Construction Wrap-up (and an Addition to Tuesday)

Hola! We arose early this morning and each one of us enjoyed a personal quiet time in the Word. The sun is always brightly gleaming long before we get out of bed, and a sweet wind blows through the palm trees, intermingling with the scent of flowers, the trilling of the birds, the sound of impatient car horns, and the faint smell of smoke. Nicaragua is so beautiful! Eating an absolutely delicious breakfast at 7:30 fueled us for the day. We then gathered as a group to converse about how our week was going, after which we loaded the bus.

Unfortunately, today was our final day working on the houses. I was on the repair team. We finished putting up the siding this morning, and added a hinged window to the house.

There wasn’t enough work to keep everyone going steady, so we took turns walking with Michelle to visit people living in the surrounding houses.
I accompanied her on the second trip, and we visited two groups of houses. At the first house, we met a lady and her relatives. Right after we met her, she told us about her arthritis, and we prayed with her. She had several children living with her, and her brother’s family lived in a house beside hers. Additionally, she was caring for two orphans residing near her. She told a pitiable story about how their parents died in a car accident nearby, which was all the more meaningful because we had seen a car accident earlier this morning while driving to the work site.

 After taking a picture with the family and writing down our names at the request of the mother, we strode over to some other houses and introduced ourselves. The people were making a fruity mixture intended for processing into various drinks. A multitude of children were playing near the house, and one of the ladies showed us her baby, who was reposing in a hammock.

Baylee held the baby and thought that she was very cute, as did I. We had to depart far too soon in order to be back in time for lunch.

After lunch, we gathered the containers overflowing with gifts for the pastors and carried them to the houses.

We conducted a lachrymose (tearful) farewell at each of the houses during which we took pictures of the family in front of their new houses and then of the team with the family.

Then we clambered onto the bus and drove to the church, where we now await another pleasurable VBS.
 

Marilee Kneeland, for the Team.


Hi everyone!  The past five days in Nicaragua have been incredible.  We have had so many opportunities to serve and bring joy to many children.  It has been hot and dusty, so we have been covered in sweat and dirt.  The vast amount of dirt that comes off of our faces after we get on the bus is eye opening.  I am sure we look rather funny after a long day at work. 

Speaking of work, this was our final day working on the new home.  I am so thankful for the opportunity to work on the new home for the pastor and his family. As a member of the new construction team, I have had the privilege of working alongside friends with the end goal of providing a new home for a gentle, quiet, and kind pastor and his lovely wife and daughter.  As we reached the work site this morning (a little late because of a long line of traffic on the “highway” which was caused by a car crash earlier in the morning),

 we were ready to finish what we had begun.  The blocks were all laid, the roof was on, and the floor was ready for the finishing touch—concrete. 

 We finished putting the wood siding on the walls and began the process of laying the concrete for the floor.  Unfortunately, because of the lack of time and multiple forms wherein the cement is laid, we were unable to finish the floor.  It would have been fun to see the house come to its complete form, but we were quite close.  We are thankful the Lord provided us safety and efficiency as we worked.

Part of the process of preparing to come on this trip was gathering materials and gifts for the people here.  Today, we gave multiple tubs of gifts to the pastors whose houses we were working on to keep for themselves, share with the members of their church, and give to whomever the Lord may have to receive them.  Both of the pastors were immensely thankful for both our work and the tubs of materials.  It was wonderful to see the smiles on the faces of the children.  Thank you to everyone who contributed to the gifts.  The tubs were received graciously. 

The thing that has made the biggest impression on me is the poverty.  Many houses are made of scrap metal, tarps, and other such materials.  Even in the midst of the extreme poverty, many of the Nicaraguans are joyful.  Receiving something as little as a Jolly Rancher, braided hair, or an animal balloon, brings smiles and laughter like you cannot imagine.  Seeing joy in the midst of these living circumstances has convicted me of my reliance on my earthly possessions.  Our comfort should not come from our standing before men or materials because those will ultimately pass away.  As believers, our comfort should come in the knowledge that we belong to Christ.  This is not to say that earthly belongings are evil.  However, if my comfort is found in those things, then my reliance is in the wrong.  We should not trust in what we “have.”  This is one of the lessons that the Lord continues to press upon me. 

We just finished VBS and church will be starting any time.  Church services are a little different here, but the members of the churches are very involved and seem to really appreciate going to church, considering they have a church service every evening.  That is all for now.  It is such a blessing to be on this trip!

Ryan Westlake, for the Team

 

Visit to House of Hope in Nicaragua

Warning: Not appropriate for all ages.  Please use discernment with your children.

On Tuesday, our first day here, Marilee and I had the opportunity to visit the House of Hope.  It is a ministry in Managua for prostitutes.   Each Tuesday they have a time of worship and preaching, followed by an opportunity for the ladies to work, making jewelry.  They are paid for their work, so many come from all over the city.  House of Hope provides buses to bring women who wish to come.  We went with a lady from Project Hope who is beginning a Bible study for the younger ladies, ages 10 to 17, so they will be able to have their own lesson instead of sitting with the older ladies.   Many of the women (some estimate 80%) are no longer practicing prostitution, but others are.  The House of Hope has several programs for these ladies.  Besides the Tuesday lesson and work, they provide job training, short term loans to start a legitimate business, a dorm for children and a 7 year program for women to begin an entirely new life.  In those cases, they pay off the woman’s debt, which is usually around $40, and is the way the “managers” keep them trapped.  They also bring in medical teams several times a year to minister to these women.  They have found that their numbers increase after the team has been on site and ministering.  Their primary goals are to preach the gospel, show women there is another way to make an income and help them leave their life of sin. 

Marilee and I immediately began attempting to talk with the young ladies who came in the gate.  Most did not seem interested in too much conversation, but we were able to spend our time there with three girls in particular.  Amelia and Gladys were both 14, and Seleste was 10.  They were all very friendly and eagerly interacted with us.  Gladys took some time to warm up, but eventually responded warmly.  I braided their hair, and used the bands from my hair to hold the braids since I didn’t have anything else with me.  A few minutes later, they put barrettes on both of our heads.  We exhausted our limited Spanish in conversation.  I told them that I loved Jesus, and they lit up and smiled and responded with the same.  We then made cards with them, and they made cards for us while Marilee drew many beautiful pictures for them.  We played games and they had a Bible story from Tammy from the House of Hope. We also received a brief tour of the facility.

We do not know their individual stories, and Seleste came with her mother, so hopefully that was her only connection, but it was emotionally overwhelming to think about the life these girls have outside the House of Hope compound.  While prostitution is illegal in Nicaragua for anyone under 18, the reality is that many of the girls are under 18, and some as young as 6.  Their payment is approximately 40 cents, and they are social outcasts.  Even churches will often not allow these women to attend their services.  As we talked, laughed, played and hugged them, I kept remembering how Jesus was accused of being a friend to those whose sin was publically known.  It was so easy to love these girls and so hard to leave them, especially when they asked if we were coming back next Tuesday.

 What encouraged us so much is that House of Hope has provided an opportunity for hundreds of women to escape that life.  During the worship time it is obvious that some of the women are only there for the financial opportunity to make jewelry, but others really love Jesus.

 “The Lord is loving toward all He has made, the Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in Truth!”  Ps. 145:17-18.  I praise God for all the US and Nicaraguan believers who minister Truth  each day to these women!

Mrs. Kneeland