Nicaragua at 40

Well, in case you haven't heard, tomorrow my great humanitarian mission adventure begins. I will meet 37 of my colleagues from SecureWorks at the Atlanta airport at the crack of dawn and we will board a plane destined for Managua, Nicaragua.

In Managua we will board a small school bus and ride for two hours down a bumpy gravel road to Chinandega, which is where we will be setting up base camp. We will be staying in an old house that one might think of as sort of a hostel. The first floor has bunks where the women will stay, and the second floor has bunks where the men will stay. We will at least have the luxury of hot meals and cold showers, which is more than most have in this area of extreme poverty.

From there, we will have access to the small village known as 'El Chonco'. This is the target of our mission. Currentlythe residents of this village have to travel about three miles to the nearest water supply. Believe it or not, they do this with a donkey and cart. Our objective will be to complete the project that was begun last year. We will either have to go over or under a bridge that stands in the way. That is yet to be determined. But as Hannibal said "We will either find a way, or make one!"

Our other objective will be to build ten homes for the residents of 'El Chonco'. I'm not exactly clear on the details of this and how we can build ten homes in five days, but that is the challenge that is before is. I'm confident we will find a way to accomplish this task.

I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to celebrate the milestone of turning 40 in such a meaningful and charitable way. And as I begin to mentally prepare for this journey I am about to embark upon, I am reminded of how grateful I am for having such an understanding wife who supports me in this endeavor, even though it means we will be apart on my birthday. Life should, indeed, always be this good.

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"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."
-Howard Thurman

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