David M. Whalen

Moises Surgery a Success!

2009-06-17T06:01:00.000-07:00

I'm very happy to hear about Moises' very sucessful surgery! He was on his deathbed when I filmed hin in Belize (see earlier posts and video). Now he is on his way to normality again thanks to the genorosity of many and especially the Baptist St. Anthony Hospital in Amarillo, Texas, who provided all his care free of charge! See email from Tim Tam below. Thanks Tim!

"The surgery was a complete success. The surgeon said it went as well or even better than expected. It lasted less than 6 hours. We couldn’t get mom to walk or eat anything today but after a post-op visit from the surgeon she was smiling again and began to eat the food she had been carrying all day.

Now the intestines are connected, abdomen muscles sewn back, skin remains open till threat of internal infection passes. Over the next 10 days the bowels are expected to become active and then slowly introduced to food again.
From his TV viewing he has already decided on a local Mexican restaurant for his first meal.
In a month or so the skin over the abdomen will be stitched up and perhaps a return trip to Belize can be scheduled.

He will have a couple of rough days now as is normal for post-surgery. His mom has moved from their regular room to a chair beside his bed in the ICU.

She will have a rough night tonight as well but from exhaustion and not fear. Before the surgery Moises saw her sadness and told her not to worry because God was with him.

Thank you all for helping to carry him through this on your prayers.

I love the Lord because he hears my prayers and answers them.

Because he bends down and listens I will pray as long as I breathe.
Psalm 116:1&2

Tim Tam
Twaw.org"

Email from Tim Tam on Moises

2009-06-15T08:31:00.000-07:00

"Over the last several weeks we have been privileged to see great improvements in Moises’ health, physically and emotionally.

As he approaches the end of this time of preparation for surgery their continues to be great need for prayer.

He has been battling another infection and jaundice. To deal with the jaundice they had to disconnect the IV line that feeds his body nutrition for a time until the his recovers.

And both he and his mother are wearied from the length of this ordeal. There is a spiritual phenomena that takes place around Moises. Even from the time of his struggle for life in the Belize hospital God has used this little guy to inspire others and strengthen their faith. As we might then expect, there is also a spiritual battle taking place.Moises and his mother both sense evil poised against them.

They are currently having dreams that depict this battle for Moises.For all these reasons I ask you to please be vigilant in your prayer support.If all goes well the surgery will happen in a couple weeks.

Keeping you posted,

TT"

...I heard Moises may have his surgery June 16, 2009. Keep him in mind.

Multimedia Journalists Discover Life After Newspapers

2009-06-15T07:37:00.001-07:00

Multimedia Journalists Discover Life After Newspapers

Shared via AddThis
As layoffs continue to decimate newsrooms all over the country, a pressing question for staff photographers is, what is plan B when the pink slip comes? How do you translate your photojournalism skills into some other means of earning a living?

A handful of former newspaper photographers with strong multimedia skills and some entrepreneurial drive are reporting at least one promising lead: the growing demand for story-driven video production from non-profits and corporations trying to build brands and markets through the Web in particular....

Central America (moto accident)

2009-05-19T22:07:00.000-07:00

Here is a video about my time in Belize before the accident in Guatemala where a reckless driver slammed into me. The second part of the video, about mid way through, is video shot in the hospital after the accident and the flight back to the U.S. to finish the medical treatment.

Video shot in Mexico, Belize and Guatemala. First part shot with Canon HV30, 1080i Cinemode. Color grading with Eugenia presettings for Sony Vegas 9. Second part, at about 3 minutes in (after the motorcycle accident broke my camera), filmed with Flip Mino HD recorder at 720p. All rights reserved. Music licensed separately. Go to www.lamanchamedia.org for more vids.

Music by scottaltham / CC BY-NC 3.0">Scott Altham, "Hear Us Know" (popastic mix). Creative Commons License "BY" 3.0 Noncommercial Attribution.

Note: If you have an older computer toggle the HD button off. If the video is choppy, press pause for a minute or two before resuming play to give it time to download. It's HD after all!

San Diego Union Tribune Article About LMM

2009-04-25T19:58:00.000-07:00

Take a look at this article about La Mancha Media by the San Diego Union Tribune entitled "Del Mar Lawyer Makes Videos to Help Poor in Central America". Not entirely accurate: I did not give up the comfortable life, etc. I'm not a Marxist either. But generally good article.

Good Shepherd Clinic in Belize

2009-04-25T12:24:00.000-07:00

Here is a video of the Good Shepherd Clinic in San Jose Succotz, Cayo District, of Belize near the Guatemalan border on the western highway. La Mancha Media visited there in March 2009 and made this short film. A 30 minute cut will come later, possibly to be aired on TV. If you would like to make a tax deductible donation to this organization directly, or to help LMM offset its costs in making this video, please contact us for more information.

Note: If you have an older computer toggle the HD button off. If the video is choppy, press pause for a minute or two before resuming play to give it time to download. It's HD after all!

Map of San Jose Succoz near the Guatemalan Border

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Moises from death to life

2009-04-13T07:58:00.000-07:00

Here are two sets of pictures.

The first slideshow is Moises and myself. While I filmed Tim Tam took photos of me. You can see how gaunt his face and arms are.

The second set is Moises in Baptist St Anthony's Hospital in Amarillo.

You can see how much weight he has gained in his face and legs. He was near death in Belize but fighting to live and now he is smiling, laughing, and at a good weight. Once his weight is up enough they will operate on his stomach and intestines.

Third Update on Moises

2009-04-08T17:05:00.000-07:00

Amarillo, Texas News Story: http://www.amarillo.com/stories/040509/new_13070933.shtml

I (David Whalen here) am a little disappointed having no mention in the article linked above but such is the role of simplicity in the news media. Other articles written over the past two weeks likewise do not mention LMM and in fact one article incorrectly attributes the production of the video to someone else. However, in the end, I couldn't be more happy of the outcome.

But, this gives me the opportunity to write about what I know. I offered to produce and upload a video of Moises for free after I heard about Moises from John Woods, who is on the Board of Directors of the Belize Emergency Rescue Transport (BERT) team. I had been filming BERT at the time. John Woods had been trying to help the boy get to the States but with no luck. He was quick to take me up on my offer to film. We arranged to shoot the following morning. That is when I met Tim Tam, who just arrived in Belize from Texas. His organization, The Word at Work (TWAW), a 501(c)(3), helps various programs with the poor in Belize.

I got sick just filming little Moises as the nurse changed his diaper. I was almost throwing up out the window which of course caused lots of camera shake. The nurse was more concerned with me at that point. Normally folks don't see him like that; during the change no one stays but I did to capture the wound. I spent the rest of the afternoon editing the footage on my laptop (which I carried with me on the film trip; I had debated the need to take this laptop as its heavy and was not sure if I would have needed to make any high definition edits on the road.... I am glad I did just for Moises alone.) I finished editing by the late afternoon but had to quickly learn how to block out his private parts, something I had not learned before--so there was a bit of a learning curve. Seems easy enough but its very time consuming and obviously I did not do a perfect job in the end. I spent the rest of the evening uploading the video on a very slow, but sufficient, internet connection. The video was ready by about midnight of the same day. Then I sent the video to all my email connections, as did John Woods, and Tim Tam. I produced the video and used Tim Tam's organization as the entity to contact since I needed a U.S. 501(c)(3) that could legally fundraise for the boy and help him (an IRS requirement for LMM, a 501(c)(3) film production company filming other charities abroad). LMM does not accept donations for other entities now as other organizations may, like TWAW. This may change in the future however if needed to help fund LMM through a administrative fee deduction. We now only produce videos, totally free of charge and royalty, in order to help other organizations in their own fundraising efforts.

The video was sent to Dr. Neilson of Baptist St Anthony's via a TWAW Board member, as is alluded to in the article. Dr. Neilson later contacted me requesting more medical info on Moises after having seen the video. I put that email through to Woods and Tam and they went to work corresponding between him and Moises' doctor in Belize. Finally Baptist St Anthony's Board of Directors made the decision to provide all his medical care for free. A flight was then arranged by a generous donor and little Moises flew to the States (after very efficient work by BERT and the U.S. Consulate in producing a visa for him).

Now Tim Tam is back in the States and lives very near to Moises' hospital and can constantly keep up with him... which is wonderful. Thus with all the generosity of Tim Tam, John Woods, BERT, Dr. Neilson, myself, and others, the boy's life was saved. The video apparently was a very successful means for TWAW in its fundraising efforts. This is an example of LMM fulfilling its purpose. Nothing is as powerful as video to tell a story.

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Recent Email Update on Moises from Tim Tam:

Shortly after Moises arrived in Amarillo an infection was detected in his central line. For several days we were concerned and Moises was again in pain. Now the infection has passed and again he is gaining strength and without as much pain. This morning Moises was mad because he was hungry. It had been an hour since his last popsicle and he wanted another. But he can only have a popsicle every 4 hours. I remembered how just a couple of weeks ago he was quiet, lifeless, and beyond hunger pangs. Oddly, even these new complaints about hunger were an encouragement to us all. Everything seems to be going so well now. The memories of former suffering and hopelessness are beginning to disappear under piles of smiles and laughter. Today Moises was up out of bed if to visit the hospital playroom to color, play board games, and drive the electric car down the hospital hallway.

What else is happening?????

He came to us at 15 kilos. Today he was at 19.2 kilos.

He gets visits from his new friend Sadie, the licensed therapy dog, who climbs up on his bed and lets him feed her snacks.

My wife and I are her new “mother and father”.

Mary Kay, the nurse from Accolade who secured the life-saving TPN, came to visit. Since Mom can’t read she brought her the entire Bible on CD. She brought Moises a children’s book of Bible stories with CD’s of bible songs which already he sings along.

Magdalena’s husband calls every day. She misses her other children badly but is content to stay at Moises’ side.

The Big surgery will be in June or July after he gains significant weight.

No financial needs at this time due to generosity of Belize, Canadian, and US. donors….God is Good!

What are we learning about God through Moises?

The same lesson we hear about in Hebrews 1:6

“And without faith it is impossible to please god. For the one that comes to god must believe that he exists and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.”

The fool says in his heart, “there is no God”.

Moises not only believed in God but he never stopped seeking him in prayer.

Tim Tam
The Word at Work
www.twaw.org

Leg and Ankle Damage from Motorcycle Accident

2009-03-30T17:32:00.001-07:00

Second Update on Moises

2009-03-30T07:42:00.001-07:00

Original video of Moises here.

I will post various news stories that appeared in Belize and elsewhere the days leading up to Moises' departure to the U.S. The video has now been viewed about 700 times (the site hit thousands of times) and by dozens of medical institutions throughout the U.S. After a careful review by the Board at Baptist St. Anthony's in Amarillo, Texas (the same hospital that had emailed me before and whose email I posted), it was decided that they accept Moises. He flew to to Texas March 26, one day before I flew home due to my motorcycle accident. I had been praying for him while I felt my life was endangered on the mountain near Coban as well as during the entire accident of mine. I could hardly deny some sort of odd spiritual connection there as we were both run over laying in hospitals trying to get to the States and we had just met days earlier, the first time I had even been in a hospital in years and years.

From Moises

A law on medical privacy (HIPAA) prevents me from giving any information from his doctors there. However, I believe its within the law to publish the following stores as they are in the public domain.

The articles will be separated by lines:

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Welcome banner from St. Andrew's second graders in Amarillo, Texas

Each kid also wrote letters to Moises.

From Moises

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[Email from Tim Tam to Donors Regarding the Video]

As always, when the Lord directs us to a problem, a person or some special need, He is faithful is providing whomever and whatever we need to do His work. Such is the case with Moises Astertero, the little boy in Belize City who will die if we don't get him some help and get it fast.

Since our first mailing, a major blessing came our way. David Whalen is an independent filmmaker who is currently traveling through Central America filming places where God is at work. Yesterday we met in Belize and I took him to the hospital to meet Moises, his mother and doctor and he quickly produced this video so that you can see for yourself how desperate is this situation.

Follow this link to watch the video - but before you do, we WARN that what you are about to see is graphic and is not suitable for the faint of heart:

http://lamanchamedia.org/2009/03/miraculous-story-of-moises-of-belize.html

What is needed the most now is a gastrointestinal surgeon and a hospital of adequate means in the US who can donate their services to save Moises. His time is running out. We also need funds for medicine and special nutrition. The parenteral nutrition (TPN) alone costs at least $2000US a day.

We're grateful to David for helping Moises and us so generously and quickly.

Tim Tam

The Word at Work

1400 Wolflin Ave

Amarillo, Tx 79109

Office: 806-342-3600

Cell: 806-671-9673

Visit website www.twaw.org

_______________________________________________________________________

Link to external News 7 site here.

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SEVEN YEAR OLD BOY GETS MUCH NEEDED MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

March 26, 2009

A seven year old boy who was critically injured in an accident two months ago in Corozal is being flown to Houston, Texas today for further medical treatment. Doctors and family of seven year old Moises Astereno are describing his incredible fight for survival as nothing short of a miracle. According to information received by Love News, doctors gave the boy’s family a grim prognosis for recovery and we understand that at one point the family was told that he had only five hours to live. Today, through the assistance of a missionary organization called the Word at Work, Moises is being flown to the United States for treatment. Tim Tam is the director of the Word at Work.

Tim Tam; Director, Word at Work

“There had been an accident with a truck that had run over or crushed his intestines; it did quite a bit of damage. The story I heard was that there were five surgeries, after the last one I heard that the surgeon just backed away in tears feeling that this is hopeless. The surgical team estimated that the boy would live for five hours at the most. Two months later I arrived in his room to see that he is still holding on to life. He refuses to die. They said he has been bargaining with God; if God would spear his life he would give his life to serve God.”

Tam says that because of the injury the boy sustained, he has been unable to eat properly and has lost nearly half of his body mass. Tam says that Moises has been in constant pain since the accident; but he has not lost the will to live.

Tim Tam; Director, Word at Work

“What happens when they give him a bit of water of milk, his abdomen is open, so it all drains out onto his stomach. If you see it it is just bright red. It burns and the dressings have to be changed continually. It is a pretty horrific sight and you can see the horror in his eyes when he looks at what is happening to his own body. He gets a lot of encouragement from an angelic visitor. There is this man dressed in white who is always there helping him. His mother says there is no one here and he says yes by the window and he keeps giving him words of encouragement and assistance.”

Tam says that it is that incredible will to live that has inspired many people in Belize and the United States and the outpouring of support has enabled Moises to get the life saving treatment in the United States free of cost.

Tim Tam; Director, Word at Work

“One thing that was very important was getting nutrition back into his body. We had a team of folks coming to work in Belize City in the burial grounds and we had people driving overnight to get him this medicine; this IV bag with tea. It usually cost about 2 thousand US dollars for an IV bag. As soon as their plane landed they rushed it right to the hospital put him right on that and now you can see some of the scores that he had are beginning to heal. He has this new energy and he is ready to travel. Today a nice little six seatter Jet; this very fancy little thing is flying here to Belize City to pick him up and take him directly to a hospital and Amarillo Texas. The commitment on the other side is not just a surgery but he will have a stay in a hospital for six months to a year or more. This is more than a million US dollars but so many people have been praying. E-mails have gone out all over the US and Canada and Belize and there were literally thousands of people praying for this little boy. Scores of hospitals in the US are considering but when this first one came through we could not hesitate. We are jumping on this. The jet is being sent by a good friend who has been to Belize. We brought him in a few months ago to see the miracle going on at the prison and to see the work going on at the burial grounds. We are building a school and he has become and instant fan of what God is doing in Belize and when he heard the news he stopped what he was doing and made the arrangements.”

Moises Astereno will be flown by private jet to Houston this afternoon where he will be prepared for treatment which will commence right away. Tam says anyone who is interested in helping the family, can do so by contacting Yvette Burks at the Belize Emergency Response Team.

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[From Channel 5, Belize City]

Word of Works finances life-saving surgery

There is a saying that if there is deprivation of food, the body feeds off of its own fat. That is the case for a seven year old minor who, for the past two and a half months, has been literally living off of his own body nutrients. This is because on January eighth of this year, Moses Acietuno was in a traffic accident in which a vehicle ran over him rupturing his diaphragm and a portion of his intestines. Acietuno has undergone five surgeries to stop the internal bleeding and remove the damaged part of his intestines. And since his last operation early February, Acietuno has been in the paediatrics ward of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, without a complete intestinal track and unable to consume food. The seven year old has been in need of another surgical procedure to replace the missing intestine and a nutrients substitute, which are not available in Belize. And his luck turned today when B.E.R.T. and the Rotary Club of Belize managed to acquire assistance for Acietuno’s medical condition through a religious organization. The Word of Works Organization was touched by Acietuno’s case and is offering all paid treatment in the U.S. The young boy was prepped and flown today to the Baptist St. Anthony Hospital in Texas.

Victor Gonzalez, Paediatric Surgeon, K.H.M.H.

“Moses Acietuno is presently in a critical condition and according to the surgeon, on the seventh of January, Moses experienced an accident whereby a truck ran over his abdomen and he suffered internal damage. Initially the diaphragm was ruptured and he was bleeding inside and he further needed the surgery whereby the removal of seven hundred C.C.’s of blood and posteriorly, Moses has undergone about five surgeries and currently he is in a condition whereby he doesn’t have—a part of the intestine is missing, a very important part whereby in Belize the surgery can not be done. Now we are trying to coordinate that Moses be transferred to Texas for that surgery to be done.”

“Rev. Tim Tom, Representative, Word of Works Organization

“I received an email from John Woods about a little in desperate need. A few days later flying into the country, his daughter-in-law, Jackie Woods brought me to meet little Moses and everyone was discouraged and there seem to be no hope unless we can get him out of her to the United States for some kinda medical procedures that aren’t available here yet.”

Duane Moody

“And you and your missionary are willing to facilitate him with the expenses; the medical expenses that will be incurred?”

Rev. Tim Tom

“Well, it’s not me but we were available to find a hospital that will take all that on, both the operation and the after care”

Duane Moody

“What is the estimated cost of all this medical attention so to speak?”

Rev. Tim Tom

“I’m not sure but it’s big. I’m not sure about the surgeries and all that but even the after care is going to be a process of six months to a year or more. And the aftercare alone is a million U.S. dollars.”

Acietuno was accompanied by his mother as he took the flight to the US.

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Email from Tim Tam and John Woods

Things are settling down here in Belize for me, so let me catch you up on Moises.

He made it into Amarillo Texas before the winter storm hit.

His mother had difficulty with her visa but he was able to travel with Dr. Eck, his Physician.

His mother was able to be reunited with him yesterday evening.

I will follow up this letter with some photos and short videos.

The doctors there are very encouraged about his condition.

Moises himself, is having a blast. See in the photos his first encounter with snow.

While Moises was making a snowball in his room, Dr. Eck was outside playing in the snow, a new experience for him also.

The current plan is to help Moises gain weight before surgery. This may take three months. He needs to be at least 70% of normal body weight. Currently he is less than 50%

Part of the plan is to introduce nutrition through his lower intestines.

He is getting regular visits from local schoolchildren and a big welcome banner from them hangs on his wall, see photos.

They tell me he charms everyone who enters his room. He gets out of bed quite a bit. My wife tells me the hospital has large electric cars which he enjoys driving down the hallways and a nurse runs along behind him holding his IV bag. I myself will be seeing him back in the US on Wednesday. Please continue with us in prayer, and again thanks for all your support for this miracle child.

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The Motorcycle Accident in Guatemala Part 1

2009-03-29T21:00:00.001-07:00

This is a draft. It will be used in an upcoming book but substantially re-written. This story is rushed out to get the main facts down before they slip into history and to tell folks that want to know as much info as possible quickly. If you see typos and grammatical errors you now know why.

To see pictures of my damaged leg click here.

The night before the accident I arrived in Coban, Guatemala, after a hair-raising ride along the 5 south from Tikal, the place of the great Mayan Ruins, via Fray Bartolome de las Casas. I am writing a book and this story will be included in length. In summary, it was that night, riding over a mountain, not a road really, but more like a rock, dirt, mud, two track trail, that I first felt my life in serious danger. A map can be seen here. I made a decision that I would likely either be stuck on top of that mountain for several days as it started raining for several hours turning the entire 70 mile road into mud, or would die either by the hands of strange disrespecting locals that live there, or by falling off the bike or crashing trying to get off the mountain that night. I decided to go on and try to get off the mountain even if it took me all night to do so rather then get stuck for several days and/or be harmed by locals, robbed and perhaps killed. During that night I learned to pray. The pictures below show the dark, rainy, mud road I drove. The pictures show the best parts of the road. I could not stop for photos when the road was rock and mud as I had to keep going in order to avoid getting stuck.

Luckily my decision paid off and I did arrive in Coban around 11:30 pm, 5 hours of night driving (which is always a no-no south of the U.S. border) in rain and fog over mud and rock on a mountain trail with steep ravines and unfriendly people. I was soaking wet despite my rain gear. My hands were wrinkled. It was then that I knew I made the wrong decision bringing the motorcycle as it was too heavy and I was alone without anyone to help if the bike breaks down, gets a flat tire, gets stuck in the mud, etc. It simply does not go offroad like my Subaru would have. I would have to abandon it to go for help if I got stuck, and likely all my equipment would be stolen if I did so, and worse, if hurt, who would I go to for help? That night I realized I was on a horse in a car world and that this, in and of itself, was just foolish and was jeopardizing all the good I could do for other charities by my filmmaking. I prayed the entire night as I drove which helped me tremendously, asking God to spare my life and get me off the mountain safely. It encouraged me to think of the fact that I had it good compared to others like Moises, the boy in Belize that I videoed who was dying there due to a truck that ran over him. I kept him in mind all night. I also kept thinking of soldiers that out of a call to serve in a war they may or may not even agree with, are forced to stay up into the night and walk or ride down similar roads in similar settings with the added danger of people trying to shoot at them and kill them. When I thought of these folks I felt much better. In fact the headlight gave me enough light to see, about 6 to 10 feet, since I was only in first gear the entire night going about 10 mph, there was not many vehicles out on the road, perhaps just 5 all night to pass, and the alternative was to wait out the night in danger with the added issue of the rains making the road ten times worse by morning.

When I arrived in Coban I was drenched through and through. I knew at that moment I made a mistake and the next morning I seriously considered driving the bike home, getting the car and returning. But I knew that would add at least two more weeks of travel and much more money. I checked my maps for the rest of the trip and for the road I passed over that night. Sure enough, my reckless nature prevailed as I misread the map and went on the unpaved road, I thought it was the main road but it was not. I told myself that morning: “well, I made a mistake by coming on the bike alone, but can’t practically go back now, thus I will minimize future problems and stay only on major paved roads and avoid all unpaved roads like the plague.” I did seriously consider taking off the center-stand on the bike as it was smashing on every speed bump and rock that jetted out of the ground, as it dipped down taking away at least 2 inches of travel between the motor and ground, making any rough-road driving hell.

So I went on, more and more rattled about Guatemala. In fact just a few days before I was warned not to go to Guatemala. I lost my passport in John Woods’ house (the Director of the Belize Prison I filmed) the morning I was supposed to leave for Guatemala delaying my departure substantially. I called the place I had filmed before to see if they found it there, they looked everywhere and did not find it but communicated to me that two priests and a lay person that lived there agreed it was a sign from God I should not go to Guatemala. I did not pay much attention to this but mentioned this to John Woods who actually agreed with this as he had lost his missionary brother there in Guatemala years before. I joked about this to others and told them I see God’s will more in planning and executing a plan but if I did not find it then yes it was God’s will not to go on. But I did find it and thus I went on. I did consider this omen however as I travelled down the road. I thought perhaps the idea was to set me behind a few hours to avoid an accident. Hmmmm. I also dictated this story at more length into my voice recorder via my helmet mic for later use in my book.

I had a full two days before starting to film at the Tamahu School Project near Coban on March 24. This is run by a Xavier Weicherts, an American. I decided to take the 5 hour drive from Coban to Guatemala City on March 23 and return to Coban next day to start filming. I planned to meet Xavier at the Guatemala City airport March 24 in the morning, pick up my new mini HD camera, and drive back to Coban via motorcycle where I would start filming that evening. But the main reason I went to Guatemala City was to go to a Christian center of formation. It’s a place to pray, a place to associate with like minded persons and a place to get advice on my spiritual life. There are centers like this in various cities around the world. Its part of a larger organization in the church of which I belong. I had sent an email to this center about a week earlier and it kicked back as undeliverable. Thus they never knew I was coming. I sent another email to the person who gave me their contact information back in the Bay Area of California to get a correct email address but never got that. I did have the address however, so I decided to go there directly. I memorized the address as it was easy. I did not intend to but somehow I did. It was 5 Calle 8, Zona 10, Guatemala City. I was heading directly there from Coban and would spend the night nearby to take advantage of all the time I could spend there.

The drive from Coban down to Guatemala City was a beautiful ride through a national park that is a UNESCO protected place called the Sierra de las Minas ‎Biosophere.

From Coban-Guat City

I was getting a lot of dictation done into my helmet mic for my book that morning. I was very inspired and had many stories to tell of the last few days. Taking a break from riding and dictating, I stopped for lunch on top of a mountain with a nicely paved road (so thankful to be on pavement and so determined to never get stuck travelling offroad again). Afterwards I turned the mic back on and headed down and descended into a hot climate similar to the climate surrounding outskirts of places like San Diego or in places like Nevada, desert like. Down below the preserve I could tell I was approaching the city as trash started to line the highway.

I was about 30 minutes from Guatemala City and traffic was picking up substantially. I was still dictating into my helmet mic. I was on a road called the Atlantic Highway I believe. Route CA9. I had passed a few cars earlier because of the traffic. I passed an ambulance that did not have lights on but appeared to be riding about the same as everyone else though a little faster. At one point he passed me and then I passed him again.

But as I was riding along, I was going the same rate of speed as everyone else, behind another vehicle. It was sometimes four lanes and sometimes a two lane highway. All of us were going about 50 mph as was the oncoming traffic. There was no highway divider.

The highway went down to two lanes and there was a slight turn up ahead and I saw a black medium sized pickup. The pickup was out of control. It was obvious he was swerving into our lane of traffic but it was not apparent as to why. It did not look like he was passing a vehicle but rather trying to get back into his lane for some reason. He barely missed the car in front of me as he kept moving deeper into my lane. I think he just missed the car in front of me or perhaps their side mirrors touched. I was hoping (for one second) since he missed him he would miss me also as I could see the truck was trying to correct. My thought was he is drunk. This all happened in the time of about 2 seconds. And then… All black, not the deep plain simple black like death but the black of a truck going over me but without light, like a patterned moving black, almost like being eaten, just black and crushing and crumpling sounds, and in that mini second I realized he hit me and I believed he had completely run me over and that “that was it”. I had no time to think of anything but “that’s it”. And all was black.

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But after all the scraping and steel and black and crushing stopped, I was sitting there with my eyes open in the middle of the road looking around and I could hear my bike’s engine revving high just about 25 feet away and I saw my Blackberry right by my side as the lights on the screen dimmed in front of me, an image of the Madonna and Child were displayed on my screen for hope and protection and I could see the vestiges of that disappear as I picked it up. I was shocked that my Blackberry was right there, thinking the chances of it flying several feet away were extremely high. I grabbed it and crawled quickly off the highway using my arms and one foot in order not to be hit by more cars. My other leg was completely in pain and useless. As I quickly crawled off the road I noticed no cars were passing as the traffic had completely stopped and locals were running toward me. It also appeared that the black truck had crashed. I am not sure about this but I think it’s the case. (Still waiting on the accident report from my lawyer). People were running to me with my things in their hands asking me if this and that was mine. The ambulance I passed immediately pulled up (as he was only about 2 cars behind me) and took out its stretcher. I was praying on and off in English. They started to get me on the stretcher as one man ran up with my keys and another with my camera that was wrapped with a black velvet, velcro cloth. He put the camera in my big blue bag that was ripped up pretty bad but which still had my monopod in its case in it. The keys I took in my hands and found the key to open the rear box and instructed someone to open the rear box and get my large backpack out. He did so and he brought it to me. It has all my camera equipment (except the camera that day) and my laptop to render the video. It weighs about 50 lbs. Someone else pulled off my helmet after fumbling with the chin strap. The helmet shield was knocked off and the helmet was scratched up badly. The mic was still attached. Someone pulled it out and I stuffed the mic in my pocket. One pannier, the left one also flew off the bike and was mangled. The ambulance, at my insistence put the mangled pannier, the ripped blue bag with my camera and monopod, and the big green backpack in the back of the ambulance as they put me on the stretcher and got me inside. I was moaning pretty bad. But I took my time making sure I could get everything of importance that I could. I remember reflecting for a second to remember if I got all I could in those seconds. Amazing to have such reflection at that time. I felt pretty good that I was able to get so much, via others helping me as I lay on the highway in extreme pain, before taking off. I knew that everything else would likely be lost, but that I was able to recover my camera, all my equipment, the pannier that was mangled that had my bag with the passport and other documents inside. The other items were just clothes and tools and I knew I did not have any time to worry about that.

As I lay there they took off and told me it was about 30 minutes to the hospital. I noticed that my voice recorder had been on the entire time of the accident up until that moment. I calmly turned it off, then wrapped up the mic wire and turned off the mic and placed it in my pocket. (Have not yet been able to listen to this recording). There was a lady in back, a Mayan or native. She did not look particularly sick but perhaps she was. Another guy, one of the guys that lifted me in the vehicle jumped in back. There was no medical equipment other then an oxygen tank. But they had a pair of scissors. So he started cutting my pants leg and took off my left boot and cut the socks off. He was sweating all over me and several times almost fell on me laying there as the vehicle made turns. The lady and he were looking at my leg like it was awful and I was sure it was just mangled to bits bleeding everywhere, thinking that perhaps the bones were sticking out, but I got a view myself and surprisingly there was no blood spurting out or bones sticking out that I could see. There was an open wound and blood was sort of bubbling out but it was not bad. And there was no pool of blood around me. I thus considered that I would not die from loss of blood. I also felt ok everywhere else but also realized that sometimes shock masks injuries for a while. I prayed in English the Christian prayer, Our Father, many times over and over.

He and the driver asked me where I wanted to go and I told them the main hospital in the city. I said this because I remembered the phone call I had with my insurance company before I left the states. They told me I was insured all over the world but that if I had an accident I would have to get to the main hospitals in each country, not backwater clinics, and that they would reimburse me for costs of healthcare if I gave them a translated list of all services rendered and currency equivalent in dollars. First I pay, then they pay me back. So the guy in the ambulance, whose name I later found out, Rogelio, told me that they would take me there and that it was 30 minutes.

My phone was not working. I was trying to get it to work by taking the battery out and putting it in but to no avail. I knew that it was my lifeline and that I needed to contact someone. I asked Rogelio and the lady in the van to lend me their phone, that I would pay them to make a call to the U.S. I knew I had my Dad’s number in my passport which I recovered. I recovered it in that I took the small bag that had all my essential documents out of the smashed pannier that was still locked but partially opened due to the accident, taking things out of the bag and getting it through the opening and putting them back in the bag after getting it out. The lady tried before me but apparently cut her finger on the mangled aluminum. I found my passport there and got my Dad’s number and was going to call. But I remembered a recent email in my computer with a phone number of Karen, an attorney in the Bay Area who knows how to get things done. All my contacts are in my Blackberry and backed up online, but not offline. So I had no other numbers.

As I thought of making a call I asked the lady to pull out my laptop from my green backpack. I opened it up placing the edge on my chest and opening it flat like a pancake straight into the air so I could see the screen, and turned it on… still working… and I was sure I could get Karen’s number from an email that I recently sent putting John Woods and her in contact together. This connection was made since I sent Karen the Moises video (click here for original post of Moises) and she sent it to her Dad who is a medical doctor at University of California at San Francisco (UCSF). Her Dad then sent it to the review board at UCSF to try to get the boy treated there. She worked hard to make it all happen. I had put her and John in contact via an exchange of phone numbers because I would be filming the next day in the prison and my phone would not work there as she wanted me to be available. Karen was trying hard to save this boy and wanted to have quick access in order to help. Via this email she now had John’s number and he had hers.

Luckily, the browser was up and my email page was up. And even more luckily that email, which was only about the third from the top was quick to find, I clicked on it, and despite being offline, it opened up. There was her number and John’s.

I could tell during this entire time everything was God's doing. I was alive, no loss of blood, I found an emergency number off a laptop I would not have had had I been unconscious, an ambulance was two car lengths behind me in a third world country on a busy highway, and I had just left a hospital three days before where I helped save a child's life who had been run over by a truck (see Moises post and video). It was all amazing and I at once knew God was speaking to me through this experience. I kept telling the people in the van that "Dios diga me" trying to say "God spoke to me" in my broken Spanish. He did not actually say words to me but I knew that the entire accident was his work. He used some violence to get my attention, almost like a kiss, then provided all the means to protect and save me. This point I will develop further later on. I'm thinking now to call this something like the "God of Violence". While I did not hear him say particulars, I did hear one thing loud and clear, no more motorcycles, as this was the same broken leg that I broke 20 years earlier on a motorcycle. I won't tempt a third strike. But I knew there were other points of some kind, like taking life more seriously, but there were others, and I was not sure what they were, and still am not, and I think it’s likely I will never know, but his signature of love and care for me were all over this experience.

Ready to call now, Rogelio and the lady told me their phones did not work calling outside Guatemala, but that I would need a card to make this call. I told them I wanted one assuming they would get one at the hospital when we arrived. Next thing the driver stops at the side of the road at a vendor to buy one, I give them like $6 and they buy a SIM card and put it in the phone.

After they tried about twice to call out, not knowing how to dial, it went through and Karen answered. She was very calm and so was I somehow. She was really surprised I was so calm and collected. I told her that I had to be to save my life or something to that effect. It’s rather ironic she was to be my helper since she and I had argued substantially prior to my leaving as she believed my trips were way too dangerous. I described that I was in an accident and was in the back of an ambulance going to the main hospital. I pulled out my wallet and read her the insurance card number and telephone number and asked her to call about where I should go. I told her the name of the hospital, San Juan de Dios, where I was heading, and to make sure I was able to use my insurance there. I told her also to call John Woods as she had his number via that email. I thought of John Woods as I knew he knew people with emergency medical flights and I wondered if I could take advantage of that. I told the ambulance driver perhaps I could fly home for care. He wanted to know if he should take me to an airport. I told him “no”, to the hospital as I did not think it would be that easy. But I thought about it, it just seemed too good to be true, eventhough he seemed pretty sure it would have worked. I also asked her to call my Dad in case something happened (perhaps I would die and wanted him to know), and lastly to call the State Department there.

She said she would call my dad first and I told her don’t worry about it as he would freak out, but to try to get medical stuff down. I told her I would try to call from the same phone when the hospital dropped me off, right before they left me, to try to find out what was going on. I think we had about 15 minutes left to go to the hospital. I knew that was the most important phone call I could make. She suggested I contact the christian organization I belong to (mentioned earlier) as well and I agreed that she could call the Bay Area contact to see if she could get a phone number of the place I was heading to. I told her I knew the address but may not be able to get the number, she said she would try to find it from the guys in the Bay Area who might know. The same people who I got the original contact info from.

As we went along the ambulance stopped again, and took my large backpack (that had my laptop and all my equipment) to the front seat, which was separated from the rear, saying that it would be stolen at the hospital and that they would hold it for me so that it would not get stolen. I thought to myself, where would they hold it, they are just an ambulance. I demanded he bring it back over and over and started making practical reasons, that it was needed in the van to keep the pannier from slamming into me as it was separating it from my head (everything in the back was just sliding around, the pannier, my two packs, and me on the stretcher on the floor). It was actually a very good reason as that pannier would have slammed into my head without it there. I also said I was strong enough in my upper body to hold it in the hospital. So after about a minute of demanding he bring it back, and after having the lady in back as well as Rogelio agree it was needed as a buffer to protect my head, he brought it back. I started being aware of it and my small bag with all my important documents, imagining that as soon as we get to the hospital everyone will try to grab my stuff, not excluding the ambulance driver.

We finally arrived at the hospital, St Juan de Dios, and I put the small bag on my back and the big bag on my stomach and they lifted me out on stretcher and transferred me to a hospital stretcher with wheels and wheeled me in. The poor were all over outside like I imagined, at least 100 people. All were looking at me as I was rolled in. The small backpack on my back prevented me from laying flat. What a site, a white guy lying at a 45 degree angle with backpack on, ripped up leg, yelling in pain, with large 50lb bag on his stomach, in the poorest public hospital.

This picture is me first arriving in the public hospital, San Juan de Dios. The picture does not show the open wound. Did not have the will to make perfect pictures that day. It does show the edge of my 50 lb backpack on top of me however.

From Coban-Guat City

Below is a picture of my motorcycle pants after they were cut off.

From Coban-Guat City

Pictures of my leg and ankle here.

To be continued...

Please read Part 2 here.

Part 3 will be released soon.

Belize City to El Remate Guatemala

2009-03-20T19:40:00.001-07:00

I left Belize today and crossed the Guatemala border at Benque/Melchor. Again, every guy there marveling at my bike. It was a safe and efficient crossing. Everyone has been scaring me to death to go to Guatemala, but so far, its a lovely but poor country. I don't feel fear.

My first look at the Guatemala Highway system:

From Drop Box

It turned to pavement after about 15 miles but I wish it had not, since the pavement had serious potholes that are truly deathly if you hit them fast. They are hard to see and they are gaping large. Eventually the pavement was smooth but just as I get comfortable at 65 mph, another one comes and scares the hell out of me.

I have about 3 days off now before the Tamahu School Project shoot. I am heading to Tikal tomorrow for a look at the ruins, then to the colonial town of Antigua and on to Guatemala City. Great couple of days off I hope.

I have about 25 hours of footage from the three places I filmed in Belize; the large majority of that is from the Belize Central Prison. I wish I could cut some edits now to show you all what is going on there, the amazing changes taking place (and also the true waste of some there since these programs cannot yet expand enough to help all those there). But its likely going to have to wait until I get back to the States in June and start on the editing. It's simply too time consuming filming, then downloading all the tapes, sending them off via courier, taking care of equipment, motorcycle, traveling time, and simply trying to get a little free time. Seems that when you have a film camera, everyone wants to talk to you!

The prison footage I have is so complete and fascinating that it's likely to be a full hour long or more documentary (other then the video short) in and of itself in the year ahead. It will take months of work but it will be fascinating for the viewer. I will need to get funding for this sort of thing as it will consume all of my time for several months most likely, so keep this in mind.

Other news: A article was written about me and LMM in a San Diego publication. I don't agree with all the quotes entirely but its a good article. Other articles may be published soon.

I will have a new mini HD camera next week for my bike to take HD footage while riding. I also have several more needed MiniDV tapes coming as I am filming more then I thought. A total of 60 hours I have to use, and even that might not be enough.

I received two donations from folks following my blog. They are very much appreciated.

The Woods' family in Belize are great people and I was very comfortable staying with them while filming at the Prison and the Emergency Rescue Transport team; the deceased brother of Mr. Woods and my Dad were in the seminary together at one point, what an unusual connection. I lost my passport this morning and the whole family helped me find it. Sometimes I feel like a real scatter brain on this trip I have to keep track of so many things.

Here are a few more pics of my first few hours in Guatemala. I have a nice hotel tonight I paid about $8 for. I love the prices here so far!

Moises Update

2009-03-20T18:40:00.001-07:00

Just some info about what has happened since posting the video of Moises.

Moises is still hanging in there though I was told his arms are starting to show skin degenerative soars that one layperson thinks may be the beginning of the end. I left Belize today for Guatemala where I will be filming in two places in the coming two weeks: the Tamahu School Project and Casa Guatemala orphanage. Thus I won't have much more information about Moises but he is definitely in my thoughts very much, at times just losing myself in thought about him. Its hard to forget that boy, his suffering and his strong desire to live. All of those I met in the past few days, including Mr. Woods, is working tirelessly to save this boy. I have seen it with my own eyes.

The video was sent to as many people as I, and others involved, know. Its been viewed about 400 times and the site has been hit about 600 times. I keep track of stats and several hospitals have hit the site, about a two dozen. I won't list specific hospital names as I don't want others to be disappointed; the hospitals deserve the greatest respect for at least considering helping. Remember, this is entirely free, state of the art, medical care Moises is asking for. He has no "right" to this care, in my opinion, but instead is being given a great gift from others in their consideration of his case.

The hospitals know about Moises now since others are telling them. I have several emails from others telling me that they have sent this video to doctors they know. So thank you everyone for sending this to doctors, administrators, etc.

Currently two hospitals in Texas are seriously considering taking Moises, and their review boards are working hard to make a determination. I have permission to post the email below from Dr. Neilson to me (Dave) at La Mancha Media, sent today. Of course there are complications and its not clear this hospital or the other can take him, but at least some hospitals now have information they need to make a decision on whether they can help:

I have reviewed the video on Moises. I need information regarding how much small intestine remains. Also, I need to know the status of his bile duct and pancreas at this time. Is there knowledge of the origin of his enterocutaneous fistula?

We are willing to assist pending receipt of this information and an assessment of our abilities to perform the necessary surgery as well as his prognosis. An English translation of his operative notes would be helpful.

Bill Neilson, MD
Vice President Medical Affairs
Baptist St. Anthony’s Health System

Mr. Woods got him that information. Thank you Dr. Neilson.

I hope others see the potential of what I (and LMM) am doing. I have taken a big risk with this non profit video production company using my own money (which is not a lot) and dropping my stable income with the law office; I often doubt it can work since the business plan calls for giving these videos away and continuing by fundraising from large donors that see the value in this sort of journalistic giving. I wanted to have a good motorcycle ride and help others on this trip, and I am (especially when I can finish the videos for each entity), but am also working harder then I have worked in many years. I often work 12 hour plus days, some days 16 hours. It is very enjoyable honestly, but I truly hope it works as a legitimate non profit, and that others will see the value of it and want to contribute to it. I have big hopes to take LMM on much shorter film trips to Africa, Asia, other parts of Central America, South America, etc in the years to come.

Right away donations in cash and in kind started coming in to the entities helping Moises, including the special IV drip TPN (not available there) requested by Dr. Eck in the video. Many people viewed the video and were moved by it. Video can tell a story unlike text and pictures. It can also show the credibility (or the lack thereof) of the people involved. This is what LMM is trying to do. It's a real confirmation that LMM is meant to continue seeing that it really has helped Moises. Even if he dies, it still shows that at the very least, many hospitals have been able to make a determination that otherwise would not have, and some are in fact seriously considering taking him in. I hope for the best for Moises and for LMM.

I hope no one reads this as using Moises to help LMM. That is not what I am trying to state. I simply mean to say that LMM is a new non profit and I sincerely hope it survives as I can see the power it can have in changing the world for the better, and one example is Moises.

The Miraculous Story of Moises of Belize City

2009-03-18T19:23:00.001-07:00

Click here for first update.

Click here for second update.

WARNING: The images are extremely graphic. They may in fact make you sick to your stomach as they did to me while filming. Children should not see this video.

The Miraculous Story of Moises of Belize from David Whalen on Vimeo
Here is a video of Moises of Belize City, Belize. He is a 7 year old boy who was run over by a truck. His stomach was smashed; his intestines are smashed. The doctors in Belize, while doing all they can, do not have the proper facilities to help him. He has been holding onto life nonetheless since the beginning of January 2009. He will likely die soon if a hospital in the U.S. does not take him. The facilities and doctors in the U.S. will be able to reconstruct his intestines and save him but a hospital there must agree to accept him without payment or insurance; unless a large donor steps up and agrees to fund his entire medical care. He is a from a poor family in Belize and has no money or insurance.

I (Dave here) have been busy filming in the Belize Prison, amazed at all the reforms taking place here. In the middle of this, John Woods, john@cisco.com.bz, an American who runs the prison through The Kolbe Foundation, told me about this boy. Mr. Woods also runs what is called the Belize Emergency Rescue Transport system. It's also a privatized non profit in Belize that assists the government in providing ambulances and airplanes to rush the sick and dying to the hospital in Belize City. This organization brought this boy to Mr. Woods' attention. So I took this morning off to give of my time to film this boy at the local hospital, and an afternoon rushing out a quick cut.

The result is this small video you see below which tells the story of Moises. If you or someone you know can help this boy please see the contact information at the end of the video or contact Tim Tam at the Word at Work at www.twaw.org. You can donate money, or if you are in the medical field, please show the video to your administrator in hopes they agree to allow the boy to come for treatment. If nothing else, please send the video to everyone you know, including media outlets, in hopes that someone will help. Mr. Woods believes that if he can find a hospital that will help, he can ensure the boy gets to the U.S. quickly. They will be able to fundraise to get him to the U.S. The problem so far: no hospitals have agreed to take the boy due to budgetary constraints and other problems. Mr. Woods and others are working non stop on trying to find a hospital for him but still no luck.

So where is the miracle here? It's the fact that Moises was supposed to die 48 hours after his accident and he is still alive over two months later, never leaving the extremely critical state he is in. He has been left for dead over and over again but refuses to die. This boy has a tremendous (perhaps supernatural) will to live!

If you would like to donate to La Mancha Media for the filming and production of this video it will be greatly appreciated. See the About and Contact pages for more information and feel free to contact me at the email provided.

Note: If you have a newer computer make sure the toggle button for HD is on (upper right corner of video screen). If you have an older computer toggle it off. If the video is choppy, press pause for a minute or two before resuming play to give it time to download. It's HD after all!

Cancun to Benque to Belize City

2009-03-14T08:33:00.001-07:00

I left Cancun some 5 or so days ago now after a quick dip in the waters there.

From Cancun-Benque

Cancun-BenqueI arrived in Belize that same night, right across the border from Mexico. Border crossing went well. Passed the long line of cars, pulled the bike right up to the gate, the officer asked for my visa stamp and info on vehicle. I told him I had neither, he let me park my bike just a few yards away, and I went in to process my visa. No problems there. Did not declare anything about filming. Just kept mentioning the name of John Woods who runs the prison there, whom everyone seems to respect in the country. I will be visiting him in a few days filming in the prison.

I made my way to the border town of Corozal. Found my hotel which I thought was highly recommended by Lonely Planet. The entry for the hotel said: “there is something to be said for not staying at the cheapest hotel in town and this place says it all.” When I read that in my tired state I assumed this was not the cheapest place in town, but in fact was a little more, and thus it was the best value in town. After checking in I realized I had misread that blurb. This was the cheapest place in town and the worst. I stayed next to a dark burned out house with a guy living in there staring at a fire he made at night with a dangling large gold star from his ear and what appeared to me the darkest man I had ever seen, not only in physical appearance but in his heart as well. I kept thinking witchcraft. In the following video you will see my lovely room and the next door neighbor the morning after. He looked more reasonable in the sunlight.

The next morning I had to stop for several hours to try to arrange the new camera purchase. Here is a photo of me attempting to purchase goods online on my cell.

From Cancun-Benque

I need a better video cam for for my bike, one that is small but shoots in hi def. See earlier post. I did in fact receive a generous donation from someone I have never met in New York. As I was about to purchase the Sanyo I saw another camera even smaller that shoots in full hi def, a small Flip Video Mino. I finally arranged a purchase to be sent to the U.S. with other needed equipment for the camera. The director in charge of The Tamahu School Project in Guatemala is in the States and will bring me the items next week when he returns, and thus I'll avoid them getting stuck in customs down here. I should have some nice hi def footage from my bike in posts to come.

I also took a dip in the deep blue waters of the gulf and took a picture of a boy cleaning his bike at the same location before the owners of the property wondered why I was there talking and typing on my phone for over an hour.

From Cancun-Benque

Finally making it out of there I headed to Benque del Carmen on the far western edge of the country having to first pass through Belize City. I found myself lost over and over again in Belize even though there is only one or two main roads. The signs are not posted that well and it was all to easy to get lost. I found myself in a bad neighborhood in Belize City completely depressed since my Blackberry would not pick up data which allows me to know where I am on Google Maps on my GPS phone; something I relied on all through Mexico. Eventually I pulled next to a nice hotel and got a wifi connection on my phone, thus pulled up a map and was able to finally escape Belize City. At this point I also learned that all the calls I made in the morning (maybe $50 worth) and all the time I spent trying to purchase items was all in vain as they automatically canceled my order since they could not reach me on my phone.

At this point, 12 days driving every day, fixing small things going wrong on the bike, etc, I was exhausted. I thought I would escape the speed bumps in Mexico but there are as many in Belize as there are in Mexico. Several times that last day I hit them without being ready at high speeds. Every time I had both hands on the handlebars. Had I not I probably would not be blogging today. The speed bumps can be in the middle of the highway sometimes with nothing around. They are ridiculous for motorcycles. I have learned to slow way down here.

What was to be a 4 hour ride turned into an all day ordeal. But I finally made it to the Mission and School there in Benque before the sun went down. I had enough time to fire up the camera and start filming a few things before bed. It was a very comfortable place compared to where I was before. I will write more about this at a later time. For now take a look at these friendly nuns that popped up out of no where to say goodbye in the rain as I was leaving. The one forward I interviewed at length the day before.

From Cancun-Benque

I left there yesterday and started filming in a media project here in Belize City. So I am off to do several interviews today.

From Benque-Belize City

Yes, I need a break! I have been working non stop since I left. This past day has been fairly relaxing but otherwise I think I have never worked so hard. Working some days in Benque from 6:30am to 10pm. While its tiring I have to remember how incredible and fun this all is compared to what I have been doing for so long. And the work I am doing is so urgent and meaningful to the beneficiaries.

Off to film in the only prison in Belize for several days on Monday.

From Benque-Belize City

The Sally gets hard on the way to Cancun

2009-03-08T20:21:00.001-07:00

Having left Acayucan I arrived in Campeche March 7 after a beautiful ride. See slide show below. The town of Capeche is quite nice. The best yet. It reminds me of something in old southern Italy, or in Argentina. It’s an old colonial town that is nicely restored. Downtown has a beautiful old cathedral with a lively plaza out front. My hotel, the Posada de los Angeles was right across from the cathedral and had a balcony overlooking the street. I paid about $20 for it, much better then some of the flea and roach infested hotels I had stayed in thus far. I woke up refreshed and ready to go. The soreness is gone and I am used to the long riding days in the saddle now. The winds are not bad at all now. The chain is adjustment free and I simply fill it with gas and do up to 500 miles a day.

From Campeche-Cancun

Everything was going along fine except one small problem. In the above picture you can see the right front turn light had come off the fairing. There is no screw holding it, only adhesive, and over time the adhesive has worn off. I noticed this yesterday and fixed it with black tape. As I was making good time to Cancun today, hoping to blast through Cancun and into Playa del Carmen for the night (more my style), I noticed the tape had come free. So I stopped under a bridge to make the repair (too hot to stop in the direct sun). As I dismounted the bike, it fell over. The kickstand did not have enough downward slope to sit on and I think my helmet mic (I was in the middle of a dictation for my book) may have pulled the bike just a little, as I forgot to take the helmet off before dismounting, enough to pull it over as it was barely balanced. This all happened in about 10 seconds.

I hate it when it falls as something always gets scratched, bent, and its humiliating. I have had the bike for a year and a half and before the trip I had dropped it only once. On that first occasion 6 months ago, I thought I had the kickstand fully engaged, but it was not and it fell over. When I was younger I dropped my other bikes many times. So this one I have been proud never to have dropped it. But I did so on the second day of this sally back in the U.S. after leaving a McDonalds; the clutch did not engage properly, it stalled and it fell over as I was coming out of the parking lot. A guy got out of his car and helped me lift it as people could see I was foolishly unable to do it myself. It’s simply too heavy with all the hi def gear, the tools, the clothes, etc.

This time, today, it fell over under the bridge. I had been telling myself that I would only stop near where there are people in case this happened, but I broke the rule, as I have done a few times. And sure enough I could not lift it. So I quickly opened the boxes and pulled out all the gear (pulling out some seams of my camera bag I thought was excellent quality) within 2 minutes, and was able to lift the bike on my own. It was a frantic moment as I could imagine someone taking advantage to rob me out on the highway. I put everything back in and it started up. I was afraid it might flood or that fluids would drain out but it was fine, other then bent up mirrors (which bent back ok), and scratched up boxes, and cut fingers, and a demoralized state.

I took off down the road about 20 miles, adrenaline still pumping, not thinking rationally, then realized there was no gas for another 50 miles and was surprised since I was getting very low. I had thought the toll road to Cancun would be full of gas stations. So I had to go back to the same place I dropped the bike, a little town by the name of Hoctun. I drove into the town, at first the sign pointed to an abandoned road (kids often turn the arrows in the wrong direction). I asked someone for directions and drove through the small village to find the station while running on vapors in my tank.

You can imagine at this point I was doubting what I was doing. I am excited to start filming and to help these places get exposure, and to meet so many great people doing great work. I am tired of driving as I have been for 9 straight days now. After tomorrow the trip turns to filming constantly with only one day travel times between places. This will go on until May. I was doubting, not about finishing the project, but to do it on a motorcycle. It would have been so much easier to have taken my Subaru Baja. It has all wheel drive and high ground clearance, is new and safe. The bike runs out of gas quick, is too heavy to pick up, and I can’t go to places remote as I am afraid it will break down or fall with no one around to help, get stuck in sand or mud, etc. I think next time it will be the car for sure unless I have a partner. Bikes are good with another person to help out. But a car is probably best for a single person. So all these doubts creeping in, tired of driving, bike falls over, cuts on all my fingers, almost running out of gas, and after all this… my left pannier falls off the motorcycle as I am driving down the road on the way to the gas station in the middle of tiny village with no hotels, no usual comforts, completely foreign.

Take a look at this video. (I will add it on another day when I have a better connection, for now, just see the still image below of the pannier lying on the road as I double back).

From Rendered Media

At the end you will see the fallen pannier (probably a result of the constant vibration 3500 miles later and two drops). However, there is some language not suitable to all. I was very upset and have a tendency to use bad language in moments like these. So please don’t listen if you will be offended. This trip is really about the places and people I will be filming. But it’s also about a journey. So for this I include this video.

Here is the pannier back in place, though I bent the aluminum and am afraid it may need constant tightening until I can drill a new hole to secure it better:

From Campeche-Cancun

Of course, I am happy to continue on the bike. Perhaps next time it will be in a car but I am very happy to have chosen the bike in the end. I am able to park it right out front of wherever I am, it gets very good gas mileage, I can avoid the long lines of cars everywhere by going between traffic, as well as other benefits: one being I still have my nice car to return to when I get back home.

The following slide show shows happier times on the road from Acayucan to Campeche, a beautiful water world with lakes and gulf everywhere:

Video of Lush Jungle Setting South of Tuxpan, Mexico

2009-03-06T19:55:00.001-08:00

Here is a look at the lush jungle like area south of Tuxpan on the way down to Veracruz. This video is from a simple old digital camera mounted on my dashboard with some velcro.

From the Mexican Border to Acayucan

2009-03-06T19:48:00.001-08:00

Picture just south of Tuxpan where Mexico becomes almost jungle like. Simply gorgeous landscape from Tuxpan down to Veracruz!

Spent about three or four hours in FedEx Kinkos in Brownsville, Texas, making last minute business preparations. A friend, Adrian, emailed me various release forms used in television and film shoots. Printed off ten copies of each along with a sign I had laminated for "crowd release". Last thing I want is to have the lawyers say no in case I can make a documentary out of this project. Finally moved across the border around 1pm and drove to Victoria just a few hours away. The bike is finally comfortable, secure and the final chain adjustment is about perfect. Thus I felt comfortable to start the creative aspect of the trip. It was always my hope to write a book about this venture and incorporate an autobiography of the crazy life I have led thus far. It's a bit hard to do when you shoulder blades are in severe pain after riding a motorcycle in high winds (the winds in the northeast of Mexico were at least 35 mph, and I had to slow the bike down to 65 they were so severe). But the pain is going away a bit thanks to some exercise and 800 milligrams of ibuprofen! They really work wonders. But even so, the writing would not happen. Thus, I rigged a lavaliere microphone into my helmet and attached the mic jack into a voice recorder and am dictating the book while I fly down the highway. There is some road noise that the transcriber will not like (so I apologize on tape in advance) but it works. Its surprising how creative and focused one can be just thinking and talking out loud in a helmet for hours at a time. I must have several chapters so far about the origin of La Mancha Media, how it ties in with my life, and how the idea was simply inspired.

Also rigged my digital camera to the dash on my bike. Am now able to take video in a lower def format. I will post some of that here. Will try some rigs to get my hi def camera on the bike but I'll wait to enter Belize.

Should be arriving in Campeche tomorrow and spend about 2 days traveling around the Yucatan peninsula. Have not enough time to really enjoy it as I have the first shoot in Benque, Belize, next week. But I hope to at least hit the water once.

One last bit of news. A cable network contacted me and are interested in making a deal for television shows. They say my work is inspiring, that I am talented and have vision. Pretty amazing stuff for a guy who has taken a break from the law to have a motorcycle trip and try to tell the stories of the amazing folks in the world giving it all up to serve others! Will think a lot about how to proceed business wise on these new developments. What's next? Oprah?

Rocinente, meet your home!

2009-03-04T20:52:00.001-08:00

Rocinante, meet the Hacienda Don quixote.

Map of Route and Itinerary

2009-03-04T05:30:00.001-08:00

View Larger Map

Pull out on the bird's eye to see the entire itinerary and route.

Ten minutes to the Mexican Border

2009-03-03T20:30:00.001-08:00

Late by at least a day, I am here in Brownsville, Texas, a few minutes from the Mexican border town Matamoros on the farthest east possible, right on the Gulf of Mexico.

For the past few days I have had a 40th birthday, slept in Yuma, Arizona, Wilcox, Arizona at an elevation of 5000 feet, and Kernville, Texas, purchased security locks for the bike, a tire quick repair kit (assuming a puncture is likely after 20,000 miles), replaced a front sprocket after seeing shards of steel all over the rear end of my bike, had dinner with a educated German 60 year old homeless (philosophical, spiritual, anti-religious) woman, Sonya, who gave me moral support as I changed the sprocket in a Napa Auto Parts store parking lot noticing it was closed on Sunday after I already had the bike in pieces, almost kicked out of a restaurant for washing the chain grease off my hands in the restroom while the homeless woman waited for me in the lobby, drove 500 miles through some winds of up to 30 mph while driving at speeds up to 100 mph, adjusted the chain, readjusted the chain, did stretches in the morning to try to take the soreness away from my shoulders trying to steer the bike in those kinds of winds.

Thus, I am tired. I would like to expound on each of the points above but for now its late and I need to sleep so that tomorrow, I can do last minute contractual items at FedEx Kinkos regarding the filming, last minute purchases of camera equipment, insurance for the bike as well as customs in Mexico.

Here is a picture taken today, off the side of the road south of Corpus Christi, Texas, a place that would more apt be called Holy Spirit as the winds were simply outrageous, at times my bike was being thrown around violently.

The new website should be up now or very soon. Please help me thank Joe Morse for designing the new website and having donated his time to do this. His website design company can be found here http://www.code-interactive.com. Consider his work for your website needs. Joe did an excellent job on the site. Thanks Joe.

Sally to Central America Begins

2009-02-27T20:57:00.001-08:00

I turn 40 tomorrow (Dave here). This is one of the most memorable birthdays--if not the most memorable. Second only to the night I spent as a runaway under a freeway overpass when I was about 13. But while that was a negative experience this one is fantastic!

I left today on the first full sally of La Mancha Media. I'll be filming throughout Central America in various missions, orphanages and service projects, including a prison, an emergency helicopter assistance program for the poor and several orphanages. I left California and made it to Arizona the first day. Not much mileage as most of the day was spent organizing on the final day. The plan thus far is to film in about 12 confirmed locations and possibly a few more before its over. I'll be travelling overland on my motorycle. The first location is in Belize. I hope to be in San Antonio Texas by Sunday and cross into Mexico Monday and stay along the Gulf Coast doing a little site seeing, especially the ruins and some of the beaches.

The motorcycle, a 2002 Suzuki V-Strom DL 1000 is holding up well. I'll write about the bike at a later time. The picture is my final day of my 39th year along side the bike that I hope will get me to Panama and back in 3 months time.

Almost all think the mission of LMM is incredible, that of helping poor orphanges, missions and other service projects by creating web shorts they can use to fundraise, and with the hopes of also creating a documentary. But many people think its crazy: carrying hi definition camera equipment on a motorcycle through dangerous Mexico and into Central America for several months. I hope they are wrong. I have several security devices that should help me with safety which I will write about another time.

But for now, I can say that it is a dream that is sustaining me and giving me joy!

Keep looking here for more from me about this trip, videos of missions and service projects (hopefully some early ones cut from a film editor in Spain, Javier Salinas--if the mail holds up), a new website (thanks to Joe Morse) and new logo (thanks to Kaelin Corina). There are many LMM volunteers and for them I, and the places we are helping, are eternally grateful.

LMM Central America

2009-02-20T08:47:00.001-08:00

Here is a map of future film sites.

View Larger Map

Eric, Artist and Volunteer

2008-11-28T18:40:00.001-08:00

In this video you will meet Eric, an artist and staff member of Santa Maria. He was born and raised in Arizona but has married a young woman from the local town of Colon, Mexico and has given his time and talent to Santa Maria for several years. His artwork adorns the chapel there and other chapels in the region. He teaches art to the children there as well. Eric also tells us why he thinks the boys like to fight (in a filial way) at Santa Maria. Santa Maria's unique subdomain on LMM with all their videos can be found by clicking here http://santamaria.lamanchamedia.org.

Note: If the video is choppy you probably have a slow connection or an older computer. If you press pause and come back to your computer after a few minutes, the download should have completed and the video should play smoothly.

Interview with Kristin Leong Robles, Founder of Rivers of Mercy Orphanage (Part 2)

2008-11-27T13:55:00.001-08:00

In this second and last part of our interview with Kristin, she speaks of her plans for future growth including building new buildings and a school, positive stories of the kids that they have taught to read and write who would otherwise be illiterate, a sad story of a little girl whose mother tortured her own daughter and was eventually sent back home, but who now is safe with a relative and in touch with Kristin. Rivers of Mercy's unique subdomain on LMM with all their videos can be found by clicking here http://riversofmercy.lamanchamedia.org.

Note: If the video is choppy you probably have a slow connection or an older computer. If you press pause and come back to your computer after a few minutes, the download should have completed and the video should play smoothly.