first visit to Yorkin

i made my first visit to Yorkin under my new title as assistant to Benson and Project Manager.  it was a short trip, just an overnight, but yet a long one all the same...  long because it meant 6 hours of driving with 4 people in a small pick-up with a mini cab - not exactly the most comfortable.  ha.   and long because driving on Costa Rican highways means lots of semi trucks, one lane in each direction the majority of the way, up and down mountains, random vehicle break-downs in the middle of the road, and lots of passing over double lines and on blind corners.  (i hope i haven't discouraged anyone who was thinking of coming down here!)  really, amidst all the crazyness, the drivers somehow have a method to their madness and it usually all works out. 

anyway, back to Yorkin.....arriving to the village is a different adventure now than it was even in january.  there was a lot more heavy rain and flooding in february and the lower points of the river (where we transfer from bus to boat) were really affected.  now instead of getting out of the van and going down the slight embankment to the river, you have to go down the embankment and then walk across something that looks like a desert.  or maybe what i imagine the Rea Sea would have looked like when the waters were parted for the Israelites.  it's about a 300m walk across to where the river now is and you get into the boat.  

the main purpose of our visit was to see the conditions first hand, ensure that the materials had arrived and were in the middle of the transportation process, and to talk with the Women's Organization in the village to confirm the plans for the work projects and lodging arrangements for our group.   and all in all it was a success - our objectives were achieved, and we made it in and out with only a few bug bites to show for it! :)   now it's just wrapping up the last details before our first team of 12 people from Colorado arrives on Sunday.