Little Louie Little

Louie joins Andrea and John on the lower deck

And when he can't find someone, he knows where all the soft spots are!

Some of you have asked how Louie is doing (now that Raisa is gone). He knows she's missing, but hey ... he's got it made. He's VERY HAPPY.

There are chickens in La Ceiba ... and sewing in Las Chacaras

100 chickens now call La Ceiba "home."

The first day (travel and all) the hens laid 15 eggs! We heard they would not lay eggs for two weeks ... and they laid 82 today (their first full day). Exciting!

Antonia hugs and thanks everyone she sees!

The ladies have made 26 pairs of shorts, curtains and pajamas (in only two days).

Ian helps the ladies

Manantial's first two projects have begun ... chickens are laying eggs in La Ceiba, and the women are stitching in Las Chacaras. It seems like a long time in coming, but ... it was worth the wait to see the smiles and join in the celebration in both of these communities.

Next week we will pour a cement pad under the sewing area to prevent material and clothing from being dirtied / stained when dropped on the dirt floor. After this is done (in a week or so), we'll pour the cement foundation for the pig area.

We are thinking seriously of celebrating the chickens by bringing a white sheet, a projector and the movie "Chicken Run" (in Spanish, of course) and then spending an evening in La Ceiba ... outside the chicken house. Nicaraguans have GREAT senses of humor, and ... well ... we're hoping this will be appreciated and enjoyed ... and will not be understood by the chickens. :).

Enjoy the pictures ... celebrate with us. God is good - all the time.

Celebrating Las Chacaras

Julie, John and Ron talk about raising pigs

Julie washes hair

Freddy shows Susan and Reyna his 'skills'

Pastor Ron prays for Pastor Cesar

The ribbon is cut!

Helen and Holly 'love on' the matriarch, Angela

The sewing project has ceremoniously begun - with ribbon cutting, flowers, Coca-Cola, singing, prayer and visitors from the U.S. When we arrived yesterday for our weekly 'outing' we had no idea we were driving into festivities. We were greeted by the people of Las Chacaras who were dressed in their best, waiting to surprise us and have us join the celebration. And we did.

Pastor Ron Hockley and Julie Dodge (from Portland) and Susan (from Colorado) joined our weekly trek, together with Kyle and Katrina Williams and their two children. We all joined the party and marveled that just three months ago we were merely talking and getting to know one another. We now feel like family - and it's great to belong and be welcomed by our Nica friends each time we come.

Yesterday, we spoke of the past, enjoyed the present, and looked to the future ... more projects are on the horizon. Enjoy the pics - and come join us if you want.