Freddy's Family ... Janiel and little Franco

Janiel, Freddy and Franco (born Oct 1st)

Many of you have asked about Freddy, so here's the latest picture of his family, taken three nights ago in our home because the team wanted to meet Janiel and Franco before they returned to Portland.

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

Amy and Jani Suara

Soon-to-be moms

Pig pen with 'bodega' for food and supplies in background

Reyna shares her birthday

Working together
Nearly completed hydroponic vegetable boxes

Last week, a group from Portland brought comraderie and a sense of purpose to the villagers in Las Chacaras as they worked together building hydroponic boxes to grow vegetables. They worked hard - shoulder-to-shoulder - training Mauricio and Andres and Cesar and many others how to build the boxes. They will be able to eat better and have means of income.
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This team's home church funded the microloan to finance the pig project. They were able to see the pigs, buy more food for them, and be able to visualize the project. We all await the upcoming births of ??? piglets on Dec 16th, Dec 26th, and Jan 5th. They plan to raise the little pigs (cerditos, chanchitos) and then sell them once they are weaned. These proceeds will pay off their loan and allow them to have cash enough to begin again, but this time there will be no loan ... just the upkeep of food and vaccinations and then profit!

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.

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Farewells were hard, but this one was more like a 'see you later.' The team and their church is committed to Las Chacaras, so everyone knew the truth of the words, "Hasta Luego."

Las Chacaras

The ladies try arroz aguado (and many other Nica things)

Patti works with each lady individually, and these were the first two. Freddy wants to learn also(really, he does!)

Karla cuts plastic bags into 'yarn'

First a plastic bag ... then a purse

Six ladies from Colorado and two from Managua visited Las Chacaras last week to encourage the ladies in their new green project of making purses from used plastic. We helped cut bags for 'yarn,' and taught them a few more crochet stitches and ideas for different shapes of purses. It was fun to help and to be with each other. As with any bunch of women, we laughed and talked, sat under the rancho, and worked together in a relaxed atmosphere, yet with a purpose. As soon as we drove up, we were welcomed as though the team were long-lost relatives ... and we took it from there. The women of Las Chacaras and the women on the team are easy to be with and extended themselves to each other. Once again, we have to take our hats off to Freddy who is as interested to learn to crochet as anyone else (and makes no bones about it).

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The team was adventuresome enough to ride moto-taxi's to destinations because our SUV is not big enough for 9. They also ate arroz aguado, raspados, wandered thru Mercado Huembes, gave a baby shower for Freddy's new son ... and acted like these things were commonplace in their lives. They were awesome in attitude and in every other way.

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FYI, Franco was born Oct 1st ... almost 9 lbs ... a lot of straight black hair ... and a big appetite. Welcome little Guadamuz!

Silvia is home ...

Silvia Silva Orozco ~ 1948-2009

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.

Back to square one ... back to Waslala

Gener David Arauz Escoto

Exactly five weeks into his transition to independence, Gener made very bad decisions to travel down a path of destruction. His choices not only endangered his physical, emotional and spiritual well-being, they also put people who were trying to help him at risk of potential harm. He obviously does not have the skills, impulse control or moral fiber yet to make right choices. Though we hope one day he will make right choices, right now he’s in it for the thrill and does not think of consequences.

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.

Life at the Littles

Payton (14) and Sheba

Angela joins in making jewelry to donate to the House of Hope

The landscape of life around this house has changed a lot in one month. After 19 months of living with two Nicaraguan boys, we opened our home to a few girls. Holly has been with us since May, and in July Sheba (the beloved dog) joined us. Angela Kathman joined the household in late July, and then Payton (Sheba's 'sister') arrived in the beginning of August. Angela was part of our family for a month, going with us to the villages - going shopping - and being part of our family. She returned home yesterday! Payton attends Nicaraguan Christian Academy and the new school year started before her parents could return to Managua. So, she moved in, joined her dog, Sheba, ... and the two await the return of her parents. Payton is a student in John's "American Criminal Justice System" class at NCA, so it's very fun around here with lots of 'jargon' and bantering. The dynamics are much changed ... with self-sufficiency dominating the house now. Girls (and North Americans at that) are very different than teenage Nicaraguan boys. It's a mind-warp. We've really learned a lot.

John really enjoys being a teacher! He considered teaching after he retired, and now he's been given a chance to give it a try. He loves the kids (sophomores, juniors and seniors) and they enjoy him too. They are supposed to call their teachers by "Mr." or "Miss" ... and so, he's "Mr. John" to the kids now. Payton tells us they call him Mr. Sheriff and Mr. Littlejohn too. During class, they 'role play' with some as the criminal, or the D.A., or crime scene witnesses, or victims ... whatever the scenario John gives them - they join in and use their collective brains to solve the crime and learn the roles of the various people involved. I don't know who has more fun - John or the kids?!?
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Life is very enjoyable right now. We're still waiting for the big rains to come ... still working in the villages ... still making jewelry to help support the House of Hope ... and generally enjoying our last months here.

Nahum and Gener's new life ...

Nahum, August 1, 2009

Gener and Holly - August 1, 2009

On August 1st, Nahum and Gener closed their eyes to sleep in another home (Erick and Karla's) ... and awakened to begin a new phase and a more realistic life as young Nicaraguans. Erick and Karla have been friends of ours for five years. Last week, when Karla visited YiTing in our home she understood our need to transition the boys into a more 'real' life in Managua. She called Erick to see if they could rent their spare room (as they often have offered to others) ... and he said yes! John and I talked at length with them about the boys' history and our perceptions of their wants/needs/personalities, and then passed the baton. Nahum and Gener have begun to experience their own culture in a traditional home in a safe environment. Erick said that Karla's extended family is just like "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" ... lots of people, lots of noise, lots of food, and total acceptance. Though Nahum and Gener are most assuredly feeling on the periphery right now, they will soon feel at home - and we are SO HAPPY that their transition is with Erick and Karla! Gener thought he'd like to live alone, but ... he's definitely not ready. One day perhaps, but for now this is the most logical and safe introduction to life without gringos (aka walking ATMs).

Both Erick and Karla speak English, which will be good for the boys to continue in the language. Gener is quite good and is also interested to continue with English classes, while Nahum is not very interested and will probably only speak in English around the house. Nahum will continue the cellphone repair class at the trade school. Hopefully, Erick and Karla will one day be able to help them network for jobs. That is something we could never do. It's not what you know - it's WHO you know, and both Erick and Karla have many contacts and connections.

Nineteen months ago when Nahum and Gener entered our home and our care, it was their first step away from the orphanage and into their futures. Now it's the next phase - a time to enter real life in Nicaragua, a life they'll do well to understand and manuever within. It's scary and it's exciting ... and it's necessary for their success. Their last 7 years have been spent in "protection" mode, with others caring, providing, protecting them so they didn't have to think or worry about much. It may not always have been fun, but was safe. They would rather have been with their family (who wouldn't?), but that wasn't an option. Basically, most of their 'life experience' for the past 7 years has been heavily gringo instead of Nicaraguan. We are gringos (obvious!). And in the orphanage the kids live to see visiting gringo teams, which mean presents, pizza and good times. Though this is their past, it is not their future. They will do well to learn another way.

As for us, we just entered the empty nest period and can watch them from afar and be a 'catch net' if necessary before we return to the U.S.. We're glad to know WHERE they are and with whom they share. We have a mental picture of them on their bikes, on the streets near the Huembes market, playing basketball and soccer with neighborhood kids near Don Bosco and in renovated parks. We are relieved and at peace that God provided an open door to their future with a young couple in their late 20's ... which should also be more fun! We've talked to them and text-messaged with them, and they are having fun - making new friends - playing volleyball with neighborhood youth - helping fix Erick's car - etc. They are not bored!

The same day he moved in, Gener made a friend with one of their two dogs ... and was happily playing with it on the street. Isidro (our gardener) talked to Nahum, and he said that Nahum is enjoying his new place.

God is good. All the time.

Thanks for your prayers,