// server.js

// above this exist some irrelevant code
var router = new mapleTree.RouteTree(); // routing module. maps urls to functions
var db = new mongo.Db(mongoDbName, server);
var usersCollection = null;

db.open(function(err, db) {
  if(err) {
    console.log('error opening mongo. make sure mongo is running');
    process.exit(1);
  } else {
    console.log("connected to mongo");
    usersCollection = new mongo.Collection(db, 'food');
  }
});

router.define( '/user', require('./routes/user.js') );

// request goes here
http.createServer(function(req, res) {
  res.error = ErrorPage(req, res, {});
  res.template = Templar(req, res, templarOptions);
  router.match(req.url).fn(req, res);
}).listen(webSitePort);

//----------------------
// routes/user.js

function user (req, res) {
  console.log('collection', usersCollection); // not defined
  return res.end();
};