"The second week, I was there with a smaller group for water brigades, about 13 students from OSU--majority of them were on the medical brigade. Every day something always dramatic, bad/worrisome/weird/strange happened...up to the day we left for Oregon. It was like we had a bad luck charm floating around with us. Besides that, the week was full of dirt, hard labor, and appreciation for water and those who truly believe that water is something that should be prioritized in life. Here in the United States, or any other western civilization, its hard to tell if someone really appreciates water. Without water, we can't do much, as a matter of fact, we can't do ANYTHING.
Trenching, pickaxing, shoveling, gluing tubes, threading tubes and cutting tubes isn't as easy as it seems. Water is not something to take lightly. Its work to get water flowing and its work to get water to those who need it. Again, where you live should not decide whether you live or die...
We, water brigaders, weren't in the villages to dig trenches and pull in pipes etc, ok ok..well literally yes..buttt the big picture is what is important. The Hondurans were the ones who were doing this on their own and we were just down there to support them, by giving up our time and putting in our effort to show that we are here to help them, that were are their sidekicks and basically a motivational factor to them. Now, this is what I call sustainability! I really thought it was cool that it wasn't just us creating a whole water system and the local Hondurans just depending on us for everything to get done, but that were were actually there to support them. That was the most satisfying and awesome thing about water brigades----that we weren't there for the short term, but we were there for the long term.
Also, helping water brigades was like helping out at the medical brigades. Actually it was double dipping because if we can help the communities in Honduras with their water problem, then they wouldn't have problems with parasites as frequently, and or bacterial problems in their water. Its like we were helping the Hondurans solve the root of the problem.
I can go on forever about my brigades in Honduras, especially about the amount of fun I had there. Not only was it culturally fulfilling, but it opened my eyes and heart to another aspect of human life and unequal opportunities once again. I am always reminded about what I must do to keep my heart pace running for this life of mine, for you and for others--I know that was super cheesy, but I mean it--"
If you'd like to follow Stellar's adventures in Europe this summer or Africa later this year, you can find her blog, Listening To The World, HERE.
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