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,

Celebration in San Juan del Sur

John marries Randy and Laura in mid-July 2009

El Jardin Hotel in January

You may remember that we went to a beautiful (small) hotel in San Juan del Sur with John's sister, Mary, in December 2008, and then once more with Nahum and Gener in January of this year. We had the pleasure of returning to marry Randy and Laura, both of whom are from Florida but now make San Juan del Sur their home.

It was a fun time to make friends and celebrate a wedding, complete with superb food and an ocean breeze. It is fun and amazing to live life and capitalize on opportunities given. John did an excellent job at his first (and most probably last) wedding. It's another memory we share in Nicaragua that we will not easily forget.

Another part of life here in Managua

Holly works with the first 8 students

Behind Holly's table, Teresa helps the second table. Teresa and her husband visited us for 9 days, which gave them the opportunity to see many projects/places in Nicaragua they've read about.

It’s satisfying to share time and interest with other ministries, to meet new people, and expand friendship circles here in Managua. What began as a Manantial project to make jewelry to support families in Las Chacaras is now a skill-set and money-making project shared every week with over 200 prostitutes at April Havlin’s “House of Hope.” Each Tuesday, many of these women ride a bus to the House of Hope to earn money making earrings. They seek to change their lives ... and the earrings, when sold, support the House. Though the craft is fun, the best part for me is encouraging the ladies, sharing a laugh as I stumble through with my broken Spanish … making them laugh and letting them know 'we're all the same' and I approve of their efforts to attain a better life (or earn money in a different way).

We began with one table (6-9 women) ... added another table a month later ... and next week we expand to three tables. If you want to know more about the ministry to prostitutes, please visit their website at http://www.houseofhopenicaragua.com/

Be blessed.

A drive to Matiguas

Nahum ... on the deck ... ready to phone his father

Gener helps me find geckos to photograph. He's wearing a ponytail so his hair will stand up taller when it's dry. He's a funny guy.

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In Nicaragua, every citizen must have a Cedula (much akin to a national ID card) in order to open a bank account, get a job, attend university, etc. And so it is that Nahum and Gener need Cedulas for their future - including their future to enter the military. They will take an entrance exam in October, but are not able to take the test without a Cedula.
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To get a Cedula, you must present your birth certificate. Both of their birth certificates are rife with mistakes and misspellings (oh so Nicaragua!) ... so many mistakes, in fact, that we had to go to an attorney to get four documents prepared that request changes that will (hopefully) allow their birth certificates to be re-done. Besides their own names typed wrong, their father's name was wrong AND their mother's name was different on each certificate (and incorrect on both). Since their mother is dead, we hope and pray the 'county registrar' can find her death certificate to prove her name, and hope further it was typed correctly at her death so the boys' certificates will have her actual name on them. A small detail, but since we're making corrections we'd like her name to be correct also.

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And so it is that we will drive to Matiguas tomorrow morning EARLY in order to present these documents to the "Registrar." Matiguas is about 3-1/2 to 4 hour drive (North and East) of Managua.
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Tomorrow will be interesting as we see a part of Nicaragua we've not seen yet. Hopefully the trip will be successful for the boys' sake too. Hmmmm...

Costa Rica - "Pura Vida"

Close-up of hand-pained oxcart wheel in Sarchi, Costa Rica (artisan town)

Vilena, Carlos and John in Zarcero, Costa Rica

Every space of land is planted with something edible

We recently drove the Pan American Highway to Costa Rica with our friends Carlos and Vilena … who needed paperwork to become “residents” of Nicaragua. As the new directors of Casa Bernabe, ‘residency’ here is required. For us, the trip afforded an opportunity to see Costa Rica from the ground and see how it differs from Nicaragua. There is more industry, more wealth, and with regards to viewing the land … every spare parcel seems planted with coffee – or bananas – or another crop. We saw farms and we saw small crops planted in between large indigenous trees in order to use space wisely. It all looked very much like a living green quilt.

For three days, we visited our old friend, Maikol, and shared his birthday … cake and ice cream (for dinner)! In July, he will come for two months to help Carlos and Vilena at Casa Bernabe. We also met new friends, Rodrigo and Idee, who opened their home to us – housed and fed us – and told us why we should live in Costa Rica rather than any other place. They even arranged for a tour of a new house across the street to tempt us!

Holly and Melissa stayed home and ‘babysat’ Nahum and Gener (and Louie) … and enjoyed the freedom of a big house and ‘no particular schedule.’ After living at Casa Bernabe for 2-3 months, they’re still reveling in being able to eat whatever they want, whenever they want. Four jars of peanut butter later (hahahaha no kidding - we opened a fifth one last night…) The ‘current thing’ is to spread PB on the whole bananas and on oatmeal cookies, and call it health food. It’s a pleasure to open our home to North Americans and model hospitality and our weird idiosyncracies to Nahum and Gener.

In October, Nahum and Gener will test to enter the military. Gener is totally focused on being a pilot, so much so that though he is taking accounting and doing well, he deems accounting only as a backup plan. Nahum also wants to test into the military, but we’re not sure what he wants to do. It is only months now until they ‘fly the coop.’ Unbelieveable! It’s a year and a half later with a half year to go. Time waits for no man FOR SURE.

In the time that is left here in Nicaragua, we remain dedicated to continue Manantial, and also help other ministries. One day a week we help Carlos and Vilena at the orphanage/school/farm. Also, I have volunteered at a “home” for 60+ prostitutes who are getting ‘out of the trade.’ Some were sold into it – others have equally awful stories. The ministry is ‘Casa Esperanza,’ and is managed and run by April Havlin. To help support this ‘Casa,’ the ladies make greeting cards and now earrings to sell to teams who visit. Some of their crafts are also shipped to the United States for sale. In addition to the 60 residents, an additional 100+ ladies arrive by bus once a week to make the cards and earrings. Holly and Melissa go with me to help communicate and encourage the ladies as they make earrings.

Sometimes John and I look at each other, totally amazed that we’re in Nicaragua (to begin with) and that we’ve traveled a road we never dreamed of traveling. Thank you for your help – for your prayers – for your support of every kind. You are an integral part of the Plan we’re walking.

Four Days in Costa Rica

This is a big boy in a tree, four stories up ... next to our room

This is a little guy we named Geico

Gary - Trish - Helen - John ... enjoying life together in Costa Rica

Windmills in Nicaragua - very near the border of Costa Rica

Because we're not residents, Nicaragua requires us to leave the country for at least 72 hours every three months. On the third month, it is possible to pay about USD$50 each in order to stay in Nica. BUT, the sixth month - we have to leave. Gary and Trish were approaching their sixth month in-country and NEEDED to exit. So, we seized the opportunity to go with them - extend our visas also - and enjoy the time together as a foursome.
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We stayed in an "eco-friendly" all-inclusive hotel - which means animals are allowed to walk the grounds. We dined by the pool with many a large iguana (who have learned to beg for food). There are also green iguanas who are nearby but not easily seen. They are camouflaged in the GREEN trees. At night, semi-domesticated raccoons wander into the open-air lounges. They are smart ... they are a larger variety than those we have at home. It is comical to watch them climb on the counters and snatch sugar packets - and then eat them, paper wrapper and all. They also stand on top of each other in order to gain enough height to open trash receptacles and then share the spoils (literally). Much to our surprise, the employees tolerated them ... so, we enjoyed watching something we otherwise consider strange. C'est la vie (aqui)!
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We are driving back to our reality today, back to the boys - to Louie - to our new housemates (Holly and Melissa) and will be back to our routine tomorrow. The break was short, but it was good!

Sharing our Home

Holly and Melissa spend the weekend with us, visit our projects in the Leon area, and then Monday morning we all return to Casa Bernabe to continue our "volunteer" painting of team houses (below)

We cannot say life is dull here by any means. We've opened our home to many North American visitors, new friends and old friends alike, and the coming 'summer' months will be shared by three more ... Holly (Portland), Melissa (Virginia), and Angela (Portland). Both Nahum and Gener recently told us they really like to have guests as they get to meet a lot of people AND also have a chance to practice their English. Our home is the place of regular BBQs with friends - a good opportunity to share and compare life experiences here in Nica.

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Most recently, we've met Holly and Melissa. They didn't know each other before they arrived in Nicaragua in March (within 2 weeks of each other), but they volunteered at the same orphanage and became "instant pals" as they learned to navigate together in a foreign culture by 'immersion.' Melissa will live with us until the end of June when she joins a team from her home town and then returns to Virginia in early July.

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Holly will also live with us until ???? (maybe a loooonnnng time), as her volunteer stint at Casa Bernabe is ending and she's taking a job with the Nehemiah Center here in Managua. BTW, this is a different Holly ... she's the same age, from the same church in Portland ... but is not our first Holly. Both Holly and Melissa have joined us in our work with Manantial, and will soon be part of the household here.

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Then in late July, Holly will continue to live here and we'll welcome Angela from our home church in Portland. Angela will spend a month and experience a different sort of adventure after she completes her first year at U of O. We love her entire family, and look forward to having her join ours for a time. She and Holly will have a chance to talk about "the Ducks!" as they're both from the U of O, and both also speak Spanish! Fun is ahead ...