The Team Moves out

Tomorrow our team leaves for Guyana. The team will consist of the following people:
· Rene Steinhauer
· Tom Kamin
· Victor Mnkal
· Betty Belsher
· Arthur Mills
· Ricki Sheldon
· David Batt
· Paul Maresca
· Jim Trimby
· Marc Bacaro

I will leave Sausalito at 0900 and will arrive in Guyana at 0820 the next day. It will be a long day with long layovers at the airport. I hope we do not have any problems moving the solar panels. I have included the letter I send to our team in the posting below.



Dear Team,

Well, we are down to the wire and I am excited to be going to Guyana with all of you. Before we leave, I want to thank each of you for your commitment to this project. I know that each of you are spending your own money to volunteer and I know that each of you are also taking time away from work. Those facts make each of you our most prominent donors. No one has donated as much money as each of you are donating with this mission. I want each of you to know that I understand your sacrifice and appreciate your generosity.

Let’s review our game plan. Our primary goal is to bring water from the local river and deliver it to Marinari Clinic building in a purified state including chlorination. All of our efforts will be towards the completion of that goal. Solar cells and batteries will power this system. We will be installing solar panels, electrical wires and pipes. We will be digging ditches, working in the river and building support structures needed for the project.

Our water engineers only have the ability to be in country for one week. For that reason, they will be getting the royal treatment and will rapidly move to the worksite as soon as they arrive. Their priorities become our priorities. Victor Menkal is leading the water team. I have worked with him in Sri Lanka, and I am certain that we will all be proud of what we accomplish together with his leadership and expertise.

We can expect that during the first week we will be working long hours and working hard. During the first week, the focus is the water. If there is not enough work to keep us busy, then we can move towards working on repairing the hospital building. It is our second priority.

We have been asked by RAM to assist in the repair of the ranch house in Marinari. The ranch house will be converted into a hospital. Many rooms are in disrepair, plumbing may be broken. Electrical power needs to be installed. Basic cleaning and painting needs be performed and we need to check the roof. We will not be able to complete everything before we leave. We do want to have a few rooms fit enough for the RAM pilot and volunteers to live with running water and toilet as well as some basic electricity. Again, this is our second priority.

At this time, we have gathered much of the needed materials. They should be in Marinari on your arrival. Furthermore, BP Solar was kind enough to donate four panels that will produce 185 watts of power each. This donation was worth thousands of dollars. The panels will provide plenty of electricity to power the water pump as well as providing excess power for the hospital. Of course, they are flying on a commercial airliner, so I hope they all make it to Guyana without being lost or destroyed.

SOAR has purchased pumps and other equipment that I will be bringing on the airplane with me. We have ordered other supplies that are expected to be in Marinari when we arrive. As you can imagine, we cannot anticipate every possible problem and we do not have the funding to have every part we might need at the worksite. So we must expect logistical problems and we must be creative about finding solutions. We must be flexible like Gumby. In the Air Force, we used the phrase, “Semper Gumby.” I would be very surprised if everything went as planned without some sort of problems. If it did, it would not be challenging…and what fun would that be. So in the words of the Boy Scouts, “Be Prepared.”

Speaking of preparedness, let’s talk about what to expect. We will arrive on Monday. There will not be enough time for us to catch a flight from the other airport to Letham, so we will stay in Georgetown. We will be staying in a hotel in Georgetown the first night. On Tuesday, the water team will leave via airplane to Letham. I may have to join the water team on the flight. I have reserved three seats. Also on Tuesday, I have arranged for a 4WD pick-up to transport the solar panels and some equipment to Letham. As the airplane will only take 25 lbs with each passenger, the water team will have to leave their gear behind and have it transported with the solar panels. After that, if we can fit more gear in the truck, we can send more people via the airline. The truck will also probably have at least one extra seat. Please pack light so that we can move all of the gear that is needed. Finally, for those who are not on an airplane or a truck, you will need to take the bus from Georgetown to Letham. This is an 18-hour trip and is a few hours longer than the drive. Expect dirt roads, jungles and mud.

In Georgetown, please exercise caution when moving about the city. Please travel in groups of two or three. The larger the group the better. Georgetown is a dangerous city. Last time I was there, I witnessed a man try to chop another man up with a machete in the local Internet café near my hotel. Try to avoid movement at night. Let others know where you are going and when you expect to return. Once we arrive in the interior of Guyana, it is much safer. There are some reports of a roving gang that has caused some problems and killed some people. I am not aware of any reports that put that gang anywhere near Letham or Marinari.

To stay healthy, please drink only bottled water and from a sealed bottle that you, yourself have personally opened. If it comes to you opened. Send it back. When you shower, keep your mouth closed. When you brush your teeth, use bottled water to wet your toothbrush (this one gets people all of the time). When you eat, eat meat that is hot and well cooked. I never eat salads or fresh vegetables during a trip like this. If you are going to do so, peel the vegetable or fruit or wash it with bleach and water. Once we are at the worksite, we will be doing or own cooking unless I can hire a local to cook for us. Then, our food should be good.

Please bring money with you. The round trip between Letham and Georgetown is about 250.00 USD for airplane. You will also need money for hotel and food. Any activities you want to do when you are not working may also cost money. I would suggest a minimum of $500.00. You should have this money in small dollar amounts. We will be in country for three weeks. I hope that each of you can do some sort of tourist activity during that time. A volunteer should not have to work for 21 days straight.

Each of you should be carrying a tent and sleeping bag. It is the rainy season, so be prepared to be wet. Bring a few changes of clothing because we will be getting dirty. Bring the best mosquito repellent you can find. Consider taking anti-malarial medicine. If you are going to take some, you should have already started the medicine. I recommend a water pump and water bottle. If you are getting on the bus, you will want a good supply of water and the ability to purify more, so keep the pump in a backpack that you keep with you. I will be bringing two pumps. You should also have a plate, a cup and knife and fork. We will be camping out in the jungle, pack accordingly.

Finally, I want to ask you to be prepared for an experience that will change your life. If you have never been part of a project like this, it will leave a lasting memory. You can expect problems from the moment you land on the ground. You can expect the bus to break down, the airplane to make an emergency landing at an unexpected airfield. You can expect supplies to break or be lost. You can expect to be tired, hungry and stressed. With such a large and varied group of people you can then expect to have conflict and confusion. But we are a team and will work as a team.

My experience is that we usually show up happy and excited about the project. In a short time we are wondering why we ever volunteered. Then there is a bit of interpersonal conflict. It is always resolved. Eventually, the project is completed. We are all happy again. The team returns back to Georgetown and everyone is even happier. Finally, when you return home, you find yourself thinking about your teammates, the achievements accomplished and the lives saved. This is never easy, but it is always worthwhile.

I hope this gets you thinking about where we are going. Stay flexible, be safe and have a great time. This project will save lives.

Your friend,

Rene Steinhauer
Director, Serving Others Aid Relief Inc