Although not published until today, the following newsletter was begun in September.
Bridges & More Newsletter # 16 September 25, 2009
My usual plastic chair on the side stoop of the casita has been vacant for over two weeks now. Here in the
In San Josecito this year’s rains bring a lot less hardship: yes, I’m talking about bridges! Three new bridges have been built in one short year: the Isidro Nunez Bridge and the Puente Santa Lucia are complete, and the main public bridge across the road that runs from San Josecito to
Isidro Nunez and his family have dreamed of a bridge for many years. The engineering challenges and the length of the bridge made it prohibitively expensive, and the family’s devotion to traditional farming methods yielded nothing in the way of extra cash. Isidro’s stormy face was witness to his growing agitation as he and Ester grew older, less able to navigate the steep, muddy roads and tattered precarious foot bridge they’d relied on for twenty-three years. Three of their daughters and two of their sons hiked the distance daily to get to school and jobs, but dona Ester grew increasingly isolated in their tiny farmhouse, daily cooking and tending to her flowers.
Danilo Nunez spoke to me once of his feelings of helplessness as he walked his mother down the road across the flimsy hammock bridge, and witnessed the pain in her face and the frequent stops she had to make to recover her composure. First the possibility, then concrete plans for the bridge began to unfold. Bridges & More donated the first $7000, and then found someone who would provide a loan for the rest. Danilo was there at every step of the process. He worked each day with the engineer and his crew as the bridge began to take shape. His brother Geovany and father Isidro also worked when they could.
When I arrived in mid August, the bridge was almost finished: it still lacked the side-guards, because costs had exceeded expectations and they were unable to finish. But the bridge is a reality, and though I found it a little scary to cross it (it’s way high up over the rushing river, very narrow, and the panels move under the wheels of your car!) I can attest that IT WORKS!
A story from Ademar (Enrique) Nunez illustrates dire need for a main road bridge: Ademar’s wife Marion, mother of three, was taken very ill with cholecystitis. The rains had begun and were falling hard as the family maneuvered her down to the river. The crossing required three Nunez brothers: Luis carried
October 7, 2009
Well, I’m back from whatever it was I was doing while I wasn’t finishing this letter. I suppose, after the success of the bridges, the next most pressing thing to report is that this is the final newsletter for Bridges & More. The board met on September 23, and we all agreed that the purposes for which the organization had been formed have been met. I’m not a publicity/fundraiser type of person, and this aspect of operations has always been agonizing to me. Furthermore, the administrative tasks involved in running a non-profit are time consuming, and I worry that I’m not doing them correctly. We’ve never been in a position to hire professionals—accountants, lawyers, etc. I only just discovered in the process of dissolving the corporation that the reports I’ve been filing every year to the state are not sufficient, and that I was supposed to have registered and filed far more detailed yearly reports to the state attorney general’s office. So to dissolve the corporation I had first to register it, file four years worth of reports, and then file an additional petition for dissolution. It involved a lot of internet research, phone calls, wasted paper, and pulling my hair out!
Now, the reason we formed in the first place: San Josecito is changing, growing, flourishing. The church is nearly finished, and is now being used for mass and liturgies. Although Bridges & More never did succeed in getting the Costa Rican equivalent of non-profit status for the community group Puentes y Mas, we paid the legal fees for the formation of another non-profit, the San Josecito Development Association. We provided the opportunity for various residents to try their hands at small business ventures, and though none of them really panned out, I think it was a valuable experience for those who participated, and gave them a new sense of possibility for what might be undertaken in the future. I think in some ways we helped unite the community to work together on common problems, and to value the precious natural resources that bless the valley we live in. I’m hoping this awareness informs future decisions as the challenges of further development continue.
As to the individual stories I’ve reported over the years: Milena Nunez graduated from high school and is working in a restaurant in Dominical. Her hopes to study art at a university level continue to be just that: hopes. I hope with her. Marion (who got carried across the river) nearly died in surgery on her gallbladder, and the doctors had to work for three hours to restore her. The operation wasn’t completed, so she returned a week later to try again, and this time the operation was successful. She’s fine now. Little Pamela
Finally, I want to thank all of you who have encouraged me and contributed to the efforts of the past four years. I am very grateful: for your help, for the experience, and for the richness of community I’ve experienced as a result of our efforts.. Best wishes always to all---
Pamelita de los Angeles Duarte Picado
