Merry Christmas from Managua

Son, daughter and mom happily make earrings - a family income venture

It looks and feels like organized chaos when creativity ramps up

Elvis "before" Freddy got ahold of him

Elvis and Freddy "after" the haircut

Freddy, Mary, Helen and John ... having fun serving the people of Las Chacaras

Although we will spend Christmas here in Managua, we fly home shortly thereafter to visit family and friends. We are ready! But we actually got a special treat a little ahead of time: John's sister, Mary, visited us for 10 days. We went to the beach, to Granada, Norome and other places she'd never heard of. She also went to Las Chacaras with us on our last "Manantial 2008" visit where we all gave a lot of personal attention to the folks there. She jumped right in - helped wash and braid hair - and no doubt understands more deeply why we're here and what we're doing. It was fun to share the time with her.

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Although we're ready for Portland, Oregon - family - friends - snow - cold weather - hot showers (we do not have hot water here) - and "familiar" surroundings and customs, we also look forward to 2009 and what it means to the families of La Ceiba and Las Chacaras. And we're looking forward to being very near to "launching" Nahum and Gener into their futures too!

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We send a heartfelt "thank you" for your prayers, your love, your support of every kind - and best wishes for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We are blessed and humbled you've chosen to walk with us and be part of this chapter of our lives.

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Dios te bendiga!

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Siempre.

The first year in Nicaragua comes to a close.

Nahum, Isidro, Gener, Helen, John and Raisa

wish you a Merry Christmas (86F and breezy!)

Nahum caught, mounted and rode a trespassing horse off of the property yesterday.

Both boys are very comfortable and skilled with horses - I've always enjoyed seeing them ride. Yesterday, we had a "rogue horse" on the property, grazing away on the lawn. Isidro knows I love horses, so he pointed him out to me. I walked towards the horse to hopefully pet him (yeah right). He had come untethered from somewhere?!? and was dragging his rope with him. However, as I approached, the horse walked away from me. I stopped. And then he stopped. I advanced more and so did he. He would NOT let me get near to him. And so, Nahum came and showed me a thing or two, and I am impressed. This picture is proof of the fact Nahum COULD catch the horse and COULD mount it and ride it off the property. Whoa! Nahum was barefooted, brought a red towel for his saddle, and voilla ... he was soon riding it! This is one of the many things that have brought a smile. We're glad the camera was handy to share it with you.
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Yesterday was the boys' last day with us in Managua until mid-January. We had a great talk with them about the adjustments and dovetailing of ALL of our lives that has happened in this household over the past year. They had mixed feelings about going home to Waslala for a visit because they're ashamed they were born so very poor (and that their family still lives that way). They also weren't anxious to go home because they enjoy their bicycles, visiting friends and enjoying "life without school" right now. Recognizing their angst, we decided to have a little "family meeting" where we easily talked about 1) the importance of family, 2) that they should never be ashamed of where they've come from or where their family still is, and 3) the fact their family wants and needs to see them! We prayed together, talked about the next year and all the new plans we have, and it was nice to actually TALK about it rather than just feel their mixed emotions pouring out of them!
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We then had a big "going away" barbeque dinner with Holly, John's sister Mary, Greg from Indiana (Saul's pastor), Maria Jose (the director of the orphanage where they used to live, Isidro (our gardener who lives with us), Freddy, and they even got a cyber-visit from Saul in Indiana. It was barbecued hamburgers and all the trimmings ... and a lot of laughing. Since their bus left Managua at 3:30am, Freddy took them home to his house as he lives very near the bus stop. The next morning, Freddy called to let us know the 'goods were delivered and all was safe' ... and today we received an email from Gener, saying he had arrived and they were happy to see their family. Nice. Sigh of relief also.

And as I write this, I'm hopeful they enjoy their time there, knowing full well that they have security of this home when it's time to return.

From all of us here, to you ... Merry Christmas!

Be blessed,

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!

Another September Update - Manantial and Personal

On Friday, the coco-palm roof will be woven into place

Meeting (again) with the beneficiaries of the chicken business

Paying loans and buying more supplies (happily so)

Diane and Kathleen help the ladies make earrings

Diane and Kathleen make earrings (before and after) the trip to La Ceiba

The people of La Ceiba finally believe they are embarking on a future where they will make their own living. They told us last week they really thought it was more like a dream … an opportunity they weren’t sure would be afforded to them. In this discussion, they opened up to us and told us in the past they have been only been given things, but they’ve never been given a chance – and it’s sinking in that they have an opportunity before them. They are deeply thankful and excited. The trust it took for them to tell us this makes us smile inside and out. When they told us they’ve sold prior “gifts” given to them so they could eat – we again realized they trust us enough to admit it. We need their trust. We need unity. We’re getting there.

Two weeks ago, our friends (YiTing from NYC, and Karla from Managua) accompanied us on our weekly visit – to help the women refine their skills at making earrings. After this very long day, Freddy stayed behind to survey the people and therefore better understand the place called La Ceiba. He gathered demographics and other important/interesting facts. His stay was a God-send and remarkable. He stayed in their homes, ate with them, slept in an extra bed that was no doubt evacuated just for him, and rode a borrowed bicycle with them to visit the families, interview and photograph them. Through this effort, we learned more about the area and their services and industry (I have to laugh at both of those words when it comes to this area).

Of interest is that “La Ceiba” is really a collection of over 20 “villages” – one of which also bears the name “La Ceiba.” The name of the small village we’re currently working in is El Convento (the Convent). La Ceiba is actually at the ‘end of the road’ … and we didn’t make it that far. But we now know more about the people, where they came from (all are refugees from the mudslide from Las Casitas), what services they have and don’t have, how they “eek out” a living, etc. The information he gathered enables us to see where the current project IS - and where it can spread when the loan begins to be repaid and expansion to the next project nears.

Right now, the wood used as “trusses” has been attached to the chicken coop, and as I write this – the palm branches for the “roof” are being delivered. They will be woven into place on these trusses on Friday. It’s an art / a trade – and one man from each of the involved churches knows how to do this. As you look UP from under the palm branches, you can see a woven work of art.

Our dear friends, Diane and Kathleen, spent the last eight days with us – oh joy. They went to La Ceiba to see it (as words are not sufficient), to offer help to the ladies in refining their “loop closing” skills, and simply get to know the ladies. Before the meetings started, we walked to a nearby neighbor and had a conversation (well, sort of) about the big pregnant pig in the yard and simply to say “hi” to Marbale and of course to laugh! The women of La Ceiba then gathered for jewelry making and conversation. Some gave back half the proceeds of the earrings given to them (as seed money), and then used the other half to purchase more beads and supplies to make more … to sell more … and so on. Through this process, those who have the talent and the willingness to “do business” (not just enjoy the craft) will begin to emerge. We’re looking to identify "who fits where" and are confident time will reveal this. For now, a) the jewelry-making tools are kept at the church (to be checked out like a library book), b) they purchase beads/supplies to make more, and c) then they sit together and (hopefully) help and encourage and correct each other – for the common good. Some people naturally have an eye for design, and some are better technicians at doing the work, and some are better suited for sales – so we’ve asked them (and will continue to talk about this) to find their place, encourage each other to their places, and work together for a product that can be taken and sold in the marketplace. And we’ve asked them what else they believe will sell … and when they think of what they think will work, we'll put our hands and minds to it, and "give it a go."

One thing lacking in this area (that is ridiculous – MANY things are lacking!) is a community center for people to meet and connect in ways that would benefit them. They would have a place to associate and pool their talents and resources. What comes to our mind is to purchase a plot of land ($2,400) next to the church … where people from all the villages could come … have a community garden … have a “rancho” or some other shelter to meet and make jewelry (or other projects they pick) … to have classes to learn to read, etc. Help us think this through … and help us with this if you desire.

Our “other” (very real) life:

On a personal note, the boys are doing WELL. When we look back on 9+ months, we can definitely see two young lads who speak the language better, have table manners, are willing and able to take a bus (to go to the movies) by themselves, who have made new friends in school and in the neighborhood, who ride their bicycles to visit friends, and who do their own laundry and the household chores they’re assigned. They’re having their next to last ‘bloque’ of exams now, and will be out of school toward the end of November.

Raisa’s blood platelet count is back within normal limits and she’s prancing around with her squeaky ball. But she has a raging rash on her muzzle that several topical ointments haven’t touched. She scratches her muzzle by rubbing it on her leg, and now the leg has a “break out” on it. She’s going to the vet today (again). And then there's Louie who is fine fine fine. And fun.

We’re still meeting and making friends – which makes living here all the better. Freddy feels like family - we talk daily and often see each other too. There are also many people we know from church that make life richer. The pastor and his wife “think in Spanish” but are North Americans – we love them a lot – and appreciate all they do and how they do it. We recently met a man named Mike (while in church) who was visiting from the U.S., and we had lunch with him yesterday and talked about microbusinesses. He has experience, interest and connections here ... and he's returning to Managua in a couple of months, at which time he will go to La Ceiba to see it up close and personal.

If you haven’t heard through another source, Nicaragua has a new plan for children in the orphanages: close the orphanages and return the children to their families (if it is for poverty they gave them up in the first place). If it is because they're true orphans, they will have state-run places or perhaps more of a foster family type situation. So ... no more adoptions, except in cases where there is no family. For those who belong to the same political party, the families will be given a pig, a chicken and a cow (they have to make payments to purchase the cow, which is valued at C$9,000 or close to USD$450). This is the information published in the newspapers here, and then thoroughly discussed at our dinner table – with the help of Isidro who read the paper daily and knows details. Though our boys are not ‘adopted’ – they understand they just dodged a bullet. They know that if we would have waited a year to come, they’d be back in the mountains in a mud hut scrounging for beans and being as poor as the people they see in La Ceiba. They don’t understand many things yet – unable to really think ‘in the future’ – but they understand this topic more than most, for they lived in the orphanage for 5 years (and are ashamed and loathe to admit that fact). Now they hopefully are praying for the kids there. They’re certainly concerned for each of them, and many names were mentioned at the table last night, “Well, what about Jordan … he doesn’t HAVE parents?” “What about Maria Jose? “ (the orphanage’s director and a strong figure in their lives).

Again … we cannot say it enough: Thank you to all who support us in all the ways you do … who communicate … and show care/concern in many ways … and who join with us to get His work done. May God richly bless you all.