Day 7, Sunday, March 8 - Church and Furia Santa

 

Today was a little less busy, but we got to connect with a lot of people. In the morning we went to the International Church with lots of fellow gringos.

 We were back at the compound by 10:30 am, so we had an early lunch and then walked down the street to visit the Taelor’s House construction site.
 

 Taelor's House will be a center that will minister to young mothers and families in the community. Part of that ministry will include training so they can go out and earn a better living.

 Taelor's House is dedicated to and named for Travis and Tammy's 19 year old daughter

 who died in an accident on the compound last year

We prayed over it and sang the doxology, which was really cool. Then we walked back to the compound to the future building site of the pastors’ training center.  

Listening to Harrison (who is the head of it, in red shirt) talk about it was amazing because we could see his love for Nicaragua and the people here, and his passion about this work. One of his goals is to be able to send Nicaraguan missionaries all over the world, including to the U.S.

Next we went to Furia Santa, a ministry of Project H.O.P.E. that helps young men coming out of addictions and/or criminal pasts, and they help the nearby community.  They gave us a tour of where the guys live. Then we played soccer - gringos vs. Nicaraguans.

We lost. By a lot. But it was really funJ.

 We then heard testimonies and played with lots of children. They all wanted to cling to us and wanted us to play with them and make bracelets with them. Many of them gave us flowers.

 

 

We did our two dramas and Via Dolorosa for them. Saying good-bye was hard; kids we hadn’t even played with would come up to us and hug us tight as soon as we started saying adios. The people here just love to hug us and touch us and play with us. It will be hard to leave them behind.

 

In Christ,

E--- K---------

 

 

Today was probably my favorite day.  I have taken a lot away from each day, but today stands out a little more.  We got to start out at church, in English, so I got more out of it than the Spanish ones before.  The pastor talked about forgiveness and restoration.  He reminded us that the whole theme of the Bible is about being restored, and that even movies have that theme.  We meet the characters, then there is a problem, then the movie ends with the problem being solved- all is restored!  We all have a problem, sin, and we all seek to be restored.  Some of us find restoration through Christ, and others are still looking for how to be restored.  I felt it was a kick in the pantelones to share the good news of how Christ made a way to reconcile us to God and I need to share it!

This afternoon we went to a community where Project Hope has built about 280 homes. 

 

 

 Two years ago, this street was bare of vegetation.

The village school.

 

They also built a community center and have a program that helps reform what we would call male juvenile delinquents. 

 

The boys are between the ages of 16-21.  This place, Furia Santa, has accomplished some big things due to what the Lord has been doing through Pastor Champa’s ministry there. 

 

 

We heard several testimonies from the boys about how they turned from their previous lives to a life centered on Christ. 

 

 

There was a tour and an explanation of how the program worked.  Their desire is to be self-sufficient; and by doing so they have planted oranges, dragon fruit, and papaya trees in order to sell and sustain themselves. 

 

Another interesting thing they do is raise Tilapia to sell and eat.  Every boy participates in the harvesting and growing process of the produce and fish along with making their own cinderblocks to sell. 

 They demonstrated how they make cinder blocks - one at a time.

 Mr. May and Mr. Nuss tried their hand at it.

 

Right now, Project Hope primarily buys their blocks to use for the homes they build, but it is a great start to self-sufficiency! 

The highlight was the song service with the Furia Santa guys and families from the surrounding community.  The boys belted out all the praise songs!  

 

I, along with others, noticed their genuine love for Christ and wanting to sing out!  I pray that we all have that strong sense of what Christ has done for us and want to let everyone know, no matter what people around us might think!

 Michelle Shea, chaperone