Journals from Belize: 2-3-12 morning

Photo by Ryan Bannan

Journals from Belize

2-3-12 morning

Our pace is not fast, but we are staying consistently busy.  Enough so that I have not found much time to write.  The days here have been surprisingly rainy and cool.  I am sleeping great so far and we are well fed, better than I had anticipated.  My conversations with the Mayan Health Workers yesterday confirmed how similar our struggles are.  Down at the heart of the matter we are more the same than we are different.   True, the developing world has far less than we do in terms of medicines.  However, the politics and mentalities are very much the same. 

Photo by Ryan Bannan

In terms of remedies people everywhere look to pills to fix their maladies.  It amazes me that people will take an aspirin for headache without first seeing that they are properly hydrated.  I have been approached time and time again for medicine while walking about the village.  Each instance I am content to give only advice and happily refer each person to Andreas the Laguna Village Health Worker.

Photo by Ryan Bannan

People seek other medicines besides just pills, however.  Everywhere we humans have basic needs, many of which frequently go overlooked.  We all want to feel successful, want to feel supported, and want to be needed.  We need to be fed and clothed, and we need to believe in progress.  Everyone I meet, every conversation I have further supports this notion.  I would like to get about the village today and learn more about the perceived needs of the community. 

People are looking to us for answers, but as I explained to Carlos earlier, we too have much to learn.  I attempted to explain to him that despite our high levels of material wealth in the U.S., we are lacking in many other ways .  We live much more isolated, more sterilized lives and are constantly finding ways to separate ourselves from one another.  I spare him the full diatribe seeing that he is perplexed by this concept.  Maybe his look is more of surprise. 

I am looking forward to working more with the Community Health Workers Carlos, Andreas, and Anna in the coming week.  They are intelligent, motivated, and have a contagious passion for assisting their communities however they can.  It’s inspiring.  I am also hoping to discover what local, traditional treatments are still being used in the villages around Toledo.  I spoke with Carlos about the role of Bush Doctors and was somewhat surprised that he knew nothing of the famous Bushman Don Elijo nor of his apprentice Rosita Arvigo.  I am curious how knowledge is spread here and I am curious about what the hot topics of conversation may be.  One thing is for certain, people are always talking about one another!

There are childish politics in play here as there are everywhere.  Andreas told me that people in Laguna Village frequently arrive at the clinic looking for pills and medicines regardless of their illness.  If medicine is not indicated or they don’t get what they want, they get upset and gossip and don’t return. 

It takes integrity to do the right thing not just once, but over and over.  I advise him to stay strong and be wary of letting the patient decide their own treatment.   I encourage him to educate his people on why and when to use medications.  I encourage him to explain to them the limitations of medicines, potential complications, and prolonged, undesired effects.  Alternatives too are important.  He is appreciative of the advise and seems comforted when I explain to him that we have the same type of problems in the U.S.  

Later in the night music booms from large speaker cabinets inside the block and tin churches scattered plentifully about the village.  The bass from the speakers echoes about the darkness for hours at a time lingering like fog in the jungle tree tops.  Each day here brings new challenges. Each day is full with meaning.

Journals from Belize: 2-1-12

Journals from Belize

2-1-12 afternoon

Cars that don’t exist in America; this is what catches my eye as I saunter to our Daihatsu Terios parked outside of the Belize International Airport.  I am half way through my second Belikin while we wait for our last man Breax Burns to arrive from Durango.  His flight seems to be running a little late so we go to check the on its arrival status.  “I’ve got opposable thumbs and a frontal cortex,” Randy declares as we continue our conversation about Man’s right to recline and I and I finish  the last few sips of my indigenous beverage while walking about the terminal.  Clearly I am not in Kansas any more and I like it.  Besides, there are palm trees and a warm breeze. 

We are minutes from finalizing the assembly of our team.  If our last member makes it through customs successfully we will be 11 strong.  Jono has spent months recruiting an experienced team of allied health professionals, and I am eager to get to Laguna to meet them, but for now we have time to kill.

 

While waiting for Breax to arrive from Durango Jono takes us hunting for “number plates” as he calls them with British sensibility.  We drive a few minutes beyond the airport in Ladyville to a dilapidated junkyard where a foreboding sign posted out in front of the establishment reads “If we are not open, no focking come here, your life may be in danger, nuff said.”  Below are two numbers to call for towing assistance.  The handwritten sign is full of comical misspellings, but the meaning is never the less clear, and looking around I am convinced the patrons of the yard are sincere in their message. 

I’ve been in the country less than an hour and already I am comfortably uncomfortable.  Jono our fearless leader is tall, confident, and fully aware that he looks a bit tourist like in his flowered black button down and sandals.  In no time he has found his way into the yard begins sifting through stacks of rusty license plates in search of a keeper.  Once found, a quick $10 Belize seals the deal.  We march back out to the Terios which is parked out front.  It positioned facing the road for rapid retreat if necessary.  I consider taking a picture of the sign then make a quick look back at the two men inside the junkyard scowling at us and decide otherwise.  After all, my life could be in danger…nuff said.

A Busy Return

After escaping my life here in the states for over a week while in Belize I find myself in a scramble to get caught back up.  There are forgotten bills to pay, laundry and gear clean up, forthcoming seminars and all the myriad other trivial pursuits that all easily melt away while on expedition.  It has not been easy readjusting to a way of life that charges at a far more rapid pace.  In Central America it had taken some time to adjust to "Belize Time" a way of life that followed a more natural and progressive rhythm.  Communication is sparse, timing approximate, and priority is based on true necessity. 

It took a bit to understand that if someone did not show up for a meeting or was hours late, it was not that they did not care about our activity.  Rather, something more important had come up.  It's a simple way of operating.  If you go to town with someone from the village and they fall ill, you go with them to the clinic and stay with them until they are able to return.  If no transportation is available, you wait with them until some can be arranged.  If this means you miss a meeting, so be it.

This is but one small example of the type of commitment people of Belize have to one another.  One night while deep at rest I awoke to the trumpet like moan of a horn.  The next day I learned that it was a distress call.  The men of Aguacate arose from slumber to go search the "bush" for a teenage boy who had not returned home.  Unsuccessful in the dark, the search was resumed again the next morning and continued until he was found.  Hilaria, the village health worker and I were asked to evaluate the boy for injuries.  We found him at home surrounded by dozens of concerned community members.  It was clear to me that although they were uncertain of what to do, they were ready and willing to help with whatever was needed.  It was a powerful moment, one that I was honored to have been invited to join in.

Over the next several weeks I will attempt to share in greater detail more stories from working with the people of Belize.  My hope is to combine my journals and pictures here on this blog to better outline the amazing time we spent together sharing cultures and ideas about how to live.  As my last few days in Aguacate slowly but steadily passed by, I found myself holding back tears at the thought of having to leave.  My new friends in Aguacate taught me much about living each day with a commitment to community, to family, and the desire to live a whole and happy life. 

I am certain that our presence in the villages as well as the trainings we did with the community health workers contributed substantially to the improvement of health care there.  I am also certain that as missionaries of health education we have brought back as much, if not more, knowledge as we had delivered.  This is the beauty and necessity of cultural diversity; the opportunity to share across borders different perspectives of life that will hopefully allow us to find a middle ground. My hope is that experiences like this will lead us to discovery a healthier, more balanced, and sustainable way of life!  Thank yo all so much for making this mission a success!    -Bryan

 

Its Go Time!

Atlanta Layover:  I'm starting the day tired.  We got crushed at work yesterday and as usual I saved a bit too much for the last minute.  Things that got spared...thank you letters and various assundry other e-mails, paying bills (I did get rent in), and that sinking "I know I forgot something" feeling while waiting to taxi...my last Typhoid pill..the one's that's still in the fridge...back at the house...the one that required a dozen phone calls to area pharmacies and was apparently the last box in Asheville according to the secreraty at the health department.  Oh well, whats done is done and were on our way!  Most remarkably, I so far havent been charged for the behemoth 80 pound drybag o gear I checked.  So all is well!  I've got a few more minutes to update then Were off to catch our connector to Belize City.  I've aleady run into my friend and colleague Randy Howell.  He's a bad ass P.A. from Roanoke and a fellow A.C.W.M member.  This moment of synchronicity and the anticipation of our destination reminds me of why I spent so much time rollin the wheels.  Were off!  I'll write when I can.   -B

Malaria, Pepto Bismol, and the Fer De Lance Snake.

With only a few days left to secure funding for our medical mission to Belize the reality of our expedition is beginning to settle in.  It is true I am still hoping to raise support for the project, and at the same time I feel it prudent to shift focus to some of the forthcoming challenges we will face upon arrival in Central America.  I have spoken in some detail with expedition leader Jonathon Bryant about what to expect...in a nutshell, Malaria, Pepto-Bismol and the Fer De Lance snake.  This is not a wish list mind you, nor is it complete.  There is further anticipation over "chicken water" dinners, hungry jaguars (during my 7 mile hike through the jungle), and the revelation that I've been advised to bring along AT LEAST one emergency child birthing kit.  If you were thinking this would be a tropical vacation, think again.  Yes mother, I will be carrying a satellite phone.

If I did not before, I now know that our expedition is real.  After several days of group training in Laguna village I will be venturing out to a remote village in the southern most part of Toledo just two miles north of the Guatemalan border.  It feels as though there is much to do to get ready.  My flight to Belize City leaves Asheville in two weeks and I have yet to obtain my malaria and typhoid prophylaxis.  I am also feeling behind on acquiring my personal gear and expedition medical supplies.  Never the less, I must remember I am well trained in throwing together camping gear at a moment's notice and this is just another camping trip...in another country...with a distinct and challenging mission.  Did I mention there are Jaguars there?  So tomorrow will be a prep day as time is moving hurriedly and days are few.

  

Thank you so much for sharing my excitement over this wonderful opportunity to improve the lives of others through education and service.  Please contact me with any questions or to just catch up.  I would love to hear from you!

Many Thanks!

Bryan

Let's Join Forces To Help a Community In Need!

Dear Friends,

I need your help!  During these tough times here at home it is easy to forget that there are many communities experiencing even deeper hardships.  It is easy to forget how many of our distant neighbors abroad struggle on a regular basis due to a lack of basic services..

This February I will be joining a team of heath care professionals to travel to Belize to continue efforts to improve the health and subsequent quality of life for members of communities lacking access to adequate healthcare.  Here are a few statistics to consider.

*Belize is a small Central American country with a population of 307,000 and limited economic resources.

*Reduced spending has resulted in cuts in health services for rural communities and curtailed services in health posts and mobile clinics.

*50% of the population is defined as "rural"

*Unskilled labor comprises up to 63% of the workers in Belize with an overall unemployment rate of 13.8%

*Only 42.4% of the population 10–65 years old were functionally literate.

*Toledo has the lowest percentage of safe water supply coverage in the country

*Maya children had four times more growth retardation in Toledo District (52%) than in Belize District (12%).

*Intestinal disease is the second leading cause of deaths in males

*Only 17% of the national health budget goes to public health programs

(World Health Organization Statistics)

WHO WE ARE:

I will be joining MedicForce a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization comprised of volunteers from various health care disciplines.  This is an established program that has already completed multiple health initiatives in Belize.  Our team will consist of engineers, physicians, nurses, paramedics, and educators.

OUR MISSION:

We will be completing phase 4 of a multi-year project that has brought basic supplies and health education training to the rural district of Toledo in the southern most region of the country.   Toledo is the most remote part of Belize with the least infrastructure and the most under served communities.  As MedicForce volunteers we will be performing maintenance on existing clinics, delivering much needed supplies, and delivering health education focused on pre-natal nutrition, emergency care, and disease prevention.

WHY?:

I believe it is our global responsibility to help our international neighbors in need just as it is to help those in our home countries, states and neighborhoods!  As citizens of a developed nation we have the means to provide significant support to members of less developed countries in lasting and impactful ways.  The provision of health education and medical supplies can and HAS ALREADY contributed to decreased infant mortality rates and increased life expectancy in Belize!

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!   

 I am currently fundraising both the cost of air travel: $675.00 as well as a $650.00 contribution paid to MedicForce which will cover food, transportation for personnel in Belize, and supplies / equipment for the rural clinics.  If you believe as I do that this is a worthy venture, that it is our global responsibility to give back to our international families in need, I will humbly accept and forever appreciate any assistance you are able to provide!  There are 3 ways that you can contribute financially.

1.  Send contributions directly to me.  Though not tax deductible, these funds will allow me to apply funding to either air fare OR to logistics and supplies.

2.  Send a Tax Deductible contribution by credit card by going to www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/jonathon-bryant/medicforcebelize4.  These funds will go directly to Medicforce and will cover on site logistics and supplies.

Finally, thank you so much for sharing my excitement over this wonderful opportunity to improve the lives of others through education and service.  Please contact me with any questions or to just catch up.  I would love to hear from you!

Many Thanks!

Bryan

Dwelling With Purpose

In 2006 after a half a dozen years of wandering and exploring I decided it was time to make a change.  I had been moving every 8 months and felt as though I was burning up more than my fair share of fossil fuel.  My life at the time was relatively simple.  I lived nomadicaly carrying with me only what I could pack in my vehicle, I ran rivers, and I lived in the wilderness working with "at risk" teens from all over the country.  It was a good life and looking back it is always easy to become nostalgic.  Never the less, I can distinctly recall feeling as though something was missing.  While I had very clearly developed a sense of purpose, missing from my life was a sense of place.  I had successfully moved about all over the United States and developed many lasting relationships of importance.  However, the frequent moving left me void of a place that really felt like home....and so a new type of journey began.  The journey of staying put!

It is amazing to me the mysteriousness through which changes in life can occur.  Just days before moving to North Carolina I was in the Adirondack Mountains of New York State poised and ready with an airline ticket in hand to go to Nepal.  I would be working Himalayan rivers as a guide for a prominent outfitter.  It was a dream that was not to be fulfilled at that time, however.  Violent Maoist uprisings had scared off foreign visitors and my services as a river guide would not be needed that season.  Strangely I didn't pout over the news and chose instead to take immediate action.  I went inside of the Saranac Lake community library, got onto the Internet classifieds and found it.  The online add read, "Kayaker's Dream.  One bedroom apartment on the Watauga River."  I wrote down the phone number, went outside to call, spoke directly with the gentleman offering the space, and two weeks later I lived beside one of the most beautiful whitewater rivers in this country.

So why do I tell this story?  These moments serve as significant examples of the inexplicable ways that life shifts and creates opportunities beyond our own design.  Also, for me it marked the beginning of a greater effort to integrate various components of my life in a more sustainable manner.  I wanted to decrease my time spent using my car, develop a greater sense of place, serve as a contributing member of a community, remain living close to the earth, all the while developing greater economic stability.

So I moved to the river, which at the time was most intuitive to me, began serving my community as an EMT, and began looking for a home of my own.  With the help of family and friends, who's assistance proved invaluable, I was blessed to transition to home ownership.  In a effort to live within my means and follow a path of economic sustainability I purchased and lived in a renovated 1987 Toyota RV while I looked for a more permanent abode.

The concept behind the choice was that I could achieve ownership, save money by evading rent, and have property that I could quickly resell to recover investment.  Again, with much help along the way, this process proved successful, and in January of 2009 I purchased a property that would later be dubbed "Bryan's Farm".

"Bryan's Farm" served as a humble effort to occupy a space that incorporated ideas of  intentional living and sustainable design.  As a former environmental studies student I hold strongly the belief that the space we inhabit should be resemblant of our values and inspire us to remain connected as stewards of our environment.  This property proved to achieve this in that the scale of the dwelling was appropriate for a single occupant and proved sustainable in form and function.

The modest 750 sq foot home sitting on just 1/2 acre was within my economic means.  Its small size made it efficient to heat and power, and the 1920's original structure had served several prior functions before becoming my home.  Its original purpose was as part of an old railroad depot and was later used as the office for the county fish hatchery.  The unique history and architectural style of the building contributed to a distinct sense of place. This historical narrative further dictated a multi-use philosophy that evolved over time as needs transitioned from industry to agriculture to residential.  Simply put, the use of the structure over the years exemplifies the value that structures should be built to last and meet the changing needs of the users rather than cheaply established then torn down and thrown away as needs change.

Inside the house multiple examples of sustainability and efficiency are worth noting.  The original framing and support structures were all built with local materials of the time.  This means that walls and roofs were crafted with sturdy hardwood which undoubtedly contributed to maintaining structural integrity as the building was moved literally across the county.  Retrofitting and renovation of the structure furthered the re-use philosophy.  The wood floors were replaced and the material used to make beautiful custom cabinets.

New building material in the form of efficient fiber-cement siding was appropriately applied to create a tight building envelope reducing heating and cooling costs as seasons changed.  Heating was achieved though a combination of natural gas and renewable wood heat.

It didn't take much of either.  Finally, at a relatively low cost we replaced the aging electric water heater with an on demand propane water heater.  This easy to install device dramatically cut down energy use by only heating water as it was needed as opposed to maintaining a hot water reservoir as with the old system.

Most importantly, many memorable moments were created as people gathered to enjoy meals out of the garden, reading by the wood stove and exuberant nights out at the fire pit.  For me this is what living with purpose is all about; using resources wisely, living inspired and healthy lives, and developing a sense of community and support.  The challenge continues!