3 weeks ago/3 weeks to go!

Three weeks ago, I bought my ticket gearing up to embark on an amazing journey from Maine to Managua, Nicaragua. Then, I sent out a ‘holla’ to all my friends and family asking for support in creating backpacks for school kids in Nica & in the USA. I also approached a local school teacher and dear friend to see if they might be interested in receiving my donation and following my journey. Three weeks ago I very anxiously wrote to my beautiful new friends in Nicaragua announcing the details of my trip and the details of my donation and they excitedly responded within minutes!

Each day that has passed since has been an unbelievable whirlwind…

I have confirmed and reconfirmed all of my destination spots from my house to my host families. I cannot wait to meet them and get to work on the projects La Mariposa has in store for us. 

I am thrilled to let you all know that operation backpack was a huge success! I have had so many friends and family members offer to lend a hand; from cash donations to office supplies –

WE DID IT!

The bags for both here and abroad are ready for packing. Thank you everyone for your unwavering support of me and my projects. I am indeed living my dreams.

Over the next week I will be making a special delivery to a local classroom giving 24 children; notebooks, pencils, colored pencils, crayons, rulers, erasers, glue stick, and scissors. I am hoping those children will help me pack up the bags for the Nica kids. While we were finishing our shopping today we scored some Spanish/English flashcards for the each of the classrooms thanks to my boyfriend’s sharp eye!

I packed up the bag tonight just to see what the weight was looking like and yikes! We are overweight by 12 pounds. But, this is why I pack early and keep checking, I have two bags that I can carry up to 50 pounds a piece in without incurring any fees so...I will need to make some adjustments to my own bag in order to get these much needed supplies on the ground in Nicaragua.

I have a detailed list of all that is left to do before my departure and I really want to express a heartfelt thanks to the extra special friends and loved ones who have pulled me aside and said, “Don’t worry about a thing while you are gone.” I cannot tell you what a great comfort, it is, knowing, you have my back while I am away, know that it goes both ways! I could not do what I do without you.

Next stop, el banco {the bank} turning over some green backs for cordobas and my local pharmacy getting the arsenal of prescriptions my doctor has prescribed to keep me healthy.

Ooooh and just in case you were wondering the wheels are tentatively in motion for Honduras and Guatemala in the spring. I stopped by Retail Therapy for all you local chicas please check out my fundraising project as my closet has been thinned once again.

Stay tuned amigos it’s almost time!