X-Ray 7 update

This is comms officer Maryann reporting from the road in Leon, Nicaragua. I've just joined Bravo 1 on their Phase 2 mission after spending five days with X-Ray 7 at El Rodeo, Miraflor.

The team are enthusiastically working on the community centre and are dead set on completing it by the end of phase. Dee's artistic skills and Tim's gardening expertise will come in handy for the finishing touches.

At the time of my departure the group had already settled into their adopted homes and were getting used to a daily routine of waking up to a cacophony of farm animals crowing, mooing and snorting by 6am. They meet at the work site at 7am to receive orders from Don Juan, the maestro de obra, on what needs to be done for the day. The team then rotate between pick-axing and shovelling earth to be transferred to the building's interior, making scaffolding out of steel rods and, much to the reluctance of Don Juan, brick-laying. So far only Adam's impeccable finishing has manage to impress the skeptical maestro.
The team beaver on til about 11:30 am every day when they walk back to their respective homes where their moms have lunch ready for them. The diet in El Rodeo is largely a staple of rice, beans, cottage cheese and tortillas. A few lucky venturers living with exceptionally generous families, have been fed meat on several occasions. Lunch ends at 1pm and the group are back at the site to labour on until almost 5pm, by which time squeals from excited village young 'uns signal for a game of footie down at the field and the end of the work day. A review of the day is done just as the sun begins to set on the majestic horizon and the group retire home to their families for dinner before recharging for the next day.
Life is simple at El Rodeo where its residents have few possessions, and basic necessities such as water and electricity are scarce. But the lack of creature comforts seems a small price to pay for the phenomenal views and unforgettable experiences shared with the Nicaraguan families. I have not seen a happier and more inspired group of venturers and special mention goes out to PMs, Elena, Sarah, and Esteban for deftly managing what is turning out to be another successful project.

Apologies for the absence of images. Unfortunately, I'm not able to provide a more vivid account owing to limited resources at hand. We promise richer posts when we get back to fieldbase.