Friday, December 11, 2009
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Freddy's Family ... Janiel and little Franco
The answer to the question of what happens to Manantial when we leave Nicaragua is that Freddy will continue and we'll be part of it ... from afar for now. Freddy's the President / Vice President AND Secretary-Treasurer. Awesome guy.
We have really enjoyed going to a deeper level of friendship and trust, both on a personal level and as business partners. We originally met him in 2004 ... and have walked with him over the past two years as a single man to a married man to a father. He's in our hearts FOREVER!
Hydroponic boxes built (with love) in Las Chacaras
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Lily Helms was the youngest member on the team, and she had a great time playing in the mud (on purpose), and making friends with a 'free range' pig named "Tocinito" (or "little bacon). Lily entertained the people of Las Chacaras, who may still be unsure why a child would want to #1 play in the mud, #2 play with a pig, #3 put on boxing gloves and play with the boys ... ad infinitum. Though the two cultures are different, all of us - kids and adults alike -experienced NO barriers. We were bound by love and sense of purpose.
Much more than boxes were built ... relationships were. The team baked a cake for Reyna's 23rd birthday, and celebrated with a customary piñata. We spent time together in a beautiful (but poor) setting, backdropped by banana trees, mangoes, guayabas etc. We washed and cut hair (we finished one haircut by the light of an iPhone when darkness descended quickly!), crocheted, visited with neighbors and learned to love on a different level. We held babies and applied lip gloss to little girls - hugged and held them. We enjoyed "Eskimo" ice cream from a cart pushed by the owner/vendor, and took another break to try the national treat of 'raspados' when that cart rolled into the village. Raspados is shaved ice with your choice of flavored syrups on top. We had crushed pineapple in honey, and/or dulce de leche.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Las Chacaras
Silvia is home ...
Silvia died this morning ... from dehydration. Four days ago she ate bad meat and got food poisoning, then had three days of diarrhea and continued weakness. And this morning, she was gone. We learned of her trials yesterday when we visited, and had the opportunity to pray for her before we drove home. Though we left money for Cipro and Powerade to re-hydrate her, it was too late. She was too weak to make it another day. Tomorrow we return for her funeral.
It's hard to let her go. She fought cancer and won (twice), and to die of something so seemingly simple is difficult to wrap our minds around. Our consolation is that she is at total peace, with her Lord and Savior ... and we who cry, cry because we miss her.
Pray for the family and the community. She was a cornerstone there. Everyone has lost either a mother, grandmother, sister or a friend.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Back to square one ... back to Waslala
When we heard of his new-found habits and lifestyle, we sought counsel from trusted friends who know Gener and know his history. Everyone agreed he needed to return to Waslala. He has always known this would be the outcome if he continued to make bad choices. He may not have believed us, as pride, arrogance and a feeling of being 'above the law' rules his behavior – but he has to believe it now. We drove him to Waslala Friday evening, Sept 4. He has no one to blame but himself. Now he is looking at another set of circumstances: an incomplete education, no job, dirt floor, no electricity or running water, no indoor plumbing … and a dream (again) of a better life. Perhaps this will help him change and grow up, but it’s hard to say. Some people have to reach rock bottom in life before they will see the Truth, and Gener is one of those people. We pray that God will reach out to him and not let him fall into a greater darkness. That is our prayer, but the choice once again is his.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Life at the Littles
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