Tuesday, Jan 30
Ron, Dick, Randy, Bill, and Pastor Dave flew from Minneapolis to Houston. Abe flew from Phoenix, met us in Houston for our flight to Managua, Nicaragua. Tuesday night stayed at the Los Mercedes in Managua, a “modern” motel where we had our last “hot shower.”

Wednesday, Jan 31
Flew from Managua to Puerto Cabezas on a flying “box car.” Had breakfast and went shopping for supplies. Visited the outdoor market. Met with Harold Smart, the head of IDSIM and toured their headquarters, then traveled by truck to Waspam. It took us 6 hours to go 80 miles over a road filled with potholes and mud pits. Arrived in the dark at Waspam and stayed in a “motel” that was dirty and primitive. This was probably the most difficult day of the trip

Thursday, Feb. 1
Pleasant 8-hour trip in a 57ft long dugout canoe up the Rio Coco to San Carlos. Stayed overnight in San Carlos in a clean motel.

Friday, Feb. 2
Exciting 4-hour trip from San Carlos to Siksayari, including going thru several rapids. Three times had to get out of the boat and walk around the rapids; one of those times had to unload most of the cargo and pull the boat over the rocks with ropes. Arrived at Siksayari for a late lunch and moved into our rooms.

Sunday, Feb. 4
Attended worship at the Moravian Church; Pastor Dave preached with David’s (our translator) assistance. Toured the village in the afternoon. Sundays are a special day of rest for the people of Siksayari. Almost everyone is more dressed-up in their nicer clothes and spend time “visiting” with each other.

Sat., Feb 2---Mon., Feb. 12 In Siksayari
While in Siksayari, we worked on variety of projects, summarized in the following list:

• Put joists on 5 sets of poles
  
• Put floor boards on 8 decks
  
• Built 1 set of house rafters
  
• Framed in 1 house and set the rafters
  
• Built 8 rafters for the Medical Clinic
  
• Removed roofing from old school
  
• Salvaged wood & wire from old school
  
• Rebuilt porch on the IDSIM house
  
• Built two sets of crutches (Abe)
  
• Built coffin for a two month old baby
  
• Remodeled the saw mill storage shed
  
• Various repairs on the two saw mills:
  
• Moved saw mills to a lower level
  
• Adjusted bands
  
• Replaced roller bearings
  
• Bypassed bad solenoid
  
• Adjusted clutch linkage
  
• Replaced magneto
  
• Cleaned out engine intake

Sunday Feb. 11
Attended worship at the Catholic Church; Pastor Dave preached with our David’s assistance.
Went up river to see the rapids that are very difficult to get thru and toured a “typical” Siksayari farming plot which had the following plants in it: red beans, pineapple, bananas (3 types), coco, cassava, lemon grass (used for tea), coconuts, coffee, rubber trees, corn, sugar cane, bamboo, mango, lemon trees and many varieties of ferns and flowers. Rice is also grown, but in separate plots because it needs more water.
In the evening the several women of the village demonstrated some of their traditional dances as a send-off before our departure on Monday.

Monday, Feb. 12
Left Siksayari after dinner and traveled down Rio Coco to San Carlos; took about three hours. Toured San Carlos in evening.

Tuesday, Feb. 13
Traveled down Rio Coco to Waspun (took about 6 hours) and then traveled by truck to Puerto Cabezas. Took 4 ˝ hours; the road had been graded some, and was less bumpy. Stay overnight in Puerto Cabezas the Pelican Motel, which was on the Caribbean. Had an excellent seafood meal as we listened to the waves of the Caribbean. Riding in the taxis was a hair-raising experience.

Wednesday, Feb. 14
Flew from Puerto Cabezas to Managua. Toured Managua and went shopping in the “Central Market.” The taxies were even more exciting.

Thursday, Feb. 15
Flew from Managua to Houston to Minneapolis and Phoenix.