Manantial Visits La Ceiba ...

Elizabeth is ONE of the reasons to help the people of La Ceiba.

The first half of the roof is complete - and the other half was finished by the end of the day.

With a hammer in one hand and a machete in the other, Freddy clears the surrounding chicken yard and secures the fence line.

Nathan and John dig a hole for a fence post.

John learns from Don Virgilio, and then stays on the roof to assist him for over 4 hours.

John's got the knack now, and Freddy is making sure "it's all good" up on the rooftop.

Helen takes lessons from Don Virgilio (who is ever-patient). He could work so much faster and get the job done, but he takes the time to impart his skill with patience.

Helen hones her weaving skills "solo."

Cesar Jr. chops the ends of the palm branches.

Drying palm branches in the sun.

Holly selects palm branches (and takes a LOT of photos for us).

This post demands more pictures and fewer words ... as words alone are hard to describe the day. With the hen house recently relocated, we came to help. It would have been finished weeks ago, but 1) the election turmoil and violence stopped everything for 10 days, and 2) (believe it or not) they only cut palm branches during a "full moon." This resulted in a delay (again). But we "go with the flow" as it is beyond our control to do anything other. We take our cues from the people - if they're not bugged about it - we aren't either.

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From start to finish, the day was over 12 hours. We brought pineapples, oranges, bananas, sliced carrots, an assortment of chips and a big Igloo cooler of ice water ... then we rolled up our sleeves (so to speak, since long sleeves aren't in order) and went to work. The pictures show the day full of various duties, fresh produce, new skills, deepening friendships and working together for a common goal: feeding the people of La Ceiba.
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The children are refreshing!! They ASK for a piece of fruit, they say THANK YOU, they know boundaries and want to help with tasks. Fruit is not that common to their every day diet, so it was an unexpected pleasure to give them something special.
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We then visited Las Chacaras - encouraged the people - talked about Manantial's philosophy to help them help themselves - asked them to decide what projects they want for their microbusiness - discussed loan terms - and made another appointment to visit them next week with two pastors from a church in the U.S. They told us there is no medical clinic anywhere near. The public clinic is 20 km in one direction, and since Leon is in the other direction (and is closer to walk to), they usually walk to Leon for medical attention. We will spend a little time getting to know more of their demographics, and see them again next week. They are a small community of only 12-14 families. They do not have electricity and (we think) their water is irrigation water.

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We had "Thanksgiving" dinner at our church here ... traditional turkey and all the trimmings. It was a wonderful time, even in 80F weather. And we'll also be here for Christmas, probably in 85F weather!!!

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In the meantime, please remember to pray for us and the beautiful people of La Ceiba and Las Chacaras. They're poor, but not in spirit. It's fulfilling to know them more by working alongside of them. They are a reminder that happiness has everything to do with attitude (not things).

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Happy Holidays. Love to you all~

Decisions for the future are coming into focus ...

Nahum in October 2008

Gener in October 2008

Silly brothers (Gener, Saul and Nahum), May 2008, eating, playing music and laughing. Times they are a-changing. Times they have a-changed!

Nahum and Gener have made a decision on what they will do to get ready for life. The past year has been one of adjustment for all of us. For them, it's been the transition away from the orphanage and into a secure life that looks ahead. "Thinking ahead" is been hard for them, as they tend to live in the moment only. Not having kids of our own, we have "heard" this is normal - but we are not so sure. But we are glad this past year offered them security both physically and emotionally to get their feet under them - and now they will begin to walk towards a future on their own where they will be self-sufficient. Next phase will be "flight" ... not yet, though.
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Beginning next school year (February), they will no longer attend private school. If they would continue on this path, it would be two more years - the end of which would give them a diploma, but no real skills or job opportunities (which are SCARCE in Nicaragua). Instead, they're enrolled in a university that will give them their last two years of high school within one year's time. Next November, they will graduate! Classes in this university program only meet on Saturdays, so they'll also spend four week days (Tuesday thru Friday) at a trade school. IN TWO YEARS THEY WILL EACH HAVE THEIR DIPLOMA AND A TRADE SO THEY CAN BEGIN TO WORK. They've chosen a career in accounting (Gener) and auto mechanics (Nahum). For Gener, it's a "means" to make money so he can continue studying English and eventually be a interpreter/translator and someone (like Freddy) who works with teams, with non-Spanish speakers who visit but need help with the language, with translating documents, etc. There are many industries (hotel, etc.) that cherish employees who speak English, as Nicaragua has the small percentage of population who can speak English. No matter what Nahum or Gener go on to accomplish later, they will have the basis to earn a living sooner than we thought.
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More on Manantial ... soon.
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Bless you all - thanks for your interest and prayers.

Planning for changes (again)

Gener at 17

Nahum at 18 (and Raisa)

Nahum at 17 - Gener at 16

What a difference from a year ago!

The boys will complete their first "year" of school next week. Looking back, they've really come a far way - and looking forward, they have a far way to go still. They enjoy and now trust a certain level of security they didn't have a year ago, and we pray this will carry them through the next (harder) phase of getting ready for life on their own.
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Nahum and Gener spend a lot of time riding their bikes, visiting friends, hanging out with the neighborhood kids in the evening, taking a bus to church and then to the movies on the weekend - in addition to guitar and karate lessons. They are so much more secure than they were a year ago - and they seem to be settling into this security without being "driven by ambition" to whatever the future holds for them.
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They're now being "pushed" to think beyond today or even next week, and it's hard for them to think of the future in terms of "their place in it." They were institutionalized for five years with every decision having been made FOR them. And the last year has offered them security and personal growth. It is our prayer they will now begin to think of "what they want to be when they grow up." The answer undoubtedly (right now) is they don't want to grow up / they don't want this "good life" to change at all / they want to live in the moment and have the moment extend forever.
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If you're reading this and you're over 25, you know that life continues to change. We want them to be on the forefront of that change, anticipating it and trying to steer it (or steer themselves into the course it is moving). We want them to grasp their future and "go for it." We'll be here to support them as they get their fledgling wings.
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In the interim, they will go home to Waslala for five weeks during Dec/Jan. They will visit their brother, sister, dad and extended family. They will also see (again) that they desire a better life. And while this dawns on them, they will help the family out, which is much needed. They need "fire in their bellies" to ignite, which flame will help them get them through school with a goal. They have ideas forming, so their time in Waslala may allow them to see more clearly.
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They're great kids. They need to know that they are able - and God is able IN THEM - to accomplish their dreams. Pray for them to dream bigger than they are able to now.
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Bless you all, and thanks for your support!

Las Chacaras and Los Cedros

Freddy walking in Las Chacaras

Jann walking with a family from Las Chacaras

The walk in ...

A quick demonstration of "future business"

Cesar Jr. and Kenneth (pastor's children)

Another heartbreaker doggie in Nicaragua

MANANTIAL:

After our weekly visit to La Ceiba on Oct 29th, we thought we were heading home, but we were "short-stopped" by Cesar who wanted to show us the community he soon will be pastoring. Cesar and Sandra (and their two children Cesar Jr. and Kenneth) brought us to a little village named Las Chacaras, which is comprised of 12 homes and ?? people. They lack services such as electricity and water - and the community is back "in the bush." The road in was so muddy and rutted that after a kilometer, we parked the Montero 4WD and hiked in the rest of the way.

When we finally arrived, we were met by about 40 people who had been waiting for us. Apparently Cesar "knew" we would agree to visit them and had asked the people to gather and wait for us. He was right!

Our long-time friend, Jann Churchill, was visiting us in Managua and was delighted to accompany us to see the people Manantial serves. She has done medical missions in Nicaragua in the past - and shares our heart to really do something that will be a lasting form of help. She is "cogitating" what she will add to the people (and dogs and cows and terrain) of Las Chacaras.

After we spoke with the people, visited a little and demonstrated jewelry-making, we promised to return after the elections (Nov 9th). It's WILD during election time, so we'll stay at home until they're over. Net net ... we will begin microbusiness loans for projects in Las Chacaras.

AND ... we are going to the community of Los Cedros next week to present an opportunity to them (at the request of leaders of a church in the States). There isn't much to say about this yet, but it is on the drawing board. There is much to do here in Nicaragua - and microbusiness "loans" to the people means repayment will be used to replicate the work ... with our prayer that more people in more communities will look to their own hands - their own work - to sustain themselves and their families AND will help neighboring communities to do the same.

ON THE HOME FRONT:

• Nahum had one root canal and two more crowns in October.
• There are three more weeks in the school year, and then "summer" vacation.
• Nahum and Gener will go home for a substantial part of their summer vacation, to re-focus their goals and make decisions about their future ambitions.
• Jann visited us from Portland, and we swung in the hammocks - drank a lot of coffee - and saw firsthand what life is like for us.
• Freddy is virtually a "part of our family" ... a friendship for which we are grateful. We have a lot of fun with him - he jokes around, and is currently doing his "Obama" impersonations (they are hilarious) and just being Freddy.
• Raisa has a MEGA allergic-reaction rash that has "gone postal" - so, the poor thing is wearing an Elizabethan collar and enduring topical medications and pills. She otherwise is very healthy, has a great appetite, prances ... and waits every moment that she is not asleep for John's glance of approval.
• Louie is Louie ... el rey de los reyes around here. And Raisa knows it.
• The rains have stopped about a week ago (UNFORTUNATELY). The yard looks like a manicured park - and from this point forward, the "green" will be going away as "summer" approaches, then fades to brown as the temperatures rise.
• We have LOUD LOUD chocoyos (parrots) in our neighborhood that screech when they fly ... and they fly in flocks, so it's loud. They visit our guanacaste tree in the lower acreage, as well as other colorful, less-loud birds.

We don't know what's next - but we DO know there is always something around the corner it seems. We're just glad to have a couple of hours to update this blog!!!!

Thank you for your prayers and support ... we are grateful, and invite you to visit us with our without others, to help with our current projects or simply to visit and rest.

Dios te bendiga, siempre!