“This planet is a broken bone that didn’t set right, a hundred pieces of crystal glued together. We’ve been shattered and reconstructed.” ~ Tahereh Mafi
Broken lives…125 families forced to reconstruct their lives from the devastating rock and mudslides on Ometepe Island, Nicaragua. Yesterday, Ron and I tramped over boulders and through mud to reach the Los Ramos community to deliver supplies to the families. Take a walk with us so you can see for yourselves Mother Nature’s powerful and destructive forces.
Supplies were delivered at the top of the hill. “So far, this doesn’t look too bad,” I said encouragingly to Ron.
The bulldozers had cleared about 200 meters from the main road. Easy walking so far.
A few feet later, we came to the part of the road that had been dismembered like a severed limb, cutting the families off from the rest of the island and the supplies that they desperately needed.
Trees were uprooted leaving a mangled mess as the landslides roared down from the volcano. Their road lay in a shattered and broken state.
The water lines the community had worked so hard to prepare, were snapped and crushed like ticks on a dog, dispersing their precious life source into the already saturated ground.
Trees and posts which carried the electricity into the village, snapped like delicate match sticks.
Fields, which once nurtured their plantain, bean, and rice crops, lay smashed and smothered under tons of rocks and mud.
Thunderous rumbles of boulders and mud carved canyons over five feet deep into the once passable road to Los Ramos.
The once thriving eco-tourism community of Los Ramos disintegrated rapidly.
The tattered sign welcoming tourists, is an alarming reminder that Mother Nature will always have her way. You can see the 5-6 landslides on Vulcan Concepcion that left a wake of destruction and broke the community’s main tourism industry.
Reconstruction is slow. Yet, these resilient people cleared the boulders away from their community church first, so they could give thanks for their blessings.
They are digging out over two feet of mud that invaded their homes.
The community of Los Ramos may be broken and mutilated, but the 125 families are strong and irrepressible. They step over the boulders in their path with amazing grace, fortitude, optimism, and faith.
How can you help? I started a donation page for this lovely community. Yesterday, we delivered over 1,000 pounds of food and other supplies. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s heartwarming post.
Their spirit is unbroken and the supplies from your donations will continue to nourish and strengthen Los Ramos for many months. Below is the link for how you can help. Thank you for all of your support.
Visit other travel themes of ‘broken’ here.
Rewired and Retired in Nicaragua 
The pictures tell all…it must be such a helpless feeling to see your place that you have worked on for so long devastated in a few moments by nature’s force. Reading your other post about the food aid, it appears that people are in good spirits and probably helping each other out the best they can.
The resilience of the people is so heartwarming in the wake of the destruction, Debbie.
Lynne, their strong faith gives them the strength to move forward. My family has been involved with this community for over ten years and they never cease to amaze me with their positive, loving attitudes.
Ditto on everything Chris mentioned. You and Ron are a true blessing for the people of Los Ramos.
Thanks, John and Mary. I tried to tell all of the families that the money donated for each family was from all over the world. I have the BEST blogging friends in the world. I am so grateful.
If my figures are anywhere close to correct, your bags were less than $6/family. But, what an impact on a family to have some food and necessities! I am so glad you are there and doing what you are doing. I am looking forward to your next post. I tear up just thinking of your photos on facebook. Thank you so much for helping these gentle and loving people.
Kris, you are much better at math, than me. lol I never even thought of that. Just look how far $6 can go. It’s pretty amazing. Wait until you see tomorrow’s post. Hugs to you and Joel for all of your support.