by Kelli Donley | Jun 13, 2008 | Africa, Journal, Travel
I am stealing two minutes of Internet time at the Lujeri Tea Estate in southern Malawi to check in; this is my favorite African visit by far. I cannot believe how gorgeous the landscape is. The estate is a fabulous mix of Hawaii’s tropical splendor and...
by Kelli Donley | Jun 8, 2008 | Journal, Kitchen Talk, Public Health, Travel
Griselda, my godson’s mother, invited our her home for lunch on our last day in Jinotega. She made an amazing pot of chicken soup with countless vegetables. Here she stokes the fire to get the soup boiling. Back in the kitchen, she and one of her girlfriends...
by Kelli Donley | Jun 8, 2008 | Journal, Public Health, Travel
The cathedral in Jinotega. One of many statues inside the churches we visited. These buildings are remnants of Spanish colonization and are silent sanctuaries in the otherwise noisy cities across the country. The cathedral from the view of the wildly colorful...
by Kelli Donley | Jun 8, 2008 | Faith, Journal, Travel
This sweet woman was one of many dazed hens at the central hospital in Jinotega. She’d just given birth to twin girls. Most of the women in the cramped postpartum room had delivered twins. Women typically deliver at home with a midwife. Our midwives are trained...
by Kelli Donley | Jun 8, 2008 | Journal, Public Health, Travel
This is what a home looks like after we’ve finished a roof. These homes cost our organization $3,000 each — much more now that gas prices have risen. Many of the materials are transported from the capital. To qualify for one of these homes, the family must...
by Kelli Donley | Jun 7, 2008 | Journal, Travel
I am in the capital of Nicaragua, Managua, where I am pretty sure the humidity tops 90% and the temperature hovers at about the same. The only relief is the afternoon thunderstorm that rolls in each day about 4 pm and pounds the city until well after we have all gone...
by Kelli Donley | Jun 4, 2008 | Journal, Public Health, Travel
The last three days have left me a bit crippled. I am not cut out for manual labor. Triathlons? No problem. Running, hiking, sewing like a sweatshop worker? Cake. Digging ditches, moving heavy roof tiles, shoveling countless truck loads of sand? I am worthless. And...
by Kelli Donley | Jun 2, 2008 | Community, Journal, Public Health, Travel
Hola! I made it to Nicaragua safely with my 7 traveling companions. I´m leading a work trip and we are here to build houses and work on a water project. We traveled Saturday to Managua, the capital, and yesterday took a microbus to our project site in Jinotega. I´ve...
by Kelli Donley | May 30, 2008 | Domestic Art, Journal, Sew Along
Dear Finny, How are you my friend? How is the running going? How is the garden? Is your sweet Bubba back on American time after his international galavanting? Speaking of, as you know I am leaving tomorrow on a jet plane and won’t be back again (for a few...
by Kelli Donley | May 29, 2008 | Domestic Art, Journal, June Cleaver
“Feet, why do I need them, if I have wings to fly? — Frida Kahlo My new travel bag, made with some CAOK-gifted fabric featuring my favorite artist, from Viv of Maine. Amy Butler birdie sling, canvas interior and handle. Red polka dot pocket for luck...
