You asked about Nahúm and Gener ...

Raisa being "cool" with a little help from the guys.

Being "cool" with their "shades" in the heat

Gener (l) and Nahúm (r)

It's rare to see pictures of the guys together, but here they are! We were doing a "photo shoot" for their Hi-5 and Facebook accounts. They're seen here on the side yard of our house. They still don't act with love towards each other, but they have improved a lot. Gener has no problem with Nahúm. Nahúm is the one with the problem that he can't/won't identify - so the rift remains (for now). That being said ... and also a threat or two ... we are happy to say their relationship is better. A lot.

.
Report cards will be out next week, and today is the last day of final exams for this "bloque" of classes. Gener's English has REALLY improved - to the point that he's been moved to intermediate English. It's hard for him, but beginning English was way too easy and not challenging at all. Nahúm may know as much, but he is loathe to speak and be caught making a mistake ... so, he appears less capable. Gener doesn't care - he blurts it out and is corrected (and is okay with that). We have learned just how different two brothers can be. We are sure they were born this way ... with two very different personalitites.
.

Their "school year" is more than half finished - and they have improved a lot since their first day of school on Feb 4th. The old saying "Hindsight is 20-20" is really true. Now our week-day morning routine is smooth - they get up on their own, shower, eat breakfast and make/pack their lunch all on their own. We just drive them to school. There is much less hustle/bustle. They've settled in.

.

As far as helping the family, they do the dinner dishes nightly, their own laundry, and take turns emptying the trash in the bathroom. It may not sound like a lot, but it is. It's natural now. They're also asked to give one hour a week to Isidro (as he has a LOT of acreage here).
.
For fun, Nahum continues with his weekly guitar lessons, and Gener is now an avid reader of English classics (Buffalo Bill, Robinson Crusoe, etc.) They also ride city buses to see a movie on the weekends. Isidro goes with them, as he enjoys a break in his routine. The best part for us is to know they CAN get around in this big city without Helen and I being the quintessential "soccer moms" (which we often say to each other and laugh when we drive them somewhere). Our biggest "ah-ha!" in this new adventure called parenting is realizing that our 18 and 17 year olds are more like 13 year olds (both of them). Coming to this realization has been helpful ... as we expect less. And then life is easier.

.
As you know (if you've read the blog), we went to La Ceiba recently for our first microbusiness meeting. They were a little miffed that we went on a Friday, because they want to be part of the project too. We're going again on Monday, which is a school day off - and they are excited to go also. Nahúm is bringing his guitar so he can teach a few things to one of the kids there. We think that's pretty awesome that he WANTS to share his hobby/love with the kids there. Gener is certain he wants to do the interpreting, but he doesn't have quite the technical expertise yet. But, watching Freddy in the interpreter's seat he'd like to sit in inspires him to keep learning. "One day!," he says.
.

That's the update on the boys - they're doing SO much better. It makes our hearts happy. Thank you for asking for an update on them. As we said before and still mean, "They're worth it."

Why La Ceiba?

John, Elifonso and "Juan" (named after John) in February 2007

.

In 1998, Hurricane Mitch swept thru Nicaragua (and much of Central America) and changed the landscape. There was a huge deluge of water, roads and bridges were washed away and thousand of lives were lost. During the deluge, the crater of Las Casitas (volcano) filled with the torrential rainwater. The pressure of the water caused the side of the volcano to collapse, and a wall of mud then slid and covered a little town (I think it was called Las Casitas, but am not sure). What I know is, men - women - and children ran for their lives. They left behind grandmas in their beds who could not walk, cows, dogs, horses and everything they held dear. As they ran thru the mud that was following them, a mom and a dad might have held on to their kids' hands. As one child would begin to slip into the mud, they would "instinctively" use their other hand to not let that happen. BUT, caused the OTHER child slip into the mud, and be covered ... and be lost. There was mayhem and screaming and running. And when it was all over, there was a huge loss. Huge.

The people who were able to run for safety and made it out alive have a “big heartbreak burden” they live with daily. Some feel guilt for leaving a dear one behind, or not running fast enough, or not holding onto a child tight enough ... all are futile thoughts, yet these thoughts remain and make up a pall of despair on this community. When it was all said and done, the survivors of this community had a couple of choices given them by the government. One was to return and build new houses ON TOP OF the newly changed landscape (on top of their old houses, mothers, what have you). The government said they'd rebuild with cement block houses. The other choice was to be relocated in a flat farmland near Leon (called La Ceiba) and be given the land - together with branches and black plastic to build houses. The land doesn't have clear title by the way, but that's another story.

The community is POOR. It is the community Helen and I hope to work with to start microbusinesses.

If you or any group you know can take up prayer for La Ceiba whenever you meet - that would be awesome.

The photos show you a slice of life in La Ceiba. Elifonso now has a cement block home, but many many other houses of this style remain.

This community needs so many things. Desperately. Thus, we have projects in mind. We can’t start them all immediately, but we hope to start them all sooner rather than later.

Thank you for your prayers and support. We appreciate you – and we pray for you too! We pray you would somehow come to understand the richness of life in the U.S. (and how blessed of a nation it is) and also that your hearts would be touched to help bring food and hope, thus joy, to this community. You can visit us and go to La Ceiba with us. Anytime. Just let us know. The people will be thrilled – and we will too.

This is our prayer.

A moment in the day ...

Life has its challenges here (heat mostly), but it also has some very fine times. As they say, it's, "Vale la pena" (worth it). We enjoy sitting outside on the patio with a cup of coffee, looking at the tropical scenery, listening to the birds and, well, just enjoying the cup of coffee. Yes, we have our work - but we have tranquilo moments of sitting and enjoying.

.

One morning last week we happened to have our camera on the table when Louie spied his ball there also. All in one minute's time he hunted it, killed it, and took it inside for safer keeping.
.

Enjoy ...

So THAT'S where my ball went! I better go get it.

Yes, this definitely smells like it's mine.

Why can't I get it? Oh yea ... I'm approaching from under the table. That won't work.

Much better. Much much better.

And better still. It's safely tucked under my arm and won't get away this time (until I turn my attentions elsewhere and forget it's on the floor, that is).

First Meeting in La Ceiba ...

John and Freddy - discussing "the plan"

.

On a scale of 1 - 10, the meeting today was a 10. Complete with an occasional "amen" from the crowd from time to time. As you can see the photo, John and Freddy presented the plan for their future - complete with a threefold poster of Mission / Vision / Values. Words fail here - but there was a level of excitement, hope, commitment and "when do we get started?"

.

We gave them some "homework" - to get at least one other church involved (which was a requirement). We will meet in a little more than a week and see how many churches in this poor "berg" are willing to join. With others included in this, there will be more hands - less work - quicker progress - bigger projects than one alone could handle - and less "claim to fame" for any one church. It is exciting to see they are not only willing, but excited about joining with others. As things go when they're God-breathed, there was a pastor there who had just ended a two-week vacation by praying all night (last night) with another pastor. This guy was certain that one of the pastors he just prayed with would want to be the first to join. Apparently in the past, there has been a mixture of silly things (like pride) that have stopped unity. Some churches are more legalistic than others and don't want to become watered down - some have a negative attitude that precludes success, and are happy enough to suffer alone than join another whose doctrine they don't agree with. BUT, this man not only prayed last night for a break-through in this very poor community - he also is the connection between all the churches in the area. He doesn't attend the church we visited. He was there because he was invited. He came looking for the answer to the prayers they prayed all night last night. He said they stopped praying at 5am this very day. He believes that the community of faith will be willing to join together now, although this idea failed to join in the past. We hope this is true.

.

SO ... next week or so we return to meet "the gang" - and we will send two from each church to the class on "the business of raising chickens" so they will have the knowledge they need before they begin.

.

Since they will also "own" this business by "shares" - they have a little longer than a week to decide the tasks needed, how long each person (or shift) will work, what amount of shares they will get in return, etc. They will each "own" the effort ... and the business ... and the proceeds. Some dear friends from Portland sent us a book called, "Banker to the Poor" and it has been invaluable in concepts that transfer to La Ceiba. The ideas in the book clearly intersect our line of thinking. More to come.

.

We just wanted to share the success of the meeting and the ensuing excitement ...

E-X-C-I-T-E-M-E-N-T !!!!!

... of a meeting which has brought hope to a pretty much destitute population.

.
Pray for this project and the next three projects to come. The next three are already chosen - but we'll wait to begin them until this is "off the ground."

.

Thanks for your prayers. We certainly need and appreciate them.

Plans are in process ...

The kids will be eating well - hopefully soon.

We've changed our work here, except for Nahum and Gener! They're still our first job. But I'm no longer facilitating teams and Helen is joining me (and others of you - thank you) to get several micro-businesses started. It's surprising (and heartwarming) that SOME things CAN happen quickly here! We've been given helpful leads on how to begin from a consortium of ministries here called The Nehemiah Center. North American and Nicaraguans comprise this group, all of whom work together - share information and resources - etc. We're also very grateful to partner with Freddy Guadamuz ... who is a friend, a teacher, and a native Nicaraguan who is an integral part of the work. He brings a knowledge of the culture - and he knows a lot of people.

.

There is a Nicaraguan company scheduled to give classes on raising chickens and the chicken/egg business to a "panel" of community members from La Ceiba. There they will receive instruction/education on 1) micro-business in general, and 2) about chickens imparticular. They will attend class very soon to get the "basics" - and then they'll have time to formulate THEIR plan (given the information about feed, chickens, roosts, and all they will learn there). After our initial meeting, our next task is to find transportation to get them to and from Managua so they will be "equipped." There is much excitement - it's contagious. They want to get started quickly, but they are willing to slow down a little and get started correctly.
.
Nicaraguans think in terms of what is good for the "community" more so than individually - so this core group will begin to glean from others' experiences and come up with a collective and agreeable plan.
.
In the meantime, we've received the materials list (for the chicken coop). The list is being priced in Managua and Leon, with the hopes that Leon will be lower since it is very close to La Ceiba. We're already looking for chickens ... but aren't ready to buy!! yet. We have dreams (thoughts? nightmares?) of purchasing them in Managua and driving for an hour and a half to La Ceiba ... chickens in boxes, ridiculous clucking noises, and little feathers flying. More to come on this. If this becomes necessary, I am sure we will be willing to drive a little faster to get to La Ceiba. Pray we find some chickens closer! We'll do what we have to do, and then have stories to tell afterwards.
.
Our new sponsoring agency for financial support is the NEO Foundation, whose information is posted at the top of this blog. If you're interested in helping us ... please contact them. If you're in touch with us already and want to help in other ways, please email us.

.

We're grateful for your support. We're ready to walk a new road, and it's comforting to have friends alongside.

We've changed directions ...

God, you're sending us over there???

I have resigned Forward Edge, and will no longer facilitate their teams. Instead, Helen and I will work together as a team ... to help impoverished communities become self-sustaining. Though we have many ideas, the first will be to help the residents of La Ceiba, (also known as Leon to some) build a chicken coop and raise chickens. This will provide eggs, meat and a little extra of each to sell to their neighbors and keep the chicken feed coming and repairs on the coop. We are starting this project very soon. Then we'll move to vegetable growing, so their diet can be more well rounded than it is currently. And it is our hopes that one day, they themselves will take this concept to other communities and help them become self-sufficient also.

We don't know all the details now, but - we're walking forward and seeking advice from several well established ministries here in Nicaragua.

Forward Edge's vision in Nicaragua is centered around the Villa and short term mission, so, we will soon process donations elsewhere. We'll share that information with you soon.

We will keep you posted with more details in a week or two after we settle down, and process all that is and will be changing in our lives. We appreciate your care, concern and support. Truly.