Bear with me because I really don't wanna do this blog. This has been an amazing trip I cant believe the trip is already over. I have had so much fun despite originally not wanting to come at all! But God changed my attitude and spirit since being down here. I loved going to the dump. That was a life changing experience in itself; to see all those people living in those conditions yet they are happy. When we went to the orphanage I could not believe the joy we brought to them, but the amazing part was how much joy they brought to me. When I passed out the baseball gloves to the kids, they were so happy they didn't care if they had to use a lefty or a righty glove, they were just over joyed that someone came and gave them something (they were pretty good at baseball too). Over all, a great trip! I was really glad Sean was here with me on this trip. Not only was he an awesome guide and mentor, but he helped me edit my blog, if you haven't guessed already by this last sentence. See you tomorrow.

Stig

Sean's Entry

Monday, August 1, 2011

Woke up and made it down to devos in record time. The girls were late, “We thought it was at 8”...silly girls. Today there were hot dogs in the eggs, but even better, was we got our special order of CINNAMON ROLLS. They lived up to expectations yet again. After the last of them were gone, Stig and I tried to sweep up a pile of dirt in Cal and Jess's yard. Earlier in the week Sasha had found a wheelbarrow of dirt and spread it about to make a cool little nest from the heat. Oso of course joins in and gets his long coat filthy dirty. While attempting to clean up the mess they made we found a pretty big scorpion, so we caught it and I got Stig to eat it...just kidding, after snapping a pic we killed it with a 2 by 4 since we didn't want it hurting the dogs.

At about that time Victor was ready to head over to Eufemia's house to install a window next to her bed so she could have some ventilation and light. While Victor put his handy woodworking skills to the test Stig and I were set to picking the vast amount of fruit she has growing in her backyard. Stig and I walked past the huge 6 foot banana leaves to the Sepote tree, which yields softball sized cantelope looking fruit. Stig and I devised a system of a poking stick and a stick with a bucket on the end to safety drop the fruit off the branches. Stig tarzaned about the tree knocking fruit into the bucket and tossed them down to me, which I caught them with varying success. Stig was kind enough to toss me a rotten sepota, which exploded on impact with my hands. Then I ventured up the orange tree and picked as many sizable oranges, which are actually green in Nicaragua (naranjas agrias), as I could until I got bit by a bunch of ants and discovered that around here they actually hurt. After Stig and I finished filling 2 canvas bags and box full of fruit, Victor had just crafted a nifty little window. Eufemia was very grateful, considering it would have been impossible for her to complete these jobs on her own.

After lunch we all hoped in the van and went to what was formerly Tent City. What was once a shanty collection of plastic bag tents had been transformed into a little community of white brick houses, most with flowers and vegetables planted outside the houses. Although some houses had to cram 4 families, it is a drastic improvement from their previous living conditions. Most of community are faithful Christians, so it was very encouraging to spend time passing out little Gospel of John Booklets and praying for the needs of individuals. Despite the great hardship many of this people have had and continue to endure, they express great joy and faith. One of the houses we visited was where one of the local churches met, and the pastor and his family prayed for us, loudly, all at the same time. It was a passionate cacaphony of Spanish, and although it was not something I was used to, I was touched by their unwavering devotion and passion for Jesus. The team felt very good as we were leaving, just in time considering a parade of show horses was just getting ready to go through.

After we returned, Victor, Mrs. McLhinney, Laura, Stig and I visited Josefa, a great grandmother who lives by the lake. We gave her a walker that would allow her to move around the house without needing help from her daughter. We also installed a toilet seat and commode on their toilet so she won't have as much difficulty pulling herself up after sitting down. Before we left her family gave us a whole bundle of bananas that Stig and I had to carry back to the church. It was heavy and sticky. My shirt was now covered with sepota and black banana plant juice. Got to spend some nice time talking with Gustavo before dinner. After another series of Monopoly Deal with Jess, Laura and myself, Stig spent a great deal of time making crickets out of palm leaves like the kid on the street had showed him. Its been a good long day. I had actually typed this whole thing, and it was full of a great deal of wit and clever stories, but Michaela managed to unplug my computer and I lost it all, so this is what I could scrap together as I struggle to stay awake. Thanks for bearing with me. Hoping to have a chill day tomorrow, our last day.

Buenos Noches,

Sean

Eufemia House

This afternoon Victor, Stig and Sean when to Eufemia's house to put that window into her bedroom. While Victor worked on cutting a widow into the wall, Sean and Stig gathered fruit from some of the trees in her back yard.

Julio's Entry

"A pico y pala Jose" is an expression or slang used in Puerto Rico taken from a folklore song which is about encouraging anyone (represented by Jose) to work the land using a pickaxe and a spade. For this year's trip to Nicaragua that is what our team have been doing physically and spiritually. Among the tasks or projects being accomplished at the mission's facilities, with Joe's expertise and lead, he and I broke ground and done some digging last week to place new electrical cables through an underground tube in order to connect a new panel coverted to a transfer switch to another panel that receives power from the city. Additional complex electrical tasks were successfully completed within the church today.

Our trip to the orphanage last Saturday was eventful. We prepared and served hamburgers and hotdogs for the children. Many of them remembered some of us from last year and wanted to play baseball against us so bad with the hope to win again like they did last year. Well their wish came true! Luckily I was "forced" by the kids to play with them....so we won!...ha ha ha!

I given the opportunity to teach for Sunday service where I emphasized to everyone present the importance of prayer. Sean used his talent by joining the worship team playing his guitar. After the service I was invited to the home of Iginio, who works as guardian of the church during the day. A truly humble and gracious man who lives in a poor section of the city yet spiritually rich and blessed with a marvelous family. His wife and all his children serves the Lord.

That evening we took some break from the rice and beans we usually have daily and ate at "La Finca" steakhouse restaurant along with Cal and Jessica and the associate pastor Noel and his family. After we returned to the church Sean, Stig and I formed a new group inspired by the sound of the 70's fever called the Bee Cees for Brothers of Calvary. Sounds familiar? Our spiritual journey continued today with a visit to Tent City. All tents have been removed and houses were constructed for the residents. We were divided into three groups and each of us had the opportunity to visit a few homes to bring Jesus's message of love, hope and salvation. There were many there who were in dire need of prayer and support and we praised God that He used us in such a special way to confort them through His word.

After that we returned to the church to wrap up our final projects. Stig surprised us all showing his artisitic side...creating grasshoppers using palm leaves. This year's team has been a fantastic one and I feel truly blessed being part of it. Thank you all for your continuos support and prayers.

Julio.'

Alysha's Entry

Hi to all, this is Alysha with greetings from Nicaragua. Today, I woke up and went to devotions where Michaela gave her testimony. As we walked out the door to go to the Comedor for breakfast, we were crowded with children that we have met over the past few days. We ate rice and beans for breakfast, a delicacy from Nicaragua. Then, me, Julio, Claudia, and four of my Nica friends went to Pali Supermarket to buy food for Claudia, one of our cooks. That was interesting because it was crowded and us five kids were riding the shopping carts through the aisles. Hahaha.

Then Julio breakdanced for the kids on the way back. Very funny. Then, me and Laura had a “chore” of washing Oso, the guard puppy. He HATES water and it was hard to keep him still. After lunch and a game of soccer with the kids, we went to tent city which is no longer tent city, but has a new name along the lines of heroes of pesticides. The people there were amazingly faithful to God and that alone amazed me. It was an awesome trip and really impacted me.

Now, I am going to play with the kids. Yyyeeeyyyy.

Sincerely,

Alysha

Michaela's Entry

To all those who made this trip possible, both through prayers and financial support, I can not thank you enough. The joy flowing through everything here is contagious, and I've been missing it for 375 days. I have already starting missing the kids every time I have to leave talking to them on the street corner and go to bed. But I blinked and now its almost gone. Again. Please pray that I will have the will power and strength to leave, and that at the end of the week, I will have blessed them as much as they have blessed me. So far we have done some grueling paint jobs, sorted more keys, cleaned more fans, visited the former tent city, the dump, and the orphanage (best time ever, I miss them). I still can't believe I'm actually here.

Muchisimas gracias.

Michaela

Victor's entry

Earlier this week, on the morning of Wednesday July 27, Linda and I visited two elderly ladies from the church: Eufemia and Claudia. The purpose of our visit was to see their living conditions and evaluate how we might be able to help them. The first lady we visited was Eufemia.

Eufemia can hardly walk because of some kind of a spine decease. She is about 55 years old, but looks like she is 65. In addition to this, Eufemia just married her long time boyfriend. He is about 81 years old, and can hardly walk, see, or hear. I asked Eufemia if there was anything we could do for her while we were there. To my surprise, all she wanted was her floor swept and her dishes washed. I grabbed the broom and swept her floor and back yard while Linda washed the dishes. Once we finish she said to me "Do you know... when the floor is clean, I am happy". I asked her if there was anything else we could do and she said "what else do I need? I have everything I need here". Then she said "You can pray for us... then... one thing you can do for me is make a window in my bedroom". So we went to her bedroom. Eufemia's bedroom was maybe 7 x 7. The temperature in there was easily 105 degrees. I hope I can add a window to her bedroom before I go home.

Next we went to visit Claudia. Claudia had a stroke about 6 years ago and the right side of her body was paralyzed. Claudia lives in conditions a little better than Eufemia's, but still far more difficult than I expected.

Before we left both Eufemia and Claudias' home they thanked us for coming. It really got to Linda and I when they said "You have made me feel so important, you made me feel that I exist." Something as simple as a friendly visit to do a small chore or to talk and pray is all that they wanted. This was an eye opening experience. It made me feel that none of us appreciate what we have, and I pray that we in America can be stop being so arrogant and selfish with all that we have. Even though Eufemia's needs were great, she asked for nothing. I looked at her home and asked myself how could anyone live in this condition? How can she survive? If I don't have a clean pair of socks in the morning, I am unhappy. In reality, I am the one that is in need. The faith that these ladies have is incredible. I pray to God that I get just a little of their faith.

On Friday, July 29th, the whole team worked very hard in the morning doing projects around the church. In the afternoon we went to the city dump. John, Stig and I were having the time of our life, even though the smell was horrifying. We were so pleased to be there right in the middle of everybody, feeling out side of our comfort zone. We wanted to serve God by bringing His word to these people with the simple gesture of a cup of water. With the water we were giving away bible tracks to those who wanted them. We were walking through the dump responding to people calling for water when all of a sudden it started to rain.

While we were going back to the van I saw a young man looking at one of the tracks we had given out. I asked him if he understood what he was looking at and he said no. So I asked if he wanted me to read it to him. He said he did, and we both got wet as I read through the whole tack with him standing in front of the van. The rest of the team ended up in the van waiting for me... but it was well worth getting wet to be able to share the simple message in this gospel track with someone who wanted to here it at the Managua dump.

On Saturday, July 30th, the team went to the orphanage. What an experience it was to be surrounded by all of these kids with the energy of a lion. We played a baseball game and they killed us 13 to 0. They were so happy to be winning that no one wanted to stop when they called us for lunch. While some of us played baseball, Joe, Michaela and some of the girls from the orphanage cooked hamburgers and hot dogs in the kitchen. The girls from the orphanage helping Joe were confused. They could not understand why a man was cooking with them. When it was time to eat, the team served the food. I'll tell you, I have never seen smiles that big before; smiles for a hamburger and a hot dog.

After lunch we all danced. The saddest part of the day was when we all had to leave. You could see the smiles drop, and all of the kids were asking me why. But we had a good reason for leaving a little early. We had to go to the pharmacy to pick up some medical supplies for a 91 year old lady at the church, a member of the congregation who we wanted to help. We wanted to get to the store before it closed.

Victor