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

Jinotepe

Today the whole team traveled about 50 miles outside of Mangua to visit an orphanage near a town called Jinotepe. Managua is surrounded by mountains and as we drove out of the city we gained elevation until we reached the top of a plateau. The views were beautiful. In some places you could see as far as the Pacific ocean. This picture doesn't do it justice. While traveling to Jinotepe we drove through several small villages which gave one a real feel for what the other 90% of Nicaragua is: rich, green, and simply beautiful.

We visited this orphanage last year and as soon as we arrived I was instantly greeted by several of the children who remembered me. To my right is Maria, who remembered my name before I could recall hers. Maria also surprised me by speaking very good English. With me also is Noel and Sandra.

As some who came on this missions trip last year will recall, we have a bit of a baseball rivalry going on with the kids in the orphanage, and as soon arrived this year we were out on the field playing baseball - Nicaragua against USA. As a gift we brought a duffle bag full of bats, balls, and gloves. In the picture below, Hugo, one of the youngest kids at the orphanage is up at bat. As usual, the Nicaraguan team won, and we all had lots of fun.

While some of us played baseball with the kids, others went to work in the kitchen to prepare a special lunch of hamburgers, hotdogs, soda, and potato chips. The kids, 18 in all, ate everything. There was nothing left. After lunch Maria was so excited she started dancing with Michaela. They took out a boom box, and next thing you know, we had a whole room full of kids dancing.

The saddest part of the day came when we announced we had to leave. All of the smiles turned to sadness. Little Hugo was so sad he ran out of the building and some one had to go and get him. After joining together in a circle and saying a prayer of thanks, all the kids gathered in front of the orphanage for a goodbye picture. (We put Victor in there with them because he's just a big kid too ;-).

After driving back to the church, everyone on the team agreed that this visit to the orphanage was one of the highlights of our trip. We all wanted to turn around and go back to spend another day with the kid's at the Jinotepe orphanage.

That's all for now. Thanks for reading.

John Meneghini

Laura

Where to start... well, yesterday was quite a day. While Michaela, Alysha and I successfully finished painting the church roof and bathrooms, the guys fixed lights and fans and computers, doing all manner of other necessary work that I can't remember. :) In the afternoon, we paid a visit to Martha, who is 60 years old. We then took her shopping to supply groceries, shirts and shoes for her and her 6 grandkids. The smile on her sweet face was far, far more than happy, and she felt so blessed that she cried when we prayed together and dropped her back at her dirt-floored home.

Today, we traveled to the local trash dump to pass out tracts and cups of water to the people who live there. Yes, they livethere! Hundreds of Nicaraguans daily scour acres of garbage, simply because they have no better venue. Every one of them appeared malnourished, and the air was barely breathable. Many people gladly accepted free drinking water and some curiously flipped through the tracts we distributed. I was able to personally approach one little girl (who was there, alone, in the dump!), and afterwards dearly wished I knew more Spanish. That experience was an eye-opener. They have so little, and we have so much. How can we then not cling only to Christ, who is all that we really need?

I recently came upstairs from the church sanctuary, where Youth Group was wrapping up. Three of the young people led us in worship, and then Victor R gave an excellent sermon in their language. I was approached afterwards by two older girls, who kindly introduced themselves and made me feel rather welcome. Funny how close it was to being in Youth Group at home. On the other side of the language barrier, I can plainly see that they're all normal teens, just like me.

One thing that God has shown me this week began at the mid-week prayer service on our first night here. After worship, all the ladies took seats together in the sanctuary – and just prayed. We prayed back and forth, in English, in Spanish, in voices both old and young. Listening, I realized that even though I could not understand in words the prayer of the woman next to me, it didn't matter, because God speaks in a way that goes beyond the tangible things of this life. That was really quite amazing...and I'm sure others felt it, too.

Hhhhm. It's late and I'm running out of words. Hope you enjoyed this update.

Until later...keep praying. :)

Laura C

Team Picture

John Meneghini, Joe Pirello, Alysha Rosado, Laura Corell, Michaela Meneghini, Linda McElhinney, Sean Hays, Stig McElhinney, Victor Rosado, Julio Chardon

Linda

Here I am @ Calvary Chapel Managua. There are several things that come to mind that I'd like to share The first is how universal the desire of all of us is to have our family members saved. At Tuesday night prayer meeting and during home visits the past few days, all of the women have asked for prayer for unsaved children. I encouraged them that God will finish the good work that He started in each one. Then God gently confirmed for me that it is God's job to save hearts not a mothers job. We met a young girl who walked by the church as a young girl and the pastor invited her in. That's all it took. None of her family is saved but God did the work and called her to him. Her mom and dad have done nothing to encourage her to salvation. Just trust the Lord.

The second is that I was washing dishes for a woman the other day. I needed strength to not make faces as ants crawled in and out of the sink and into the place where I was placing the dishes. Dishes? I would not have allowed those dishes in my kitchen. And really it was a plastic cup, that has seen better days, a old tin cup, a well used fry pan and several odd utensils. I would have given them to the kids to play in the sand. I am ashamed of my discontentedness as I thought recently that my blue dishes no longer match my new kitchen so I wanted ones. As I looked around her home, a dirt floor, walls mismatched pieces of board nailed together, walls shared by both families on both sides, nothing but a few bits of furnatiure you would see at the dump, I thought our sheds and dog house are much better constructed then this home. When we asked her what her biggest problem was, she replied, “How can you be happy when you can't keep your home clean? Really? Such a lovely lady. She is so happy with nothing. What is wrong with our culture? What is wrong with me? How could I have so much and yet want more. She was content in the love of the Lord and so happy to have Jesus in her life, that her surroundings don't matter. May I learn to be content.

Loving the laughter of the “kids” as they play cards with Pastor Cal and Jess. A quiet night that our team is just connecting and resting up for our day of work in the morning and a visit to the dump tomorrow. God certainly has blessed us.

Linda

Today we continued our work projects, John on computers, Laura was at the school with the English teacher, Alysha and Michaela painted, Linda and Victor did another home visit making three visits total. Sean and Stig cut up a large steel support that was on the roof and carried it down to the yard, then they worked on fans.

Joe and Julio did electrical work. Everyone is working very hard and I am extremely proud of each team member. That was our morning. This afternoon we did our first outreach. We took a member of the church out shopping and bought cloths and shoes for her six grandchildren that live with her. We also bought six bags of groceries for the family. We then prayed for her and the tears started there were many hugs. She was blessed from our abundance and we were blessed 10 fold for living the bible. It was an awesome day and all the glory goes to our Lord and Savior.

Joe Pirrello

The team gathered in the Calvary Chapel parking lot at 4:00am on Tuesday morning, July 26th. There are 10 of us on the team this year: 4 women and 6 men. After loading everyone's bags into the Peatfield's van we left for the airport. 3 hour's later we were all on an American Airlines flight, headed for Miami. From Miami we flew to Managua, Nicaragua. We arrived here at the church (Calvary Chapel, Managua) safely at 4:00pm on (2:00pm Managua time). Michaela was so happy to be here that she gave me a big hug when we arrived. Everything made it except for one of my checked bags. It got left in Miami. The airlines located the bag and delivered it here to the church yesterday.

After eating a late lunch and then sitting through a 1 hour orientation I had to go to bed because I couldn't keep my eyes open. I was really tired. I slept about 10 hours, until about 6:00 am on (4:00am Managua time) on Wednesday. I think this is because I was up until 1:00am the night before and only got about 3 hours of sleep.

While I slept, the rest of the team attended the Tuesday night prayer meeting and socialized with the members of the congregation. The amazing thing about prayer is: you can do it in any language. Some of us pray in english, and some pray in spanish... we don't always understand each other, but God understands it all. He's the person we're praying to so nothing else matters.

The following day (Wednesday) was a work day. Everyone broke up into teams and did different work projects around the church. This included painting and cleaning. Lynn and Victor did some home visits to see some of the elderly and disabled in the church. Lynn is a physical therapist and Victor speaks fluent spanish, so the two of them make a good team.

VICTOR

I was hoping to spend some time doing other things while I am here this year but Cal already has a list of computer problems he want me to solve. I spent Wednesday installing a new wireless access point, fixing a broken ethernet drop, and configuring and installing Ubuntu on some laptops.

Oh well... that's what I'm here for, to serve others. That's all for now. Other members of the team will update this blog as the week goes by.

Thanks for reading.

John Meneghini