aria-hidden="true" /></span></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We formed a board of directors. We learned how to meet and record the meetings, keep the records, and appointed a registered agent to be responsible for the filings.</span></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br aria-hidden="true" /></span></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Next, we registered as a nonprofit business with the Maine Secretary of State by filing articles of incorporation and paying $40. The registration must be renewed yearly, also at a $40 cost. Below is a link to our articles of incorporation.<br aria-hidden="true" /></span></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CrID9RobI2LQ8fMzwHDtZ-N8Zkw4nj7S/view?usp=drive_link" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Articles of Incorporation Amazon Pueblo</span></a></span></div><div style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br aria-hidden="true" /></span></span></div><div style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ogtwBXFlPRPe_mQNgHdueAsOjKSdkh_hO6_T42IyCmZpRaNx8QuYb9L7yBcv2FUK11ys36SvxTsLhLv4C0V2Sr6IN_oue0IDxwBp9BryzyizwW3l1Ye3-MVL2_uKAzEpsqHXCCltkZHt-2_6r-oPwlwp_HO6qHIuV2pfDTtn-v1kZ9J5cz7ZPI1FaRmu/s176/sos%20logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="176" data-original-width="176" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ogtwBXFlPRPe_mQNgHdueAsOjKSdkh_hO6_T42IyCmZpRaNx8QuYb9L7yBcv2FUK11ys36SvxTsLhLv4C0V2Sr6IN_oue0IDxwBp9BryzyizwW3l1Ye3-MVL2_uKAzEpsqHXCCltkZHt-2_6r-oPwlwp_HO6qHIuV2pfDTtn-v1kZ9J5cz7ZPI1FaRmu/w200-h200/sos%20logo.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div></div><div style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2) We wrote and submitted our bylaws at this time. The bylaws formalize how our organization is governed.</span></span></div><div style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1S8Xh9Jzb34ekv-OwOAKOdlw5MBiCq3RE/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=104990753043948144648&rtpof=true&sd=true" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Amazon Pueblo Bylaws 2023</span></a></span></div><div style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br aria-hidden="true" /></span></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted5" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">3) We incorporated Amazon Pueblo in 2012. In 2015, we applied for and became a 501c3, federally recognized nonprofit. A simplified application and yearly reporting are required because we have an income of less than $50,000 yearly. We also had to apply for a tax ID number as part of the application process. Here is the link to their site: <a class="x_OWAAutoLink" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0" href="https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/application-for-recognition-of-exemption" id="LPNoLPOWALinkPreview" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/application-for-recognition-of-exemption</a></span></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br aria-hidden="true" /></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">4) After we had our 501c3 status, we had to register in each state where we fundraise. Maine's fundraising requirements are met with our yearly registration. California's requirements are complicated, including $50 in application fees and three forms to be filled out each year. Below are examples of California's documentation from last year and a copy of our IRS 990N form.</span></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1F4xWURakotzmXwupYl1eXm-8Ewu31QKW/view?usp=drive_link" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2022 IRS 990N e-Postcard View</span></a></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bcZH44z-3e1ItNuVGk1b9whKpfcep_r-/view?usp=drive_link" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2023 Business Entity Filing Acknowledgment</span></a></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jWl-zl48F9Ro6TUA86fjyB2sSNRRSCJh/view?usp=drive_link" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2023 ct-tr1-form</span></a></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL2vhDRS9erjVATeV4LDWWOiNeUc2ha4QOYBs2-8TBNMXgze6-QAkhaAcmAz9HnRJiJ7gEmWVEKcDhxSZ8mXObP_k1viGPnu57JN7hp1oX7uQt8h8fcl1onid1BbgPXgHineBEyMnoDMlKE1swpC9mlG9fp5oXLc3SIS6-meDjStH_HG6AgqIkL-I3IiJf/s1024/irs-form-990-a-guide-for-nonprofits-1024x536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="1024" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL2vhDRS9erjVATeV4LDWWOiNeUc2ha4QOYBs2-8TBNMXgze6-QAkhaAcmAz9HnRJiJ7gEmWVEKcDhxSZ8mXObP_k1viGPnu57JN7hp1oX7uQt8h8fcl1onid1BbgPXgHineBEyMnoDMlKE1swpC9mlG9fp5oXLc3SIS6-meDjStH_HG6AgqIkL-I3IiJf/s320/irs-form-990-a-guide-for-nonprofits-1024x536.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></span></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><u><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></u></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><u><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mission, Vision, Values</span></b></u></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br aria-hidden="true" /></span></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted6" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As we formed the nonprofit and developed our program, our principles were formed and have been evolving. Ours may be found here: <a class="x_OWAAutoLink" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1" href="https://amazonpueblo.org/mission-vision/" id="LPNoLPOWALinkPreview_1" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">https://amazonpueblo.org/mission-vision/</a> .</span></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Below are the guides we used to help develop these.</span></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted6" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br aria-hidden="true" /></span></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted6" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wfiV0lL1Gm0Or3ukra7SxIDjTSs0TGeE/edit?usp=drive_link&rtpof=true&sd=true" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mission writing guide</span></a></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted6" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wv1ycoR21wodOxFIio6aPhzMd3QnxJCe/edit?usp=drive_link&rtpof=true&sd=true" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Vision Statement writing guide</span></a></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted6" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted6" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><u><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></u></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted6" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><u><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Policies</span></b></u></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted6" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br aria-hidden="true" /></span></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted6" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We were required to have certain policies in order to apply for specific grants or to meet other requirements. These are found below, numbered one through five.</span></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted6" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted6" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sduxng3vP_h-e1E1mQiRDTNC6ARHprrL/edit?usp=drive_link&rtpof=true&sd=true" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">01 Amazon Pueblo Anti-corruption policy</span></a></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted6" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1We0jZppgsKSgvz9pKHwvUO7-1sQ8WndA/edit?usp=drive_link&rtpof=true&sd=true" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">02 Amazon Pueblo Conflict of Interest Policy</span></a></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted6" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tzeIgIlKZGgu1jiq0jEkAm0AMbznnSv8/edit?usp=drive_link&rtpof=true&sd=true" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">03 Amazon Pueblo Nondiscrimination Policy</span></a></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted6" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/16SwFZ8N9y0Xp1l4nzNk_lN2tUM5gL_z3/edit?usp=drive_link&rtpof=true&sd=true" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">04 Distribution of Assets upon Dissolution</span></a></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted6" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/16mRsMpJPO6cFX4LIGJ1WfECDJFUQZhSK/edit?usp=drive_link&rtpof=true&sd=true" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">05 Website Privacy</span></a></span></div><div style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br aria-hidden="true" /></span></div></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Z-5GPEg9TDOqP94gDKFHluEh-JrjPBOUPWX2Bfcd5quSwToigc_mkJmli9KqSElm6AShAzmg5CYnL8JYDy75WegHO8q1v_F4gCVgkftvtU821ODbhlMhRyPHArqzCesQXWtEnrrEau0WUTSjXibbPrOnOc3BOoC1OcaALrch1aWrHbITZ3Eolv5M3g4Z/s1068/intl_anticorruption_feature_2022_v2-1-1068x601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="1068" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Z-5GPEg9TDOqP94gDKFHluEh-JrjPBOUPWX2Bfcd5quSwToigc_mkJmli9KqSElm6AShAzmg5CYnL8JYDy75WegHO8q1v_F4gCVgkftvtU821ODbhlMhRyPHArqzCesQXWtEnrrEau0WUTSjXibbPrOnOc3BOoC1OcaALrch1aWrHbITZ3Eolv5M3g4Z/w320-h181/intl_anticorruption_feature_2022_v2-1-1068x601.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><u><br aria-hidden="true" /></u></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our Internet and social media presence</span></u></b></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This really helps us to get people involved by volunteering time and work, donations, and to help spread information about our work.</span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Domain service:</span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We used Google Domains ($20/year) to register our domain. A domain allows us to have our personalized website address, blog address, and email address (like info@amazonpueblo.org). However, Google Domains transferred their domain business to Squarespace in 2023. We haven't renewed our domain yet, but when we do in late 2024, it will be with Squarespace. <a href="https://domains.squarespace.com " target="_blank">https://domains.squarespace.com </a></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8i_ZR6OqrlsslsC-4guKZPe09K-_vKyWVvUyLiuz8dYm-D5D0mYP-zPsKaNsvKQd39gIeIf_R0psF19IZKwy2rHRcIhAvIhtkADXsPW-Yy1997ssqqwkwJCMY-3JYKG2RvAEtjjwqiVys7moxTrz7Xhyp_V_LlhffLRRC4m3oxuNTIOiuHWwnHPzfkGdz/s480/hqdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8i_ZR6OqrlsslsC-4guKZPe09K-_vKyWVvUyLiuz8dYm-D5D0mYP-zPsKaNsvKQd39gIeIf_R0psF19IZKwy2rHRcIhAvIhtkADXsPW-Yy1997ssqqwkwJCMY-3JYKG2RvAEtjjwqiVys7moxTrz7Xhyp_V_LlhffLRRC4m3oxuNTIOiuHWwnHPzfkGdz/w200-h150/hqdefault.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Website:</span></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof x_ContentPasted0" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="x_OWAAutoLink" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="4" href="https://amazonpueblo.org/" id="LPNoLPOWALinkPreview" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">https://amazonpueblo.org/</a><br aria-hidden="true" /></span></div><div style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br aria-hidden="true" /></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="x_elementToProof" id="x_geom_inter_1704595703983_50_15" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We use GoDaddy for hosting. They have a managed WordPress service. They take care of many background programs and security updates we need. It costs $130/year. It includes a secure website with encryptions, which is absolutely necessary to look legitimate and protect data.</span></div><div id="x_geom_inter_1704595703983_96_16" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br aria-hidden="true" /></span></div><div class="x_ContentPasted1 x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We use Elementor to build and maintain the site. For us, the plan costs $30/year. It makes it much easier to use WordPress; at times, it's fun! <a class="x_OWAAutoLink" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="5" href="https://elementor.com/" id="LPNoLPOWALinkPreview_1" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">https://elementor.com/</a></span></div><div class="x_ContentPasted1 x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br aria-hidden="true" /></span></div><div class="x_ContentPasted1 x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Blog:</span></div><div class="x_ContentPasted1 x_elementToProof x_ContentPasted2" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="x_OWAAutoLink" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="6" href="https://blog.amazonpueblo.org/" id="LPNoLPOWALinkPreview_2" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">https://blog.amazonpueblo.org/</a><br aria-hidden="true" /></span></div><div style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br aria-hidden="true" /></span></div><div class="x_ContentPasted1 x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We use Blogger, by Google, to host our blog. They were recommended by a woman who started a nonprofit in Camden. Blogger, as Google owns it, has very good indexing services for what we post. Many people see it. The blog page was easy to set up and free.</span></div><div class="x_ContentPasted1 x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br aria-hidden="true" /></span></div><div class="x_ContentPasted1 x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br aria-hidden="true" /></span></div><div class="x_ContentPasted1 x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our Facebook page, <a class="x_OWAAutoLink" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="7" href="https://www.facebook.com/AmazonPueblo" id="LPlnk546487" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/AmazonPueblo</a><span style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof x_ContentPasted3" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br aria-hidden="true" /></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof x_ContentPasted3" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">and LinkedIn page, <a class="x_OWAAutoLink" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="8" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/amazon-pueblo" id="LPNoLPOWALinkPreview" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/company/amazon-pueblo</a></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof x_ContentPasted3" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br aria-hidden="true" /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLk1NDd54Uh7O6eqAy_HB1w5VwZWL0fpkIMxJJ1yoa994xTMP9p5CyRu60hi9ltRyGyHy5PGSklsJoVY6Uoe6G3zJ-JtUAXsZ0qvBcmR9GdslpERbUjbyHKY_rWcrDoOCT6sBEIThFgkmGHWIrj62DrC7SK6WRxnLBEgUZ4iDzpxespe2T1bn1vHwuqUSr/s953/AP%20blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="953" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLk1NDd54Uh7O6eqAy_HB1w5VwZWL0fpkIMxJJ1yoa994xTMP9p5CyRu60hi9ltRyGyHy5PGSklsJoVY6Uoe6G3zJ-JtUAXsZ0qvBcmR9GdslpERbUjbyHKY_rWcrDoOCT6sBEIThFgkmGHWIrj62DrC7SK6WRxnLBEgUZ4iDzpxespe2T1bn1vHwuqUSr/w400-h225/AP%20blog.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="x_elementToProof x_ContentPasted3" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><u style="color: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Accounting</span></b></u></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br aria-hidden="true" /></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof x_ContentPasted7" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We use GNU Cash to do our accounting. It is open source and has the advantage of being able to store our records within our own cloud storage. It is based on a double-entry accounting system. <a class="x_OWAAutoLink" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="9" href="https://www.gnucash.org/" id="LPNoLPOWALinkPreview_2" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">https://www.gnucash.org/</a> </span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br aria-hidden="true" /></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br aria-hidden="true" /></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><u><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Logo, business cards, etc.</span></b></u></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br aria-hidden="true" /></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We recommend hiring someone. Alternatively, one can do the research and work (a lot of design and graphics work) to get something that looks good.</span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Google for Nonprofits</span></u></b></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This program has been very helpful. It is available to registered 501c3 organizations. It is completely free. It gives us access to Google's suite of business tools like email management, Docs, Sites, Sheets, business YouTube, and many apps that integrate with their systems.</span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Additionally, it includes up to $10,000 per month of Google Ad Grants. This allows the nonprofit to post free ads, up to $10,000 in value, on their search pages. We have an ad running, but we haven't had many referrals. Google Ads takes significant time to learn, practice, set up, and maintain. I believe that when we have spent this time, it will be a valuable resource.</span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There is an application process to sign up for Google for Nonprofits found here: <a href="https://www.google.com/nonprofits/ " target="_blank">https://www.google.com/nonprofits/ </a></span></div></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted3 x_ContentPasted8 x_ContentPasted11" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjVfKoBV94hHi9uSnvTlH8A0IZXgVZ2Lm75CrgkIv0EWIzXhTfo-RPFW86OpLyw2h82OMkhOO1IRcOTvsdpNsQt8KYL17_LIscYuS2S4ZMrZnSRIIUmlKjsgxgJBBzq-3IzBi3na4edyDaAVAJAY5h1qpmT68wAu0_sLFy_c5RoEbkHMPTZFv5aynec1eo/s554/GfNP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="387" data-original-width="554" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjVfKoBV94hHi9uSnvTlH8A0IZXgVZ2Lm75CrgkIv0EWIzXhTfo-RPFW86OpLyw2h82OMkhOO1IRcOTvsdpNsQt8KYL17_LIscYuS2S4ZMrZnSRIIUmlKjsgxgJBBzq-3IzBi3na4edyDaAVAJAY5h1qpmT68wAu0_sLFy_c5RoEbkHMPTZFv5aynec1eo/s320/GfNP.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span class="x_ContentPasted3 x_ContentPasted8 x_ContentPasted11" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><u style="color: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">TechSoup</span></b></u></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><u style="color: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></u></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This nonprofit business helps other nonprofits (must be a 501c3) receive donations (after paying a 10% administration fee) of software and other tech items or services. We have had multiple donations of the Windows operating system, Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Acrobat, and Adobe Photoshop/Premiere Elements. This has saved us thousands of dollars. <a href="https://www.techsoup.org/ " target="_blank">https://www.techsoup.org/ </a></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: underline;"><br /></div></span></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><u style="color: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></u></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted3 x_ContentPasted8 x_ContentPasted9" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-_iLpqzK9pTm_QGUiABVSb61qqWhPhNVM_zXTob2UW3wrqjmV8Fya2aFONyFq7cb6qW9noJU1erxYoSpPpNIrnei2mjosgvmfUZfwpHGfTMon59EehDa2JjuFCzWEa-riK30rjb1YHuo4qrf8WR7KgD2UgvtD0J9mp6gp7hiL7m3KedMVa44DpnAWdWp/s225/download.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-_iLpqzK9pTm_QGUiABVSb61qqWhPhNVM_zXTob2UW3wrqjmV8Fya2aFONyFq7cb6qW9noJU1erxYoSpPpNIrnei2mjosgvmfUZfwpHGfTMon59EehDa2JjuFCzWEa-riK30rjb1YHuo4qrf8WR7KgD2UgvtD0J9mp6gp7hiL7m3KedMVa44DpnAWdWp/w154-h154/download.png" width="154" /></a></div><br /></span></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x_ContentPasted3 x_ContentPasted8 x_ContentPasted9" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Find, use, and maintain a good. cloud-based document storage platform</span></u></b></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We mostly use OneDrive by Microsoft. We have the documents used for our blog (and some other things) on Google Drive. The amount of info and number of documents can grow rapidly. Including selected photos (a lot), we now have over 5000 documents in 800 folders. When needed, we can easily share and edit documents from the cloud.</span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We hope this guide has helped. Good luck!</span></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxfpy1afg5xptuUdwh_cWkekB6U8keeFaQGr8dJ_moOsd7oHwvdmf38JLx8CS_JHQmgZ858Ov88hskP2hGRUZr8wdGofNO4Mbj3xDXTqnG91nE2OhyvyRbo-pwOxWVt1x3zuB199R2C64veTgZbD3jw9wyOvX0NZrPLUYR8O49A7JTR8K-ac1AajfkNo_I/s864/sifting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="651" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxfpy1afg5xptuUdwh_cWkekB6U8keeFaQGr8dJ_moOsd7oHwvdmf38JLx8CS_JHQmgZ858Ov88hskP2hGRUZr8wdGofNO4Mbj3xDXTqnG91nE2OhyvyRbo-pwOxWVt1x3zuB199R2C64veTgZbD3jw9wyOvX0NZrPLUYR8O49A7JTR8K-ac1AajfkNo_I/w301-h400/sifting.jpg" width="301" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sifting sand to build the health center</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br aria-hidden="true" /></div><div class="x_elementToProof" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br aria-hidden="true" style="background-color: white;" /></div></div>Benjamin Angulohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07271021177857576894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923847771911087432.post-80548882169566277952023-12-29T12:29:00.000-05:002023-12-29T12:29:15.531-05:00Seven Years of Perseverance Pays Off with Graduation!<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEdgh8uXWa8UujGxHPx4QlUnc1Wv-zWBKhuCjIGdoupkDBxr-fK50ByOEb8OtWv16EVIS13E-wEey91EVbnWKHEk-pZ1cRbIYPin3964jNDPby-wXMy-yGY0XmaL8mdJ-4r6vcbxA0h8zlHFzh4JCPYk6T2hIqQwCjnUl_9ub_5e6yoEN1xo3Ek14dpB2l/s862/Maide%20graduation%20pic%202%202024%20small%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="862" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEdgh8uXWa8UujGxHPx4QlUnc1Wv-zWBKhuCjIGdoupkDBxr-fK50ByOEb8OtWv16EVIS13E-wEey91EVbnWKHEk-pZ1cRbIYPin3964jNDPby-wXMy-yGY0XmaL8mdJ-4r6vcbxA0h8zlHFzh4JCPYk6T2hIqQwCjnUl_9ub_5e6yoEN1xo3Ek14dpB2l/w400-h244/Maide%20graduation%20pic%202%202024%20small%20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Congratulations to Maide! She has been in our scholarship program since 2018. She attended elementary school in La Libertad and high school in Leticia, Colombia. After graduating high school, she attended El Sena, the Colombian national trade school for retail sales. After El Sena she continued her studies at Corporación Universitaria Iberoamericana of Colombia. Maide graduated as an administrative assistant on December 18, 2023. She is continuing her studies in retail management in 2024. Great work and perseverance, Maide!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGhrHc_LVr6OWZHFHGZuw2bZFmbZHZqHWCJS8A7UxX5UT5ISG-HXHjGoc5XuhrYymk-NxxTDJMV2I3kYeo7AKlKgl6Hil3JYkDz6Qvhpr3Pe0YfxKI0V-ZjPdwf4C6VPflxPMarmOhA87DBSa1W25RUsB6jxi6RfOxTCMKEUyJbgBGbzrE0piO3W4q_mF/s1280/Maide%20graduation%20pic%202024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGhrHc_LVr6OWZHFHGZuw2bZFmbZHZqHWCJS8A7UxX5UT5ISG-HXHjGoc5XuhrYymk-NxxTDJMV2I3kYeo7AKlKgl6Hil3JYkDz6Qvhpr3Pe0YfxKI0V-ZjPdwf4C6VPflxPMarmOhA87DBSa1W25RUsB6jxi6RfOxTCMKEUyJbgBGbzrE0piO3W4q_mF/w300-h400/Maide%20graduation%20pic%202024.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxsCjOdE3w3itjHY9ZYh9-QR7G6lDmlJ2YM9eHYK4_ha9HjcVRRmJB_OQvgLLIAw1exLrA_gdgNG1HnJymghrUYqap6Gcc60GdhZcTJPlGPhCG_YdnZmSRnUeYRDBlfVDC30PSztt0zHqbD-VYXaNOntP_IRUuJ1PhCp3XJgfmdbUGTHYaGZpOOXUEUM0B/s2048/Maide%20graduation%20pic%203%202024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxsCjOdE3w3itjHY9ZYh9-QR7G6lDmlJ2YM9eHYK4_ha9HjcVRRmJB_OQvgLLIAw1exLrA_gdgNG1HnJymghrUYqap6Gcc60GdhZcTJPlGPhCG_YdnZmSRnUeYRDBlfVDC30PSztt0zHqbD-VYXaNOntP_IRUuJ1PhCp3XJgfmdbUGTHYaGZpOOXUEUM0B/w300-h400/Maide%20graduation%20pic%203%202024.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Benjamin Angulohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07271021177857576894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923847771911087432.post-61278824692470216662023-11-25T23:30:00.002-05:002023-11-26T15:50:52.726-05:00Fall 2023, Amazon Pueblo News from the Jungle and the USA<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>We give a warm thank you to every one of our sponsors and donors. Without their help, our progress in supporting the students of La Libertad and their families would not have been possible!</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdsyU39ZlEu_byQLuM8lwayPUIway6dVeu6Ai9iYlsLnnCLFFZhInQARmXzQMdPvkT0CPid04PwAhJIQMWkBMVjpfUDy_V9TcX0iLVKWRON7bRhLQ77RhML33q-ucN83gGjtKVMN73oIrId1zS8vPfHsFm803OFWN40CriCtWSrAyofRsFzRVW40Q3gnNd/s864/Kellogs.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="820" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdsyU39ZlEu_byQLuM8lwayPUIway6dVeu6Ai9iYlsLnnCLFFZhInQARmXzQMdPvkT0CPid04PwAhJIQMWkBMVjpfUDy_V9TcX0iLVKWRON7bRhLQ77RhML33q-ucN83gGjtKVMN73oIrId1zS8vPfHsFm803OFWN40CriCtWSrAyofRsFzRVW40Q3gnNd/w380-h400/Kellogs.jpg" width="380" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">On this Giving Tuesday, we are starting our student scholarship drive. If you sponsor a student or would like to sponsor a student, please visit the <a href="https://amazonpueblo.org/give/" target="_blank">GIVE page on our website</a>. There, you will find multiple ways to donate.</span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amazonpueblo.org/give/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="700" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Giz49ON8RjLHcrS8w6qB6VN_3IiH7OsWaVyxubIOav5kHekSUZnCjzoPzHFfj23x_xJEZtxqcYeFnAfXQUGuvutTlMFni8UytIJsP4QZYHQPpmHmRjtRjl07d4-T5KEiOIn6dTw9chbqNMy-LLu7Rmk3CQWle5EneBw7RtW3IYB76xXc_iWLpVOv_zai/s320/giving-tuesday.png" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And now, on to the news!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>In the Amazon</u></span></b></p><p><b style="font-size: large;">STAIRS AND SIDEWALK FOR THE HEALTHCARE CENTER</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzNcLdxIA56g52Tu-fFfpSoPWdFgn7jpkVS4ZM9Nw5_EC-2vFEvmHzBMcF8v6INPVkPp3m6N6NR3CBb6FbEUNMwM27ndA_2m9lAwvH8qMnJlymO1waNl8nIjIdii74pRqHEe1hmebYvCNKiwEsQi3CBAYHC9Sa0YSArvlPR3eGYPq_dr2CO42gsck1HdUU/s864/03%20first%20stairs%20image.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="864" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzNcLdxIA56g52Tu-fFfpSoPWdFgn7jpkVS4ZM9Nw5_EC-2vFEvmHzBMcF8v6INPVkPp3m6N6NR3CBb6FbEUNMwM27ndA_2m9lAwvH8qMnJlymO1waNl8nIjIdii74pRqHEe1hmebYvCNKiwEsQi3CBAYHC9Sa0YSArvlPR3eGYPq_dr2CO42gsck1HdUU/w400-h266/03%20first%20stairs%20image.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In August, we completed work on a sidewalk and walkway in front of the health center. While we originally planned to plaster the walls, a lack of skilled labor (no one had experience plastering) led us to revise our plan. But the walkway is greatly needed!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Gustavo and Victor are pouring the concrete. It was a hot weekend with little rain. The walkway is needed to help reduce erosion and slipping on the mud and grass when it rains. The sidewalk took about two weeks to make, accounting for... <b><a href="https://blog.amazonpueblo.org/2023/10/stairs-and-sidewalk-for-health-center.html" target="_blank">READ MORE</a></b></span></p><p><b style="font-size: large;"><br /></b></p><p><b style="font-size: large;">DENTIST VISITS AND HAIRCUTS: WHAT FUN!</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtfk2hfi2Grr97YjEeQa6K4YXD3rvo9IQRu0gVVFprgoF8jnXQa3Pb3qb7F4nPFL8qtyeHSNd6PHRP924uN0JN0xnQokFPUg12UCeSj3OzAS4FjOgHYj7QiAYwa3lMaCyNLL0q5lt_RBFQtSV1SDgXFAwuSy46L7Y0Qfu4qdX5qqySMZrcPkAxROhLR1qR/s504/10%20Davey%20short.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="504" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtfk2hfi2Grr97YjEeQa6K4YXD3rvo9IQRu0gVVFprgoF8jnXQa3Pb3qb7F4nPFL8qtyeHSNd6PHRP924uN0JN0xnQokFPUg12UCeSj3OzAS4FjOgHYj7QiAYwa3lMaCyNLL0q5lt_RBFQtSV1SDgXFAwuSy46L7Y0Qfu4qdX5qqySMZrcPkAxROhLR1qR/w400-h393/10%20Davey%20short.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Sometimes, our students do not brush or floss and eat candy when the opportunity arises. This leads to problems. Many of their parents are missing teeth. A person over 60 years old may only have half of their original 32 teeth.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">In early times, the villagers' diet mainly consisted of fruit, tubers, fish, limited vegetables, and infrequent wild game. But with more significant...</span> <b><a href="https://blog.amazonpueblo.org/2023/11/dentist-visits-and-haircuts-what-fun.html" target="_blank">READ MORE</a></b></div><p><br /></p><p><b style="font-size: large;">INTERNET FOR THE STUDENTS OF THE VILLAGE</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyJPhr7HIH5s8vkzDSW1bcpfcCaRugtYWWX2sBuCIt2JKma7DoktERRWx4L35n_ouJJ6OLeEH3obcdFM8TZh9QmKzgzDRI-lRiKxI1q5gfYA1bQe3BMcsVFCfAcO8yswpNvQVHBHxZVrYOsydsnJ8n_0-8-SIuA2faInhqhdpZ6tF0t3Xu0rxrfr18Hp8/s718/20%20studying%20with%20Starlink.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="718" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyJPhr7HIH5s8vkzDSW1bcpfcCaRugtYWWX2sBuCIt2JKma7DoktERRWx4L35n_ouJJ6OLeEH3obcdFM8TZh9QmKzgzDRI-lRiKxI1q5gfYA1bQe3BMcsVFCfAcO8yswpNvQVHBHxZVrYOsydsnJ8n_0-8-SIuA2faInhqhdpZ6tF0t3Xu0rxrfr18Hp8/w400-h325/20%20studying%20with%20Starlink.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">We provide Starlink Internet for the villagers of La Libertad. Being a very remote location, people often need a cell phone signal. The strength is insufficient for cell data, even if they can make voice calls. By connecting to the internet, they can use phone communication apps to talk with family, friends, work, and school!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The internet system is powered by two 550-watt solar panels, a voltage regulator, a power inverter, and a 100 amp-hour lithium... <b><a href="https://blog.amazonpueblo.org/2023/11/internet-for-students-of-village.html" target="_blank">READ MORE</a></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>In the US</u></span></b></p><p><b style="font-size: large;">CRAFT FAIR FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM: CAMDEN MAINE, DECEMBER 2</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilAx-4fpYu0DXMmi-v_j6eY2dcU3pzKJSslCmzFV_kUo8DCU6BU1HZUHrT4CDXaj6F4U_ZENxEbKWmQljW77zFfqjZt23Vdn2_s9BZoIu-0O64Qk5UiG4Emleq5kv0Yb3rddA7Tx1mQo4ShCxFv09us9IkgOXnRhjHUvm6RDgCttlGVHqMwN_Tb6yNDlo7/s1600/01%20table.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="906" data-original-width="1600" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilAx-4fpYu0DXMmi-v_j6eY2dcU3pzKJSslCmzFV_kUo8DCU6BU1HZUHrT4CDXaj6F4U_ZENxEbKWmQljW77zFfqjZt23Vdn2_s9BZoIu-0O64Qk5UiG4Emleq5kv0Yb3rddA7Tx1mQo4ShCxFv09us9IkgOXnRhjHUvm6RDgCttlGVHqMwN_Tb6yNDlo7/w400-h226/01%20table.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="font-size: large;">Join Us for the Christmas by the Sea Craft Fair!</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium;">When: Saturday, December 2, 2023, 9 am - 2 pm</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Where: The First Congregational Church in Camden, Maine</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">What: Sales of indigenous handcrafts, Colombian emerald jewelry, and more!</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Why: To benefit the education of indig... <b><a href="https://blog.amazonpueblo.org/2023/11/craft-fair-for-scholarship-program.html" target="_blank">READ MORE</a></b></span></li></ul><p></p><p></p><p><b style="font-size: large;"><br /></b></p><p><b style="font-size: large;">MEET KO-FI: OUR NEW DONATION, MEMBERSHIP, AND SALES PORTAL</b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And now we present Ko-Fi!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgf5fxYNuCRwbLVYAYg4Bpcb4RPKKX9zKTfFf-G7X_STBPVXiB9CMENet7vgLdB88Ro7Jxpd1Upo3vg_msysHBwRrUHySjWzUPxUHPNvrAi5yikaXXc4dawDWJHNjqQeeBqW7E2LlIlsUrk_II-5BAVu0CzXDaiBnefUXW4i2s8lEJXwtmZ-H39FnuUOwS1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="1126" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgf5fxYNuCRwbLVYAYg4Bpcb4RPKKX9zKTfFf-G7X_STBPVXiB9CMENet7vgLdB88Ro7Jxpd1Upo3vg_msysHBwRrUHySjWzUPxUHPNvrAi5yikaXXc4dawDWJHNjqQeeBqW7E2LlIlsUrk_II-5BAVu0CzXDaiBnefUXW4i2s8lEJXwtmZ-H39FnuUOwS1=w400-h228" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div>What is Ko-Fi? First, it is pronounced like "coffee." Ko-fi is an online platform that helps creators get much-needed financial support from their supporters.</div></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It allows us to receive donations, have membership subscriptions, sell products and services directly to our supporters, and keep... <b><a href="https://blog.amazonpueblo.org/2023/11/meet-ko-fi-our-new-donation-membership.html" target="_blank">READ MORE</a></b></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! CHECK OUT OUR NEW SUPER-FANCY ONLINE TO-DO LIST</b></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKWcg_BZXB_bQudXCmCs6hgbL5LlYexK0lq3AM1LpB6hb2dH1P1IX4XHeibp853KYvX-8g5M4leyJf0mAdEVz4jzIW7-fsDHm9jK2vK1J2Bs1BOLNxvni8G3a6S6GgQGdoW1lRq-ivpzeHMRfk_CCwgooPq3glhswCBguzTbFiVnHNfr07W73uJ930rMeB/s1200/for%20Facebook%20hero%205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="689" data-original-width="1200" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKWcg_BZXB_bQudXCmCs6hgbL5LlYexK0lq3AM1LpB6hb2dH1P1IX4XHeibp853KYvX-8g5M4leyJf0mAdEVz4jzIW7-fsDHm9jK2vK1J2Bs1BOLNxvni8G3a6S6GgQGdoW1lRq-ivpzeHMRfk_CCwgooPq3glhswCBguzTbFiVnHNfr07W73uJ930rMeB/w400-h230/for%20Facebook%20hero%205.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><span style="font-size: medium;">Help us! We need volunteers!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Volunteers are the lifeblood of our organization. As an all-volunteer force, we could only work towards our mission with the help of everyone who has given their time since we started in 2012.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Things that we need help with:</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Volunteer in the village</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Help with social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, or others)</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Blog... </span><a href="https://blog.amazonpueblo.org/2023/11/volunteers-needed-and-check-out-our.html" target="_blank"><b>READ MORE (and see our fancy to-do list)!</b></a></li></ul><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">That's it for the newsletter. Thank you for reading!</span></div><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>Benjamin Angulohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07271021177857576894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923847771911087432.post-238745771738062542023-11-25T20:49:00.004-05:002023-11-26T14:54:04.154-05:00Volunteers Needed! And Check Out Our Super-Fancy, Online To-Do List<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAEwXtNvSSs0iXJgY6vRXnERTSp7M2aOZdZBKRnlwOq1L9v-69wd0Ue3xWZkFZLVjstvmJPCITsGZ-yMVXNPaU4wbBj_1Lx9Z5DQ2NvECxUwRVNJwSMa_MoEQI69jXMKfYOqJyaWTYqBnQ-11ef1HGnsLBo91LxTreTKvbpTRuo3bjcB5UeuGwsgBrpHw2/s1200/for%20Facebook%20hero%205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="689" data-original-width="1200" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAEwXtNvSSs0iXJgY6vRXnERTSp7M2aOZdZBKRnlwOq1L9v-69wd0Ue3xWZkFZLVjstvmJPCITsGZ-yMVXNPaU4wbBj_1Lx9Z5DQ2NvECxUwRVNJwSMa_MoEQI69jXMKfYOqJyaWTYqBnQ-11ef1HGnsLBo91LxTreTKvbpTRuo3bjcB5UeuGwsgBrpHw2/w400-h230/for%20Facebook%20hero%205.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Help us! We need volunteers!</span></b><p></p><p>Volunteers are the lifeblood of our organization. As an all-volunteer force, we could only work towards our mission with the help of everyone who has given their time since we started in 2012.</p><p>Things that we need help with:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Volunteer<a href="https://amazonpueblo.org/visit-us-in-the-amazon/" target="_blank"> in the village</a></li><li>Help with social media (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmazonPueblo" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/amazon-pueblo" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>, or others)</li><li>Blog posts</li><li>Finding sponsors for scholarships</li><li>Maintaining contact with our sponsors</li><li><b>Grant research and/or writing</b></li><li>General fundraising</li><li>Selling at craft fairs</li><li>Selling on eBay or Etsy</li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Trello, an Online to-do List</b></span></p><p>And now, presenting an excellent productivity tool, the online "To-Do" list, Trello. Click on the image to visit our Trello board. There, you will see what we are currently working on. If you would like to help with any of our tasks <b>(or develop your own)</b> to help the project, please <span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="mailto:benangulo@amazonpueblo.org" target="_blank">message us</a>!</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://trello.com/invite/b/uOkyxD2D/1afadab8307a5cd63daec1ce10266891/amazon-pueblo" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="921" data-original-width="1400" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAhtWS1gQOkDZRb7JtMFyDuIwwhK0qVoLLKbPsAHHL79cfkAN3oDy0kGsXgrujqniUsEtzNPOSPIy39JxyDDU1P8crKrxlUJrucDwzetuRAgcREnhfPYyyl2tGtUSDW-W8Q83Adv6GhHKdWbuyrCNkmcGthN-QfiUGKS051v6ODN3ST0axFDNKsAj7yW_M/w400-h264/Trello.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Benjamin Angulohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07271021177857576894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923847771911087432.post-2722043429431249702023-11-25T12:36:00.004-05:002023-11-26T13:28:16.378-05:00Meet Ko-Fi: Our New Donation, Membership, and Sales Portal<p><b><span style="font-size: large;">And now we present Ko-Fi!</span></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ko-fi.com/amazonpueblo" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="1126" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtYz_67xuwf53eCf3VJ04NVddRVfe9okFcQUrK7avYDwcnlXXUPqJL92ej4nkwxwZNsxtUENVjxpjX76T9rwW53CbgsYYQGK3-e8YiC6PUMMAri71jJFq6ekQAOpGMBI45-7iknNMB02dzuY7la1UWKZ4ZJbRjeaimi-ytmKVDbaxPRKLhG6r7KtLD1bIL/w400-h228/Facebook%20memberships.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">What is Ko-Fi?</span> </b>First, it is pronounced like "coffee." Ko-fi is an online platform that helps creators get much-needed financial support from their supporters.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It allows us to receive donations, have membership subscriptions, sell products and services directly to our supporters, and keep in touch with our community. It charges donors no fees for the service (our subscription is $80 yearly).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Please scroll down to see some of its key features.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">One-time donations</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ko-fi.com/amazonpueblo" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="565" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJEnM0gUrnH7X6UW7iSPXDYWpOklHzYrfVltDF1BnhOt8_eBZoezkXiX5__ogR-8ktuqVptnUXqUcx3TVNrt6fjnDJxOhqLNhOQAfB6lmc8VDuUaWDFtZyhDykwjwl862NEWnF9us5qcEwWVa_FArzPjVnZ64i4MewQ5HHVga5ohpa0R1CKQowP3SVs7Xg/w400-h339/10%20Ko-Fi%20donations.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Monthly memberships</span></b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ko-fi.com/amazonpueblo/tiers" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1157" data-original-width="1126" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmYXem7v6B9ZUpdQ_JdW0a8jtce3UPii5EkMc_tAHl7XFqgrUEKYcKyoG8ncXvrwRurgf_E1H3NaEWfwh0wS8XUcGIcCWpqGUVCFtNapL_scpRoEUjCVL-onOdQpVjqxqukOT-AqZtRFPKP78yqxu5Omh-N0SkTGsUxjCCtdHNi3S6NAmV1jwrbzYIoM7D/w389-h400/20%20Ko-Fi%20memberships.jpg" width="389" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Photo Gallery</span></b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ko-fi.com/amazonpueblo/gallery" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1002" data-original-width="978" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiudbjQ21LIAHJ1e9-1PsYyofYKnieisr08M1JKMTgJzVMh4qq93R1Qlv_GV8PoLV_DoBpQDXmttoV1An0u4htkTaA3Uh-GDlMAtLCJ8jGzV9mspAF_mHj6XXoEx2_rWbG14MbNKI6APLWpEDsI0MJbYQXpOHs4WUJ2BSismyzDYIYOiPNeGfazJR6GaHg2/w390-h400/30%20Ko-Fi%20photo%20gallery.jpg" width="390" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Gift shop</span></b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ko-fi.com/amazonpueblo/shop" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="272" data-original-width="540" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmi_C0vGLTNis4miR76o3ou4G3NRM7h0E3FMITiXKqrk_9Tbqe2CmG7sFmbAZbDXCAqirQvKYRWwz-m5JLFP0KoLAApoQAg-zRtvjOzOj5sNb7YVBqeXo4atjX4gy221cafbTdyA3cfHv155GMp4Mbdf_8lN629MJ5uKLCG78CCeXd-oox7ASCnRl-CGkA/w400-h201/40%20Ko-Fi%20shop.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Custom-made emerald jewelry</span></b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ko-fi.com/amazonpueblo/commissions" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="613" data-original-width="744" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGqpp4YVsBzjtNP4qhFg5lsG2QBbMUr0e0-vw34hX_-v_ux_Ay4oxskv1MeQZgip5MduaOL8axU6oxSfNsk6iMcuugMy9p-L8pcKm0V-J_gonOz81y1wMDdHIv_j45QZIRtfcjH87LTSPh7NyR1zSzx3RDeMV-V6rHvpJkk9ZN-M4ntyIiDfW_8VoyGSqZ/w400-h330/50%20custom%20made%20emerald%20jewlery.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://ko-fi.com/amazonpueblo" target="_blank">Please visit us at Ko-Fi to see our new platform in action!</a></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ko-fi.com/amazonpueblo" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" data-original-height="133" data-original-width="307" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgm9KKhKHUsa9KaQUV4dvc3WosfG4FmrmS3XW2y7OMv2IosACQBsbQkQRX4ItGA1T0GV_zT083zWTamTWJFLtNTWpEzzAo0Tg0-i5IxVf4XFV3pmkpH5t3i1Z00Cq4n_A2NzMsbMjcYO2SnCJVLQ_sDNdKaqy7BOA-wdHb1RjG8MTdrrJBShsatFsb8qtT0=w400-h174" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Benjamin Angulohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07271021177857576894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923847771911087432.post-3314169715988952042023-11-24T21:00:00.004-05:002023-11-25T11:05:39.713-05:00Dentist Visits and Haircuts: What Fun!<p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Teaching dental care and encouraging good personal hygiene.</span></b></p><p>Sometimes, our students do not brush or floss and eat candy when the opportunity arises. This leads to problems. Many of their parents are missing teeth. A person over 60 years old may only have half of their original 32 teeth.</p><p>In early times, the villagers' diet mainly consisted of fruit, tubers, fish, limited vegetables, and infrequent wild game. But with more significant contact with modern processed food, their teeth have become much worse.</p><p>Part of what we do is to educate our students on good oral hygiene practices. We do this by talking with them and using pamphlets and videos when computers or tablets are available.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOouk-vSDyfNqVKUEx6oDUw1uvuJIgeLIpoXMHyCxFfrN9H357vL_mSSduVUjNRGI46IEm55LjR5C9zzpcuB-N9K2t0HjBUO8LsS0NRhl3iry_w6Yben9SELnZHjCZrU88I5EtB7iBSbbxw83bimgBpVOvtaPnegYF9uEcrFTBl0JcxndmXuaZOYqt0ftr/s504/10%20Davey%20short.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="504" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOouk-vSDyfNqVKUEx6oDUw1uvuJIgeLIpoXMHyCxFfrN9H357vL_mSSduVUjNRGI46IEm55LjR5C9zzpcuB-N9K2t0HjBUO8LsS0NRhl3iry_w6Yben9SELnZHjCZrU88I5EtB7iBSbbxw83bimgBpVOvtaPnegYF9uEcrFTBl0JcxndmXuaZOYqt0ftr/w400-h393/10%20Davey%20short.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We always bring donated toothbrushes and other oral care items from the States.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNThXkbTkMMPQFBLK4FiyQZMKmTOOCrSgP9kR3afDL0-GwrPEC-SJAGut9dqfkL3IzWIxd0IZR8hhtUt0zbKdt67BdUCxirFZMG2MnjY2iQgqZK99KFY4xsmxxBcPrY5ZSRUb2o3U0_A9O4dFYQJsUWIwAggmMwZfr_LcZ9jwXX0-g0yxn6jMdfRqS7cB/s576/20%20Davey%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="434" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNThXkbTkMMPQFBLK4FiyQZMKmTOOCrSgP9kR3afDL0-GwrPEC-SJAGut9dqfkL3IzWIxd0IZR8hhtUt0zbKdt67BdUCxirFZMG2MnjY2iQgqZK99KFY4xsmxxBcPrY5ZSRUb2o3U0_A9O4dFYQJsUWIwAggmMwZfr_LcZ9jwXX0-g0yxn6jMdfRqS7cB/w301-h400/20%20Davey%201.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In extreme cases, the students may need to have many teeth restored and some extracted. This boy lost one permanent tooth and needed five restorations.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJagsjNKK3bqkNgDuKKUhxkLBuWtM10oKpKUCHyOaZP59M8VRgN04LJ3-tLgoFTldZpP11M_AnqyJdHGxFzqSJrByYTIWkrE30a-WvMF7UpzZl9ou4AsmpU9O7DEdorf3qlwkhxGQ7q5eREJa28pntx4qKaj6eM34jORppakkttnv8urNX73wDjWTKRVIh/s576/30%20Davey%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="434" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJagsjNKK3bqkNgDuKKUhxkLBuWtM10oKpKUCHyOaZP59M8VRgN04LJ3-tLgoFTldZpP11M_AnqyJdHGxFzqSJrByYTIWkrE30a-WvMF7UpzZl9ou4AsmpU9O7DEdorf3qlwkhxGQ7q5eREJa28pntx4qKaj6eM34jORppakkttnv8urNX73wDjWTKRVIh/w301-h400/30%20Davey%202.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Dental care costs in Colombia are about one-fourth of what it costs in the US.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoowXVFS7yItzx5w7a6DEs_VFnXddTWrB1GEKYSuefJPMmDwd3UR99a3zwo5JOi7W_x4JK5mYrMoiYam8fLL2Puh4cNURGCInopvGxZTwT_bkrF29JfDNvfE4EEcctg5c5sSF5M96hCvUb97PwjRNhwWDy8R2KfwHs7bCe0IxjUDeNOpryttW71U7FfMuW/s864/40%20Joel%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="864" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoowXVFS7yItzx5w7a6DEs_VFnXddTWrB1GEKYSuefJPMmDwd3UR99a3zwo5JOi7W_x4JK5mYrMoiYam8fLL2Puh4cNURGCInopvGxZTwT_bkrF29JfDNvfE4EEcctg5c5sSF5M96hCvUb97PwjRNhwWDy8R2KfwHs7bCe0IxjUDeNOpryttW71U7FfMuW/w400-h288/40%20Joel%201.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We also have a tradition of getting haircuts when we do the school shopping for the scholarship students.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9gVeR3FENlDMxq4obvIM5b1iXInKTCcRlrDEH_u7jlZpj5ZqG9lLAGMI0_WZ9cxnAyWJCzk89r66B3YCQHyy70e8CLNTiOdltkagebikFB2uTS2F07HQ0SqQw35cZzMJCO-ls-nE3gW_MqniIiIxhFvot4fFMHqi4UsIZLblMz1YH2lVZUzBIwQWIxlNF/s864/50%20Joel%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="650" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9gVeR3FENlDMxq4obvIM5b1iXInKTCcRlrDEH_u7jlZpj5ZqG9lLAGMI0_WZ9cxnAyWJCzk89r66B3YCQHyy70e8CLNTiOdltkagebikFB2uTS2F07HQ0SqQw35cZzMJCO-ls-nE3gW_MqniIiIxhFvot4fFMHqi4UsIZLblMz1YH2lVZUzBIwQWIxlNF/w301-h400/50%20Joel%202.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Many barber shops are in the Port of Leticia, the closest large city to the village.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0ftldnkGetmnyQBO430NbRGGZJ_mN1LWII1OQDSzfDjWWLPEsPtrSDzgB8v9nlYLNmv3aGkmWUSrWUklRqx8_B_pOfFaJVR1uYzYmlyB-WiyIDLELKLUd8WI1inpbguE9LWbVApX1BadWa95dbXNFIImNWxjVdrS9cO9ip76nbx6Wj24vnbDii6m6F6x/s864/60%20Joel%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="795" data-original-width="864" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0ftldnkGetmnyQBO430NbRGGZJ_mN1LWII1OQDSzfDjWWLPEsPtrSDzgB8v9nlYLNmv3aGkmWUSrWUklRqx8_B_pOfFaJVR1uYzYmlyB-WiyIDLELKLUd8WI1inpbguE9LWbVApX1BadWa95dbXNFIImNWxjVdrS9cO9ip76nbx6Wj24vnbDii6m6F6x/w400-h368/60%20Joel%203.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After getting a haircut, we did the school shopping. In all, a very successful day!</div><br /><p><br /></p>Benjamin Angulohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07271021177857576894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923847771911087432.post-38733608083217563112023-11-24T17:05:00.002-05:002023-11-25T19:03:44.939-05:00Craft Fair for the Scholarship Program: Camden, Maine, December 2<p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Join Us for the Christmas by the Sea Craft Fair!</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLsMmUHRxGmpN1GUhPNZZE1JzDdO0mmMwutPa070c8TWE5sNF-jCn0J-MO9g-7eVPJnrc5RE2WqMvt6pxrB3j1-JXmQF1QsQmH7c4pfNcQCetf10L_-3MqvY0VU34_mGLyKy2OeeoB2fP9I9T4XXYfD_x6HyxedQYS5sxWnJl94SIj6ssVCvbMu-EPOEK2/s1600/01%20table.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="906" data-original-width="1600" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLsMmUHRxGmpN1GUhPNZZE1JzDdO0mmMwutPa070c8TWE5sNF-jCn0J-MO9g-7eVPJnrc5RE2WqMvt6pxrB3j1-JXmQF1QsQmH7c4pfNcQCetf10L_-3MqvY0VU34_mGLyKy2OeeoB2fP9I9T4XXYfD_x6HyxedQYS5sxWnJl94SIj6ssVCvbMu-EPOEK2/w400-h226/01%20table.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><b>When:</b> Saturday, December 2, 2023, 9 am - 2 pm</p><p><b>Where: </b>The First Congregational Church in Camden, Maine</p><p><b>What:</b> Sales of indigenous handcrafts, Colombian emerald jewelry, and more!</p><p><b>Why: </b> To benefit the education of indigenous students in the Colombian Amazon.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgIjbaJ4pqaTvemFKw0y37PE9JFDxE2VhyphenhyphenQzHJc8h3A9gS5Xz8m2cae35-xTs_lJf0IvXWohqVIddkUpa22KzIdsw5QwmasK5JFHpkwGcANOCWdt1rAtGfk7AqbYJd1sAox84W7wHYc1yu4UFbKGEFz8sRp2OVrjz0Vj2_rC8LFrrfXUDtOQ4XM4peHNQp/s864/02%20handcrafts%20to%20sell.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="651" data-original-width="864" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgIjbaJ4pqaTvemFKw0y37PE9JFDxE2VhyphenhyphenQzHJc8h3A9gS5Xz8m2cae35-xTs_lJf0IvXWohqVIddkUpa22KzIdsw5QwmasK5JFHpkwGcANOCWdt1rAtGfk7AqbYJd1sAox84W7wHYc1yu4UFbKGEFz8sRp2OVrjz0Vj2_rC8LFrrfXUDtOQ4XM4peHNQp/s320/02%20handcrafts%20to%20sell.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Handcrafts made by the Yagua tribe of the village of La Libertad, Amazonas, Colombia.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqUVB_OupSsC4Pcueyslp5owQqEg0cZg8p1si0PIkV6HZlJS2XQ6D5AusbGrTWvv66t9Jo3Ov9LvxGdKKh0-W3TP-5eq25RXcoB7ZixoNGCfhKH_G6qRyjBGnC0EtJdcaB1DuXwVdBmLmklx9luu5oAoD4jt-WOSr1NLfoJN67kjPzLNMphGUzIW9FCaL2/s864/03%20new%20blood%20wood%20things.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="864" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqUVB_OupSsC4Pcueyslp5owQqEg0cZg8p1si0PIkV6HZlJS2XQ6D5AusbGrTWvv66t9Jo3Ov9LvxGdKKh0-W3TP-5eq25RXcoB7ZixoNGCfhKH_G6qRyjBGnC0EtJdcaB1DuXwVdBmLmklx9luu5oAoD4jt-WOSr1NLfoJN67kjPzLNMphGUzIW9FCaL2/s320/03%20new%20blood%20wood%20things.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some of our new bloodwood crafts.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzFzwxEIcV_5LXUTR0yKBVRLdicnXGiURaqx0zkPWtWbhjt1Wu31J2cMMFX4cMRNqEUyFmekLdjoHEaJlGT71pbq_SxePwWAc-LC6C_RlEm3qSRLaHH8dr0yGE6UUBrqXFcwYdlMp-D7Rv1wjmefwOk62G_1zmnEWSND2RPidzxgL-CbbT7PE7TZotXX29/s576/04%20emerald%20case%20small.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="499" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzFzwxEIcV_5LXUTR0yKBVRLdicnXGiURaqx0zkPWtWbhjt1Wu31J2cMMFX4cMRNqEUyFmekLdjoHEaJlGT71pbq_SxePwWAc-LC6C_RlEm3qSRLaHH8dr0yGE6UUBrqXFcwYdlMp-D7Rv1wjmefwOk62G_1zmnEWSND2RPidzxgL-CbbT7PE7TZotXX29/s320/04%20emerald%20case%20small.jpg" width="277" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A selection of emerald and primarily sterling silver jewelry.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkbz9uxFVWyMG-bKtisVvtDdhFSKWZEmte1VjYiIb7WHTeLV66SAcD7g123r6jrkfsZjJB0zu4j6pASTfCFbVYMOvuyqqFOD4zWnVUp4LPxQ5I2jegC9xyMEjE-0rvRiLXt88EqiI1iLjjHeBr7hEIvuU4eDx42C8yHbF5yV26XIe314tSKdh-xJkIL9Cf/s864/06%20ring%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="582" data-original-width="864" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkbz9uxFVWyMG-bKtisVvtDdhFSKWZEmte1VjYiIb7WHTeLV66SAcD7g123r6jrkfsZjJB0zu4j6pASTfCFbVYMOvuyqqFOD4zWnVUp4LPxQ5I2jegC9xyMEjE-0rvRiLXt88EqiI1iLjjHeBr7hEIvuU4eDx42C8yHbF5yV26XIe314tSKdh-xJkIL9Cf/s320/06%20ring%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A stunning 5ct. emerald eternity ring set in 18K gold.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-92H8jCB8McYH1jEw9il65g2f-mwrv3iEyDL7AW4MgdMB0bs1bFDryYwuIxgGO5FnoIpU5d47hqxWAN-DgkQe4sSCh0u1Iqg1LK4-JWAjE4BP6yuKAcyP_tmpaZqVVJU5TaMhBQm_oRzXCAwJm7yt7hv8LUuEatN4R5lh9F69NW7LzNgAeW23B5ByzfMg/s546/church%2008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="546" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-92H8jCB8McYH1jEw9il65g2f-mwrv3iEyDL7AW4MgdMB0bs1bFDryYwuIxgGO5FnoIpU5d47hqxWAN-DgkQe4sSCh0u1Iqg1LK4-JWAjE4BP6yuKAcyP_tmpaZqVVJU5TaMhBQm_oRzXCAwJm7yt7hv8LUuEatN4R5lh9F69NW7LzNgAeW23B5ByzfMg/s320/church%2008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">The First Congregational Church, 55 Elm St., in Camden, Maine.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, san-serif"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjp9nJkNYL4VdHm2p2hRazfs72qCkyfwxKlx8OGe_R5BEl2auaIdpMeXUXtwsiSt2wQ5D6EHwKooBNZc-kz0J4FjQjXBd__D1Y-Gybv9iMYvuJxfa4p1F-9fc1RMAlLeOBYy1BUEYkN5u4RORDDQUQaSMZWSCEqhFTPwik3KxbBU1X3iy5rEViFbZGW1r/s864/Kellogs.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="820" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjp9nJkNYL4VdHm2p2hRazfs72qCkyfwxKlx8OGe_R5BEl2auaIdpMeXUXtwsiSt2wQ5D6EHwKooBNZc-kz0J4FjQjXBd__D1Y-Gybv9iMYvuJxfa4p1F-9fc1RMAlLeOBYy1BUEYkN5u4RORDDQUQaSMZWSCEqhFTPwik3KxbBU1X3iy5rEViFbZGW1r/w380-h400/Kellogs.jpg" width="380" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One hundred percent of the profits go towards the Amazon Pueblo scholarship program!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>We hope to see you there!</b></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Benjamin Angulohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07271021177857576894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923847771911087432.post-23519632008096974692023-11-22T21:02:00.000-05:002023-11-22T21:02:10.205-05:00Internet for the Students of the Village!<p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Internet for the Village</span></b></p><p>We provide Starlink Internet for the villagers of La Libertad. Being a very remote location, people often need a cell phone signal. The strength is insufficient for cell data, even if they can make voice calls. By connecting to the internet, they can use phone communication apps to talk with family, friends, work, and school!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJwOzzgKVLHdgTTmoVmQgsvLdYXFCXPtbxzFsus3zDWJul9htXt9claBQM_hR4EYPGuLc1YfFPR6Bkjf-lU75D-m1rRALOZ2dk9ym0Sf7lSP1qVA1-2z8t0b18SSW3gPQ2_OSNfDiiX2FntkMEjW2lNdRs25lQ9WqltOuOSxVjAOmkRRb8AR0zeVnXF3ZI/s432/10%20Starlink%20small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="325" data-original-width="432" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJwOzzgKVLHdgTTmoVmQgsvLdYXFCXPtbxzFsus3zDWJul9htXt9claBQM_hR4EYPGuLc1YfFPR6Bkjf-lU75D-m1rRALOZ2dk9ym0Sf7lSP1qVA1-2z8t0b18SSW3gPQ2_OSNfDiiX2FntkMEjW2lNdRs25lQ9WqltOuOSxVjAOmkRRb8AR0zeVnXF3ZI/w400-h301/10%20Starlink%20small.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is the satellite antenna we use to connect to Starlink. We have a mobile Starlink connection, not a residential one (considerably faster but yet to be available). Our speeds range from 20Mb to 200Mb.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyGzrMC7l_qae3EFsFwC_P-FPQ-QKfoCAkfmhnpAX_rFXI62znzRBeglxfav4X1OufnXc93jdtOHgQ1__ziRAP1ZzcF6WbHgJKaadqqC8ftR34sCJ1Pxi7N5Xqgypj-4A2r4D1sLNxI4gz4-cqEDxC7tmDA86SmiCEXjC8JBxg4xyuTAoF_YjCyLakySrU/s864/15%20solar%20panels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="864" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyGzrMC7l_qae3EFsFwC_P-FPQ-QKfoCAkfmhnpAX_rFXI62znzRBeglxfav4X1OufnXc93jdtOHgQ1__ziRAP1ZzcF6WbHgJKaadqqC8ftR34sCJ1Pxi7N5Xqgypj-4A2r4D1sLNxI4gz4-cqEDxC7tmDA86SmiCEXjC8JBxg4xyuTAoF_YjCyLakySrU/w400-h250/15%20solar%20panels.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The internet system is powered by two 550-watt solar panels, a voltage regulator, a power inverter, and a 100 amp-hour lithium battery pack. When the village's generator is operating, we connect to its grid.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xTnQgQug1ThbIrYkv-unNVLyvaneSKUtZ_z-thRLRwPEuh0qwGgzBuI1hbyqXvjhgugU4-67Df76pC_oukif8vFBjmjWw47ueQvjx1T8M0PUh8ANYjED6RgjujTSrBD9fiI6qKQD1vLDGL4yB_HQdpxA0gLmQH0IKl8vlvDYEbBaBSHX6hUXtIV7RKsB/s718/20%20studying%20with%20Starlink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="718" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xTnQgQug1ThbIrYkv-unNVLyvaneSKUtZ_z-thRLRwPEuh0qwGgzBuI1hbyqXvjhgugU4-67Df76pC_oukif8vFBjmjWw47ueQvjx1T8M0PUh8ANYjED6RgjujTSrBD9fiI6qKQD1vLDGL4yB_HQdpxA0gLmQH0IKl8vlvDYEbBaBSHX6hUXtIV7RKsB/w400-h325/20%20studying%20with%20Starlink.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our older students who take classes in a different village often use the internet to do their homework, pass it in, or message their teachers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHeye5TJ7ioh839RgHkYbjKJV621Ql2BTTgi5BWU2lEyrd16IaRX92zvvfTqVfV0KKWhV2ImNt5N5u5-oK3vM9BlarrjiyQiTy1IdUpMe698Q-FCZioQZTIV85vMG7b1l_oUDFsaCiivOzJ064kzm58HoM-TzAVMSwyz7UhT_CB1k8YFjE5Ic8RJEQuVd/s1040/30%20Melani.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="780" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHeye5TJ7ioh839RgHkYbjKJV621Ql2BTTgi5BWU2lEyrd16IaRX92zvvfTqVfV0KKWhV2ImNt5N5u5-oK3vM9BlarrjiyQiTy1IdUpMe698Q-FCZioQZTIV85vMG7b1l_oUDFsaCiivOzJ064kzm58HoM-TzAVMSwyz7UhT_CB1k8YFjE5Ic8RJEQuVd/w300-h400/30%20Melani.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We also use the internet to help our younger students find educational apps to help them learn to read, do math, and other things.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYuuifHLIgyzFbHLAlTxZCyesfb8xO50rFI5twZsQwmSD6DzgSL1PggaGW1laB1mqIlhoWEaAWxTCHGkfTKr84xvGUiVK1ESm7oTnq3xib4kGONBVL94fuB10l2-xsqhAInH2ltQVlmiimA89WF1ptDN1Y6UnZRkgtcBAeu9EICSeIXNoX1LBk6ZlrQ7xW/s878/40%20decansando.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="717" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYuuifHLIgyzFbHLAlTxZCyesfb8xO50rFI5twZsQwmSD6DzgSL1PggaGW1laB1mqIlhoWEaAWxTCHGkfTKr84xvGUiVK1ESm7oTnq3xib4kGONBVL94fuB10l2-xsqhAInH2ltQVlmiimA89WF1ptDN1Y6UnZRkgtcBAeu9EICSeIXNoX1LBk6ZlrQ7xW/w326-h400/40%20decansando.jpg" width="326" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After school and homework, the kids may play a game, listen to music, or watch funny videos!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW10Wv6M4y-Jx41RpetJgrIVUjFEjsomF3fH9ewJridaXPkNwRa5bkU4ZhYve0hRh4X2Sy7-E7WVOPyth8lDD35TkXdMW041bYC0X7Lq-aEtgydcvhqw89Gsh9WOeR8Os83rWlW9GWKK1NkjxJosBz_dkz-2SJhRu4TWFSjJiR3MJXb0i47cvmtw_uNatW/s976/50%20studying%20with%20internet%204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="976" data-original-width="718" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW10Wv6M4y-Jx41RpetJgrIVUjFEjsomF3fH9ewJridaXPkNwRa5bkU4ZhYve0hRh4X2Sy7-E7WVOPyth8lDD35TkXdMW041bYC0X7Lq-aEtgydcvhqw89Gsh9WOeR8Os83rWlW9GWKK1NkjxJosBz_dkz-2SJhRu4TWFSjJiR3MJXb0i47cvmtw_uNatW/s320/50%20studying%20with%20internet%204.jpg" width="235" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We also have one laptop computer, which we leave out for the students who need to do larger school work projects. Below is a video of one of our students describing how she uses the internet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwYpBsAX0UdpBb3-uoCNzl77ciLFk3dxazZz0OAefpkhzzHnzZNUjJzLYGDXzpGg9ENS3bZg9DMnh5d7hPeTQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Benjamin Angulohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07271021177857576894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923847771911087432.post-58539281946908990192023-10-28T20:19:00.010-05:002023-11-24T21:22:28.909-05:00Stairs and Sidewalk for the Health Center<p>In August, we completed work on a sidewalk and walkway in front of the health center. While we originally planned to plaster the walls, a lack of skilled labor (no one had experience plastering) led us to revise our plan. But the walkway is greatly needed!</p><p><b>Thank you to all of our supporters! Without you, this work would not have been possible.</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ6cUX4fL65GpKEgj2k40EWaBdd7aIjg3HhLAMgkPz1lpSKli0mVMUv9jNYBPEN9ULs_9g1WSHREK6oBSGPArsF8LkyxUwBDim8ik_nzimrfl_7i9HOSd5v9eNaeSvlqt45CFAma7dYH5sHHZzEgpndiKSwXCdoQVse11FDwuwQ55v8Y_5Nqmwkte59tWb/s864/03%20first%20stairs%20image.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="864" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ6cUX4fL65GpKEgj2k40EWaBdd7aIjg3HhLAMgkPz1lpSKli0mVMUv9jNYBPEN9ULs_9g1WSHREK6oBSGPArsF8LkyxUwBDim8ik_nzimrfl_7i9HOSd5v9eNaeSvlqt45CFAma7dYH5sHHZzEgpndiKSwXCdoQVse11FDwuwQ55v8Y_5Nqmwkte59tWb/w400-h266/03%20first%20stairs%20image.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Gustavo and Victor are pouring the concrete. It was a hot weekend with little rain. The walkway is needed to help reduce erosion and slipping on the mud and grass when it rains. The sidewalk took about two weeks to make, accounting for other projects and weather.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcycqXsRSi9U9t_hd1frmt3AfMx-xv8C7nYaZU5Eje2HWi5t2Hi4LFlosfV6ibV73QZnhL_o4FMkEiLQvrqQ2H9O79Wwl1AN8lydnTccJCeOVKXKzgM9vM_Ez202tu_T27V5U0Wn_3p6lsyLjjS0muIulRDnsDkwYdVkdV1ys9ZqPikTzk6JwxXIR8uL1N/s864/05%20malla.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="846" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcycqXsRSi9U9t_hd1frmt3AfMx-xv8C7nYaZU5Eje2HWi5t2Hi4LFlosfV6ibV73QZnhL_o4FMkEiLQvrqQ2H9O79Wwl1AN8lydnTccJCeOVKXKzgM9vM_Ez202tu_T27V5U0Wn_3p6lsyLjjS0muIulRDnsDkwYdVkdV1ys9ZqPikTzk6JwxXIR8uL1N/w391-h400/05%20malla.jpg" width="391" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We bought and transported heavy wire mesh to reinforce the concrete of the walkway. The trip upriver took a little over one and a half hours. The day was good, with no rain. The sun was intense and had us hoping for some cloud cover!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLcM_27frA6MhkLiz-C_zl6sWJuCG5NGZLrLSLBpHnezqUMJbeBC-iUrzAvTv4xiZ2jmY2nhpOktAJnTW3sC-qp9TZDZGcXwDpiQ_kCbhD07kp-fC7PHdBBytdOykYEXhujG13mGBSv5PAQQXrncCI-gAJ50DMOlbbvaEwLQ_EqunJ-x8UB5au2OqICNZk/s1040/05%20stairs.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="468" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLcM_27frA6MhkLiz-C_zl6sWJuCG5NGZLrLSLBpHnezqUMJbeBC-iUrzAvTv4xiZ2jmY2nhpOktAJnTW3sC-qp9TZDZGcXwDpiQ_kCbhD07kp-fC7PHdBBytdOykYEXhujG13mGBSv5PAQQXrncCI-gAJ50DMOlbbvaEwLQ_EqunJ-x8UB5au2OqICNZk/w180-h400/05%20stairs.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">First, we placed a cord from the health center to the main village's walkway. After that, we cut the outline of the steps into the hill. After six months of waiting, the work is underway.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq4hSGXEyL3sHaax7UZDxx2V90-1oL3_uPkAefNeFeWl4b-z_nUBmKWet3xHIT7HSxu4mo7CIV5FNXCwDbIGGKPBjVJRSiNgHjpvEznjs093vjXd-20pv1z7NiIt69jQsj-P0boo8feFSNsc9QlY3yPzE7JwuqCkwKs2_BE2YyTWODd62EAibWaeZoGbty/s864/10%20sifting%20sand%20health%20center.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="651" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq4hSGXEyL3sHaax7UZDxx2V90-1oL3_uPkAefNeFeWl4b-z_nUBmKWet3xHIT7HSxu4mo7CIV5FNXCwDbIGGKPBjVJRSiNgHjpvEznjs093vjXd-20pv1z7NiIt69jQsj-P0boo8feFSNsc9QlY3yPzE7JwuqCkwKs2_BE2YyTWODd62EAibWaeZoGbty/w301-h400/10%20sifting%20sand%20health%20center.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>To have a good, strong cement, the sand must be sifted. This will remove impurities that will weaken the concrete. We had a "minga" with the villagers and scholarship kids on this day. That is group work during which we listen to music, eat a lot of snacks, and drink cool-aid until the job is finished.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51hrlJywaQTEfKn0zI8O6r9w5sFCLuUQEeAqdBmlhLJIck1SNpvBg7xW8e0PgV17tsrPS5zaPFg3VuCwVgl7ScTjd4en9Lk_reNOISfJZ2PtHLOnKZfO5HAjzqATIHQeVrnah-OS86BkK9UL4GO9uMTXFlumL5XyKo7qPAV-e7azD8ufiYt1eh2WdwsWL/s1040/15%20wire%20for%20stairs.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="468" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51hrlJywaQTEfKn0zI8O6r9w5sFCLuUQEeAqdBmlhLJIck1SNpvBg7xW8e0PgV17tsrPS5zaPFg3VuCwVgl7ScTjd4en9Lk_reNOISfJZ2PtHLOnKZfO5HAjzqATIHQeVrnah-OS86BkK9UL4GO9uMTXFlumL5XyKo7qPAV-e7azD8ufiYt1eh2WdwsWL/w180-h400/15%20wire%20for%20stairs.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Romario, our lumberjack, cut and milled the wood to make the concrete forms. We then placed the wire reinforcement mesh inside the forms. The wire may be seen if you look at the picture carefully.</div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeOp2gxvgScdBhG_O-1UATF7DOfl1cAvAgmmuMz_PKOZ5EkI-aRgv7VfkhwCpMayLZUXqe-jToCHE-BdvtzaaNu-eqOC6u4hcKfcLanWBsDSWRNwdW8lZYr5YxdRSJFODtUtjNk36Osbj0nlyer426dmnh34-J5SVl6UGLJev3clTq780RuSSjywe_ca8k/s1040/20%20pouring%20stairs.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="468" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeOp2gxvgScdBhG_O-1UATF7DOfl1cAvAgmmuMz_PKOZ5EkI-aRgv7VfkhwCpMayLZUXqe-jToCHE-BdvtzaaNu-eqOC6u4hcKfcLanWBsDSWRNwdW8lZYr5YxdRSJFODtUtjNk36Osbj0nlyer426dmnh34-J5SVl6UGLJev3clTq780RuSSjywe_ca8k/w180-h400/20%20pouring%20stairs.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Then came the hard work of mixing the concrete on the ground and pouring it into the forms. This was the most intense work of the project, done under the hot sun of the dry season.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEWk_2oZRxzgrIiAhgcWU0xQyS476ZYCP4mEs267mEJhJhmoXwTa3TLmaUvV41ou7b1v79qkmNP1IwdwHWC5_tigwj1KHbfjfSxJgDGW6WiV1vmCiqJTDK1gaADgnVdoRtLKkcr99Q6Exo-xHkIgmfsjK76H3MOZ_s-WArw5fbYGgsYX_Lm3B83j6ygoVi/s864/35%20health%20center%20walkway.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="491" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEWk_2oZRxzgrIiAhgcWU0xQyS476ZYCP4mEs267mEJhJhmoXwTa3TLmaUvV41ou7b1v79qkmNP1IwdwHWC5_tigwj1KHbfjfSxJgDGW6WiV1vmCiqJTDK1gaADgnVdoRtLKkcr99Q6Exo-xHkIgmfsjK76H3MOZ_s-WArw5fbYGgsYX_Lm3B83j6ygoVi/w228-h400/35%20health%20center%20walkway.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At last, the walkway to the health center is finished and joined to the village's main sidewalk!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWTnyOdGXPbeRD_Okz4JV6g-Zntwpnhc4KGls9HFVISSEzntYUHyjUSEaVlTTS_Hr5RdttZYoFDEBCUkay7udcPFilmtYX22I0u_IDvWfl_HszdxTCVdI5ccXiFXkyz6Ke7_lc4BhfsykMDdHHx7ZN1k3Z-878nN21RSubJXLsiTSuRu3FyNfuRBluQDFb/s664/33%20boy%20on%20stairs.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="664" data-original-width="466" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWTnyOdGXPbeRD_Okz4JV6g-Zntwpnhc4KGls9HFVISSEzntYUHyjUSEaVlTTS_Hr5RdttZYoFDEBCUkay7udcPFilmtYX22I0u_IDvWfl_HszdxTCVdI5ccXiFXkyz6Ke7_lc4BhfsykMDdHHx7ZN1k3Z-878nN21RSubJXLsiTSuRu3FyNfuRBluQDFb/w281-h400/33%20boy%20on%20stairs.jpg" width="281" /></a></div><div><br /></div>While the height of the stairs is not very uniform, it is much better than the slippery mud or angled concrete during and after heavy rain.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb_gkDRgtvERC4a1Ex92jn77O2GVJXHa0tYT1Xw5Y2WN_C3GUI4v2_oM5BP8A_07wRRLEXr4ddQoI4ilVngIf4X_DwpgDdPewCkwA8AQT2rukGEFOyi5xTIzb6HhVzyI_C935aZVcyMDVGsIScDwP8oFa9dne2NZM_JfONF3p5ESLC5cNt-aRQ_mpayshb/s1600/40%20front%20walkway.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb_gkDRgtvERC4a1Ex92jn77O2GVJXHa0tYT1Xw5Y2WN_C3GUI4v2_oM5BP8A_07wRRLEXr4ddQoI4ilVngIf4X_DwpgDdPewCkwA8AQT2rukGEFOyi5xTIzb6HhVzyI_C935aZVcyMDVGsIScDwP8oFa9dne2NZM_JfONF3p5ESLC5cNt-aRQ_mpayshb/w180-h400/40%20front%20walkway.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The last major work for this summer was to extend the walkway to the front of the center. We hope to one day lengthen the reach of the roof by a meter to cover the walkway and provide an outdoor waiting area away from the rain and sun.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixE9NoWhhhDobSGAwvWUcwT8ABF4dtd9WasybQyH6GLkXwWB2AUukBRvHu9B0CuK-FeIyll28d1sFcsT-sDV-G6wFHV8YbIgllTjLc33OpyEjN4aWjwXWYQxlhhoWMXOBLoOJmjxG1kf0skuNBUpAM49Egu_9Rsjrj9x3TgDUI_8DU-8c5ghXyKHcke6hH/s841/100%20kids%20walkway.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="548" data-original-width="841" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixE9NoWhhhDobSGAwvWUcwT8ABF4dtd9WasybQyH6GLkXwWB2AUukBRvHu9B0CuK-FeIyll28d1sFcsT-sDV-G6wFHV8YbIgllTjLc33OpyEjN4aWjwXWYQxlhhoWMXOBLoOJmjxG1kf0skuNBUpAM49Egu_9Rsjrj9x3TgDUI_8DU-8c5ghXyKHcke6hH/w400-h261/100%20kids%20walkway.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We had some extra bags of cement and sand. The unused cement will not last long in the highly humid environment. We used it to extend the sidewalk in our barrio. We plan to join our sidewalk to the village school and main sidewalk, to which we just connected the health center's sidewalk. The neighborhood kids enjoyed watching us mix the concrete and helped to smooth it out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-iI2eZQzZfLzKyghOISb2hGzkQYpKXxnlYQdmf6g4ENzAVEtBhNg67jGMm-qNd87Ek0MzxOpLCGXKFqoVZxiprf2SNTvoGwIDt4L_b74OD7sUFni90fbiaGuiIy176Bs6XYtx3DtLGKi0tes7xvmngvl1TX2JOxSETzYu5j3BesZYXcf4z_b4sFx5Ngp/s864/stairs%20200.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="635" data-original-width="864" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-iI2eZQzZfLzKyghOISb2hGzkQYpKXxnlYQdmf6g4ENzAVEtBhNg67jGMm-qNd87Ek0MzxOpLCGXKFqoVZxiprf2SNTvoGwIDt4L_b74OD7sUFni90fbiaGuiIy176Bs6XYtx3DtLGKi0tes7xvmngvl1TX2JOxSETzYu5j3BesZYXcf4z_b4sFx5Ngp/w400-h294/stairs%20200.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is a photo from this year, 2023. We made these stairs six years ago with the help of volunteers from the project and community. Due to erosion, the bottom six stairs have been covered in soil!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Would you like to support our work on the health care center for next year? Please visit our new Ko-Fi donation site! Click below.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ko-fi.com/amazonpueblo" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="133" data-original-width="307" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnUYju7Wgikbk1VO5YK4VahaK5_QY9iSWKhM00LiephmE8a4dz9IQBKmoaR3WIbrTNpivQioTHS8utTpuSvwUIKYv52J3YBTg-upDpihcv63oAYQd8fmFBqL-QpGpBMWRxFNx8hYa6-9qtIvBYvb4K4yctWvMrsCuEhTc8nqjuO9UJ6zYwIoLEAYiO69s1/s1600/Support%20Amazon%20Pueblo%20button.png" width="307" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>
Benjamin Angulohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07271021177857576894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923847771911087432.post-21023176135698146342023-06-18T20:36:00.001-05:002023-06-21T19:08:10.544-05:00Summer 2023, News from the Jungle: Health center walls, Starlink, life in the Amazon, and school in Macedonia<p>We give a warm thank you to every one of our sponsors and donors. Without their help, our progress in supporting the students of La Libertad and their families would not have been possible!</p><p>Please enjoy these updates from our work during the past six months. We will be returning to the village during July and August of 2023.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzNBYtsEXn4OpvMA5bf0oQNkgSHNtBdPnQMPleR3N-zyknB54DWV3CnL-uTlCMEaH2rPVCMN59LqubRbqqU2FhCWUnVIDgV1z8QJwIAMMAFDQ7h2hzuF9EpkFKyby4_RE7nUEtkrwgOg3XvclEWlr3BPOn2kWFRBqycBerMNdf-u-798y8FaVaDtBhOg/s864/hc%20wall%2007.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="577" data-original-width="864" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzNBYtsEXn4OpvMA5bf0oQNkgSHNtBdPnQMPleR3N-zyknB54DWV3CnL-uTlCMEaH2rPVCMN59LqubRbqqU2FhCWUnVIDgV1z8QJwIAMMAFDQ7h2hzuF9EpkFKyby4_RE7nUEtkrwgOg3XvclEWlr3BPOn2kWFRBqycBerMNdf-u-798y8FaVaDtBhOg/w400-h268/hc%20wall%2007.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Larry, our contractor, with Ben, the project director.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">HEALTH CARE CENTER WORK CONTINUES</span></b></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2r236cv3z3vQQKgkSaTMgvBX-uwKRSmQL7GNWpi2G8-pdZAxryIsai1sr6N3vG-qKd6G8QcVNQGY9mZpFN7rUaA1Vo0-D7D9gtfmUZ8VCedusYO5A7Qh85j8Agy4yi75QhS74hh01HgaPu0gIdxvXsll1Cw3dcBojZPsc_MIOEn0xgSYo8pi1G-0JQA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="399" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2r236cv3z3vQQKgkSaTMgvBX-uwKRSmQL7GNWpi2G8-pdZAxryIsai1sr6N3vG-qKd6G8QcVNQGY9mZpFN7rUaA1Vo0-D7D9gtfmUZ8VCedusYO5A7Qh85j8Agy4yi75QhS74hh01HgaPu0gIdxvXsll1Cw3dcBojZPsc_MIOEn0xgSYo8pi1G-0JQA=w400-h240" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This August 2023, we plan to plaster the walls.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div>We have built the walls of our health care center. It was more difficult than planned. A high inflation rate added at least 25% to our costs. The low level of the river made transportation difficult. Finding a reliable mason was a challenge. And now, the story.</div><div><br /></div><div>Moving 1,300 brick construction blocks was very labor intensive. After ordering the bricks at the business of Bom Jesus across the shared border of Tabating... <b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blog.amazonpueblo.org/2023/05/building-wall-our-work-on-health-center.html" target="_blank">READ MORE</a> </span></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">STARLINK INTERNET IN THE COMMUNITY</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhnNEHhXrewd7ytU692j1GEx5Lxc9Y3Ix164P0tVqVp_6h3YeI3-yIf1r8cZOtI3icPzY2NDnIsXQhzO99Y0u4xbgJZLxlvPyxAPl69m6ElkBwKPi1jWWPIGP8L1d7jAMR7CnH-Kgcda2S23oXondHEH4nN1z0aUYXArcT1bVVqakSSxuDBfvCKZ1Sw3A" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="400" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhnNEHhXrewd7ytU692j1GEx5Lxc9Y3Ix164P0tVqVp_6h3YeI3-yIf1r8cZOtI3icPzY2NDnIsXQhzO99Y0u4xbgJZLxlvPyxAPl69m6ElkBwKPi1jWWPIGP8L1d7jAMR7CnH-Kgcda2S23oXondHEH4nN1z0aUYXArcT1bVVqakSSxuDBfvCKZ1Sw3A=w400-h280" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Starlink unboxing.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At last, we have internet connectivity. This will allow us to connect to the outside world for education, employment, and emergencies and to keep in touch with family and friends.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>After six months of being unable to sign up for the service, they finally solved the problems and sent us the equipment. It arrived well-packed. After a two-week setup and test in Leticia, we brought it to the village of La Libertad... <b><a href="https://blog.amazonpueblo.org/2023/05/internet-in-deep-jungle-of-amazon.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;">READ MORE</span></a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">THE DANGERS OF RIVER TRAVEL</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_gyRY8vmg0c0D69eTaK1pWXArKQaPlqIsz5giNy-UdoD67K4RjtogKuctTmYyGNoDRbRbDFvDX9ZIDcwWzO3l3ZQ_01JK6kw5zdUFBLgMcb4x1S_mnjfPHt0uSumHOw_Hr_HZs5lTcKRQtjzyETChvQjY0YbkzT11u8NeRxkLGBMYOP0zGmKTZmPC3A" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="864" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_gyRY8vmg0c0D69eTaK1pWXArKQaPlqIsz5giNy-UdoD67K4RjtogKuctTmYyGNoDRbRbDFvDX9ZIDcwWzO3l3ZQ_01JK6kw5zdUFBLgMcb4x1S_mnjfPHt0uSumHOw_Hr_HZs5lTcKRQtjzyETChvQjY0YbkzT11u8NeRxkLGBMYOP0zGmKTZmPC3A=w400-h234" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Passing through a floating debris zone.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />In January, the river was rising. The river may rise by up to 25 feet between its lowest (dry season) and highest (rainy season). We had just taken our boat out of storage and traveled to Leticia to resupply.</div><div><br /></div><div>It had been raining for the past three days. The river was rising rapidly. When it rises, vegetation, sticks, and logs along the river banks and tributaries are carried downriver with the current. Depending on the current, it collects into dense patches in some places. We always drive more slowly through these zones. <b><a href="https://blog.amazonpueblo.org/2023/05/the-rising-river-boat-crash-on-amazon.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;">READ MORE</span></a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">PHOTOS OF DAILY LIFE IN THE AMAZON</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEitk2yuuL_LIUfKjI8DuVqxbpzxF6Y8ZGvfsIM7ny8LWGbbJYEbFw582joWYt7FZJQTzIjj3VFfC-TCgzYJVcGzcLiORXx__3HWr9Z7Bo1TK0daCtzj30Zj_gR4FEqltbNI9wvbIJik5ruiF6aK9w5byL_TkVpnM31vaDtPRGmPBjxrmezGX_e_hIA9tw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="234" data-original-width="400" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEitk2yuuL_LIUfKjI8DuVqxbpzxF6Y8ZGvfsIM7ny8LWGbbJYEbFw582joWYt7FZJQTzIjj3VFfC-TCgzYJVcGzcLiORXx__3HWr9Z7Bo1TK0daCtzj30Zj_gR4FEqltbNI9wvbIJik5ruiF6aK9w5byL_TkVpnM31vaDtPRGmPBjxrmezGX_e_hIA9tw=w400-h234" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Cookies!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>After our more intense blog posts about the project, we decided to have pictures of things we see in our daily life around the Amazon. <span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://blog.amazonpueblo.org/2023/05/photos-of-daily-life-in-village-and.html" target="_blank">SEE MORE</a></b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="font-size: large;"><b>STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS</b></div></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>We are pleased to have presented 37 scholarships this year! Each scholarship, $130/year, allows the students to buy the basic necessities they need to attend school.</div><div><br /></div><div>We currently have 13 students on the waiting list for scholarships. To learn more about the program, please <span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://amazonpueblo.org/sponsor-a-student/" target="_blank">visit our website.</a></b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEidgJ3q23lDWHGJlmOvF815ecnL7dRHoZoY7ac_rnSkr1Sx5kXeoKn9vgH2znUfEcV1DwhSd3hKJuUXIYqU4GAInfiozan4XzalwzGzsPGIZZxaXz0vT49CjIDEAZ8qjHl_9srnjpLFdH6SH1N5HC_fI43H01JAv-Tm4hNmRTY7l_eZmzo17rBf2QKLTg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="620" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEidgJ3q23lDWHGJlmOvF815ecnL7dRHoZoY7ac_rnSkr1Sx5kXeoKn9vgH2znUfEcV1DwhSd3hKJuUXIYqU4GAInfiozan4XzalwzGzsPGIZZxaXz0vT49CjIDEAZ8qjHl_9srnjpLFdH6SH1N5HC_fI43H01JAv-Tm4hNmRTY7l_eZmzo17rBf2QKLTg=w287-h400" width="287" /></a></div><br /> </div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AND PROBLEMS IN MACEDONIA</span></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhszv4xcLC0NvGqDTWlb6c8LDGtVazstZk6lfbhardPGUzI-ZzbYeLf_GOORX-V8FBQbmhSfBqMGApbaME_cING244Qld9XuAW0TZjn8RN7F8dgm-sroErQOMt7H3FTqH1bvL473whHAGDP9w2EdoJtLsZNrhi4WJI-UgkK_bxk1TLHXAruMdC05clLSg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="516" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhszv4xcLC0NvGqDTWlb6c8LDGtVazstZk6lfbhardPGUzI-ZzbYeLf_GOORX-V8FBQbmhSfBqMGApbaME_cING244Qld9XuAW0TZjn8RN7F8dgm-sroErQOMt7H3FTqH1bvL473whHAGDP9w2EdoJtLsZNrhi4WJI-UgkK_bxk1TLHXAruMdC05clLSg=w238-h400" width="238" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">One of our Macedonian students.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">A third of our scholarship students are in the upper grades of school. But they have no good, consistent school to attend. Many of the students are leaving school. This is for three main reasons. 1) Problems with the school construction in Macedonia. 2) The need to provide for themselves and their family. 3) The need to be occupied with something.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div>When a student who has received a scholarship from a sponsor leaves school, we try to convince the student that this is only temporary. The scholarship is then temporarily passed to a younger sibling or cousin studying in the village of La Libertad. When the construction in Macedonia is finished and full-time school resumes, we hope they will return to school.</div><div><br /></div><div>We encourage the sponsors to stay with their students (and the temporary alternate family member) until they return to school. <b><a href="https://blog.amazonpueblo.org/2023/06/our-scholarship-program-and-macedonia.html" target="_blank">READ MORE</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>CRAFT FAIRS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>To raise funds, we attended two craft fairs this spring. One in Seasport, Maine, and the other in the project's hometown, Thomaston, Maine. We sold handcrafts from the village and Colombian emerald jewelry. Thank you, Dianne!</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgheVNKrK_yeGPKEuPPcbyQZMd5_7z5MkIUJh2sKCoctS7Mw164oZ2xIkue5-VosxvXYTzx77qdKTTQExTKkT1mMRxbjRDpYPl3fEENyh_N9vSYMmDmNnc0cNv3kuF_JKKdQGeA3FhLDPJLRrRuQRFR3GqClYjWhhfgmkXol1HhBuKTa9oysMbWOA-VUQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="1600" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgheVNKrK_yeGPKEuPPcbyQZMd5_7z5MkIUJh2sKCoctS7Mw164oZ2xIkue5-VosxvXYTzx77qdKTTQExTKkT1mMRxbjRDpYPl3fEENyh_N9vSYMmDmNnc0cNv3kuF_JKKdQGeA3FhLDPJLRrRuQRFR3GqClYjWhhfgmkXol1HhBuKTa9oysMbWOA-VUQ=w400-h260" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first fair was at Searsport Elementary School.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>And last, a couple of photos of the city</b></div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjg4R3h0WTUdY0yDyZSiVYJAQExAd-ZzIgev-2fWUy2qvefw9fJ9d4bdLLuPQha-OvBcWV6EORaWLzi3c8P46piQM6f0vHn4lw7rEPdj9lwt4NJq6-JNWaksvN4SFWlLOXoCRGvo9rw9xS9sQx4pJQabaysdOUg1He3G4ic32_rLL9czBWd4gcEdywicg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="960" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjg4R3h0WTUdY0yDyZSiVYJAQExAd-ZzIgev-2fWUy2qvefw9fJ9d4bdLLuPQha-OvBcWV6EORaWLzi3c8P46piQM6f0vHn4lw7rEPdj9lwt4NJq6-JNWaksvN4SFWlLOXoCRGvo9rw9xS9sQx4pJQabaysdOUg1He3G4ic32_rLL9czBWd4gcEdywicg=w400-h368" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Aerial shot of the Port of Leticia</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe0tH1eMf1rCNs7hzDZeHp0eWV_FnoaE-IxbAHE4aez6oC47Yzzw-RS9d7TuKrcmdNPlvkYj9aePCDsn1FIsSNPHFGH7ndKWOB037RV4rqJPEEhmM0qIKuDm5Jqm1x-F-0eTEj5CPGJ2dLn9bl0zlIk_5R773GoV_46sF9KguT9MUw9FPB05tnYA7iSw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1375" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe0tH1eMf1rCNs7hzDZeHp0eWV_FnoaE-IxbAHE4aez6oC47Yzzw-RS9d7TuKrcmdNPlvkYj9aePCDsn1FIsSNPHFGH7ndKWOB037RV4rqJPEEhmM0qIKuDm5Jqm1x-F-0eTEj5CPGJ2dLn9bl0zlIk_5R773GoV_46sF9KguT9MUw9FPB05tnYA7iSw=w315-h400" width="315" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Night at Parque Santander in Leticia.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b>To sponsor a student or to help us with our work, please visit the link:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amazonpueblo.org/give/" target="_blank"><b>https://amazonpueblo.org/give/</b></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Thank you!</b></div></span></div>Benjamin Angulohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07271021177857576894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923847771911087432.post-18363585565286555972023-06-17T17:22:00.006-05:002023-06-17T17:54:19.585-05:00Our scholarship program and the Macedonia school problems.<p><span style="font-size: large;">A third of our scholarship students are in the upper grades of school. But they have no good, consistent school to attend. Many of the students are leaving school. This is for three main reasons. 1) Problems with the school construction in Macedonia. 2) The need to provide for themselves and their family. 3) The need to be occupied with something.</span></p><p>It is the decision of the students to do what they must do. We are supportive of their decisions. We understand the pressures which they face. We strongly encourage them to return to school when the construction of the Macedonian school is complete.</p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhszv4xcLC0NvGqDTWlb6c8LDGtVazstZk6lfbhardPGUzI-ZzbYeLf_GOORX-V8FBQbmhSfBqMGApbaME_cING244Qld9XuAW0TZjn8RN7F8dgm-sroErQOMt7H3FTqH1bvL473whHAGDP9w2EdoJtLsZNrhi4WJI-UgkK_bxk1TLHXAruMdC05clLSg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="516" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhszv4xcLC0NvGqDTWlb6c8LDGtVazstZk6lfbhardPGUzI-ZzbYeLf_GOORX-V8FBQbmhSfBqMGApbaME_cING244Qld9XuAW0TZjn8RN7F8dgm-sroErQOMt7H3FTqH1bvL473whHAGDP9w2EdoJtLsZNrhi4WJI-UgkK_bxk1TLHXAruMdC05clLSg=w238-h400" width="238" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of our Macedonia students.</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span>When a student who has received a scholarship from a sponsor leaves school, we try to convince the student that this is only temporary. The scholarship is then temporarily passed to a younger sibling or cousin studying in the village of La Libertad. When the construction in Macedonia is finished and full-time school resumes, we hope they will return to school.<p></p><p>We encourage the sponsors to stay with their students (and the temporary alternate family member) until they return to school.</p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">School Problems in Macedonia</span></b></p><p>The school in Macedonia is under construction. Half of the classrooms were demolished in 2019. The demolition and construction were supposed to start simultaneously, with the buildings finished in 2020. The company then filed for bankruptcy. Then Covid hit. As of Spring 2022, no construction had started. A lawsuit was brought by the people of Macedonia. Our project helped with spreading the news in the Amazon with social media.</p><p>After much effort, construction on the school resumed in late 2022.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEip9OnLj1gwxiH6PW1k3hY3oFtD9HDEKoDypWzFWtrTPYZrCAwIB07HQH0V-a8zsFl-v_SUxxYL_zIZNEEkwEhFDzoMSt8wHEt2xnksMEMBzT_ycqwpYUEye6lT2-nRkpJ5lKfdy-GnaJRXkSIFO05DeOxdRWscl2edvEE7MjgGAOSdl9tx_siwb6Hzmw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEip9OnLj1gwxiH6PW1k3hY3oFtD9HDEKoDypWzFWtrTPYZrCAwIB07HQH0V-a8zsFl-v_SUxxYL_zIZNEEkwEhFDzoMSt8wHEt2xnksMEMBzT_ycqwpYUEye6lT2-nRkpJ5lKfdy-GnaJRXkSIFO05DeOxdRWscl2edvEE7MjgGAOSdl9tx_siwb6Hzmw=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The village sign in the port of Macedonia.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />During the construction, many students have school only two days a week. Sometimes, due to lack of gasoline or teachers, not even that. Many days, after waiting over 1 1/2 hours (sometimes in driving rain and always with biting insects), the school boat does not pick them up. Our students are frustrated.<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmNRoNzRYETJgarsIuytLjXcPT8Pg7cd-NktS1f9pNv-khFsq1mGvYEykENoiwRLEVVnARWgErnjf-KwZPeWBXQa_dz4oMkJCt0FJtL1xe-H941HUpO93Xn9tYh8G_u252KmIeWVoFzX9-UJZOuu_4H68mvxPHCH3_6hl9b5ujG7ZjB29Tj9XVQTh-Q/s864/school%20shopping%2088.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="602" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmNRoNzRYETJgarsIuytLjXcPT8Pg7cd-NktS1f9pNv-khFsq1mGvYEykENoiwRLEVVnARWgErnjf-KwZPeWBXQa_dz4oMkJCt0FJtL1xe-H941HUpO93Xn9tYh8G_u252KmIeWVoFzX9-UJZOuu_4H68mvxPHCH3_6hl9b5ujG7ZjB29Tj9XVQTh-Q/w279-h400/school%20shopping%2088.jpg" width="279" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">School shopping with two of our students.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The Need to Provide</b></span></p><p>Our students' families live in extreme poverty. When one of our students works in Peru, there is one less child to feed and cloth. At best, a working child provides money for the household to buy food, clothes, and other essential needs.</p><p>Many of our upper school students have gone to work in cultivation in Peru. The money they earn goes a long way to provide the necessities they and their families must have.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcjPYXfI0n4XGRFYH7H3RfK1LBKQovAZvNoeIDHOTBz2LXcMKFcE0NVngRzaf37fzugtNswk4F3V9_b2WDaaUgrxbE1lnzBQTlFNbrAaonbFltWCJrcYeRH5Cgvmv9TUkNXQWPQE35kybyp1AaOr87WJuE0kQggfd2h2gV7P9yCKWNxpYOpekCaVZhQ/s1020/image.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="574" data-original-width="1020" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcjPYXfI0n4XGRFYH7H3RfK1LBKQovAZvNoeIDHOTBz2LXcMKFcE0NVngRzaf37fzugtNswk4F3V9_b2WDaaUgrxbE1lnzBQTlFNbrAaonbFltWCJrcYeRH5Cgvmv9TUkNXQWPQE35kybyp1AaOr87WJuE0kQggfd2h2gV7P9yCKWNxpYOpekCaVZhQ/w400-h225/image.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Working in the cultivations of Peru.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Need to be Occupied</span></b></p><p>They have little to do around the house on their non-school days (after fishing, collecting wood, or tending small cultivations). </p><p>The parents have told us they don't want their children wandering around the village unoccupied, getting into trouble, hanging around older kids who are out of school, drinking, and smoking.</p><p>Our project does not want or encourage the students to work in Peru. However, we do recognize the reality of their situation.</p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">School Construction in Macedonia</span></b></p><p>These pictures are from the Spring of 2023. The work has progressed further from what is shown. The school is expected to be ready in early 2024, depending on the rain and the river level. The building supplies cannot be transported if the river is too low. When the rain is too heavy, work is suspended.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj-TJruo1BZXuZaYTfW9F_7KOeLZWJ4nimioZ9Jz-6-WwSYPZ28t5Cz0ieyiq56Mft7Og-66wLHcVdAVjdUGfC8KaJ47JTDnp1MF1mlUdz5PN8psdsnm1dJ4mhoOfN7KX7Y9xRKk2vlWAPX3qw3Gmf48XK092NuN7zRxbt_2F3LezVBOAdzk1OsvDNETA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj-TJruo1BZXuZaYTfW9F_7KOeLZWJ4nimioZ9Jz-6-WwSYPZ28t5Cz0ieyiq56Mft7Og-66wLHcVdAVjdUGfC8KaJ47JTDnp1MF1mlUdz5PN8psdsnm1dJ4mhoOfN7KX7Y9xRKk2vlWAPX3qw3Gmf48XK092NuN7zRxbt_2F3LezVBOAdzk1OsvDNETA=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Work on the new school begins.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6vSl7yTmc0jePChz-cEoGdURekiVi-ZuitNfrNwWVu4NeMA5WGE0vFo9pCY6sX1X3gCsvETqxl9qtEfeJXvKKWZK6zRG2tduI7TGlb6nSpGpM_lZmdjWvvskVP2wc-PphxwtsvuH3PQybQn9pp7lMwEyt2vqoO94UfBOeiDnUPYlei4dk6ajFCbgw5A" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="493" data-original-width="729" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6vSl7yTmc0jePChz-cEoGdURekiVi-ZuitNfrNwWVu4NeMA5WGE0vFo9pCY6sX1X3gCsvETqxl9qtEfeJXvKKWZK6zRG2tduI7TGlb6nSpGpM_lZmdjWvvskVP2wc-PphxwtsvuH3PQybQn9pp7lMwEyt2vqoO94UfBOeiDnUPYlei4dk6ajFCbgw5A=w400-h270" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the port of Macedonia in front of the new school.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgrpu5_7FHs9Xh6Ok6o0S62RViex8WGoxXvoDGTcecEmZVxcOEBUHS47sDbJVEXQTmCztdQbWm6cbcSVcPmupIolPCLK0HdVYDuezl10vLNh9mzfVa3dYv30FLI--KidZRA5j088qBHTsyOGjeWNVgYVyJWRNbewm_st1deP9HzkRuOBUjwXLI9-d_tlw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="929" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgrpu5_7FHs9Xh6Ok6o0S62RViex8WGoxXvoDGTcecEmZVxcOEBUHS47sDbJVEXQTmCztdQbWm6cbcSVcPmupIolPCLK0HdVYDuezl10vLNh9mzfVa3dYv30FLI--KidZRA5j088qBHTsyOGjeWNVgYVyJWRNbewm_st1deP9HzkRuOBUjwXLI9-d_tlw=w400-h258" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The land is being cleared and prepared.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYtjpmMSEI7fr79YrkXqQ-UcmMGf87bsJ6VJ4J_-3eNUT81B2f5EwY1g78Q_E6yMGzwhDikyhH4fdv89dM1zQrOBbrIyPQoWlw9KywPoYoM0TSofG1SAuRFjhnr5hSti-5vZY2ZfN7rsKkZgatVzB_lVyOoDhepTILgtrDlaFFRN90wMLd1-HviIS-fg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="911" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYtjpmMSEI7fr79YrkXqQ-UcmMGf87bsJ6VJ4J_-3eNUT81B2f5EwY1g78Q_E6yMGzwhDikyhH4fdv89dM1zQrOBbrIyPQoWlw9KywPoYoM0TSofG1SAuRFjhnr5hSti-5vZY2ZfN7rsKkZgatVzB_lVyOoDhepTILgtrDlaFFRN90wMLd1-HviIS-fg=w400-h203" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beams are going up.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEir03Xl-baowdWHzQHRyGadH3YBe8DREMLaLC2Yxpeu14P-HpxDiPK2QgBwOxPf3tWhN-bQ8JdqKQSu47Gl40p5d6S3D6Q1slp5J7Sg7736eS-SsKReHeruicKSyckZN2j1yT0bHqoIZWId8KNLvW-sEsXs5Uby00iEGCgJRILviRHhON32iQDiGOMveg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="864" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEir03Xl-baowdWHzQHRyGadH3YBe8DREMLaLC2Yxpeu14P-HpxDiPK2QgBwOxPf3tWhN-bQ8JdqKQSu47Gl40p5d6S3D6Q1slp5J7Sg7736eS-SsKReHeruicKSyckZN2j1yT0bHqoIZWId8KNLvW-sEsXs5Uby00iEGCgJRILviRHhON32iQDiGOMveg=w400-h384" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgY4qrKue37OPoEyl3v-8Gk1snMrsw_EKdE6WZgvvjWtYb2lGeCD1Gi4A7x_xXZmzH-onpGWIPBnfEAk97EGBO3wJfJ06NdaKWEdXWfYp-mPsqfygmMDESrqz3Tedy7icHjJ6c8Lx9uvKTBgzjEx8737tq5olItK6-BtF4QsXsI6dvN9xIm6176d2Psag" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="864" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgY4qrKue37OPoEyl3v-8Gk1snMrsw_EKdE6WZgvvjWtYb2lGeCD1Gi4A7x_xXZmzH-onpGWIPBnfEAk97EGBO3wJfJ06NdaKWEdXWfYp-mPsqfygmMDESrqz3Tedy7icHjJ6c8Lx9uvKTBgzjEx8737tq5olItK6-BtF4QsXsI6dvN9xIm6176d2Psag=w400-h276" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXchgucTrKCOgwQ1OujpYMgMS-t0qWMsHL2T9HKZuUFisf_XlZzh09jTpsEY345aI1HhBsjHu12DK38QCEUsI5VBQ9MkllgH2qF_Pz91qJ8BtHycRTrSEwBqJxNZdiTGS50C4MlkzxnU9vjJlSlLiqd7lQiUsiYG61wT9rQ5l_tpwszPAKcY_MModA8A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="651" data-original-width="864" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXchgucTrKCOgwQ1OujpYMgMS-t0qWMsHL2T9HKZuUFisf_XlZzh09jTpsEY345aI1HhBsjHu12DK38QCEUsI5VBQ9MkllgH2qF_Pz91qJ8BtHycRTrSEwBqJxNZdiTGS50C4MlkzxnU9vjJlSlLiqd7lQiUsiYG61wT9rQ5l_tpwszPAKcY_MModA8A=w400-h301" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfPjh9Iibdbq2QZXD1vFnWT4Wqq3Gimv3SQMrLQXyjrFn9S4un69b-1Ud_Wn8G9qczcTSzddLJoJd29QS81bk9PjsRaHgAeMZi0agMJIovSf9D6QsSojE8hsyxC5dfrflG3i3dAAukUAdWsYFMjscurSzlRrSh_y3TyEzWaCmmgEhIaJaraMV1ssGftg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="651" data-original-width="864" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfPjh9Iibdbq2QZXD1vFnWT4Wqq3Gimv3SQMrLQXyjrFn9S4un69b-1Ud_Wn8G9qczcTSzddLJoJd29QS81bk9PjsRaHgAeMZi0agMJIovSf9D6QsSojE8hsyxC5dfrflG3i3dAAukUAdWsYFMjscurSzlRrSh_y3TyEzWaCmmgEhIaJaraMV1ssGftg=w400-h301" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Thank you very much to our sponsors for this and previous years' scholarships and all our donors who have made our work possible!</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Would you like to sponsor a student or help with another area of our programs? If so, thank you! Please follow the link below:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://amazonpueblo.org/give/" target="_blank">https://amazonpueblo.org/give/ </a></b></span></div><br /> </div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p>Benjamin Angulohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07271021177857576894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923847771911087432.post-45742656962683630862023-05-21T18:24:00.004-05:002023-06-18T11:24:35.988-05:00Photos of daily life in the village and river.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Photos from around the village of La Libertad, Leticia, and the river.</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After our more intense blog posts about the project, we decided to have pictures of things we see in our daily life around the Amazon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhrmhpMzEl0d3RxvUOAfnqbdrcLICbQ-hWZglUDQRhtDQ2B2neMFPrb6joZMr-TaI6h5QPQBPLSk3xxsmYC4K41WHhMaZojLS9dIme3XOTPOf4xr9Uq_62ehGm1wp30qM6U9Rv8nftV3AlVWPFr4qKHMbadtcVvbvHyaysfh-4z953almdhMf_bO4sssA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="864" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhrmhpMzEl0d3RxvUOAfnqbdrcLICbQ-hWZglUDQRhtDQ2B2neMFPrb6joZMr-TaI6h5QPQBPLSk3xxsmYC4K41WHhMaZojLS9dIme3XOTPOf4xr9Uq_62ehGm1wp30qM6U9Rv8nftV3AlVWPFr4qKHMbadtcVvbvHyaysfh-4z953almdhMf_bO4sssA=w400-h235" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cookies!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At the end of school shopping, we stopped by a bakery. The kids said they had never had cookies with animal faces, so we got some!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9cbTD1bHll7ZmazM6IkjMxY4_mFfScf3mHtjeZJ0PjBPYFp1Ed2CmTAfXFjUYG_3U4BwJLgEJVUEl42oS8MmW-kuSn4hcUgrdD4qb3gEJrR8QMosybkpaaTXrp-3nK0I1MM7SF9tnLI6XLtLgyoq8KHTtRFnx9QVhtArCwTqpDkvzjGCDQt9q7T93ow" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="655" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9cbTD1bHll7ZmazM6IkjMxY4_mFfScf3mHtjeZJ0PjBPYFp1Ed2CmTAfXFjUYG_3U4BwJLgEJVUEl42oS8MmW-kuSn4hcUgrdD4qb3gEJrR8QMosybkpaaTXrp-3nK0I1MM7SF9tnLI6XLtLgyoq8KHTtRFnx9QVhtArCwTqpDkvzjGCDQt9q7T93ow=w303-h400" width="303" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A doll representing the year 2022.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">A New Year's custom in Colombia; burning man. To welcome the new year, Colombians place a doll outside their house. They do this about a week before December 31. When the new year arrives at midnight, they burn the doll!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCRpp4MrHYGfFGruhGNQLVFMmR-Nd7AKbXmY99XFYXLhiiU4TBrS60Djh9yxwdUl5N5R5BlnaOw16_j6YRRyVoP0L_CNbRvCc_u1Hbhg3NHXqTdWvmDYmzFw0tDyhW5fYCRCobqDhvKfAGp_7CmUY3pw5ZUb2WUQE4U1XM_2ViKsqIKLi-7DfH15oNDA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="801" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCRpp4MrHYGfFGruhGNQLVFMmR-Nd7AKbXmY99XFYXLhiiU4TBrS60Djh9yxwdUl5N5R5BlnaOw16_j6YRRyVoP0L_CNbRvCc_u1Hbhg3NHXqTdWvmDYmzFw0tDyhW5fYCRCobqDhvKfAGp_7CmUY3pw5ZUb2WUQE4U1XM_2ViKsqIKLi-7DfH15oNDA=w372-h400" width="372" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another doll of 2022.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisiGem3qqJWX3QXkjB-gpOVy_uM2hRA2HGvXKR3rDl8K1xQM8gVQOEIRZfpcYJXkgsofVjv70WS25uA5sZLyY3YYQhnB6wnilaP9hj02Rjm7pkCwJHpYiTkuTz_wCqt7mKIOEZGRz9KrzX_rRkWVK46muUcNHjFQcx6kDqSxcYwt_ssj_w8oT313ErqQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="864" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisiGem3qqJWX3QXkjB-gpOVy_uM2hRA2HGvXKR3rDl8K1xQM8gVQOEIRZfpcYJXkgsofVjv70WS25uA5sZLyY3YYQhnB6wnilaP9hj02Rjm7pkCwJHpYiTkuTz_wCqt7mKIOEZGRz9KrzX_rRkWVK46muUcNHjFQcx6kDqSxcYwt_ssj_w8oT313ErqQ=w400-h329" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Burning Man, Colombian style!</td></tr></tbody></table>In our village, at the turn of the new year.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjrcauAjbvkqNLL4Euh_ZqhyJX8ze94ufJLARs9vUKblgctUjffh9kNiTNzmiDTq6A8NnSgrebi-gOYHCH-P9ZCG8qPrihCJGNznU0Y4CNh0-_cSGUGjZ3x_HgGcuBOpgmPQRlx2Z8AmXt7N4CsfSRKo1ZKWopuiWmlMaZzD5EPLhOw5QMncg_k5UjHtA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="698" data-original-width="864" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjrcauAjbvkqNLL4Euh_ZqhyJX8ze94ufJLARs9vUKblgctUjffh9kNiTNzmiDTq6A8NnSgrebi-gOYHCH-P9ZCG8qPrihCJGNznU0Y4CNh0-_cSGUGjZ3x_HgGcuBOpgmPQRlx2Z8AmXt7N4CsfSRKo1ZKWopuiWmlMaZzD5EPLhOw5QMncg_k5UjHtA=w400-h323" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Protected from the rays of the sun.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Protective covers cover all of the gasoline tanks used for our boat. This keeps them from being exposed to direct sunlight. Our old tank did not have a cover. After four years, it became very brittle. One day when we were filling it up at the gasoline barge in front of Leticia, we hit it against the side of the barge, and it cracked! Luckily, this happened towards the top, and we were able to stop the gasoline escape. After this, we got a new tank and made covers for them all.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmsA9tcXQs5-pGsVEuG9kJ_CcE2On4ATprRBsHYhbFmhe-Q7o_fOs7znKoNpcVp4CqzXkonn0MvJZxJUEHLpozXkSt2Jf1tcDjEID6i92FgSwCg8njNNaec4DdAP4u0mWRms5GlO_-P9OP-U_92F_Z-N3836HjVtRa6yLv9LmBG-LAQTOueiS2ZHZ9UA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="596" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmsA9tcXQs5-pGsVEuG9kJ_CcE2On4ATprRBsHYhbFmhe-Q7o_fOs7znKoNpcVp4CqzXkonn0MvJZxJUEHLpozXkSt2Jf1tcDjEID6i92FgSwCg8njNNaec4DdAP4u0mWRms5GlO_-P9OP-U_92F_Z-N3836HjVtRa6yLv9LmBG-LAQTOueiS2ZHZ9UA=w277-h400" width="277" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The temporary bridge to the river in Puerta Alegria.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">We spend at least five hours, and often much more time, on the river each week. It is constantly changing in water level, water currents, sandbar dangers, and how people access the river. Many communities construct temporary bridges, stairs, and docks to allow easier access to the water. This bridge was only on the river for a month this year. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3ggxDpB3LXh0WA_KZ1wg1lfjB7iYvmGzttr6WOgaqIkblsVJUhqIMF0sgzPiaJnUS5uw9dV4YgCQrBDMOcD0GH-iTZ2sV57_CgLFuPnI5v2ALGuctgly54IlmdefI0bpQiZmkqcBFdDxKJ81gDvo0WqbW7tAwQ1vFE5v7-IZRsxc02fd8fP2yIDwu9w" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="651" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3ggxDpB3LXh0WA_KZ1wg1lfjB7iYvmGzttr6WOgaqIkblsVJUhqIMF0sgzPiaJnUS5uw9dV4YgCQrBDMOcD0GH-iTZ2sV57_CgLFuPnI5v2ALGuctgly54IlmdefI0bpQiZmkqcBFdDxKJ81gDvo0WqbW7tAwQ1vFE5v7-IZRsxc02fd8fP2yIDwu9w=w302-h400" width="302" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our old guesthouse.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">In March, we said goodbye to our first guesthouse in the village. We built it 10 years ago. It housed many volunteers, tourists, and members of Gustavo's family. After many repairs, the rot in the wood was too extensive to be repaired. We hope to build a combined tool storage and technology area in its place. We plan to construct the new building from concrete and blocks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiVxW51CjIwPmAJsFGWCmAfQwmpFiA0pc1DWmChu9h9w6vQfX3TP8dI43XeI8G3RQv7CTz0ybADsBNTB1xPZAWfawdZ8FdAy0KaKlqMxHpKPI5n4UVonZ4hzQhu8guFQc_fZaLlsFM0LEJ8A_azZeeoX82n2yS-qVfdLUwACMkXt3wYbCjCKI4e6Zam3g" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="546" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiVxW51CjIwPmAJsFGWCmAfQwmpFiA0pc1DWmChu9h9w6vQfX3TP8dI43XeI8G3RQv7CTz0ybADsBNTB1xPZAWfawdZ8FdAy0KaKlqMxHpKPI5n4UVonZ4hzQhu8guFQc_fZaLlsFM0LEJ8A_azZeeoX82n2yS-qVfdLUwACMkXt3wYbCjCKI4e6Zam3g=w253-h400" width="253" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A "new to her" bike.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5whiDNZCCCCfQl4pAGkx8Hz5CXjmRvKZkMOUHS3enS2uluNWqiapkrYtjJ1nxSz0R3TBNjSHqsdXDym2UHNyMaTJduxXPpkrf5EZgxRlcfYH9Yofwl16qb-F93X63u0fBS0uBnL72cPvkI89RjOC0blSty9LGSgIgjbozbO_0aEhh4V0sDmmZInRHSg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="662" data-original-width="864" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5whiDNZCCCCfQl4pAGkx8Hz5CXjmRvKZkMOUHS3enS2uluNWqiapkrYtjJ1nxSz0R3TBNjSHqsdXDym2UHNyMaTJduxXPpkrf5EZgxRlcfYH9Yofwl16qb-F93X63u0fBS0uBnL72cPvkI89RjOC0blSty9LGSgIgjbozbO_0aEhh4V0sDmmZInRHSg=w400-h307" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Haircuts before going to town for school shopping.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXPxpaJtT63eW3T6rNxwl5Dy7jK7oxMvgaxTG1rZKZEIIYWaPStT2MmO7AsryLZ4XbUmJUc6YLR60U62nEEv0wID1r-49lulq4qLl0KukpwJuhpxyNq7kmIWUNy1YeC7QfW5--VQa_jAv4sBClBy0dqUdqHasng4o1RKGZ6DWoaNaByacPf-jtGbkUDg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="864" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXPxpaJtT63eW3T6rNxwl5Dy7jK7oxMvgaxTG1rZKZEIIYWaPStT2MmO7AsryLZ4XbUmJUc6YLR60U62nEEv0wID1r-49lulq4qLl0KukpwJuhpxyNq7kmIWUNy1YeC7QfW5--VQa_jAv4sBClBy0dqUdqHasng4o1RKGZ6DWoaNaByacPf-jtGbkUDg=w400-h278" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watching an action movie in the afternoon.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The scholarship kids are watching a movie on a donated computer. We power the computer with our solar panels during the early and mid-day. It is connected to the village's power grid in the late afternoon and early evening.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Our education program is looking for used PC laptops and Android tablets. </b><b>(Sorry, no Apple products. Given our limitations, they don't work well in the Amazon.) </b><b>If anyone has either to donate, please send it to us! All donations are tax-deductible.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Our address is:</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Amazon Pueblo</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">13 Sunset Street</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Thomaston, ME 04861</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Thank you!</span></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p></p>Benjamin Angulohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07271021177857576894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923847771911087432.post-86359534346068175772023-05-21T11:02:00.006-05:002023-06-18T10:55:42.748-05:00The rising river: Boat crash on the Amazon.<p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The dangers of river travel.</span></b></p><p>In January, the river was rising. The river may rise by up to 25 feet between its lowest (dry season) and highest (rainy season). We had just taken our boat out of storage and traveled to Leticia to resupply.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_gyRY8vmg0c0D69eTaK1pWXArKQaPlqIsz5giNy-UdoD67K4RjtogKuctTmYyGNoDRbRbDFvDX9ZIDcwWzO3l3ZQ_01JK6kw5zdUFBLgMcb4x1S_mnjfPHt0uSumHOw_Hr_HZs5lTcKRQtjzyETChvQjY0YbkzT11u8NeRxkLGBMYOP0zGmKTZmPC3A" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="864" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_gyRY8vmg0c0D69eTaK1pWXArKQaPlqIsz5giNy-UdoD67K4RjtogKuctTmYyGNoDRbRbDFvDX9ZIDcwWzO3l3ZQ_01JK6kw5zdUFBLgMcb4x1S_mnjfPHt0uSumHOw_Hr_HZs5lTcKRQtjzyETChvQjY0YbkzT11u8NeRxkLGBMYOP0zGmKTZmPC3A=w400-h234" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Passing through a floating debris zone.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It had been raining for the past three days. The river was rising rapidly. When it rises, vegetation, sticks, and logs along the river banks and tributaries are carried downriver with the current. Depending on the current, it collects into dense patches in some places. We always drive more slowly through these zones.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The floating debris is easy to spot and move around. The danger comes from logs that float just below the water's surface. As long as we move slowly, these aren't too much of a problem. What we fear most is when one of these submerged logs breaks free of the pack and is randomly floating below the surface of what we think is clear water. In clear water, we travel up to 30 km per hour. Hitting a large submerged log at this speed can be disastrous.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNfU-N9pA7A3ko6DtUEMZTOwDs5v1oumCZUnXwfhMzEbfZY9Mc_Q5JNXf_luQ1rWX0lCjERmwUzlqH25u3_vQlPKrmH1gdXxU-h5CZTrIwW60myS0eXnof6Ewk7XUiXexjci1tRi9Wpt48h70_fPn9NEpMXHJ6r7SU8vyZ8sR6RNd8LNky2mQgNWnNoA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="864" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNfU-N9pA7A3ko6DtUEMZTOwDs5v1oumCZUnXwfhMzEbfZY9Mc_Q5JNXf_luQ1rWX0lCjERmwUzlqH25u3_vQlPKrmH1gdXxU-h5CZTrIwW60myS0eXnof6Ewk7XUiXexjci1tRi9Wpt48h70_fPn9NEpMXHJ6r7SU8vyZ8sR6RNd8LNky2mQgNWnNoA=w400-h309" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After unpacking the boat, we knew we had a serious problem.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />On the trip downriver, we struck a large submerged log in what we thought was clear water. The force of it was enough to knock us out of our seats and send us sprawling forward. Our pilot lost his grip on the tiller of the motor. The thing that saved us was that we struck the log straight on. It would have flipped the boat if we had struck it at an angle.<div><br /></div><div>We shut down the motor and inspected it for damage. The motor seemed fine. However, we did notice a rattling on the floor of the boat. After arriving at our destination in Leticia, we saw that the impact of the log was forceful enough to break five of the welds between the deck of our boat and the structural reinforcers which run along the floor. If the deck is not supported, it with lead to the failure of the seams which hold the deck to the boat's sides. In other words, we could sink rapidly. It had to be fixed.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">After asking in the port of Leticia, we found a shipyard in the neighboring city of Tabating, Brazil, where they could repair it. Our boat is made of aluminum, so the welder needed to be skilled and have a specialized MIG welder. We left Leticia early the next morning to find him.</div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiH6NehtmMuxxsnxxeRGzBGS4IPUoEU5nhqQjvT3SYWm6E9OEy386PihN_277gOX5GG044FjWJg1EYtI2ygol2SwHQkpJ_vqEHER5KD_qvK81HIc6rhos2yU1Fe2TAm9KSGwuUmknGBq42bgSBQP2k-tzBS391FI8sFhzpTmsjX9pQ1EsNL3z-BCvdu9Q" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="585" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiH6NehtmMuxxsnxxeRGzBGS4IPUoEU5nhqQjvT3SYWm6E9OEy386PihN_277gOX5GG044FjWJg1EYtI2ygol2SwHQkpJ_vqEHER5KD_qvK81HIc6rhos2yU1Fe2TAm9KSGwuUmknGBq42bgSBQP2k-tzBS391FI8sFhzpTmsjX9pQ1EsNL3z-BCvdu9Q=w272-h400" width="272" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Estimating the damage.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When we got to the boatyard, the welder said he could fix it. He also recommended reinforcing the other welds on the deck, to which we agreed. He estimated that after wrapping up a job he was currently doing, it would be ready within three hours. This gave us time to look around the boatyard and get a snack in town before eating lunch at noon. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqYbbpSHM1Ahfl5CuljllJ9VpJzO5hXxovCCs1a0S4bYeOBrX2G5l7HBDP9eYBQNgfRR3VtW5RSONEN4BnJ5LSggbJBtSebsMbm9Uzcd7qfu7lX9afDKexXfUWq2nXe_EGY_FD-TKofeS7clCpSmaz7nr44jSFtUPYUaNpDMKVJFbaQ0U7uILy4Hma4Q" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="864" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqYbbpSHM1Ahfl5CuljllJ9VpJzO5hXxovCCs1a0S4bYeOBrX2G5l7HBDP9eYBQNgfRR3VtW5RSONEN4BnJ5LSggbJBtSebsMbm9Uzcd7qfu7lX9afDKexXfUWq2nXe_EGY_FD-TKofeS7clCpSmaz7nr44jSFtUPYUaNpDMKVJFbaQ0U7uILy4Hma4Q=w400-h248" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brayan looking at a huge winch.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhnkDl77VirE3q-pSfoyKfyQjiJ67rlrPp3m-RiZxusqOzy-6xAYnHPRVhbVzDVnOF6xDWVmt5CLF8hFU7ELtoQiPps3lHz7Yk3w67NfI-2EK9-t7U2c2CG5P1Fdzv-PIBN6cCIvIBlaMQlBWIiygZ9cY_u4xxXJ-H0GYPTPVZnjJ7ZUSZiPg9wZFtHeA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="716" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhnkDl77VirE3q-pSfoyKfyQjiJ67rlrPp3m-RiZxusqOzy-6xAYnHPRVhbVzDVnOF6xDWVmt5CLF8hFU7ELtoQiPps3lHz7Yk3w67NfI-2EK9-t7U2c2CG5P1Fdzv-PIBN6cCIvIBlaMQlBWIiygZ9cY_u4xxXJ-H0GYPTPVZnjJ7ZUSZiPg9wZFtHeA=w332-h400" width="332" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The winch was used to pull this boat from the water.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhI-HsK8rw3LSUgQ7H-mA6816o0S8opl0KCakwXQ2jU_f6Gn7gSSkVkBfE7IvY8s_JaTYFDrj3krDHrSvov7_v0X6RMBoeQOjFHBevGaK7UvlXGYaXyh4vwMq1nnhwT3hIGFIDrGemkH-B2qgN9cSUzg-rZ1eZIUolwBfnftC5E2ytjq9EtQv1S9Fwzcg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="760" data-original-width="864" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhI-HsK8rw3LSUgQ7H-mA6816o0S8opl0KCakwXQ2jU_f6Gn7gSSkVkBfE7IvY8s_JaTYFDrj3krDHrSvov7_v0X6RMBoeQOjFHBevGaK7UvlXGYaXyh4vwMq1nnhwT3hIGFIDrGemkH-B2qgN9cSUzg-rZ1eZIUolwBfnftC5E2ytjq9EtQv1S9Fwzcg=w400-h352" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Repairing the boat with a MIG aluminum welder.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What did we learn from this? Always be prepared for problems. Always wear a life vest (which we always do). We are also very careful when driving as the river rises.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div>Benjamin Angulohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07271021177857576894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923847771911087432.post-28275662378017759302023-05-19T12:34:00.003-05:002023-06-18T10:44:22.711-05:00Internet in the deep jungle of the Amazon!<p>STARLINK IN THE COMMUNITY!</p><p> At last, we have connectivity. This will allow us to connect to the outside world for education, employment, and emergencies and to keep in touch with family and friends.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQpRcGO_FG-lUNVsIQeFJ_G28jEJaN58Odc5vpJFlwFR5e3kvRZuwZKH9759MAMdNPVlo4y7-M7NZ822I-VZodrxETTtQg5qdSbJ8pV7d7Pqf_2astbZd2oumrumuN9iCADUqt3dS25fJvCZ-sqiMuoAHboEFAv5mra4DkfLk8Xj8ltRcfsvXwDDVmAA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="864" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQpRcGO_FG-lUNVsIQeFJ_G28jEJaN58Odc5vpJFlwFR5e3kvRZuwZKH9759MAMdNPVlo4y7-M7NZ822I-VZodrxETTtQg5qdSbJ8pV7d7Pqf_2astbZd2oumrumuN9iCADUqt3dS25fJvCZ-sqiMuoAHboEFAv5mra4DkfLk8Xj8ltRcfsvXwDDVmAA=w400-h280" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gustavo with the satellite antenna.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After six months of being unable to sign up for the service, they finally solved the problems and sent us the equipment. It arrived well-packed. After a two-week setup and test in Leticia, we brought it to the village of La Libertad.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2VBHY7sinIgPS-NLOqJew380sp0FGpyP-IcgLLEG_AsK8LO--9pX_zNTCdLg_m1nfPy0txC7WPtzywkUhuqsxdY4JHHeh_HJuAFUkH_gk5uKRV_KK235C30R54pOTct02REh8gpknCmONzOTz6N8LOUoameJKZUHWANqPltcajDsjAchf_LH-k_jz4A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="680" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2VBHY7sinIgPS-NLOqJew380sp0FGpyP-IcgLLEG_AsK8LO--9pX_zNTCdLg_m1nfPy0txC7WPtzywkUhuqsxdY4JHHeh_HJuAFUkH_gk5uKRV_KK235C30R54pOTct02REh8gpknCmONzOTz6N8LOUoameJKZUHWANqPltcajDsjAchf_LH-k_jz4A=w400-h251" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We first heard of the news of Starlink's arrival in the Amazon in the Colombia media. After waiting for over two years for the service, it is here. Other options for internet in the city of Leticia were very expensive (a $75 USD setup fee and very slow plans starting at $80/month to slow plans at $200/month). No connections were available over 5Mb. 5Mb was the maximum US internet speed of the year 2006!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJzK1i0x6Z__enpeoSVz00_PO6_vSRVZTzQVD0fzkEXGn9ZqcLvZVOVAxciq6R4pi-bfgngkp4IC_fjR5n6JHjpcXkj6d_erolC6l-8JktNb8FQR1AwV953SSl3SYhyB6bj2rNE7riKRCQ5Bao506zh3oZhTu2uxTx7tL2MKGZ9N_keFSyUdCY4OcU6g" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="665" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJzK1i0x6Z__enpeoSVz00_PO6_vSRVZTzQVD0fzkEXGn9ZqcLvZVOVAxciq6R4pi-bfgngkp4IC_fjR5n6JHjpcXkj6d_erolC6l-8JktNb8FQR1AwV953SSl3SYhyB6bj2rNE7riKRCQ5Bao506zh3oZhTu2uxTx7tL2MKGZ9N_keFSyUdCY4OcU6g=w308-h400" width="308" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The antenna is mounted on the roof of the guesthouse.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We mounted the antenna on the roof of our guesthouse. We can power it during the day with our solar panels. The village diesel generator can power it from 4 pm to 9 pm. Starlink may be connected to a commercial router with an adapter. This allows us to share part of our connection with the villagers. They connect with their cell phones to make calls using the app WhatsApp, which is widely used in Colombia. They can also make free calls to any part of the world with this app! This helps them to work with volunteers, tourism, and other businesses. Plus, they can more easily communicate with friends, family, and emergency services.<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhWGiO2vx1kzpRGjZkIwhCFACtVnLpo7s2Ef1eN8SfY97wwiMHpkkxK_x2QJHBIj9SOFnqQq39vB4bdLlT1nU7nlMwwEfcLi14gpQjZg0ObdZZp6fuYk1qwPGVnI5t89WRYdQyhG9rtqKP9WvJDzPwy6zn8tUyydkPa7EHS7sZK7ygep6goPBUVR79Epg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="909" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhWGiO2vx1kzpRGjZkIwhCFACtVnLpo7s2Ef1eN8SfY97wwiMHpkkxK_x2QJHBIj9SOFnqQq39vB4bdLlT1nU7nlMwwEfcLi14gpQjZg0ObdZZp6fuYk1qwPGVnI5t89WRYdQyhG9rtqKP9WvJDzPwy6zn8tUyydkPa7EHS7sZK7ygep6goPBUVR79Epg=w320-h246" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The router we use to share the internet with the community.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0GacYkh65Slc9LYk3zHjLi0Ize8xyl3hnb_bQ-eWceS1vmAgj_cppe6OWOsi7VPgfGA7kbeZADrFYc09nckDnDxIqNe3HX-5aRtlJItZqfXWQQ0Ov94aAM1_UsF2890_8By4a4ZVunzpfTLkyBTW0ixst6-NonkeR8g_53tRPu8lQRkyivR2bzo2Y8g" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0GacYkh65Slc9LYk3zHjLi0Ize8xyl3hnb_bQ-eWceS1vmAgj_cppe6OWOsi7VPgfGA7kbeZADrFYc09nckDnDxIqNe3HX-5aRtlJItZqfXWQQ0Ov94aAM1_UsF2890_8By4a4ZVunzpfTLkyBTW0ixst6-NonkeR8g_53tRPu8lQRkyivR2bzo2Y8g=w185-h400" width="185" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Screenshot of our internet speed.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We were surprised and happy to find our connection speed up to 200Mb. This is fast enough for many people to use the connection for internet browsing, messages, and voice/video calls. We are even able to watch the occasional streaming movie!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigW36FLxhIUMCooSJBsahOrJciSdIvxl8x30Wt4_xGVBMmxVrp8QL_-pr78HBV6d68xLLtB3xIoeDGPeTDAh4v0B55Q_bOFKyE4BB4BMmgpOCOucqKQHtpJxRHGD2RYh1yB1euCjWCmAWOkK19SQNGDfqdifxyBDLEHJOMGm0euIgzfsDuybRLs86hAQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigW36FLxhIUMCooSJBsahOrJciSdIvxl8x30Wt4_xGVBMmxVrp8QL_-pr78HBV6d68xLLtB3xIoeDGPeTDAh4v0B55Q_bOFKyE4BB4BMmgpOCOucqKQHtpJxRHGD2RYh1yB1euCjWCmAWOkK19SQNGDfqdifxyBDLEHJOMGm0euIgzfsDuybRLs86hAQ=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Starlink antenna in the city of Leticia. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Leticia, 38 km downriver from our village, also has Starlink. We had a shared connection from a local internet service provider (ISP), but the connection degraded rapidly as more and more people bought Starlink, and the ISPs sold many lines. When too many people use the service in an area, the internet's bandwidth (speed) declines. Within one year, Leticia had the highest concentration of Starlink antennas in the country of Colombia! Starlink no longer supplies new accounts for residential services in the city.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Luckily, there are NO other Starlink systems within many kilometers of us. We hope to have a fast connection for many years with very little or no competition for the satellites.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyAQKDv48nzOgftMogmtfrE2qFYJdpttjlVFfdzVd5cgAliKvFeFBRbnyxo8S7vTb2SWzIsiSfFmd0CToJO-SSgxyVPBNZDcPXIu14yn1BcKYlRmHfMJQK4GM7gD26fGggIjl_mFhUXYhNQ-B7l01cv6-oTkJ2HTrm7Y5viTZzA6rA9xxebI7xt2vemw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="517" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyAQKDv48nzOgftMogmtfrE2qFYJdpttjlVFfdzVd5cgAliKvFeFBRbnyxo8S7vTb2SWzIsiSfFmd0CToJO-SSgxyVPBNZDcPXIu14yn1BcKYlRmHfMJQK4GM7gD26fGggIjl_mFhUXYhNQ-B7l01cv6-oTkJ2HTrm7Y5viTZzA6rA9xxebI7xt2vemw=w345-h400" width="345" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The notice of no new Starlink accounts in Leticia.</td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></div><br /><p></p>Benjamin Angulohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07271021177857576894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923847771911087432.post-2113260358487918742023-05-17T20:20:00.004-05:002023-06-18T10:24:27.954-05:00Building the Wall! Our work on the health center goes forward.<div><br /></div><div>We have built the walls!</div><div><br /></div>Now that we are back in the States with a good internet connection, we can share our latest story...<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI9UAl5YP4NLSxvu2H7xS7AGIqjLF999QmntHujYTQVulCEEi-v9intv5KR-U7xW_lcOmHQuPFrpHErl0jwU7xJPtk0BFXbw_yXpLqX4VndQrdY_pHFJkti7m6gZEDNKiQ6_7LtzVrZcWajtctGwzLgyskNrNMG5HyGKX6v59pW7e1ccHxNWiQjZt-Gg/s864/hc%20wall%2010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="519" data-original-width="864" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI9UAl5YP4NLSxvu2H7xS7AGIqjLF999QmntHujYTQVulCEEi-v9intv5KR-U7xW_lcOmHQuPFrpHErl0jwU7xJPtk0BFXbw_yXpLqX4VndQrdY_pHFJkti7m6gZEDNKiQ6_7LtzVrZcWajtctGwzLgyskNrNMG5HyGKX6v59pW7e1ccHxNWiQjZt-Gg/w400-h240/hc%20wall%2010.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><div>Our work during the winter and early spring is complete. We have built the walls of our health care center. It was more difficult than planned. A high inflation rate added at least 25% to our costs. The low level of the river made transportation difficult. Finding a reliable mason was a challenge. And now, the story.</div><div><br /></div><div>Moving 1,300 brick construction blocks was very labor intensive. After ordering the bricks at the business of Bom Jesus across the shared border of Tabating, Brazil, we had to wait five weeks for them to be fired and delivered. The delivery day was February 7. The day started with a hearty breakfast of pancakes. Three of our scholarship students helped our main crew to move the bricks.</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiewOt3kf36w8Vj3iVROSLvjlKJNuONX09Yqz-s8ymzpliTQz1bCeBSmdtHcOKDG1hHs7VlYXU0DNcqzVkQM6V-_pbukyaiZyIyqgerk6JTF7ugarvj-uogIJbq0Bo2OTNS2VkQDvmJUoyvQ0ZKoRP2T5vVIQu4kcJ0kbqIiSBA2GLZrUTe7djfqqSd2Q" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="864" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiewOt3kf36w8Vj3iVROSLvjlKJNuONX09Yqz-s8ymzpliTQz1bCeBSmdtHcOKDG1hHs7VlYXU0DNcqzVkQM6V-_pbukyaiZyIyqgerk6JTF7ugarvj-uogIJbq0Bo2OTNS2VkQDvmJUoyvQ0ZKoRP2T5vVIQu4kcJ0kbqIiSBA2GLZrUTe7djfqqSd2Q=w400-h243" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pan-que-ques! (bread-what-whats)</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Bom Jesus is one of the largest brick yards in the Colombian Amazon. They supply the majority of the material for the region. Their friendly staff help to coordinate the delivery. Unfortunately, the orders were mixed up, and the bricks arrived during the second delivery time of 10:30 in the morning. This caused us some problems, as the trip upriver was planned to take at least four hours, not including the time we needed to load the boats!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiRnlVeQdPyeXEdxQE5GWeiYRjWeWPlRWp54kz9cNjlpw9vomkV9gZ8JGbhGO8VUA-siuYjwOj3QnFgJPG8lhWGHhO-wxL8X-dMPb2OGQZrqUDG4MGe2MTXAGJd7gIu1Xal5odcrDbkWnqZMwUhapDvSYMRh7XoMVnoJdTYF0eSy7j4D9Wj2ZCLBD_5Ww" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="864" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiRnlVeQdPyeXEdxQE5GWeiYRjWeWPlRWp54kz9cNjlpw9vomkV9gZ8JGbhGO8VUA-siuYjwOj3QnFgJPG8lhWGHhO-wxL8X-dMPb2OGQZrqUDG4MGe2MTXAGJd7gIu1Xal5odcrDbkWnqZMwUhapDvSYMRh7XoMVnoJdTYF0eSy7j4D9Wj2ZCLBD_5Ww=w400-h291" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brick making.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvEZseViMQMD4ELPayOCUBYLFR9jynBJZqZV9E4LTlpw1G1SvsMO-2hgYL2P3jvEn3RLBl1S4qP_L_L00Rj0ejPG4ut86USPq58KY1POEbAC8Z1yI-3SJx5CAuzBok6TDUVsuNNtlkiphNx162NxC1sAG2KjDt9rmIJLJ76GBIk0IJgib0qaiTxzCYXA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="864" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvEZseViMQMD4ELPayOCUBYLFR9jynBJZqZV9E4LTlpw1G1SvsMO-2hgYL2P3jvEn3RLBl1S4qP_L_L00Rj0ejPG4ut86USPq58KY1POEbAC8Z1yI-3SJx5CAuzBok6TDUVsuNNtlkiphNx162NxC1sAG2KjDt9rmIJLJ76GBIk0IJgib0qaiTxzCYXA=w400-h315" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And more bricks.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhrzuvqK0T-U_dPHJRHjCv9AEbqvCsFXILesXC2GlrwZ0JGsB9NGKcwMpE8FIbEkD2nNZ36hg0XRRy0H0OaIQjleS47JK7msrg_HE5HCdMyFeGCbNHnWWGohrwY8V_324Dn7O8mK6x1l2TGh4BpcWcLIgAmW_3t-GGhzVsO7zMrK-uy-Lr0XFcdPNUfcw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="864" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhrzuvqK0T-U_dPHJRHjCv9AEbqvCsFXILesXC2GlrwZ0JGsB9NGKcwMpE8FIbEkD2nNZ36hg0XRRy0H0OaIQjleS47JK7msrg_HE5HCdMyFeGCbNHnWWGohrwY8V_324Dn7O8mK6x1l2TGh4BpcWcLIgAmW_3t-GGhzVsO7zMrK-uy-Lr0XFcdPNUfcw=w400-h288" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picking up the smaller brick blocks at the business La Confianza.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We used a combination of a large dump truck and a smaller motorcycle/cart vehicle to transport the bricks to the riverside. This was about a two-kilometer trip. Once at the river, we had to carry the blocks and stack them into our two boats. Each of our boats was 11 meters long and built in the traditional style of the wooden riverboats of the region. One boat is harbored at our village of La Libertad, and the other came down from Vista Alegra, Peru.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlmft9kiBcy2DCEq-KzcQmckXgNXA8EDDruIsi0svOBg0ipthwOmuI-omYmJPx4xropeVAvEpaj6C67RfwuPQCezXT40yWCL1mkQCmiiPD4Chw4eoOUEHkoNFVK8-kw--SEu_JZbMpaQFEeSThx0D_PqDVdSe7QCVxJxCZ6bL8p_wucgBbmw-S78fy_A" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="864" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlmft9kiBcy2DCEq-KzcQmckXgNXA8EDDruIsi0svOBg0ipthwOmuI-omYmJPx4xropeVAvEpaj6C67RfwuPQCezXT40yWCL1mkQCmiiPD4Chw4eoOUEHkoNFVK8-kw--SEu_JZbMpaQFEeSThx0D_PqDVdSe7QCVxJxCZ6bL8p_wucgBbmw-S78fy_A=w400-h221" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We stacked about two tons of blocks in each boat.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSQ2MuP8fSdqcMx9HKhQTVPMo04GVroP-Uthb-6dks8l0UtlNIeFadqKDU9ceeVTGYWQdDUbDCGbPjJHEUp_zwU31tupojYHKlVMfZ9GanpC-aD-R4z_XarVxJShG8Lwvv8OvEdORQQFJSAdVafLZq-ldnjrBJS4VIJbKQP6I1mKuHmRZcu5PPF_ssTA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="567" data-original-width="864" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSQ2MuP8fSdqcMx9HKhQTVPMo04GVroP-Uthb-6dks8l0UtlNIeFadqKDU9ceeVTGYWQdDUbDCGbPjJHEUp_zwU31tupojYHKlVMfZ9GanpC-aD-R4z_XarVxJShG8Lwvv8OvEdORQQFJSAdVafLZq-ldnjrBJS4VIJbKQP6I1mKuHmRZcu5PPF_ssTA=w400-h263" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">While the boats may look overloaded, the pilots said they were not.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The day was hot, in the low 90's, with brutal humidity. Most of us had varying degrees of heat stroke. We did attempt to stay hydrated by drinking fruit juice and large quantities of water. When we were packed and ready to go, it was 11:45.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The trip upriver took four hours for the boat on the right. They arrived at about 4:30 pm. Their trip was uneventful. But our other boat ran into problems. Halfway through the 38-kilometer trip, their propellor hit an underwater log. This broke off one of the propellor blades. After looking for a replacement propellor in the nearby river communities, they found and installed an old, used one, enabling them to resume the trip. The only problem, the cost of the propellor was four times what it should have been! Gustavo, our pilot, arrived in the village after a seven-hour tip, well after sunset. We were preparing a rescue to see what had happened to him. Luckily he arrived before they left.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now the fun part. Construction.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIosxLqFxJL6gXsiqCHC2nJaYf9qWHUdWcyE8-yv4KQMzs-SUBKVAIKvTYWWNTDguXEcaQa3W1AZ2cn31i2ETNYmfaOflAxbf8xYa-0aP13arJ3bwhAP5J8INBUvvSht8yBnU02FI-m4y31XNy3NK3rIn774D4XoTvWSQ5TZ6UFH3M_ipWGChhFe5dpw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="571" data-original-width="864" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIosxLqFxJL6gXsiqCHC2nJaYf9qWHUdWcyE8-yv4KQMzs-SUBKVAIKvTYWWNTDguXEcaQa3W1AZ2cn31i2ETNYmfaOflAxbf8xYa-0aP13arJ3bwhAP5J8INBUvvSht8yBnU02FI-m4y31XNy3NK3rIn774D4XoTvWSQ5TZ6UFH3M_ipWGChhFe5dpw=w400-h264" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At last, the blocks are safely under the health center's roof.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We started the construction one week after the blocks arrived. We had some problems finding a reliable mason, but we employed Larry after having one person back out. He has over 20 years of building wood and concrete structures in the area. His helpers are from the village of La Libertad. This works well, as they are eager for steady work.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhI0TTaeDOimMotrXfsxGZXu2f6PfJMslt0vf82OLBjSPm3TEmqLzom3fGiZfB14v59ENoKLEJ2vHN8ntt6DaUSjrzh8iNZ7RWPmXoAopo0R79_0hauTVat15qMd3iozwJX-76ORu0n_4ZzAB0tFcdJSkDi7GcwWUf7iUpAZW2bkmM8i6i3K4imEB3vxw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="634" data-original-width="864" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhI0TTaeDOimMotrXfsxGZXu2f6PfJMslt0vf82OLBjSPm3TEmqLzom3fGiZfB14v59ENoKLEJ2vHN8ntt6DaUSjrzh8iNZ7RWPmXoAopo0R79_0hauTVat15qMd3iozwJX-76ORu0n_4ZzAB0tFcdJSkDi7GcwWUf7iUpAZW2bkmM8i6i3K4imEB3vxw=w400-h294" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first days of work. Luckily, the weather was beautiful during the construction.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjPbEEbSTJTxMAX0-yOzWUIsOzauDl5TY71IrfULVbMvgpe_bE3N0gHHkuXHFOyq6wLCqUDPGzQ4GBUrhRrP17NVoK97dD0fNMcQX1e-pT3nKhHO2PBp1yYmleUqZeMq9FiLUyc9q5iaX52xX7zUiZjO8dvSTtjs9HgKTrK7NvwuLyhnoaDr4CaMDdIQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="864" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjPbEEbSTJTxMAX0-yOzWUIsOzauDl5TY71IrfULVbMvgpe_bE3N0gHHkuXHFOyq6wLCqUDPGzQ4GBUrhRrP17NVoK97dD0fNMcQX1e-pT3nKhHO2PBp1yYmleUqZeMq9FiLUyc9q5iaX52xX7zUiZjO8dvSTtjs9HgKTrK7NvwuLyhnoaDr4CaMDdIQ=w400-h250" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All mortar must be mixed by hand on the floor of the center.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1kTz1Z-dX5YKY9qz5_qLvPfIEohp3IBpDyvSKppVaDN0KbQHOixFFMnGDNhTCLZNtR2CRjJbjv1PDvCy9is5unCxyM2RWR_feyeKEaLAQMP-Iity3sw4InwOaPcM4svI5xotuMbykZCO5VfQMowHZDT02nsddd4X-70v1w89eYZ3B25wgPXcX3axioA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="501" data-original-width="864" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1kTz1Z-dX5YKY9qz5_qLvPfIEohp3IBpDyvSKppVaDN0KbQHOixFFMnGDNhTCLZNtR2CRjJbjv1PDvCy9is5unCxyM2RWR_feyeKEaLAQMP-Iity3sw4InwOaPcM4svI5xotuMbykZCO5VfQMowHZDT02nsddd4X-70v1w89eYZ3B25wgPXcX3axioA=w400-h233" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little by little, the walls take form.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEircGf2pS6uu4G7bvpo7GJScvgDJcWnIyMhO5R46AWO591MYkq0vdVaSMnlk5NoHqLfA8i2jQFT_KCr6ym7jIYdg73AsINmctoG4QUtXOFdWKButD9vcst9bOlJpptk2IQjHnSLLfwSPk_-thEbxGI5uhyejHVfiywIToSggCPg0Ro2SGyoIlr9oY2XaA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="577" data-original-width="864" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEircGf2pS6uu4G7bvpo7GJScvgDJcWnIyMhO5R46AWO591MYkq0vdVaSMnlk5NoHqLfA8i2jQFT_KCr6ym7jIYdg73AsINmctoG4QUtXOFdWKButD9vcst9bOlJpptk2IQjHnSLLfwSPk_-thEbxGI5uhyejHVfiywIToSggCPg0Ro2SGyoIlr9oY2XaA=w400-h268" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Larry, the contractor, and Ben, our project director.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj7LsNlGFKs8VgPYPPwPSEocaM_Um-7M4ZsGo7YzZsBkQBGsSfPzBvgw-i78WzJ3J3Q4UkQbKXfO2VXEkMLJYd5IsrCgx8w7Ya5PAS9ClZj5Y5p06OZMc5q8t0q4Ou6UwzlUoZbbphy2yuo1H7p-P4mlfdMGsYXOHwx7mvXzdvMnwVZB0kE_6zNRwIpqA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="508" data-original-width="864" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj7LsNlGFKs8VgPYPPwPSEocaM_Um-7M4ZsGo7YzZsBkQBGsSfPzBvgw-i78WzJ3J3Q4UkQbKXfO2VXEkMLJYd5IsrCgx8w7Ya5PAS9ClZj5Y5p06OZMc5q8t0q4Ou6UwzlUoZbbphy2yuo1H7p-P4mlfdMGsYXOHwx7mvXzdvMnwVZB0kE_6zNRwIpqA=w400-h235" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The camera angle makes the center look enormous.<br />Its dimensions are actually only seven meters by five meters.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiG98dftq4OWHVKRk498Who-C-Hj66naXQo8oufQxzuIH4PfcbMXs0Q5_yfmkkENWgbnpMVkGwgASPzwmsvTYFTCbhvbztmAo-6O9wd2ocpFHtGlRkiUTDhCf93K3pncDzwRL0dS5LpJKn8jL-fFgHQxekYRUBQTqzoF0x5kG1ThCUc0PPSaCyhz8b7lg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="864" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiG98dftq4OWHVKRk498Who-C-Hj66naXQo8oufQxzuIH4PfcbMXs0Q5_yfmkkENWgbnpMVkGwgASPzwmsvTYFTCbhvbztmAo-6O9wd2ocpFHtGlRkiUTDhCf93K3pncDzwRL0dS5LpJKn8jL-fFgHQxekYRUBQTqzoF0x5kG1ThCUc0PPSaCyhz8b7lg=w400-h275" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Victor, one of the workers, with one of our scholarship students.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Finished at last! At least for this year. The planning and logistics for the walls took about two months. The construction took about three weeks after we had all the materials in the village. That included wood needing to be cut, more trips to Leticia for missing things, and food resupply.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We had about 500 blocks left from the construction. That will be enough to build a bathroom for next year's project. Other improvements scheduled to make include: installing a metal door and window bars, mosquito screening, tile floor, plastering the walls, electrifying the structure, painting, and furniture. We will be busy!</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqwyNmcpJ1Cl4JAXCPxU7ZWJyZjSNAZv6SJy67ds940PNiGQMvOQK3E2Rgz985kOOGTni6PKOSoYOMTKjLc-0-y4YJdStO06yjeAK4Q_Gqe3QC8kjcNnt-v1nE8zGfhv67VbDBPmgVkbeHZ8M_31chr7vGCraw8IVm7ehyAigKk2EzXzUKo0U056htkA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="864" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqwyNmcpJ1Cl4JAXCPxU7ZWJyZjSNAZv6SJy67ds940PNiGQMvOQK3E2Rgz985kOOGTni6PKOSoYOMTKjLc-0-y4YJdStO06yjeAK4Q_Gqe3QC8kjcNnt-v1nE8zGfhv67VbDBPmgVkbeHZ8M_31chr7vGCraw8IVm7ehyAigKk2EzXzUKo0U056htkA=w400-h241" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Moving the extra blocks under Gustavo's house.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLUHQJPmO_CYcloV6ENIan-QJDLxHQ2mosw0wvxdQK7E4U7qJbLi-p0QqCFoGLaiBZ1wBYvhP5vTYTLasDzUsrGMJEq8DQ7ztWoCvfiHkUABLVTVA6wDy-VxbbWv1szJjE3fMpZP7KneNJSM3r5f1SCz7VsXOGHVW1fhk2kNMqlRN70LXlG5tAsQon0g/s864/minga%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="864" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLUHQJPmO_CYcloV6ENIan-QJDLxHQ2mosw0wvxdQK7E4U7qJbLi-p0QqCFoGLaiBZ1wBYvhP5vTYTLasDzUsrGMJEq8DQ7ztWoCvfiHkUABLVTVA6wDy-VxbbWv1szJjE3fMpZP7KneNJSM3r5f1SCz7VsXOGHVW1fhk2kNMqlRN70LXlG5tAsQon0g/w400-h278/minga%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Minga!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Our last work was to move the extra construction blocks under Gustavo's house. We did this through community work. All of our neighbors came over to help move everything. We supplied cookies, crackers, fruit drinks, and soda. The group work is called a Minga. Many hands make light work. Think of this as the barn-raisings we had during colonial times in the States.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Would you like to help? Our next construction time is planned to be in July/August of 2023. We are always looking for volunteers. Plan a trip to the Amazon and join us!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>And thank you, from us and everyone in the village of La Libertad, to all of our friends, family, volunteers, and donors, without whose help, this would not have been possible.</b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Benjamin Angulohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07271021177857576894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923847771911087432.post-40185960326785261302022-11-25T20:43:00.002-05:002022-11-25T20:46:26.081-05:00Fall 2022, Amazon Pueblo News from the Jungle: Building, scholarships, solar power, and more!<p>Welcome!</p><p>Our mission is to support the education of indigenous youth in the Colombian Amazon. We believe that through education they will become self-sufficient in sustainable employment/business. The three ways that we help to support their education are:</p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Direct educational support (scholarship program, assisting the local schools)</li><li>Health support (building a community health center, helping students to attain medical care)</li><li>Community support (assistance with transportation, agriculture, and infrastructure)</li></ol><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">This is the news covering some of what we did in 2022!</span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinZnu0s64rnlR4HUg898Z39GnvRbFFF4_uI8MKaIB9dX9EdvnB4g15tl3gAd3geqFUGcVbeEfLEluezrUT7E6bmtmD-7ldHDYDALfoqfWNebbre1X2oxKw9e_EsxWSRCfo4z76bhdoP19e5hr9_HWCC03CVvi-QYMyKf0W02YQl4PJ6fdx2YtJRRkHng/s864/PXL_20220604_143101501.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="705" data-original-width="864" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinZnu0s64rnlR4HUg898Z39GnvRbFFF4_uI8MKaIB9dX9EdvnB4g15tl3gAd3geqFUGcVbeEfLEluezrUT7E6bmtmD-7ldHDYDALfoqfWNebbre1X2oxKw9e_EsxWSRCfo4z76bhdoP19e5hr9_HWCC03CVvi-QYMyKf0W02YQl4PJ6fdx2YtJRRkHng/w400-h326/PXL_20220604_143101501.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>School shopping in the city of Leticia.</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMH6AGWH0SfMP6eFGWnapgPFAj1rRsFGSDKr80Sv7SujSC1FAwz1tiE4qEcVSgqUFgsJuAb1tz_jDjPxPj9GsdOMxdnPG2Xem1CnuI1lzO_M3yhLmLfUM39ft0k9VhK3AzSaDvAAiFjWDp5XZUUofW5i-p_LM-IjAxoe-wLYh8GtN7jjq1W6aMv5MdA/s864/HC%20220.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="528" data-original-width="864" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMH6AGWH0SfMP6eFGWnapgPFAj1rRsFGSDKr80Sv7SujSC1FAwz1tiE4qEcVSgqUFgsJuAb1tz_jDjPxPj9GsdOMxdnPG2Xem1CnuI1lzO_M3yhLmLfUM39ft0k9VhK3AzSaDvAAiFjWDp5XZUUofW5i-p_LM-IjAxoe-wLYh8GtN7jjq1W6aMv5MdA/w400-h245/HC%20220.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The almost-complete roof on top of the concrete slab and columns.</span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><b>The Quest to Build the Health Care Center: A story of concrete and metal in pictures</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">After years of fundraising and planning, we have finally started building the center. From April to June of 2022 we bought materials, transported them, and found skilled workers to do the construction. We have completed the first phase. During 2023 we hope to complete the second phase, putting up... <b><a href="https://blog.amazonpueblo.org/2022/11/quest-to-build-health-care-center-story.html" target="_blank">READ MORE</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjWUrH0JKIR1aeOpBx6ejUbUDFmskIT8UbI5vGyFkcnbVKEBgk_xWYV-oVjZSn5xJFUAtig2Yv-3sZzOexcegi5gMfYEkEQSkY_h0EJh2W4CqbwpBmwWm2mAiwuvxN-GV8BT97zvKMlc8jE28SLjCQ9nQ4ZqVrsP7kdTfKY3h4dOciSKS8Dta3nQAn0w" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="400" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjWUrH0JKIR1aeOpBx6ejUbUDFmskIT8UbI5vGyFkcnbVKEBgk_xWYV-oVjZSn5xJFUAtig2Yv-3sZzOexcegi5gMfYEkEQSkY_h0EJh2W4CqbwpBmwWm2mAiwuvxN-GV8BT97zvKMlc8jE28SLjCQ9nQ4ZqVrsP7kdTfKY3h4dOciSKS8Dta3nQAn0w=w400-h291" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>This damage was caused by a powerful rain and wind storm.</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Roof, rot, rats! The shocking state of the school buildings in La Libertad</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This picture shows the deplorable state of the school buildings in the village of La Libertad. The community school is in need of one more teacher. No new teachers want to come here, and for... <b><a href="oof, rot, rats! These pictures show the deplorable state of the school buildings in the village of La Libertad. The community school is in need of one more teacher. No new teachers want to come here, and for good reason." target="_blank">READ MORE</a></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div><br /></div></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQAYMsIaU3W3I6go6ycpnyY_c3NlBHmdMPPyp4zQxHDjOm6oOOHfNMdH1yNJSSuTJzk18zKfFh7F0_Mkuuwkrqe-U3T2PumslatmUhbeEQ49av48cWHPVQRpEhMle8DKCn53que-jZ54hjf7RAU_qaAvJh3j0QwSHMWGLENQoNhYv4qlO8g3D0i5lrZw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="400" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQAYMsIaU3W3I6go6ycpnyY_c3NlBHmdMPPyp4zQxHDjOm6oOOHfNMdH1yNJSSuTJzk18zKfFh7F0_Mkuuwkrqe-U3T2PumslatmUhbeEQ49av48cWHPVQRpEhMle8DKCn53que-jZ54hjf7RAU_qaAvJh3j0QwSHMWGLENQoNhYv4qlO8g3D0i5lrZw=w400-h275" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The trip back from buying school supplies in Leticia.</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Going Upriver on the Amazon</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sometimes the journey is more fun than arriving at the destination! We spend a lot of time on the river. Going upstream can take up to twice as long as going downstream. If we are in a large boat with a small motor, the trip can... <b><a href="https://blog.amazonpueblo.org/2022/11/going-upriver-on-amazon.html" target="_blank">READ MORE</a></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEircIQucP0PzcGKjnmCjUFQuQhyihUoGPsGb857abKEYEt1xZ5Q3fNU0lUzf8ikhTq8QTXuOA7Z4fD-6sssrtEeZraEYxQT7GQuCUCvegtjyxVDCHJ2mLyEYJiy3jRJM1akIpIgP74OU_jCwav9skSUa0cByimpQ8rlQ64p4nT-NUHGuvHJmJnC1sd2og" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="400" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEircIQucP0PzcGKjnmCjUFQuQhyihUoGPsGb857abKEYEt1xZ5Q3fNU0lUzf8ikhTq8QTXuOA7Z4fD-6sssrtEeZraEYxQT7GQuCUCvegtjyxVDCHJ2mLyEYJiy3jRJM1akIpIgP74OU_jCwav9skSUa0cByimpQ8rlQ64p4nT-NUHGuvHJmJnC1sd2og=w400-h288" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Five of our scholarship students waiting to go to Macedonia.</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Mayhem in Macedonia: The fight to save a school. A story in pictures.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">I<span style="text-align: center;">n 2019, eight months before the pandemic, work began on a new "megacolegio" mega-school, in the village of Macedonia. </span><span style="text-align: center;">Then we started to hear of problems... <b><a href="https://blog.amazonpueblo.org/2022/11/mayham-in-macedonia-fight-to-save.html" target="_blank">READ MORE</a></b></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-PfOATm8qHygSppln2A3rPoPvk4Ymu9_qytaHC2cQjIXlLB5Ua16Kbc6nCkz8WYGXoinxY--9p-c03JyO7svT8aPzwYD3zUcgJJUk4v_d1A-zV1HZqpc5Scav9n3P5_kn19MXerwvd7DkE8oQt5aX3cPPH5Z_eMy_97CNaQQahgxPcXeBPXUXz86iuA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="247" data-original-width="400" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-PfOATm8qHygSppln2A3rPoPvk4Ymu9_qytaHC2cQjIXlLB5Ua16Kbc6nCkz8WYGXoinxY--9p-c03JyO7svT8aPzwYD3zUcgJJUk4v_d1A-zV1HZqpc5Scav9n3P5_kn19MXerwvd7DkE8oQt5aX3cPPH5Z_eMy_97CNaQQahgxPcXeBPXUXz86iuA=w400-h248" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Romario building the ladder to access the panels.</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Solar Power Lights up the Village</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Solar power is in La Libertad. The solar panels' prices are half what they were when we started the project in 2012. Accompanying the drop in prices has been an increase in efficiency. What does that mean? We're going solar!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We bought our solar panels and lithium-ion battery from Cristian at Emergy Sun in Leticia. They helped us with installation tips and some technical support. This is Energy Sun's fourth year in Leticia. They have done projects... <b><a href="https://blog.amazonpueblo.org/2022/11/solar-power-lights-up-village.html" target="_blank">READ MORE</a></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9hW_EoEECy0O7EtPbfcgRUAPGZbLkAyrJAJRixTdwHjcSa6GE_8o2mFNxD5cBwWVrZ1Zh53UyrB4N9g2ytXFtFbrBmM9hY54Ap8KDhFSPRh3QROicycNitqfiuTDnV92kBAzLUcxtoYBC-ykFo0B0NENjc0uHUqtRQICIp-hVaPB4xLqeaf8BmMYGEw/s864/AV%2010%20missionaries.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="653" data-original-width="864" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9hW_EoEECy0O7EtPbfcgRUAPGZbLkAyrJAJRixTdwHjcSa6GE_8o2mFNxD5cBwWVrZ1Zh53UyrB4N9g2ytXFtFbrBmM9hY54Ap8KDhFSPRh3QROicycNitqfiuTDnV92kBAzLUcxtoYBC-ykFo0B0NENjc0uHUqtRQICIp-hVaPB4xLqeaf8BmMYGEw/w400-h303/AV%2010%20missionaries.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The project's director with our on-site director and two volunteers.</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Daily Life Around the Village of La Libertad</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We thought it would be nice to show some of the less intense day-by-day happenings in the village. Here are photos of life and things around the project's buildings in the village. At the end of the post to which this links, we have a video of the only working bike in La Libertad! <a href="https://blog.amazonpueblo.org/2022/11/daily-life-around-village-of-la-libertad.html" target="_blank"><b>READ MORE</b></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif49pHpTeWONdGBZiozcqwlslSckm-pZxAxBeDFpr3LfGV9ojLz87v25rONjfr8M94ivQIQoOuk2wg4hzdlUqy2BKg8gIQJIgDRmPIR-7WZd1yPAWAr5uacIKVGRTXAI2Qjjkut_1MzndsWP0yLp1sS1CqRogf7Tc-dfKJtWh_pDts1riFmMMEH8RTLA/s400/JC%20w%20letter.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="309" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif49pHpTeWONdGBZiozcqwlslSckm-pZxAxBeDFpr3LfGV9ojLz87v25rONjfr8M94ivQIQoOuk2wg4hzdlUqy2BKg8gIQJIgDRmPIR-7WZd1yPAWAr5uacIKVGRTXAI2Qjjkut_1MzndsWP0yLp1sS1CqRogf7Tc-dfKJtWh_pDts1riFmMMEH8RTLA/w309-h400/JC%20w%20letter.jpg" width="309" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A scholarship student with a letter to his sponsors.</b></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Education can save a life: School or coca fields and murder rates</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">While our reasons include education enabling the students to have improved work opportunities, more sustainable living conditions, and resistance to corruption, one of the largest parts is to give them the option to stay out of the illicit narcotics industry. <b><a href="https://blog.amazonpueblo.org/2022/10/education-can-save-life-school-or-coca.html" target="_blank">READ MORE</a></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhva2pAD_HCWeItCoq0GFAfBMRERc5iEHteA2mJ9NqmeG-GPxIhV0Qo20RKewzurUI-0r2PvXq8ewvQmgWkCBtV7TfqOaMALKXEXAs4xK2gZTepv5wfha6lG65S9yfulkKuV0uWFUubWwB1QhkyRIsj0NwahrY6UlZ4aP0yQ-z9A0_K-q4oqXQ4W5AiRg/s864/Leticia%20300.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="776" data-original-width="864" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhva2pAD_HCWeItCoq0GFAfBMRERc5iEHteA2mJ9NqmeG-GPxIhV0Qo20RKewzurUI-0r2PvXq8ewvQmgWkCBtV7TfqOaMALKXEXAs4xK2gZTepv5wfha6lG65S9yfulkKuV0uWFUubWwB1QhkyRIsj0NwahrY6UlZ4aP0yQ-z9A0_K-q4oqXQ4W5AiRg/w400-h359/Leticia%20300.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Lost in thought over a hamburger in Leticia.</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Daily life around Leticia, Amazonas, Colombia</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here are a few pictures from daily life around Leticia, the capital of the State of Amazonas, in Colombia. It is located at the frontiers of Colombia, Brazil, and Peru. <a href="https://blog.amazonpueblo.org/2022/08/daily-life-around-leticia-amazonas.html" target="_blank"><b>READ MORE</b></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Would you like to help us? </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We are starting our fundraising drive for next year on Tuesday, November 29. Please visit the donation page on our website for options.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amazonpueblo.org/give/"><span style="font-size: large;">https://amazonpueblo.org/give/</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">or on Venmo</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">benangulo@outlook.com</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7f2WGIZvTaUTKkmcwJsOklnPoL-QR73m93giC3NZOdYjea4dQzVSMEG7SG5mFZP9SqDIJh2TccZj4uFjo4GtwtBkz1X1iS9yEpHBJk1KpX7WNuS0cbrzLdxkDfcNFJ-gRj2rXZhqrcseERfNXblREp-Yf3j-2Mfg62cyTk4LSsoUdw0UghEg0GidrPw/s864/Venmo%20QR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="716" data-original-width="864" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7f2WGIZvTaUTKkmcwJsOklnPoL-QR73m93giC3NZOdYjea4dQzVSMEG7SG5mFZP9SqDIJh2TccZj4uFjo4GtwtBkz1X1iS9yEpHBJk1KpX7WNuS0cbrzLdxkDfcNFJ-gRj2rXZhqrcseERfNXblREp-Yf3j-2Mfg62cyTk4LSsoUdw0UghEg0GidrPw/w400-h331/Venmo%20QR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Mil gracias! <br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Benjamin Angulohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07271021177857576894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923847771911087432.post-55645023915341214932022-11-23T19:26:00.000-05:002022-11-23T19:26:52.190-05:00Quest to Build the Health Care Center: A story of concrete and metal in pictures<p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Good news, we are doing it!</span></b></p><p>After years of fundraising and planning, we have finally started building the center. From April to June of 2022 we bought materials, transported them, and found skilled workers to do the construction. We have completed the first phase. <b>During 2023 we hope to complete the second phase, putting up the walls, doors, and bathroom.</b> We thank everyone who helped us to achieve our goals!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMH6AGWH0SfMP6eFGWnapgPFAj1rRsFGSDKr80Sv7SujSC1FAwz1tiE4qEcVSgqUFgsJuAb1tz_jDjPxPj9GsdOMxdnPG2Xem1CnuI1lzO_M3yhLmLfUM39ft0k9VhK3AzSaDvAAiFjWDp5XZUUofW5i-p_LM-IjAxoe-wLYh8GtN7jjq1W6aMv5MdA/s864/HC%20220.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="528" data-original-width="864" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMH6AGWH0SfMP6eFGWnapgPFAj1rRsFGSDKr80Sv7SujSC1FAwz1tiE4qEcVSgqUFgsJuAb1tz_jDjPxPj9GsdOMxdnPG2Xem1CnuI1lzO_M3yhLmLfUM39ft0k9VhK3AzSaDvAAiFjWDp5XZUUofW5i-p_LM-IjAxoe-wLYh8GtN7jjq1W6aMv5MdA/w400-h245/HC%20220.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The almost-complete roof on top of the concrete slab and columns.<br />The roof is corrugated, painted metal on a structure of welded metal supports.</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATTzlbaIDPDNznPzUY6r8AvOj9E5A42fvIr5uzxms87Ac6je2_WeZiQJX1FrbhKtxJ-m6SNIzPi1us_ulkf85gVct8L8xD0sxwc5QEEaTGQVVVc9kyalbHg5s6tqIIYHwL0Nah7V2G_fXaStomydSody2FVZHZga0BeDWyQRwHQlRSBpTUvlnEtcWWg/s864/HC%2001.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="741" data-original-width="864" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATTzlbaIDPDNznPzUY6r8AvOj9E5A42fvIr5uzxms87Ac6je2_WeZiQJX1FrbhKtxJ-m6SNIzPi1us_ulkf85gVct8L8xD0sxwc5QEEaTGQVVVc9kyalbHg5s6tqIIYHwL0Nah7V2G_fXaStomydSody2FVZHZga0BeDWyQRwHQlRSBpTUvlnEtcWWg/w400-h343/HC%2001.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>These medications are from Peru. While untrained people are not allowed to<br />prescribe and give medications, the health center will give the villagers a clean <br />and an organized place to administer their meds.</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0JEGaRZG_d4F_RmYUb6KxJ2QN3n3Z9iwRwqhAKbtHpqHBDEiT2nVpFWmbJBma9H6okTptS7ixbQWuX9JSJQ5ldh82kJBC1zIxDOvhyKKmLMTmZCqQRfG1cxncNvKNa4wwM6feLCsjVMJsMkDU0RQzs7mNE5sZgRQcgJ_0I3Sh3kJEzJWcEi7-HqnrRw/s864/HC%2002.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="654" data-original-width="864" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0JEGaRZG_d4F_RmYUb6KxJ2QN3n3Z9iwRwqhAKbtHpqHBDEiT2nVpFWmbJBma9H6okTptS7ixbQWuX9JSJQ5ldh82kJBC1zIxDOvhyKKmLMTmZCqQRfG1cxncNvKNa4wwM6feLCsjVMJsMkDU0RQzs7mNE5sZgRQcgJ_0I3Sh3kJEzJWcEi7-HqnrRw/w400-h303/HC%2002.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>This poster was on the wall of one of the health clinics in the city of Leticia.<br />It shows some of the illnesses and accidents common in the river communities.</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiumvBlGcIp5snz7UpmyMo3dbFX4al1zCgLLn936iXqq7am0JeKgxHzdqttV5Fs5g7RoF8CUeheURAiYXLIA3YqZD6tw5f2DXKMCbBdQCjt5lcmNyBmYdqZF_0YBafPsB8bjE17e0C4ZSFAiJ4BateJopY8X1irUVFchZjrelB-nDxs0yUmw1_jA1YqhA/s864/HC%2003.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="646" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiumvBlGcIp5snz7UpmyMo3dbFX4al1zCgLLn936iXqq7am0JeKgxHzdqttV5Fs5g7RoF8CUeheURAiYXLIA3YqZD6tw5f2DXKMCbBdQCjt5lcmNyBmYdqZF_0YBafPsB8bjE17e0C4ZSFAiJ4BateJopY8X1irUVFchZjrelB-nDxs0yUmw1_jA1YqhA/w299-h400/HC%2003.jpg" width="299" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Once the center is up and running, we hope to help sponsor<br />vaccination clinics. It is easier for the providers to come to the<br />community during a scheduled time.</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR7zgJPh1dBckLNWIcf9pUC6E5ZQWK93xLNFDWNTppRwqN3PrHun-KOBCi2FFbgVuCIGPPdCuZZ-GH0EZ6tL5tMvr_GNdTGV10LTxHlYYfRWnylYaJa-fqFmX7kTepWDCiL-ikQFoziAAWvCs1Mai0z-wZDOwr7Zb5zWypOhmPYCGGnG-dLSNX0P3MTQ/s864/HC%2004%20infected%20back.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="651" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR7zgJPh1dBckLNWIcf9pUC6E5ZQWK93xLNFDWNTppRwqN3PrHun-KOBCi2FFbgVuCIGPPdCuZZ-GH0EZ6tL5tMvr_GNdTGV10LTxHlYYfRWnylYaJa-fqFmX7kTepWDCiL-ikQFoziAAWvCs1Mai0z-wZDOwr7Zb5zWypOhmPYCGGnG-dLSNX0P3MTQ/w301-h400/HC%2004%20infected%20back.jpg" width="301" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>This boy had a skin infection from coming into contact with <br />the unsanitary ground conditions during a soccer game.<br />An antibiotic cream helped to clear it up quickly.</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrWeyvoOcXw0DCeC_P-WglaRytDYhZcHvB2d9qm8GKVe2A8hDGvDnPqf6GKgDSuih2OUahZQ4wltNK3oi9MyxiDCHtHTuyadjTEOFtQ5wWxBkREEIVSsLuuIbie7Xd4Pvt9VndLH7nuiZjqGmPoKSzrZJTOHkfjtBibwE3SjsPuMFnjV4Exl1fgHz5WA/s864/HC%2006%20infection.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="554" data-original-width="864" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrWeyvoOcXw0DCeC_P-WglaRytDYhZcHvB2d9qm8GKVe2A8hDGvDnPqf6GKgDSuih2OUahZQ4wltNK3oi9MyxiDCHtHTuyadjTEOFtQ5wWxBkREEIVSsLuuIbie7Xd4Pvt9VndLH7nuiZjqGmPoKSzrZJTOHkfjtBibwE3SjsPuMFnjV4Exl1fgHz5WA/w400-h256/HC%2006%20infection.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">This picture shows a terrible skin infection. The man lanced a small boil</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">on his back with an unsterile orange tree spine. Within five days the infection</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">advanced to the above stage. Just days more without treatment and he may have</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">died. If he had had access to the center, he could have used a disinfected needle</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">and he may have avoided the infection.</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9SSVmTpqLw4A7EdgRfgqhW7M8YPUlBos01JPMHY3kH6qizmXpRvVRUo9wEZHDI2jA94I4kcxPe6kAUIrr3BCar7QsTuSxrkE-4ez5y80_kgydTDIuGqBnXGQcAVLU53Sr0o3rXOG9xs-YkUWFdFt22adqX4qyg6UbedTVRmQwF4gHSGtRjV-imDfwmg/s864/HC%2005.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="558" data-original-width="864" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9SSVmTpqLw4A7EdgRfgqhW7M8YPUlBos01JPMHY3kH6qizmXpRvVRUo9wEZHDI2jA94I4kcxPe6kAUIrr3BCar7QsTuSxrkE-4ez5y80_kgydTDIuGqBnXGQcAVLU53Sr0o3rXOG9xs-YkUWFdFt22adqX4qyg6UbedTVRmQwF4gHSGtRjV-imDfwmg/w400-h259/HC%2005.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Luckily, he went to the hospital in the city of Leticia. There he underwent<br />treatment with aggressive antibiotics and two surgeries to remove the infection.<br />He recovered within two weeks, but it will take up to a year for the skin to<br />completely regrow.</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Many times the health problems in the village may be treated when they are small before they become more serious. Basic things like small wound treatment and disinfection are all that is needed. The health care center gives them an area to do these simple things.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrGgSS3A--AIcW_rQlJVZF9sz3BPMsCKr_WuglLGtgwbpOTbR6W2marh7iPgXKlyCE5gzKI6_8os_8JcSXY5HhAPs3tN_UwR0DvBnsEOp-MdSJMBaywk7cGgkfTC4JEM4DsCr5RSt_QzYuNzHWQUUgffBwY17fyUUsxEEnArb24wY3ceLW1K2iYKBvJw/s864/HC%2010%20gravel.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="643" data-original-width="864" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrGgSS3A--AIcW_rQlJVZF9sz3BPMsCKr_WuglLGtgwbpOTbR6W2marh7iPgXKlyCE5gzKI6_8os_8JcSXY5HhAPs3tN_UwR0DvBnsEOp-MdSJMBaywk7cGgkfTC4JEM4DsCr5RSt_QzYuNzHWQUUgffBwY17fyUUsxEEnArb24wY3ceLW1K2iYKBvJw/w400-h297/HC%2010%20gravel.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>We loaded the gravel into empty feed bags.</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-wQNMNozeNdpZZIbiqVjf6Nn9mhAyVEvUusRSyMazcNBLT-I9Y_fe5tIWcu2e5Rrt1xs0Yv19FBRldmRdMazdmsaGl_loXKFIrU26AV_1vNuEz8oP_3DrcXU8m3jAsuCfssD81YrYlVDUYI7uyQ9Cth4ND4KU3CupEXHpYIhwyQkE01JAsYC0edemg/s864/HC%2020%20sand.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="864" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-wQNMNozeNdpZZIbiqVjf6Nn9mhAyVEvUusRSyMazcNBLT-I9Y_fe5tIWcu2e5Rrt1xs0Yv19FBRldmRdMazdmsaGl_loXKFIrU26AV_1vNuEz8oP_3DrcXU8m3jAsuCfssD81YrYlVDUYI7uyQ9Cth4ND4KU3CupEXHpYIhwyQkE01JAsYC0edemg/w400-h296/HC%2020%20sand.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Next, we loaded the sand.</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPUKGVjuODCzzEQAurQKRH69Tz1mL4J9BT3mIxI3JQlsEYmnBcyz0W1Y1fnzKXooSN-NqLoFGr8wwSL68p60sZDb-amwzJNdSSRQhDkPnXDot43wIjxGG9TB42o2hbfxwzWwIEuF_Ridfgpyq28dB889l6lOAeDA1wxfaa6U4wLmAKrVmmf2YeuAy8nQ/s864/HC%2030%20cement.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="784" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPUKGVjuODCzzEQAurQKRH69Tz1mL4J9BT3mIxI3JQlsEYmnBcyz0W1Y1fnzKXooSN-NqLoFGr8wwSL68p60sZDb-amwzJNdSSRQhDkPnXDot43wIjxGG9TB42o2hbfxwzWwIEuF_Ridfgpyq28dB889l6lOAeDA1wxfaa6U4wLmAKrVmmf2YeuAy8nQ/w363-h400/HC%2030%20cement.jpg" width="363" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>And last, the bags of cement. Each bag had to be wrapped in plastic<br />bags to protect against water in the trip upriver.</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8ClBya_PgtKyyLKda6XRVEO01XwGFcyRSYW2Nq28ZM6tlKTxEutK068dpFtOKTifrG2QWzs-Ms8SHnBkFnAjxbE4SxJdrpscdKNiE3iCAtam0J0o2PzJ8nDa366AGdVmHaAbqQl1T6y68GMBgLP7DhPClJK5JrOeavWf9ZbuUNjPCcqtUYf9zk694Q/s864/HC%2040%20cement%20resting.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="592" data-original-width="864" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8ClBya_PgtKyyLKda6XRVEO01XwGFcyRSYW2Nq28ZM6tlKTxEutK068dpFtOKTifrG2QWzs-Ms8SHnBkFnAjxbE4SxJdrpscdKNiE3iCAtam0J0o2PzJ8nDa366AGdVmHaAbqQl1T6y68GMBgLP7DhPClJK5JrOeavWf9ZbuUNjPCcqtUYf9zk694Q/w400-h274/HC%2040%20cement%20resting.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>After being placed in plastic, each cement bag was then placed<br />in a feed bag to make it easier to carry and more resistant to bag rips.</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijNlcnsdjDbFkKEOhlRMmBo7tBNCe2O2fa4bsFahf-QtlI0vBn_7NsHIat0cJi37CXf5KFKQ-pxl7pcsTxFg0_9aa2Wx3c1YncTmPBx9jtj_kAuQwUZ_QgxxREFw232QuU9yvnYq3eiV0WZxjCY7nSSBpzn3kZt1m9ibtW9GEoJz41-Yxp2OfmGyrsgg/s864/HC%2050%20moving.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="583" data-original-width="864" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijNlcnsdjDbFkKEOhlRMmBo7tBNCe2O2fa4bsFahf-QtlI0vBn_7NsHIat0cJi37CXf5KFKQ-pxl7pcsTxFg0_9aa2Wx3c1YncTmPBx9jtj_kAuQwUZ_QgxxREFw232QuU9yvnYq3eiV0WZxjCY7nSSBpzn3kZt1m9ibtW9GEoJz41-Yxp2OfmGyrsgg/w400-h270/HC%2050%20moving.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Then we carried the bags at the port of Leticia to our boat which<br />was docked at the Balsa Piranita, a floating raft.</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0n1RhKCxMZhsSZ5we__ZtkXpzs3DRuTKane_LxxrKxUTBUIb0UtyNZ52kiO1HAReOo8zEh1xP_UOfWDhN1WThjK1c4bhTUMhOS6ixPqbNf8ahThoMduZsk5inpf3OmtbbLqykkSkH46VMNgkt1bEoBaUJhmgvHxgzCLNPypFPLIV3a-FS6whFrklbw/s864/HC%2060%20loaded.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="710" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0n1RhKCxMZhsSZ5we__ZtkXpzs3DRuTKane_LxxrKxUTBUIb0UtyNZ52kiO1HAReOo8zEh1xP_UOfWDhN1WThjK1c4bhTUMhOS6ixPqbNf8ahThoMduZsk5inpf3OmtbbLqykkSkH46VMNgkt1bEoBaUJhmgvHxgzCLNPypFPLIV3a-FS6whFrklbw/w329-h400/HC%2060%20loaded.jpg" width="329" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>When everything was loaded we could head upriver.<br />Our 35-foot wooden boat can transport no more than 2 and 1/2 tons.</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDAKhe0TiUYz2MD2CgvCSUHWcfiio7WLoizZy9Xunrdu8mcEfHxFll_tneSiNAVkMQrM71nX5BFvlRJaNbNSUDY8oLmwxUVyaoJcb1P99xU23sPy3B6gWo7type9p1DHkj3u_YPo-pLaVie9oN9XdRK-oLfVRz8ch9NmbH_QOkPkNPPCV7M_uwcv80aw/s864/HC%2070%20ready.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="677" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDAKhe0TiUYz2MD2CgvCSUHWcfiio7WLoizZy9Xunrdu8mcEfHxFll_tneSiNAVkMQrM71nX5BFvlRJaNbNSUDY8oLmwxUVyaoJcb1P99xU23sPy3B6gWo7type9p1DHkj3u_YPo-pLaVie9oN9XdRK-oLfVRz8ch9NmbH_QOkPkNPPCV7M_uwcv80aw/w314-h400/HC%2070%20ready.jpg" width="314" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Rebar to reinforce the cement.</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8BaUzvDV1WHeFeXqD2PaWGTYwOrky5jUAEBiEu4OP85C3aeGhHcaqDwlKRzqs6TxihD0YqaP0iGMAhJpHWMU2nHqrqh30rEMM_30c4yfdmMhL_dj50Z8i9hLeyLgF5seCfHMpMVtzQwp_1VyOCp_8V9l5HmItKnT6t9Gi3oe0HpWPojeO6qw39JisPA/s864/HC%2080.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="864" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8BaUzvDV1WHeFeXqD2PaWGTYwOrky5jUAEBiEu4OP85C3aeGhHcaqDwlKRzqs6TxihD0YqaP0iGMAhJpHWMU2nHqrqh30rEMM_30c4yfdmMhL_dj50Z8i9hLeyLgF5seCfHMpMVtzQwp_1VyOCp_8V9l5HmItKnT6t9Gi3oe0HpWPojeO6qw39JisPA/w400-h266/HC%2080.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>At last, we are preparing for the construction work. These are rebar<br />supports to be used inside the concrete columns.</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7YO1wDxB5ZLdtWRIcntII0YQ8Aba8KjnzTA_AoMgvuRPfqyiEVMPAgiJXCQ5kBKWvWWZnlCiKAgT_wYw5oawIYqA4R3p725BkPBoRHH9tna3eaZM5LRWuT3tIBwHDiU1zvkw004F895OMgUMuRfvtJ3Q6Qty4h9psTYZszWDROQgPLlxArrvWaViEeg/s864/HC%2090.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="586" data-original-width="864" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7YO1wDxB5ZLdtWRIcntII0YQ8Aba8KjnzTA_AoMgvuRPfqyiEVMPAgiJXCQ5kBKWvWWZnlCiKAgT_wYw5oawIYqA4R3p725BkPBoRHH9tna3eaZM5LRWuT3tIBwHDiU1zvkw004F895OMgUMuRfvtJ3Q6Qty4h9psTYZszWDROQgPLlxArrvWaViEeg/w400-h271/HC%2090.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Preparing the footings for the concrete slab.</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAw6BlJ5BK0unLwz2JXkb4W3Dnytxbp_gMGTDd__JEj8iytrZ2-ZIvlmL32riEeKxlp6RhHxFnNbuWIpo2BapKeSTJFruiaI-viiZq_CoBjZ7OmmGqS2oau5drwX1uXBfTr5vH0XzJ6IhbzLNViBSBVeKeC4SAKn_QPfe2TF_Vwuc7rABmoN40OSgBeg/s864/HC%20100.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="789" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAw6BlJ5BK0unLwz2JXkb4W3Dnytxbp_gMGTDd__JEj8iytrZ2-ZIvlmL32riEeKxlp6RhHxFnNbuWIpo2BapKeSTJFruiaI-viiZq_CoBjZ7OmmGqS2oau5drwX1uXBfTr5vH0XzJ6IhbzLNViBSBVeKeC4SAKn_QPfe2TF_Vwuc7rABmoN40OSgBeg/w365-h400/HC%20100.jpg" width="365" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Now it is really starting to look like something!</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrU0kJusIdgBNg6qmks5PWa_YxW0dAB6o0SSGG8bYiCdmq29A_owfc3XiS7-DXx8sUM55aqzbThgKH00qgzlcR5yntOLnjxJ7KlGgkN49CuqH6GotUgnh--1ZvyOtrXsRo0Zzc-mCzYFXFJMm2_Rye4ckxF0RZLaLsgEYSeHsvFwx-ZEsSYBW_oCPCBw/s864/HC%20110.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="577" data-original-width="864" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrU0kJusIdgBNg6qmks5PWa_YxW0dAB6o0SSGG8bYiCdmq29A_owfc3XiS7-DXx8sUM55aqzbThgKH00qgzlcR5yntOLnjxJ7KlGgkN49CuqH6GotUgnh--1ZvyOtrXsRo0Zzc-mCzYFXFJMm2_Rye4ckxF0RZLaLsgEYSeHsvFwx-ZEsSYBW_oCPCBw/w400-h268/HC%20110.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>All work must be done by hand. We have no heavy machinery in the village.</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vUGUjW9YHWf84mB1XsOnJmgZs7-eNApEHXmnd99McUiS2YFQ0wj1MBihUIV64VLwIKwoxVQT6caTjU7JobcsUxMT5Hhoez1vqbc7oEu8RYLJrYtmQJQCvgTUGNSH06d-_9N8bfSraxlvmpKEr7uLa9AUfc_efuZ1_RPpnua3onKUGd94vdvgH4FWAg/s864/HC%20130.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="651" data-original-width="864" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vUGUjW9YHWf84mB1XsOnJmgZs7-eNApEHXmnd99McUiS2YFQ0wj1MBihUIV64VLwIKwoxVQT6caTjU7JobcsUxMT5Hhoez1vqbc7oEu8RYLJrYtmQJQCvgTUGNSH06d-_9N8bfSraxlvmpKEr7uLa9AUfc_efuZ1_RPpnua3onKUGd94vdvgH4FWAg/w400-h301/HC%20130.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Doing the last part of the floor. The floor had to be finished all at once.</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjfLaNFO1oxBvKxjOTWWNWz_MErAcetLyik6YjXALDsOgifeDyOK1hqNZ89_N6kVhFRXmDtHZl0yGItMUVp6j7TSkNOTEMgSDZHgWGRck4R4LgPbXsAu_Hy8cfuWLhi3lW65rW3kDzva_6siLcSKmvMBAK3IJDGpC7tvPLeR28jCWpgbjD79mcFnOSJg/s864/HC%20140.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="864" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjfLaNFO1oxBvKxjOTWWNWz_MErAcetLyik6YjXALDsOgifeDyOK1hqNZ89_N6kVhFRXmDtHZl0yGItMUVp6j7TSkNOTEMgSDZHgWGRck4R4LgPbXsAu_Hy8cfuWLhi3lW65rW3kDzva_6siLcSKmvMBAK3IJDGpC7tvPLeR28jCWpgbjD79mcFnOSJg/w400-h309/HC%20140.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The forms for the columns are up.</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBT05822OTpYZp2So1jJ3eHed4StDGJAvBp6a_RgDYqBKxAgO6qLwlPIBU5GG12ZEvEk2oui3JS63S-3EI2m9nfIUAB2HfZEgQCmsCSFY8lM8o3P-mPzQTb_vRfaufmWwrmO9cMqS4yDLIV1gG5iDaERAjnjcIREG_Zgf5GoMwL0fcTKA70bJcktO6Uw/s864/HC%20150.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="864" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBT05822OTpYZp2So1jJ3eHed4StDGJAvBp6a_RgDYqBKxAgO6qLwlPIBU5GG12ZEvEk2oui3JS63S-3EI2m9nfIUAB2HfZEgQCmsCSFY8lM8o3P-mPzQTb_vRfaufmWwrmO9cMqS4yDLIV1gG5iDaERAjnjcIREG_Zgf5GoMwL0fcTKA70bJcktO6Uw/w400-h239/HC%20150.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Now the columns needed a week to dry and harden.</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEpTNjKQQiL1SRYv_zfRAHWMaQXIujMZ8enad4WZYj3hrF_Bzx34yd-9KoOfE0NujP_cczpnYBeZR1G2MIqUqN8oB2zFOgA2sd3D5QZbv2c8JcqBk7Tb_cvewc6Fy2Xy_OhlNujGyPscxzFt_Geq_Cki6rK9pEz1MeSZOMQbcuA6hNj6bp0LA2RakPEQ/s864/HC%20160.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="651" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEpTNjKQQiL1SRYv_zfRAHWMaQXIujMZ8enad4WZYj3hrF_Bzx34yd-9KoOfE0NujP_cczpnYBeZR1G2MIqUqN8oB2zFOgA2sd3D5QZbv2c8JcqBk7Tb_cvewc6Fy2Xy_OhlNujGyPscxzFt_Geq_Cki6rK9pEz1MeSZOMQbcuA6hNj6bp0LA2RakPEQ/w301-h400/HC%20160.jpg" width="301" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>While we were waiting for the concrete to harden we had time to<br />get the roof ready. Originally, we planned to use wooden support for<br />the roof. But we ran into problems. The beams we had cut warped badly.<br />We decided to construct everything with metal. This was a much more expensive<br />option, but one that we believed would give us a much stronger roof and much<br />better longevity.</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4zYtl45-c6oys2nX8YNuVjBzc1ELes3JR3IBe-cPnlb3PHA4hwcCRfm9PAYX2_HqpsOiaNwXa0-QJ7pSWMQ9X54LTKqmjfPUCyQBBq4wdEYbni_ffoWgeGLJU5l_hU86b0xDRjBbeipMQjnMp1IWyvaY-uvbkg1sQ4VRgn0v0Zr_Q0a0dPXpjMuhOg/s864/HC%20170.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="534" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4zYtl45-c6oys2nX8YNuVjBzc1ELes3JR3IBe-cPnlb3PHA4hwcCRfm9PAYX2_HqpsOiaNwXa0-QJ7pSWMQ9X54LTKqmjfPUCyQBBq4wdEYbni_ffoWgeGLJU5l_hU86b0xDRjBbeipMQjnMp1IWyvaY-uvbkg1sQ4VRgn0v0Zr_Q0a0dPXpjMuhOg/w248-h400/HC%20170.jpg" width="248" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>It took us three trips in our smaller boat to bring<br />up all the metal beams.</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSofYVYsu5U80NSDabthAhs2-Bijnkvgzmms2YTKXIdxQAEE3vbi5tv13kPYuJKJLgsJKxtNRYNmJtJ-cT7W7DbBly6-C-Rrgn_uNNJ4ez_548K9-Ra_HaVivI9W2zYudS1w0CA78mIbvrF-RV1xInBlaHGlYcZKoYz1hmXhtBH0lLtb4pWKsiWBQuuQ/s864/HC%20180.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="864" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSofYVYsu5U80NSDabthAhs2-Bijnkvgzmms2YTKXIdxQAEE3vbi5tv13kPYuJKJLgsJKxtNRYNmJtJ-cT7W7DbBly6-C-Rrgn_uNNJ4ez_548K9-Ra_HaVivI9W2zYudS1w0CA78mIbvrF-RV1xInBlaHGlYcZKoYz1hmXhtBH0lLtb4pWKsiWBQuuQ/w400-h249/HC%20180.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The beams had to be sanded, cleaned, and painted with rustproof paint.</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrEX9xZyqLx6VWQWBHBYHnPbE4blW_nPd5kCRnZ9gbd2QqbXZ2_2Pr0Ip54ZRVObp0fFzqyaz_wEXGTvNPvQq97ehpTCYtf2-u9g7FMcyiVsyUAmQLuL6Q_mrVtRmFotV1diHvK2M4cCEHxTqbgqMP9HNh2_YMkhTi-h5R954L8IesI-PHaQ8Ga29vA/s864/HC%20190.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="864" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrEX9xZyqLx6VWQWBHBYHnPbE4blW_nPd5kCRnZ9gbd2QqbXZ2_2Pr0Ip54ZRVObp0fFzqyaz_wEXGTvNPvQq97ehpTCYtf2-u9g7FMcyiVsyUAmQLuL6Q_mrVtRmFotV1diHvK2M4cCEHxTqbgqMP9HNh2_YMkhTi-h5R954L8IesI-PHaQ8Ga29vA/w400-h261/HC%20190.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>After some worrisome delays, the welders arrived. We housed them in the<br />guesthouse, where they stayed for three days. We also provided them<br />with food during this time. </b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbyI4cUY3MY_2Eyv_MZAaGjJhn2UuhXZLTc3009g8AI1zuKskRFxgCopzwG-8WpyueJgXaOOPUcyNTdTvtdeur-yNgOX0Hsm3sIACf88RHlRGZuSY5XcMcaXE4UCZOanLK5ObZJUY-_6N_ghnshlZTlBTDXQw976E-yWptYMm8Xqi9iRLElzQ-qL1qLg/s864/HC%20200.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="653" data-original-width="864" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbyI4cUY3MY_2Eyv_MZAaGjJhn2UuhXZLTc3009g8AI1zuKskRFxgCopzwG-8WpyueJgXaOOPUcyNTdTvtdeur-yNgOX0Hsm3sIACf88RHlRGZuSY5XcMcaXE4UCZOanLK5ObZJUY-_6N_ghnshlZTlBTDXQw976E-yWptYMm8Xqi9iRLElzQ-qL1qLg/w400-h303/HC%20200.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Many of the villagers have never seen a person weld. During the work<br />there was a party-like atmosphere!</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zCnnYHkBW9o" width="320" youtube-src-id="zCnnYHkBW9o"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In this video, the welders are installing the</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">roof understructure. Look for the two kids in the tree!</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJlEwbxaz-sTNI3NULs5LUJrTdT-qFgCFAK34vSjRLCgmNJopNtJ-IWPFseCGjdfwxOSfZGSTOKmGAqCvebMg8tZlAKjCbWC22Qg0W-eCnpiZ1roodd0bhka1EbylmQk0NSiYGpS4DD1p9RlEi2kET963tosQggkM3qTXHMIquee1yOt9S9ZEDiY9tZQ/s864/HC%20210.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="660" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJlEwbxaz-sTNI3NULs5LUJrTdT-qFgCFAK34vSjRLCgmNJopNtJ-IWPFseCGjdfwxOSfZGSTOKmGAqCvebMg8tZlAKjCbWC22Qg0W-eCnpiZ1roodd0bhka1EbylmQk0NSiYGpS4DD1p9RlEi2kET963tosQggkM3qTXHMIquee1yOt9S9ZEDiY9tZQ/w305-h400/HC%20210.jpg" width="305" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>These "tejas" are four meters in length. They come painted.<br />We had to go upriver to Peru to find them. They are <br />much less prone to rust.</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnXCgTPdS3ISJit-e4qoAdMXwFR62Zjsysw5arPKOq32lli8Tq10wpgtrDvLQ3K12uXi0jS8sq4vj0MQo1_Q504UXdImL40krldj_LWLDMklmIvtt_Cwuna9tH5bnjIOO1vFulNNiXp_b4b9tNxmGRmea-uaGVrJcFtPaBuskm9IPuclR199XKv2FyIA/s864/HC%20230%20health%20center.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="864" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnXCgTPdS3ISJit-e4qoAdMXwFR62Zjsysw5arPKOq32lli8Tq10wpgtrDvLQ3K12uXi0jS8sq4vj0MQo1_Q504UXdImL40krldj_LWLDMklmIvtt_Cwuna9tH5bnjIOO1vFulNNiXp_b4b9tNxmGRmea-uaGVrJcFtPaBuskm9IPuclR199XKv2FyIA/w400-h211/HC%20230%20health%20center.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The center is in the middle of the village, on a hill next to the school.</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the next phase of this project, we will be building the walls, doors, and bathroom. The cinderblock pictured below will be made in the village. We have sand that we can clean, sift and use. We also have the forms. All that is missing is the cement, water, labor, and bringing everything together!</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2myAO8H_8YEAT-l47Q9a1_dOVmTZ29RzGqQl-798VhcgjmqjHBZcAMuL3mk8n_1lHcPLDu9Cvm_Ly1efH2Ry25gQIKMjvjuP287mNKRWWgdLfRHbY2K13yUnP4u5Co3Olit6Avb3B7etuCE5uq-vwPLnumXJLIkOi9bHg__sXmwAI2VOmtR6_CjKSSQ/s864/HC%20240.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="551" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2myAO8H_8YEAT-l47Q9a1_dOVmTZ29RzGqQl-798VhcgjmqjHBZcAMuL3mk8n_1lHcPLDu9Cvm_Ly1efH2Ry25gQIKMjvjuP287mNKRWWgdLfRHbY2K13yUnP4u5Co3Olit6Avb3B7etuCE5uq-vwPLnumXJLIkOi9bHg__sXmwAI2VOmtR6_CjKSSQ/w255-h400/HC%20240.jpg" width="255" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>One of the village kids shows an example of a cinderblock<br />we will use for the buildings.</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">Through the health center, we will achieve the following five things:</span></div><ol style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px;"><li style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Provide a place for the students and their families to receive basic health care.</span></li><li style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Provide a place for medication to be stored.</span></li><li style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Provide training to specific members of the community to treat illness and injury.</span></li><li style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Provide a secure place for health and community records to be stored.</span></li><li style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Provide an office and dormitory for visiting health care providers.</span></li></ol><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>You can join us!</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">We are raising the funds to start phase two of the construction in 2023. Your donation will help us to do this. Our donation portal is at <a href="https://chuffed.org/project/health-care-center-in-the-jungle-village-of-la-libertad">https://chuffed.org/project/health-care-center-in-the-jungle-village-of-la-libertad</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">But there is also the option for you, as a volunteer, of joining us physically in the village of La Libertad to help with the construction! Our guesthouse, kitchen, and bathroom are clean and mostly comfortable. Please contact us at <a href="mailto:info@amazonpueblo.org">info@amazonpueblo.org</a> for more information.</span></p><p><br /></p>Benjamin Angulohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07271021177857576894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923847771911087432.post-65757439650891726832022-11-22T10:30:00.000-05:002022-11-22T10:30:17.830-05:00Roof, rot, rats! The shocking state of the school buildings in La Libertad<p>Roof, rot, rats! These pictures show the deplorable state of the school buildings in the village of La Libertad. The community school is in need of one more teacher. No new teachers want to come here, and for good reason.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFT72Da6zwKa2NiZVAiBeP9wG3lHaOL-ThNnd62cWEmjEUp6SIrNjYJorfTVn4APxNy98PK62GAQPQTxZnP4GgdPtoqEJRZ9EUPWK_31unDmHMLTxsWYNwn-srwI9oSjDojABjTXEAoqHek7u8TXnMjSxkNaK99yvGSQO_ELV5qRUobphlUiLiKjROZQ/s956/IMG-20221007-WA0000.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="696" data-original-width="956" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFT72Da6zwKa2NiZVAiBeP9wG3lHaOL-ThNnd62cWEmjEUp6SIrNjYJorfTVn4APxNy98PK62GAQPQTxZnP4GgdPtoqEJRZ9EUPWK_31unDmHMLTxsWYNwn-srwI9oSjDojABjTXEAoqHek7u8TXnMjSxkNaK99yvGSQO_ELV5qRUobphlUiLiKjROZQ/w400-h291/IMG-20221007-WA0000.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The village school of La Libertad is located in the Colombian Amazon, South America. It serves 90 children aged 5 to 13. The families of the school children live in extreme poverty. Many of them earn less than two dollars per day, have high illiteracy rates, and have no steady employment. School and education are the best hopes for the village children to have better opportunities for sustainable employment.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Y6XrwY9YiGu0AILRzs_nglpi2_IiN0nAsrmMAt4ebr95sCk7U0Y-vDi2aKQnMzcn-edxmJqN2_X7bHGOiaWdg-TasWBYZrHmitQiLtKcgC3yHib0vR661icyVJ23I8mFtDx6sGvH8zh9S0i3ak_TrOiER_vVdMkkQFgpNlNSZa0OXbLEmEYqeZMkZg/s864/LL%2020%20classroom%20side.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="645" data-original-width="864" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Y6XrwY9YiGu0AILRzs_nglpi2_IiN0nAsrmMAt4ebr95sCk7U0Y-vDi2aKQnMzcn-edxmJqN2_X7bHGOiaWdg-TasWBYZrHmitQiLtKcgC3yHib0vR661icyVJ23I8mFtDx6sGvH8zh9S0i3ak_TrOiER_vVdMkkQFgpNlNSZa0OXbLEmEYqeZMkZg/w400-h299/LL%2020%20classroom%20side.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The school is in a deplorable state of repair. For many years the buildings have not been properly maintained. The students and parents are not able to advocate for the school and themselves. The teachers fear if they bring up the problems they will be seen as "troublemakers" and face repercussions.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYyLMjqzdCWe5ij-kpbPQ7DOQz94_SwWrJw5SjFrsF6hEL1X_Wyllfq0MExx1AcCbDUD2lruIurg9KMrrPcV7dD8W6ci4zhuWPrsO5A_-XWJj6Jrtas4Sr3vka0OZg9ulaEt4vjhgudlOEB0v9TdfqR9JFBHPnPDAMga84SRp146hVuZsl8dB94UvxA/s864/LL%2040%20classroom.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="864" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYyLMjqzdCWe5ij-kpbPQ7DOQz94_SwWrJw5SjFrsF6hEL1X_Wyllfq0MExx1AcCbDUD2lruIurg9KMrrPcV7dD8W6ci4zhuWPrsO5A_-XWJj6Jrtas4Sr3vka0OZg9ulaEt4vjhgudlOEB0v9TdfqR9JFBHPnPDAMga84SRp146hVuZsl8dB94UvxA/w400-h231/LL%2040%20classroom.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">During the pandemic, the problems became worse. The ceilings of the classroom are falling in, boards are rotting, the roofs leak and the teacher housing has holes in the floor with rats running freely.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8XzFw2uWKP4M3-O_4WP5vzCEnWG6XBIHb4MN-2Ft7CcOEjE6pjrzrN6GXbJf_k9UVj3xhuG9XYtS9XSrZCbNm5di9aB1HOayqZeZfd910pPEqLhCoss3iqx6u3wUTTPV6C_5GXvs2kyoWuFSMBJB02gprALKmRHDZNb3YCQ_KDiHNpdGZPx0HqqxEqg/s864/LL%2050%20teacher%20student%20bathrooms.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="651" data-original-width="864" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8XzFw2uWKP4M3-O_4WP5vzCEnWG6XBIHb4MN-2Ft7CcOEjE6pjrzrN6GXbJf_k9UVj3xhuG9XYtS9XSrZCbNm5di9aB1HOayqZeZfd910pPEqLhCoss3iqx6u3wUTTPV6C_5GXvs2kyoWuFSMBJB02gprALKmRHDZNb3YCQ_KDiHNpdGZPx0HqqxEqg/w400-h301/LL%2050%20teacher%20student%20bathrooms.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For the past six months, the school has been short of one teacher. No new teachers want to teach in La Libertad, given the terrible condition of the school and support buildings.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZN_VQrZYbpVg-quP9z4Bn0jCAClnZb3R9Rixd3oPB4rNOZSsNpFnlRyDp_5T0JFuTtsVavwnu2ASqiAzfjo3Ghvpp93qbc0BRI_OHf0h87UpU5FOCPbEBqTA5e2cEErp14NgtPyt-vgRWGU4fVujZdHp0weHFB1O3MMYc3XLxPK6g8dVEIfNzWdltw/s864/LL%2060%20toilet.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="651" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZN_VQrZYbpVg-quP9z4Bn0jCAClnZb3R9Rixd3oPB4rNOZSsNpFnlRyDp_5T0JFuTtsVavwnu2ASqiAzfjo3Ghvpp93qbc0BRI_OHf0h87UpU5FOCPbEBqTA5e2cEErp14NgtPyt-vgRWGU4fVujZdHp0weHFB1O3MMYc3XLxPK6g8dVEIfNzWdltw/w301-h400/LL%2060%20toilet.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We are raising money to fix the school. We will repair the ceilings in the classrooms, change the roofs, replace the rotten boards in the teacher housing, and paint where needed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKO70exQmcvli1fgtsZi9KuNdY4Pk0FDcgHFCATWLRPUPQf425Wh2Q8_8UbCHh3DW9yGAUFeLxsklELwzKGt5c9EFs7-9_gCl9zg75GaxpYHcYaR0Xm8lTZjYUqMIdKUUOfi7AP8f8h63ZCjeNnQJ90FkNqkKlscMfgRN4CdccNuLFB_gVxTWsafBjeQ/s864/LL%2080%20teacher%20house%20roof.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="651" data-original-width="864" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKO70exQmcvli1fgtsZi9KuNdY4Pk0FDcgHFCATWLRPUPQf425Wh2Q8_8UbCHh3DW9yGAUFeLxsklELwzKGt5c9EFs7-9_gCl9zg75GaxpYHcYaR0Xm8lTZjYUqMIdKUUOfi7AP8f8h63ZCjeNnQJ90FkNqkKlscMfgRN4CdccNuLFB_gVxTWsafBjeQ/w400-h301/LL%2080%20teacher%20house%20roof.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We seek donations to help fund our work in the community. In all, it is estimated that we need a minimum of $2,000 to do the majority of the school repairs. The link for donation is found below.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW3v2eltAEpNHFr77K-pWXEw19oOK94Nlf_O9r4IjN-pdhjQAHZfoliEVPrxOq2CqvmeLvAyQPOAm12j8mkmixNnR9cTF5KRTfEACngHeAraHLrvp9j1cRsc9pvwfKa4kBn3oxA303EkAFLDB308CHLECSIgzU47ZTxDbYjcSj4_Opc5YBc_l0_cvA8A/s864/LL%2010%20Mother%20day%20at%20school.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="635" data-original-width="864" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW3v2eltAEpNHFr77K-pWXEw19oOK94Nlf_O9r4IjN-pdhjQAHZfoliEVPrxOq2CqvmeLvAyQPOAm12j8mkmixNnR9cTF5KRTfEACngHeAraHLrvp9j1cRsc9pvwfKa4kBn3oxA303EkAFLDB308CHLECSIgzU47ZTxDbYjcSj4_Opc5YBc_l0_cvA8A/w400-h294/LL%2010%20Mother%20day%20at%20school.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of our scholarship students presenting "Stone Soup"<br />during the Mother's Day celebration, in 2022.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />We use the company Chuffed to accept donations. Thank you for reading!<div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://chuffed.org/project/jmxbaavnjbak"><span style="font-size: large;">https://chuffed.org/project/jmxbaavnjbak</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p></div>Benjamin Angulohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07271021177857576894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923847771911087432.post-64152764129778757762022-11-21T13:44:00.000-05:002022-11-21T13:44:13.581-05:00Going Upriver on the Amazon<p>Sometimes the journey is more fun than arriving at the destination! We spend a lot of time on the river. Going upstream can take up to twice as long as going downstream. If we are in a large boat with a small motor, the trip can be over four hours. Here are some random pictures of this year's trips.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxUDumXxFNqOw9A4_eH6JKkL70IZqqxLt-rAF8VTxcyyUq7AGZFmmC65Z7Y-SLc3_XEpclrXGpzKW5Ai8nUAUwSJOd_GQHx5btW0uihnDJp3nrAXKtZO7Ia-kcCDulwtaUSxKgSVwRyRvCWYIjd4I71rZYGoc92W1i7viJ1XuBj2JWF2HQmksXHVt7g/s864/35%20upriver.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="864" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxUDumXxFNqOw9A4_eH6JKkL70IZqqxLt-rAF8VTxcyyUq7AGZFmmC65Z7Y-SLc3_XEpclrXGpzKW5Ai8nUAUwSJOd_GQHx5btW0uihnDJp3nrAXKtZO7Ia-kcCDulwtaUSxKgSVwRyRvCWYIjd4I71rZYGoc92W1i7viJ1XuBj2JWF2HQmksXHVt7g/w400-h275/35%20upriver.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our first picture is from a return trip to the village after doing school shopping for the scholarship program. The day was beautiful, with scattered rain showers. We were lucky to have a spectacular rainbow in the background when we stopped for a break about halfway to La Libertad.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXyA2xQoi06qSmlzt5mxkcQWT3p_0vWNV9wbKV3fPIKP1I5KRP-EFylDz54nlaz5tGnVrSAGcTW_wYNC2guIob5gSI6X6blMq4H1pZJzjJ5-wSO43Fz9aN6CnoYbeY3iuubumFn1MyIklrMoGbymKkRciHmaDXS3W0Is-KyiPcV5nUQ01KHaVi-jzF9A/s864/40%20upriver.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="663" data-original-width="864" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXyA2xQoi06qSmlzt5mxkcQWT3p_0vWNV9wbKV3fPIKP1I5KRP-EFylDz54nlaz5tGnVrSAGcTW_wYNC2guIob5gSI6X6blMq4H1pZJzjJ5-wSO43Fz9aN6CnoYbeY3iuubumFn1MyIklrMoGbymKkRciHmaDXS3W0Is-KyiPcV5nUQ01KHaVi-jzF9A/w400-h308/40%20upriver.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here we are traveling during the rainy season to bring supplies to the village. The pails in the bow of the boat contain food, hardware, paint, and the like. Anything we don't want to be soaked by the rain we put into huge trash bags. This shot was taken during a gentle rain. Slightly before this was a torrential downpour. The visibility was reduced to about 500 feet, so we had to greatly reduce our speed. At times the rain is so heavy that we must pull to the side of the river and wait until it is safe to continue.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8J8qQQfAnrNIlxy8wGkq-E4BL9ZT1NIh2LWMM9ojvSoHaP9ThVuCqfZKotYT7HHbbMODQ6aOw_LXkW5jKIfkiWTR6rXBBfDvf-zefuYyvFkisv9YaXoyZCrkBJAGAvhTm9yq9U_rFjWLNh4X_zGViKeBbuSCNCMKNG1PQQR7JSKRU47x3a__UFcD2cQ/s864/42%20upriver.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="651" data-original-width="864" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8J8qQQfAnrNIlxy8wGkq-E4BL9ZT1NIh2LWMM9ojvSoHaP9ThVuCqfZKotYT7HHbbMODQ6aOw_LXkW5jKIfkiWTR6rXBBfDvf-zefuYyvFkisv9YaXoyZCrkBJAGAvhTm9yq9U_rFjWLNh4X_zGViKeBbuSCNCMKNG1PQQR7JSKRU47x3a__UFcD2cQ/w400-h301/42%20upriver.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">During the rainy season, the water level may increase up to 30 feet from the low of the dry season. This lets us go further in the tributaries, up to a mile into the jungle. Cargo is much easier to transport, allowing us to drop off our supplies close to our back door! </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPM6306bJB5rZ7fxWhh0quMsEXlVdPHdL-opmPTomDW5KXbTAbp6UPr_mizQVM8dvY8WsTIq-qtdBkSJksjFmUQhDaVcfp3tmDb3d4BpYpVsJAQowvKvLIl_-21b279qouk0f0NTTpGoKjIZcaQNBIOrwoP-cJ0yqLrz382LzpyLk6Tmh0s1M5qkmtFQ/s864/50%20upriver.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="651" data-original-width="864" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPM6306bJB5rZ7fxWhh0quMsEXlVdPHdL-opmPTomDW5KXbTAbp6UPr_mizQVM8dvY8WsTIq-qtdBkSJksjFmUQhDaVcfp3tmDb3d4BpYpVsJAQowvKvLIl_-21b279qouk0f0NTTpGoKjIZcaQNBIOrwoP-cJ0yqLrz382LzpyLk6Tmh0s1M5qkmtFQ/w400-h301/50%20upriver.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The trip upriver can take between four and five hours with our 35-foot wooden boat and a full load. It's a good time to relax (unless you are driving), talk, listen to music, or play around. However, everyone down to the littlest child knows not to rock the boat!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXTJ07TwPfdAdUdJxBNwQvg5Ep0HjV99uCIaww9ZQukeKr1fWgIfCcZgSdjwLlv9AoudoIJKHzPtHoSdtIsp9FS7HeVDTFaUQEZ69l0hWC2q1gnNqZvhGQJedIemewYeiUL7AO93qzIhV_RVGPMf579tfz4v1vRZB3cErGcXmCzusuozxZZpS2Qp4mw/s864/60%20upriver.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="707" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXTJ07TwPfdAdUdJxBNwQvg5Ep0HjV99uCIaww9ZQukeKr1fWgIfCcZgSdjwLlv9AoudoIJKHzPtHoSdtIsp9FS7HeVDTFaUQEZ69l0hWC2q1gnNqZvhGQJedIemewYeiUL7AO93qzIhV_RVGPMf579tfz4v1vRZB3cErGcXmCzusuozxZZpS2Qp4mw/w328-h400/60%20upriver.jpg" width="328" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We always try to leave Leticia, the closest city downriver from La Libertad, no later than 2 pm. We account for weather or mechanical problems, which can increase the travel time greatly. At the back of the boat, with the paddle, is Romario, our pilot for the day. It is common to see children as young as 10 years old operating their family's boat.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6NQQ7EL1ZP4o3XB_4BgfgXmp0gsxHh0vEa1a78NaxhTTJUqOI5mwRIuSjfFe45S3FkYerKrqkd_RcFTFE2bkZoSwo4TttW12CvzN7lNGnqtbJPcQUJENjXhBMeuRgOxwvfBswPa4-MjwmNH-ghgOFabUmF1t_RGTXFaQffqf5ERIwrjaLEKP1pi4vA/s864/upriver%20610.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="651" data-original-width="864" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6NQQ7EL1ZP4o3XB_4BgfgXmp0gsxHh0vEa1a78NaxhTTJUqOI5mwRIuSjfFe45S3FkYerKrqkd_RcFTFE2bkZoSwo4TttW12CvzN7lNGnqtbJPcQUJENjXhBMeuRgOxwvfBswPa4-MjwmNH-ghgOFabUmF1t_RGTXFaQffqf5ERIwrjaLEKP1pi4vA/w400-h301/upriver%20610.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After we had some problems and needed to change the propellor on our motor, we arrived home to witness a beautiful sunset. Luckily, we always travel with a good flashlight to be visible to other boats, to see logs in the water, and to navigate the narrow waterways in the back part of the village.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2eROME7qiEmhvTWeNR0mSmuHXYezUcicmimcWsQluSfiPdeuJyh9O0KKA00qwNqKqg7NbrVQbpapqKdkjPlTXiZbwJg_EdH_ffuohw2NsR0ylBnH0D3KrC52BFp_AZ4ldernKI7sB3847a7sobGyOt4FjIpA-hJNfmfgo47DVGt_0oeT3wfetgkkLlw/s864/upriver%20620.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="571" data-original-width="864" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2eROME7qiEmhvTWeNR0mSmuHXYezUcicmimcWsQluSfiPdeuJyh9O0KKA00qwNqKqg7NbrVQbpapqKdkjPlTXiZbwJg_EdH_ffuohw2NsR0ylBnH0D3KrC52BFp_AZ4ldernKI7sB3847a7sobGyOt4FjIpA-hJNfmfgo47DVGt_0oeT3wfetgkkLlw/w400-h264/upriver%20620.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At last, we arrived at the village port. Notified by the sound of our motor, and on the alert to our late return, the village children and youth rushed down to greet our boat. They were eager to help carry our supplies up the banks to our houses.</div><br /><p><br /></p>Benjamin Angulohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07271021177857576894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923847771911087432.post-68885224509419214252022-11-13T22:41:00.001-05:002022-11-24T22:48:16.778-05:00Mayhem in Macedonia: The fight to save a school. A story in pictures.<p>In 2019, eight months before the pandemic, work began on a new "megacolegio" mega-school, in the village of Macedonia.</p><p>Then we started to hear of problems.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9NvJbR2ndZQpYEpjPxbsrAYsZ4qUT8k7BsjjZvKnvqN4GJ8YAmrHkMFKGt6OijmS4b9ancjt7RIsfYX0_k2MJIU_ldbgc8bAHB78miqYRwyKYZhebExSJ892XuCvZ_5hmXabb6TzkGsSGl59P3OBxkKsozUTGit7k7K9MNLJvKDCBn2WPdT-DJNXXQ/s864/MS%2010%20students.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="864" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9NvJbR2ndZQpYEpjPxbsrAYsZ4qUT8k7BsjjZvKnvqN4GJ8YAmrHkMFKGt6OijmS4b9ancjt7RIsfYX0_k2MJIU_ldbgc8bAHB78miqYRwyKYZhebExSJ892XuCvZ_5hmXabb6TzkGsSGl59P3OBxkKsozUTGit7k7K9MNLJvKDCBn2WPdT-DJNXXQ/w400-h288/MS%2010%20students.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Above are five of 20 students from La Libertad who attend school in Macedonia.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The seventh through twelfth-grade students from our village attended there. In total, eight river communities sent their upper-level children to this school.<br /><div><br /></div><div>Many times the students said that they were not picked up by the school boat. Other times they said they arrived at school to find that their teachers were not there. Claims of fights and bullying were common. Some of the students were said to be using inhalants during unsupervised times.</div><div><br /></div><div>All of these issues were concerning, but the one thing that kept being brought up most frequently was that they no longer had sufficient classrooms for all of the students. At last, our students were told to go to school only two days per week. While we thought that some of these problems were a result of the pandemic, we knew it was time to look into what was happening.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqntMr84zeOV7FbgdQl0r3BLvt0w6111lGy-XM29c0ZQN6ILeDOvWE0oASL5LbNhG9YFH4ZFUgTxC9lWU8Kz3dXx7Il5ZHVvjt9o_SaBbvT6UeHyx7hJbtZhUTAfWsABT7wMaRxfFobotWB_obilAl7dPDAckha-yfdAEyJgMWEkpq_d07S5hQvPfszw/s864/MS%2080%20sect%20de%20edu.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="864" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqntMr84zeOV7FbgdQl0r3BLvt0w6111lGy-XM29c0ZQN6ILeDOvWE0oASL5LbNhG9YFH4ZFUgTxC9lWU8Kz3dXx7Il5ZHVvjt9o_SaBbvT6UeHyx7hJbtZhUTAfWsABT7wMaRxfFobotWB_obilAl7dPDAckha-yfdAEyJgMWEkpq_d07S5hQvPfszw/w400-h311/MS%2080%20sect%20de%20edu.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We spoke with Jhon Carlos Palomares, the Secretario de Educación for the state of the Amazon, Colombia. He confirmed that the school was years behind schedule. The company that started the work demolished half of the classrooms, did a small amount of work pouring concrete posts, and then filed for bankruptcy. The money that they had been paid to start the construction had been lost. He said that a new company had not yet been found to continue the work. He also stated that the other problems of the school were being investigated. He did not give us any more information, he just held up his hands and said he didn't know what he could do.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was time to go to Macedonia.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcDAJtQGDTxFE3UjLvUulbOUbWOdFXI7H9q6qBZMU_1nYy1h8Ut9yoOBPxIgUrBh3_SxJmTrmnRp4d_zytR7yidVRcH_tGbu2DIWi3t9Jftcqit4kLs6B2--VqE2CfykulLPHoPLKDuAPeRwSmdKQqU4mEvxOw5drdEuAp9f5tl3Utq3rWv337Rk1D7A/s864/MS%2030%20Macedoina%20100.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="864" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcDAJtQGDTxFE3UjLvUulbOUbWOdFXI7H9q6qBZMU_1nYy1h8Ut9yoOBPxIgUrBh3_SxJmTrmnRp4d_zytR7yidVRcH_tGbu2DIWi3t9Jftcqit4kLs6B2--VqE2CfykulLPHoPLKDuAPeRwSmdKQqU4mEvxOw5drdEuAp9f5tl3Utq3rWv337Rk1D7A/w400-h261/MS%2030%20Macedoina%20100.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The field with the start of the concrete posts. This is where the classrooms<br />were demolished.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA8u_BOp1kUxwk5zkR0yKObbDnvyuR8RxKAMr_xUGlZsQLsv0EmqvqjVgVQKOqWRwuBxxCZTstoF8KlPpIPQs4LaqXAw0co89ZuhNy-OnAqBVBuQqDzjVfIxntu73_iK6o8eTA-BdQMJZL1XCjzc9klHWGmpxMHaZyzmqp8zEWC9MBToPBVaqKVPvdZw/s864/MS%2035%20building.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="651" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA8u_BOp1kUxwk5zkR0yKObbDnvyuR8RxKAMr_xUGlZsQLsv0EmqvqjVgVQKOqWRwuBxxCZTstoF8KlPpIPQs4LaqXAw0co89ZuhNy-OnAqBVBuQqDzjVfIxntu73_iK6o8eTA-BdQMJZL1XCjzc9klHWGmpxMHaZyzmqp8zEWC9MBToPBVaqKVPvdZw/w301-h400/MS%2035%20building.jpg" width="301" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the classrooms used during the construction.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWRpBEwEsG7kuvNVNHdYdcr4BQOF9aJYfyDJVLRiZCquozcgBB91INHbmunZh21pIdLE9YU3xCIgTxQUlcPTgUtJPJ_7PwTuTJsMYxqUTr3oDamKEdv-VrYXXmDwm10GhqNc-Bnfrjea_E0s4gG0DULJgXpvIAXan8FyXPW8RrNbxLAuI98wX8awaHew/s864/MS%2050%20bathroom.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="399" data-original-width="864" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWRpBEwEsG7kuvNVNHdYdcr4BQOF9aJYfyDJVLRiZCquozcgBB91INHbmunZh21pIdLE9YU3xCIgTxQUlcPTgUtJPJ_7PwTuTJsMYxqUTr3oDamKEdv-VrYXXmDwm10GhqNc-Bnfrjea_E0s4gG0DULJgXpvIAXan8FyXPW8RrNbxLAuI98wX8awaHew/w400-h185/MS%2050%20bathroom.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bathroom</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_9vRI6vmxYj95HDE7N9uXmcnnA1tZfdOODV7-wwHu5iBc15N951mA8GbW1mZ0IjyIoKnlu8QhX2i9CZyEpsbiEZP8PftvS9nNGIhAk0LV-eRbUw0Jf4dbKL6RtNto8OU-fhnsmdEZL5S4YoD5Ml2ZxPPdq2i2tNbL8Ei1Fi-NTKWKz90W0lX1EW-ihA/s864/MS%2060%20tree.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="435" data-original-width="864" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_9vRI6vmxYj95HDE7N9uXmcnnA1tZfdOODV7-wwHu5iBc15N951mA8GbW1mZ0IjyIoKnlu8QhX2i9CZyEpsbiEZP8PftvS9nNGIhAk0LV-eRbUw0Jf4dbKL6RtNto8OU-fhnsmdEZL5S4YoD5Ml2ZxPPdq2i2tNbL8Ei1Fi-NTKWKz90W0lX1EW-ihA/w400-h201/MS%2060%20tree.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The port in front of the school. On the day we visited the teachers <br />had no students and were on their cell phones.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The director of the school, Mariano León, spoke to us upon our arrival. He gave us much more information about the problems of the school. He said there was only one bathroom for 450 students and staff. He also discussed the lack of classrooms for half of the students, problems with water and electricity, and not enough gasoline to pick up the students with the boat. He admitted to discipline problems in the school but did not discuss how he was addressing these problems.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Mr. Leon did give me much more information about the construction, including the name of the agency which was responsible for the construction contracts. The Fondo de Financiamiento de la Infraestructura Educativa (Fund for Financing Educational Structures).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw-JLwYL0dmvE8IFFmVgpB9dyG8RNoCGt5QFRRI7BVQtEIau2rcWyE5Ni647bJHlfuj8aDQ26bsBSFmck7WhAftPKqyo0WFyOl-xKIExCghDATlVYuNKNuWwM_sgh7pXyabo3hI4grwN_0yoVSsONu4-7EflwEUfkyi2GPYB3x8jdT1C4p3iDwGgetBw/s1198/FFEE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="807" data-original-width="1198" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw-JLwYL0dmvE8IFFmVgpB9dyG8RNoCGt5QFRRI7BVQtEIau2rcWyE5Ni647bJHlfuj8aDQ26bsBSFmck7WhAftPKqyo0WFyOl-xKIExCghDATlVYuNKNuWwM_sgh7pXyabo3hI4grwN_0yoVSsONu4-7EflwEUfkyi2GPYB3x8jdT1C4p3iDwGgetBw/w400-h270/FFEE.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Ministry of National Education,<br /> Fondo de Financiamiento de la Infraestructura Educativa (FFIE)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We went to the FFIE in Bogota to ask them what was happening with the school in Macedonia. We did not get very far. Instead, we were asked to fill out a form on the internet. We did, and after one month we received a reply from their legal department that told us of the problems of construction. Basically, this was what we already knew. But it did give us enough information for us to know that we needed a lawyer to solve the problems.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We returned to our village of La Libertad. When there we heard a protest was being held over the stalled construction and abandonment of the students. It was time for us to return to Macedonia.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6RARAfKNYqjMuaJB5UWlfOp7ZNngnpmMennj_Sm4LwZahAEtZqgGboeCzQGaoBwe3eAYhtrYUhoMWmHZ21uOJOm7OV_aTSvW9MOulR8XXIM5tyKqH5_CYgXIBoptXj9gtQl0AI_dd0mcJ_I0Lk-L0OMC8HiC1b-bIPCP6qwq2-rdahxcxDkHtWHTmPw/s864/MS%20100%20protest%201.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="864" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6RARAfKNYqjMuaJB5UWlfOp7ZNngnpmMennj_Sm4LwZahAEtZqgGboeCzQGaoBwe3eAYhtrYUhoMWmHZ21uOJOm7OV_aTSvW9MOulR8XXIM5tyKqH5_CYgXIBoptXj9gtQl0AI_dd0mcJ_I0Lk-L0OMC8HiC1b-bIPCP6qwq2-rdahxcxDkHtWHTmPw/w400-h255/MS%20100%20protest%201.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the first days of the student, parent, teacher, and community-led protests</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFGvJUePoMqSWHRVW4gmHXFU4QXJp2mCsm_LZe4vctHO3-nbOSYYMcnAu8JaJ5GHAHLFZSNemxq9M7UAZNbZ7iMpfNRKw8WURKrm8gMKKpRTgoCu2aLYvq28qhUWt_Wv4vefiouINujgkKN33d-Det1YoojWEzwcwDvmmrMb5VFyJ9OkD5wqcVe8XpQ/s864/MS%20220%20protest%203.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="864" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFGvJUePoMqSWHRVW4gmHXFU4QXJp2mCsm_LZe4vctHO3-nbOSYYMcnAu8JaJ5GHAHLFZSNemxq9M7UAZNbZ7iMpfNRKw8WURKrm8gMKKpRTgoCu2aLYvq28qhUWt_Wv4vefiouINujgkKN33d-Det1YoojWEzwcwDvmmrMb5VFyJ9OkD5wqcVe8XpQ/w400-h284/MS%20220%20protest%203.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A speech being given overlooking the abandoned site of the new mega school</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Pzwj9CMiPCg" width="320" youtube-src-id="Pzwj9CMiPCg"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The mayor of Macedonia is describing the problems with the new school</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYl7F0lsnSwAR5Vzx1N1nXgMAwjWnefuhXBkWnl1RmEa3enX-aAaYt7KCzbule0voajmfrDMHHHeL--2uGWWKHeQPd9S-fiSixj29nXgeaA6Ke1n6gMLoJJDGzaqlLNC2-VehqgaC1sXy9ZSN9f6uyg2jldPYKYmkYGK1XF-kORerfjnnOvfFBjiSF9Q/s864/MS%2090%20mayor.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="633" data-original-width="864" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYl7F0lsnSwAR5Vzx1N1nXgMAwjWnefuhXBkWnl1RmEa3enX-aAaYt7KCzbule0voajmfrDMHHHeL--2uGWWKHeQPd9S-fiSixj29nXgeaA6Ke1n6gMLoJJDGzaqlLNC2-VehqgaC1sXy9ZSN9f6uyg2jldPYKYmkYGK1XF-kORerfjnnOvfFBjiSF9Q/w400-h293/MS%2090%20mayor.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben, Amazon Pueblo's director, with Jose Javier</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">At last, the people were speaking up! I met one of the organizers of the project, Jose Javier, the mayor of Macedonia. He was willing to fill us in on the details which other people were not giving us. They had a volunteer lawyer, Luz Marina Castrillón Bustamante from Bogota, who helped them to bring a lawsuit against the education department.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Amazon Pueblo then helped to publicize this on social media sites in the Colombia Amazon and in the interior of the country. We uploaded pictures, videos, and written comments. We had over 10,000 views!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Three months later, a new company had been hired and work was resumed. Please enjoy the photos below as much as we did.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMYb_aW8NYDWpc1wRdFChj5nIihm4QH1UKsyWWG2cyQIhkgJqISWFt6eFwUoMSRDusPCPcx0trlZzY-CDRyqeFECQgvNXvc65Iwjr-766f_Y-JgOWJGMfwE_J7FkgDfsB9jkU1NTws7rHANhQcKIvF5z_npEjkyMA5AKoix9Bd-6szK9jmLi6kqbUbQ/s729/Mace%20construct%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="493" data-original-width="729" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMYb_aW8NYDWpc1wRdFChj5nIihm4QH1UKsyWWG2cyQIhkgJqISWFt6eFwUoMSRDusPCPcx0trlZzY-CDRyqeFECQgvNXvc65Iwjr-766f_Y-JgOWJGMfwE_J7FkgDfsB9jkU1NTws7rHANhQcKIvF5z_npEjkyMA5AKoix9Bd-6szK9jmLi6kqbUbQ/w400-h270/Mace%20construct%201.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The steel for the structures arrives at the port</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDUry6sOj1qWqmpw_G0OcW5IWgr1LdN6jFGS4kCHfzIMHH9VbqUmfviR82GEm5Hky6sWnGYoI3YvnvOK1PqQOIY66OYXF10zqI18h2--WCgAcThozMg4bzAK93KBhQ8HtNY1eHtksYj8VFIFhelrimIvMzNZeUUftZpYTzOrUYnyXiGlkB4ve8tHc1A/s929/Mace%20construct%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="929" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDUry6sOj1qWqmpw_G0OcW5IWgr1LdN6jFGS4kCHfzIMHH9VbqUmfviR82GEm5Hky6sWnGYoI3YvnvOK1PqQOIY66OYXF10zqI18h2--WCgAcThozMg4bzAK93KBhQ8HtNY1eHtksYj8VFIFhelrimIvMzNZeUUftZpYTzOrUYnyXiGlkB4ve8tHc1A/w400-h258/Mace%20construct%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Preparing the ground for work</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJ37pu6cT0KUYhDz3rUaDK-V4jRgL40EdGsPa6MwrL7c4UKejyUdr9yL9aTW_eFgnLLyTAKPixs2c9DR4_ZevJYjtOliBHUXlrr8JL9pWv9qg4HxLVuJ-W9XT__IxTkmeiOVBDrkUDiysaQ_JejKjXv9wQi03WL0CaOLPfvv9qr6p0v8y0oUuyNyIAg/s911/Mace%20construct%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="911" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJ37pu6cT0KUYhDz3rUaDK-V4jRgL40EdGsPa6MwrL7c4UKejyUdr9yL9aTW_eFgnLLyTAKPixs2c9DR4_ZevJYjtOliBHUXlrr8JL9pWv9qg4HxLVuJ-W9XT__IxTkmeiOVBDrkUDiysaQ_JejKjXv9wQi03WL0CaOLPfvv9qr6p0v8y0oUuyNyIAg/w400-h203/Mace%20construct%203.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The structures rise!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While we are extremely pleased that work is progressing, now is not the time to sit back and expect that everything will work out. We are keeping up the posting on social media, asking questions, and looking out for mismanagement and corruption. Our goal is to post pictures of our students entering the new mega school in early 2023.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Benjamin Angulohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07271021177857576894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923847771911087432.post-28677750702808360502022-11-13T13:02:00.004-05:002022-11-13T13:02:49.052-05:00Solar Power Lights up the Village<p>Solar power is in La Libertad. The solar panels' prices are half what they were when we started the project in 2012. Accompanying the drop in prices has been an increase in efficiency. What does that mean? <b>We're going solar!</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGMjW2qawQXI2DszNMKCxtAJCve5E2gIL_4Mm_bnXR6SDDIrdZs47cQeA6yR8SNTQDKlsLMWB-Ubym-GiZSktlmdRgC2KqsegL7bz59-zXefEf9VRpuTeGeCaABf3DC7_Gdb-F4jk0sx9XPB6l4f8FdYm5Ll888r8bQhMKYY320STmzyD8I9SVvS99w/s864/SP%2040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="864" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGMjW2qawQXI2DszNMKCxtAJCve5E2gIL_4Mm_bnXR6SDDIrdZs47cQeA6yR8SNTQDKlsLMWB-Ubym-GiZSktlmdRgC2KqsegL7bz59-zXefEf9VRpuTeGeCaABf3DC7_Gdb-F4jk0sx9XPB6l4f8FdYm5Ll888r8bQhMKYY320STmzyD8I9SVvS99w/w400-h248/SP%2040.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Romario is building and installing a ladder in the guesthouse. This will be used to access the solar panels for cleaning and maintenance. With time, oily soot from the open cookfires accumulates on the panels and decreases their effectiveness. Once a month we must give them a quick wipe-down.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLHuz6ayTr27Kfcz2ktyQ_gS6X3FAxQgoJJa745pCZ-PLG-MdlZLYhdag7G2AaI8E3RRN_Q2byqmWLN7uH8DsAipx330ckVDvuvxlWcFLLBtqF6sB0wI3Y7WL2PRXclMSBhxqxFgl7bGePxuECipJhKHzgPhc-Hh7tV0WKVqveO1vtbby77eujZjF5w/s792/Energy%20Sun.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="531" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLHuz6ayTr27Kfcz2ktyQ_gS6X3FAxQgoJJa745pCZ-PLG-MdlZLYhdag7G2AaI8E3RRN_Q2byqmWLN7uH8DsAipx330ckVDvuvxlWcFLLBtqF6sB0wI3Y7WL2PRXclMSBhxqxFgl7bGePxuECipJhKHzgPhc-Hh7tV0WKVqveO1vtbby77eujZjF5w/w269-h400/Energy%20Sun.png" width="269" /></a></div><p>We bought our solar panels and lithium-ion battery from Cristian at Emergy Sun in Leticia. They helped us with installation tips and some technical support. This is Energy Sun's fourth year in Leticia. They have done projects throughout the Colombia Amazon and the surrounding areas of Brazil and Peru.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8xYWMt2aEebBZ97pNqk7c6shLh0e7JEpwD5Jmir6V-Tzj1xAI1Vl0w5X2azCAk5m3diwzOeDnIIT1ACKtazb3j37YW7Q-xtwqLYO1p9ZY_MVVRZPzg3_6c5BGHgNp1JZ6E9-8ji_NPQukXSlnkWisjgS1e2bdcJNdJoS8yNAAzrJ8cZoNSNcL2x7wGQ/s864/SP%2010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="864" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8xYWMt2aEebBZ97pNqk7c6shLh0e7JEpwD5Jmir6V-Tzj1xAI1Vl0w5X2azCAk5m3diwzOeDnIIT1ACKtazb3j37YW7Q-xtwqLYO1p9ZY_MVVRZPzg3_6c5BGHgNp1JZ6E9-8ji_NPQukXSlnkWisjgS1e2bdcJNdJoS8yNAAzrJ8cZoNSNcL2x7wGQ/w400-h348/SP%2010.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We installed two 550-watt panels on an aluminum support structure attached to our roof. These offer a great alternative to the diesel generator used by the village.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqk7YCFRAsTi97oRo_IlCrnBce8sGH9kObyrT9wy2TEtvL7Fpbku70MJaQdJYuKesI3CtVu6si_cTYpL5KR3g5e58NNlAfm8t4OLbQbNHigUxNW3_BopCyEO25JgxmaEa8z-XPwuAhIZ79QPUgLR1S6gsXJeorWwX5aXaJ144Dw5btpyURwsoCx2opA/s851/SP%2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="851" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqk7YCFRAsTi97oRo_IlCrnBce8sGH9kObyrT9wy2TEtvL7Fpbku70MJaQdJYuKesI3CtVu6si_cTYpL5KR3g5e58NNlAfm8t4OLbQbNHigUxNW3_BopCyEO25JgxmaEa8z-XPwuAhIZ79QPUgLR1S6gsXJeorWwX5aXaJ144Dw5btpyURwsoCx2opA/w400-h251/SP%2020.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The village generator provides electricity between the hours of 3 pm to 8 or 9 pm. This is convenient but does have some disadvantages. At least once every three months the generator is broken and needs maintenance. Even at a subsidized cost, the villagers sometimes find the price of electricity to be too high. The noise of the generator can be heard throughout the village, taking away from the peaceful sounds of the jungle. And last, the pollution from burning diesel fuel is easily smelled in the air and seen in the extra soot around the village.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzrTC_gNQF93vQYyJ8QUWq29n47tVDOkXxzYEFtWMwsVOmsVWsNvkyYy-412wA85vaFHXmy1tOMKJD-EtkZyUBpNAnZUGuah38SD8tWqIUoDxKK-wClVl-xm3uOCqCmCOCyp0iEEDi2XsfRHPxnsTCG4m1ov-9BTY-Or1V2pb4hXV9uwX06I77lbygww/s897/SP%2022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="641" data-original-width="897" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzrTC_gNQF93vQYyJ8QUWq29n47tVDOkXxzYEFtWMwsVOmsVWsNvkyYy-412wA85vaFHXmy1tOMKJD-EtkZyUBpNAnZUGuah38SD8tWqIUoDxKK-wClVl-xm3uOCqCmCOCyp0iEEDi2XsfRHPxnsTCG4m1ov-9BTY-Or1V2pb4hXV9uwX06I77lbygww/w400-h286/SP%2022.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The above picture is of a charge controller. It helps to regulate the flow of electricity from the panels to our deep cycle battery (deep cycle meaning it can be discharged and recharged over 1000 times without damaging the battery) and to our power inverter, pictured below.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN4IdRsoSGvhq5tMpKDEiv_0lpCLMXtXGDdxT16sdclS9gSkNhGbO8K_Us_N4iCaSu1fP222YBfJihmCy0xDeFqObQzliT7Q7X04bN3UL5KxGHIEuslqixzyDVGCdi_FTBiZ1l_sEDY3nN83sKeMftHVOC-XZHoB19jNjp0VuRU0wMJctIon_ZNKlePA/s948/SP%2024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="948" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN4IdRsoSGvhq5tMpKDEiv_0lpCLMXtXGDdxT16sdclS9gSkNhGbO8K_Us_N4iCaSu1fP222YBfJihmCy0xDeFqObQzliT7Q7X04bN3UL5KxGHIEuslqixzyDVGCdi_FTBiZ1l_sEDY3nN83sKeMftHVOC-XZHoB19jNjp0VuRU0wMJctIon_ZNKlePA/w400-h289/SP%2024.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A power inverter changes the direct current supplied by the solar panels and battery to alternating current. Alternating current is what comes out of the electrical sockets found in homes and other buildings. Our 2,500-watt inverter powers 15 LED light bulbs, two TVs, two DVD players, cell phone charging, and a small refrigerator during the day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A 100 amp hour battery will power all of these devices, except for the refrigerator, from 6 pm to 9 pm at night. However, if the sunlight is not sufficiently strong during the day, the battery will not fully charge. Then we must run fewer devices. This may happen during the rainy season, when we may have three or more days of rain and overcast skies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3T5bs8cOpOGRye1npXHE_YVldlMMU3Qw5WwOvG9VrYElrm3A7Ers5qsJf_xlUBs-ulmq2N-MXTa89ZkOtgfo8Un1dFddzcdEOt_aXoXLkQbrXD8yZndIwXOKFO_uTtLWUeMFK52jla8YFPihLTePrZXemqgJV6XxadAWhYYelb17JSzyOqi8dL6g0YA/s864/SP%2030.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="738" data-original-width="864" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3T5bs8cOpOGRye1npXHE_YVldlMMU3Qw5WwOvG9VrYElrm3A7Ers5qsJf_xlUBs-ulmq2N-MXTa89ZkOtgfo8Un1dFddzcdEOt_aXoXLkQbrXD8yZndIwXOKFO_uTtLWUeMFK52jla8YFPihLTePrZXemqgJV6XxadAWhYYelb17JSzyOqi8dL6g0YA/w400-h341/SP%2030.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For now, we only have solar power in the project's buildings. But, as can be seen in the picture above, many people stop by to charge their cell phones, portable speakers, or other small electronics.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">There have been many rumors that the local energy company, ENAM, will install solar panels for the community, but we have heard this for the past three years and nothing has happened. As the prices of solar power decrease and technologies improve, we hope that one day everyone in the village will benefit from this cleaner energy.</div><div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Benjamin Angulohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07271021177857576894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923847771911087432.post-59104565720483379522022-11-12T20:19:00.001-05:002022-11-12T20:19:57.592-05:00Daily Life Around the Village of La Libertad<p>After our last post about school and the coca industry, we thought it would be nice to show some of the less intense day-by-day happenings in the village. Here are photos of life and things around the project's buildings in the village. At the end of the pictures, we have a video of the only working bike in La Libertad!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9hW_EoEECy0O7EtPbfcgRUAPGZbLkAyrJAJRixTdwHjcSa6GE_8o2mFNxD5cBwWVrZ1Zh53UyrB4N9g2ytXFtFbrBmM9hY54Ap8KDhFSPRh3QROicycNitqfiuTDnV92kBAzLUcxtoYBC-ykFo0B0NENjc0uHUqtRQICIp-hVaPB4xLqeaf8BmMYGEw/s864/AV%2010%20missionaries.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="653" data-original-width="864" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9hW_EoEECy0O7EtPbfcgRUAPGZbLkAyrJAJRixTdwHjcSa6GE_8o2mFNxD5cBwWVrZ1Zh53UyrB4N9g2ytXFtFbrBmM9hY54Ap8KDhFSPRh3QROicycNitqfiuTDnV92kBAzLUcxtoYBC-ykFo0B0NENjc0uHUqtRQICIp-hVaPB4xLqeaf8BmMYGEw/w400-h303/AV%2010%20missionaries.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here we are in the kitchen. To the left are Maria and Gustavo. On the right are Gilmar and Ben. Gustavo is the owner and caretaker of the buildings. Maria and Gilmar are volunteers working with the villagers over the Christmas holiday. Our project frequently provides free housing to volunteers in the village.</div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLrRx1ySUdyjG0hlwvJvmP9J1zKGe9sIIVw-sFY__NIxidvIw0l2pV8MCnrlho1NuQ-kDsiuG7XtjZYwAVSbpc_qHeO8BTcHjRvBx7dAMEvaWOQIHID1gGHFE12G8DO8J8OH6lHQI8ByMOvw0u-FrWpSQej9arv8aJlejQL7I37J52-Dkao12vA_q7Hg/s864/AV%2040%20Stihl%20chainsaw%201%20small.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="864" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLrRx1ySUdyjG0hlwvJvmP9J1zKGe9sIIVw-sFY__NIxidvIw0l2pV8MCnrlho1NuQ-kDsiuG7XtjZYwAVSbpc_qHeO8BTcHjRvBx7dAMEvaWOQIHID1gGHFE12G8DO8J8OH6lHQI8ByMOvw0u-FrWpSQej9arv8aJlejQL7I37J52-Dkao12vA_q7Hg/w400-h233/AV%2040%20Stihl%20chainsaw%201%20small.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is our chainsaw. We mostly use it to cut boards during construction projects. Occasionally we cut small logs for firewood. However, we do not loan it to other people, as it has come back to us damaged. On the anti-kickback bar, next to the front hand hold, is resting a butterfly which is the exact same orange and black color scheme as the saw!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQPSRNzUJ_wiB8umKMzn2rC6pz_vY0dQaKeYs4TmW_YX9wca-f3vPihnhajKgbfWiP1waa1X7dxN7ED59Lj0C6T7vbSAguptt9PN7d8mcBNgkSrcP_mx2mhl7woQsRkGanxao_HorO8R7xTZlruc02GjbqkLPzzJBq8YGk5GWZdHc4cOMjT1KOETjDEw/s864/AV%2050%20dino%20tv.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="588" data-original-width="864" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQPSRNzUJ_wiB8umKMzn2rC6pz_vY0dQaKeYs4TmW_YX9wca-f3vPihnhajKgbfWiP1waa1X7dxN7ED59Lj0C6T7vbSAguptt9PN7d8mcBNgkSrcP_mx2mhl7woQsRkGanxao_HorO8R7xTZlruc02GjbqkLPzzJBq8YGk5GWZdHc4cOMjT1KOETjDEw/w400-h272/AV%2050%20dino%20tv.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">This TV is in the house of our main carpenter, Hernan. His eight-year-old really likes dinosaurs! There is no TV air signal or cable in the village. They buy DVDs in the city of Leticia and everyone shares them.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitoBR6jIwYKO5FKtDgGXUOgQr2zz511nxSyLdbVK2YSa8cTJ64BS3mj0fcNDLZuq7XoZySP5ebm7jU7dt_DfCYfBi_-rE-loUtcImfqogIJihl8KX2hrTJ0-AldLt3pauvwrdlXfz-w669160SB8EpstM-RFlVBYEmbdnD-0IPE9LOb7s34onk6S6oYg/s864/AV%2030%20rata.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="693" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitoBR6jIwYKO5FKtDgGXUOgQr2zz511nxSyLdbVK2YSa8cTJ64BS3mj0fcNDLZuq7XoZySP5ebm7jU7dt_DfCYfBi_-rE-loUtcImfqogIJihl8KX2hrTJ0-AldLt3pauvwrdlXfz-w669160SB8EpstM-RFlVBYEmbdnD-0IPE9LOb7s34onk6S6oYg/w321-h400/AV%2030%20rata.jpg" width="321" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There are always things to repair and clean around our buildings. Here Gustavo is holding a flattened, mummified rat that we found under one of the houses.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4UDTnqH7Kb7s7KhJXo9ieIftbNF35lhr9YgI6y8QBIimlZazPPEq-4ircl8oHyPSvvEiuUiciEshFTDjHCrDvf0ecatKwwWo2Omzb5uuUhIlUfSTKoKzSiMcyU40ADJeBjSt0EqGqWdLqNWFXA4LB16fpeTkeQASiGvNm82itW5swga3EmuSaFTaYpQ/s864/AV%2060%20xbox.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="864" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4UDTnqH7Kb7s7KhJXo9ieIftbNF35lhr9YgI6y8QBIimlZazPPEq-4ircl8oHyPSvvEiuUiciEshFTDjHCrDvf0ecatKwwWo2Omzb5uuUhIlUfSTKoKzSiMcyU40ADJeBjSt0EqGqWdLqNWFXA4LB16fpeTkeQASiGvNm82itW5swga3EmuSaFTaYpQ/w400-h291/AV%2060%20xbox.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After a long day of work or a day of school and work, we usually watch a movie or play on the Xbox 360 until the power goes out at 8 pm. The most popular games are soccer, Call of Duty, and Halo.</div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip62ISBt_3vajtiTKn45yJLac0_GwSwoVitbv4d4k4Jd9IMyFUwtgMbeTSuDlrL0xJeUg8P4QlP01ccUi-Ndqyg5cOpc-emnScLYUfLla1Jff4BFJznnohyYJRT2zXv4HQSuCSTycgmZJ8HhpMG24DLFZa4Wh7_dtIxrMPwDizv-CbWT5gJcU30otASQ/s864/AV%2080%20Mowgli%20jungle%20dog.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="463" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip62ISBt_3vajtiTKn45yJLac0_GwSwoVitbv4d4k4Jd9IMyFUwtgMbeTSuDlrL0xJeUg8P4QlP01ccUi-Ndqyg5cOpc-emnScLYUfLla1Jff4BFJznnohyYJRT2zXv4HQSuCSTycgmZJ8HhpMG24DLFZa4Wh7_dtIxrMPwDizv-CbWT5gJcU30otASQ/w214-h400/AV%2080%20Mowgli%20jungle%20dog.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Our dog Mowgli! Almost every house in the village has one or more dogs. They help with security, hunting, and are fun to play with.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJOWH01iHtMxGedwPJQ9D3KX5VFDXR1pRUXmt_ZkAlHCmAskpWukLPlT5sIzFKp38WpvsxznV9P4MsRe5HHopI7uYvbwYx_20YryYFY1le5N_54Pj1OSkd2WFnU1b41QLvgIVF3xMl5CaSGYxFQ-rAMLUTFU1hgio2xWkB_NpwmVBTyBIWkWqeSxSkA/s864/AV%2090%20missionaries%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="864" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJOWH01iHtMxGedwPJQ9D3KX5VFDXR1pRUXmt_ZkAlHCmAskpWukLPlT5sIzFKp38WpvsxznV9P4MsRe5HHopI7uYvbwYx_20YryYFY1le5N_54Pj1OSkd2WFnU1b41QLvgIVF3xMl5CaSGYxFQ-rAMLUTFU1hgio2xWkB_NpwmVBTyBIWkWqeSxSkA/w400-h375/AV%2090%20missionaries%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Two more volunteers with our director Ben and three of the students in our scholarship program. It's really great to have new people in the village. Volunteers visit families, help with tasks or projects, and have interesting stories and experiences about the outside world to share.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEpGzMubUtIdBSUXEXoz-uejGhLsqVCA1POSfxgvbrS461CvmMrmZfMPw_cgpCRTaA-nmWZsTmVQFK2M44JtvbQSXbTsScWDHFYxVYUKhB435uIqA_pvNFEgdYqauDQU6AfGflAm53DWVsWS_meysTU456KYNFuZB-NorjRz6wchBue7Hb8IU9pVIM6A/s864/AV%20110%20gamenight%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="651" data-original-width="864" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEpGzMubUtIdBSUXEXoz-uejGhLsqVCA1POSfxgvbrS461CvmMrmZfMPw_cgpCRTaA-nmWZsTmVQFK2M44JtvbQSXbTsScWDHFYxVYUKhB435uIqA_pvNFEgdYqauDQU6AfGflAm53DWVsWS_meysTU456KYNFuZB-NorjRz6wchBue7Hb8IU9pVIM6A/w400-h301/AV%20110%20gamenight%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Game day in La Libertad! On some days we play cards, board games, and even paper-and-pen roleplaying games. On this day we were playing the board game Carcassonne. The kids really enjoyed it, playing for over two hours without a break. We also play chess, risk, and dominoes. Strategy games are especially well-liked.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjea4ivvaipCF5y66F3Q7ZvAgypv-Ze8Z2K1DIKnOpjpwe8_sG3yBNnJRIMNmUvPkhjoYgjuv6psVTSkiIRH9_nR6uMD_wXhiwZ0moHrA49pJKD2EIYUUU9SeQ54WiXfO6s23m3kElZI8MrCVKPYntzM-ggqb0fjL8KeA2yYCsNWXAc_vrlmKu7qWlSGw/s864/AV%20120%20night%20video.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="574" data-original-width="864" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjea4ivvaipCF5y66F3Q7ZvAgypv-Ze8Z2K1DIKnOpjpwe8_sG3yBNnJRIMNmUvPkhjoYgjuv6psVTSkiIRH9_nR6uMD_wXhiwZ0moHrA49pJKD2EIYUUU9SeQ54WiXfO6s23m3kElZI8MrCVKPYntzM-ggqb0fjL8KeA2yYCsNWXAc_vrlmKu7qWlSGw/w400-h266/AV%20120%20night%20video.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">During the day the kids may use apps to learn basic reading skills. But in the evenings they frequently listen to music or funny videos on our tablets or their families' cell phones. They all use an app called ShareIt to share content.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMd6Z7MOnr9-3VdrBztLvrW6Ol68wEyU2wkRHx_kRgfhRYDju1HNY2hDiWCEDePM3J-LDjKHrFUyxDweobZUcNABve7RPcx3Q1BOyD4jvMHdbRJwCw7Od0C3C0MDzyQ3L8ZeahuMna2pyJ-3LGOgz0RSn6CCTcV5l2q8NisGtNo6Ey2quXmvu5Rmy6w/s864/AV%20130%20school%20play.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="864" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMd6Z7MOnr9-3VdrBztLvrW6Ol68wEyU2wkRHx_kRgfhRYDju1HNY2hDiWCEDePM3J-LDjKHrFUyxDweobZUcNABve7RPcx3Q1BOyD4jvMHdbRJwCw7Od0C3C0MDzyQ3L8ZeahuMna2pyJ-3LGOgz0RSn6CCTcV5l2q8NisGtNo6Ey2quXmvu5Rmy6w/w400-h291/AV%20130%20school%20play.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here is a picture of the Mother's Day school assembly. Camilo is the teacher shown to the left. One of our scholarship students is narrating the Colombian version of the story Stone Soup.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ2pZWohvweGe6XwondY5gYzf9QqdtGUwnNDte2-iQYxw21bK49ZWijev6UqiBHGXggpIb_HAiVDtIusixHxwgMgq71SGC-04RBp5wM_d8-zGxgFx4rGxAjIkrmts_ZeTGZ3ofG502Ue1QGabKpJT0zZstGQ25ItHqgZXkirhCNhkJKRFXLJt-iIz1GA/s1003/AV%20140%20generator.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1003" data-original-width="864" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ2pZWohvweGe6XwondY5gYzf9QqdtGUwnNDte2-iQYxw21bK49ZWijev6UqiBHGXggpIb_HAiVDtIusixHxwgMgq71SGC-04RBp5wM_d8-zGxgFx4rGxAjIkrmts_ZeTGZ3ofG502Ue1QGabKpJT0zZstGQ25ItHqgZXkirhCNhkJKRFXLJt-iIz1GA/w345-h400/AV%20140%20generator.jpg" width="345" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The power in the village frequently goes out. This may be due to not having enough diesel fuel, mechanical problems with the community's generator, or because of a snake crawling into the generator and causing a short circuit. Repairs may take from one week to a month or more. Here is our little backup generator to use when we have no power from the village. It is enough to power the light for our buildings.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZIOharUNQnEq3OJ1C5yB2KtaHYtZHQXKDJT3zhFjLVP8NdOMYFZBdA_diOaRG8ENYKhn6bsNSKTvaY59wZofWHVzT5lHOHSJ-ztGf6fvhj86TlpTa4qJOyR-Whi5w884_3A6dhKoQNol56k4WoU5Tj3D7P9bQYrh3XaHtEMOUCdVMEtsa-StgI0O6A/s864/AV%20150%20house%20boat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="651" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZIOharUNQnEq3OJ1C5yB2KtaHYtZHQXKDJT3zhFjLVP8NdOMYFZBdA_diOaRG8ENYKhn6bsNSKTvaY59wZofWHVzT5lHOHSJ-ztGf6fvhj86TlpTa4qJOyR-Whi5w884_3A6dhKoQNol56k4WoU5Tj3D7P9bQYrh3XaHtEMOUCdVMEtsa-StgI0O6A/w301-h400/AV%20150%20house%20boat.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This house raft belongs to the family of one of our scholarship students. The water level was high at this time. The change in the water level between the rainy season and the dry season can be as much as 25 feet! What's fun about this is the obstacle course needed to pass to their house. One of the boards is like a see-saw that must be crossed. Only one person at a time can go, as the board lifts out of the water in the back of you after passing!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTccIo4jzQObjRIQ-oqlfTV6ewe5nmgMgjMAD-7ADi14UaTSxgL8z0LxR8VTJsEdsAG0t5DPmHLViIB2TlALSjlQLMYA5J4-0fMy2uSxDld9vsbR3YyZLVkxI3IZz3dd4JP99j-tmjIP0xuNflbLzq_lgYivnsZ5pOBLeQRXsexoS4JK7NC_Ns7JAKNA/s864/AV%2070%20bike.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="864" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTccIo4jzQObjRIQ-oqlfTV6ewe5nmgMgjMAD-7ADi14UaTSxgL8z0LxR8VTJsEdsAG0t5DPmHLViIB2TlALSjlQLMYA5J4-0fMy2uSxDld9vsbR3YyZLVkxI3IZz3dd4JP99j-tmjIP0xuNflbLzq_lgYivnsZ5pOBLeQRXsexoS4JK7NC_Ns7JAKNA/w400-h274/AV%2070%20bike.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We bought this bike second-hand in Leticia. The kids took about a week to sand the rust from it, then we bought a can of spray paint to paint it. That, new bearings, seat, handlebars, chain, and tires and it was like a new bike! It was great that the kids learned to do much of the maintenance by themselves. That way they take more pride in the bike and are more careful with it. Please enjoy the video below of the kids riding past the guesthouse!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UGUaodaM6BM" width="320" youtube-src-id="UGUaodaM6BM"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Benjamin Angulohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07271021177857576894noreply@blogger.com0