A final hurrah!

As I write this, our journey has come to an end. Today was a wonderful end to a life-changing trip. We got up and had a wonderful breakfast. Gallo Pinto (rice and beans), empanadas with either beans or beef, a variety of fresh fruit, bread with jelly and coffee. We got all our stuff together and got in the van and were taken to the city of Masaya, which is a little over an hour away from our home in Managua. Once there, we were taken to a small artesenal community and went to visit a potter. We sat in his workshop and watched him make some pottery and he explained to us all the different steps that go into making his products. This particular potter is quite successful, his work has been featured around the world and he has traveled extensively and was named Master Potter in Nicaragua. It is an amazing story being the fourth generation potter in his family, but living in poverty much of his life. Today he still lives in a modest dwelling, still turns the potters wheel with his foot and by most first world standards would qualify as lower middle class, but he has been extremely successful and has a talent that is too amazing to put into words.

After leaving the potter we were taken to an outlook where there were also some artesenal markets. We did a little shopping and looking around and went to the edge of the town and were able to see an amazing view. Seeing for miles around, we could see Lake Nicaragua, the largest lake in Central America and home to, I believe, the only fresh water lake sharks in the world. Volcanos could be seen not far away and below us was a huge crater filled with water. It is called the Laguna de Apoyo. It is, itself, an extinct volcano that collapsed in on itself millions of years ago and filled with water. We went down to a hostel on the beach of the lagoon where we had lunch and spent a few hours swimming in the lagoon, the very deep lagoon.

Following the swim we went to the market in the city of Masaya. There we spent an hour doing some shopping. The market consists of countless artisans selling their wares. Everything from pottery to coffee, to clothing and jewelry as well as the one thing on the top of everyone's shopping list, hand-made Nicaraguan hammocks.

Following that we began our drive back to Managua, stopping at a restaurant on the way. Asados served us a traditional meal of either chicken, steak, or pork along with some Nicaraguan staples, rice and beans and fried plantains. After dinner it was time to come back to the dormitory here on the outskirts of Managua. We then had to pack, sorting through items that we planned to leave here as donations. We met with Kathy, the treasurer of the Jubilee House Community and we paid off our tab, if we had purchased any soft drinks during the week. Then we could give back our Cordobas (the Nicaraguan currency) and she would give us US Dollars.

One of the most touching personal moments of the whole trip happened during this event. My son, Ian, paid off his tab of a few dollars and took out a few bills that he wanted to keep to show people back home. He gave her the rest and she exchanged them and paid in the same amount in dollars. He then took out ten dollars that he had, a large part of his whole amount and he gave it back to her as a donation to the Jubilee House Community, our hosts. Then before he left, he went back to Kathy and asked if it would be possible that the ten dollar donation he had just made could be used for something in particular. She said yes. Then he said, “Great! Can you please put the money towards one of the educational needs in Nicaragua, in the community we helped in?” I was amazed and proud. Then he said, “Education is important, especially for the kids, so hopefully this will help them a bit to make their lives better.” I love my son and have been proud of him many times, but I have never been so proud of him as I was at that moment. God does bless us with opportunities to see the amazing and believe in the unbelievable.

In fact, that might be the best way to explain this whole trip; not just for me or for my son, but for all of us. God blesses us and helps us see the amazing and believe in the impossible and to know a truth even when it may seem impossible for our minds to grasp. God indeed is good. All the time.

This trip has been an eye-opener for all of us and since this will be the last blogpost of our trip, I want to thank the seven people who came along with me. It wasn't always easy, but you worked hard together, you looked out for each other, you became a family and I am so greatful that you shared this family with me.

For those of you who might not know this, I have been here to Nicaragua three different times before this trip. However, that last time I was here was 14 years ago. I never had the opportunity to share Nicaragua with any family or friends. Yet, it has been a crucial event that helped shape me, so the fact that this time I had family and friends with me and that has meant to world to me.

I pray that we are able to do this again in a year or so. So if you would be interested in coming on the next trip, let me know.

I thank those of you reading this blog and following us on our trip.

Signing off from Nicaragua,

Pastor Steve.

Cement, Ice Cream and Artwork

I think we knew this was going to be a difficult day when sweat was rolling off our foreheads before 7am. The power went out sometime over night which meant that the fans which make sleeping here somewhat bearable, stopped spinning and the heat just rose and rose.

Today was our last day working at the construction site. Luckily, things worked out which allowed us to finish the foundation on one side of the clinic. But, it wasn't easy. Finishing the task meant setting up an assembly line of concrete. Some of us helped by preparing the concrete in the mixer. Four ingredients, each of which is heavy in their own right having to be lifted up above shoulder level and poured into the mixer was no light task. Then we had three wheelbarrows they would be filled with concrete and pushed the whole way across the yard to where we were laying the foundation. Each wheelbarrow then had to be emptied shovel by shovel. When empty the wheelbarrows were taken back to the mixer to get another load. One bag of cement mix was enough to fill about 4 wheelbarrows or so and we went through 13 bags of cement. Because of the necessity to get the job done, there was really no time for a water break so those of us who were able had to plow through the morning and this evening we are feeling the pain.

After lunch, we piled into the van to take a tour of the capital city, Managua. The city is an interesting place full of history. The earthquake that hit the city in 1972 and caused thousands of deaths and a quarter of a million homeless still has left its mark on the capital. In the earthquake most of the downtown area was totally destroyed and due to corruption and the difficult history of the country, it was never really rebuilt. However, there have been some changes made and the difference is notable. We first went to an overlook at the edge of the city where, during the dictatorship, those who were believed to be Sandinistas were taken and thrown off a cliff. Families of those who disappeared would often come there looking for their bodies. It is difficult thing to envision, but what makes it all the more difficult is that it really happened.

We then went to the American Embassy. We did not go in, but we parked across the street to recap what the United States' involvement has been throughout Nicaraguan history. Some of the involvement was positive, but much was not. Again, some truths are hard to swallow, but we also know that change can only come when people allow themselves to understand the facts and make their own decisions and once people are informed, true change can be the result. Next we went into the center of the city to the main square. Traditionally in Latin American cities, there is a particular layout in the main square. There is the cathedral. In this case the original cathedral is condemned. It received quite a bit of damage during the 1972 earthquake and was never really fixed. Then, during the revolution and the counter-revolution it received quite a bit of damage from impacting bullets. That said, it still stands but is closed to visitors. Across from the old cathedral is a newer monument, marked by three eternal flames. Under each flame lies the body of one of the central figures in the revolution. First is the body of Carlos Fonseca, the founder of the Sandinista movement. Next to him are two bodies of members of the Sandinista government that served in different capacities. Fonseca was murdered by the dictatorship before the revolution took power in 1979, but the other two played a role in the government and died much later. This coming Saturday is the fourth anniversary of the death of Tomas Borge, whose body lies at the center and was central to much of what the Sandinista government was able to do during their 11 year hold on power.

The square also houses the National Palace. The building used to be where the congress would meet, but now houses the national museum. We were given a tour where we were able to see some of the natural wonders of Nicaragua, the history of human presence in the country which dates back at least 7000 years. Also, we learned about quite a bit of the pre-Colombian history of the people who lived here long before Europeans arrived.

After leaving the National Palace we stopped for some ice-cream, which was great in the hot weather. From there we went to the new National Cathedral. It is a unique place. It was built with the help of the founder of Dominos Pizza. There is a lot of symbolism inside and it is definitely a place to see, but it looks like something you would expect to see in Baghdad or Riyadh, and not Managua. We took some time to pray and to see some of the artwork which included an amazing mural focusing on Jesus' Baptism but also included a scene of a young King David tending his sheep, as well as the fishermen who would leave their nets to follow Jesus and Moses being found in the River Nile.

Following that we were taken to a cultural center in a neighborhood called Batahalo Norte. We were there on Sunday night when we went to the Catholic Mass. However, right around the corner is a neighborhood school of the arts. There are classes for all age groups. There are scholarship for those who can't afford to study. We heard three kids practicing some amazing music with a flute, a keyboard and an amazing violin. We then were given a tour of the artwork by an individual who painted some of the murals. We also went to his house and were able to hear his amazing story, meet his family, and had the opportunity purchase some of his works. It was an amazing way to end the day.

Our time in Nicaragua is almost over, but we also have a full day planned tomorrow with quite an exciting excursion.

From all of us here in Nicaragua,

Buenas Noches!

Blogpost 2 – Nicaragua Trip

El Porvenir


Today, wednesday, was one day away from our work at the medical clinic. We were up early, though, as our agenda today involved some significant travel. Today we journeyed up to the far northwest of the country, passing the city of Leon and near the small town of Posoltega. After journeying for some time on the highway, we turned off onto a dirt road and continued for some time until we got to the bottom of a mountain. There we gathered the supplies we had brought and walked uphill for about 10 minutes until we got the the tractor and trailer awaiting us. As an aside, this tractor and trailer was not a big-rig, rather it was a farming tractor with a small trailer about 15 feet by 8 feet. We got onto the trailer for a 45-minute, very bumpy ride up the mountain until we finally arrived at the top, the community of El Porvenir.


This community is one of my favorite places in Nicaragua and have used their story in a number of sermons and stories I have told throughout my ministry. Finally having the opportunity to share an experience like this with people who share in my ministry was an amazing experience. El Porvenir is a coffee cooperative. They specialize in what, for coffee afficionados, is called Rustic Shade-Grown Organic Coffee. Rather than clear cut and plant coffee, the coffee plants are planted in land that has taller, native trees. The coffee then grows under the shade of the other trees and is considered higher quality, in addition to the fact that it is certified organic for export to the United States and elsewhere.


What makes this community so interesting is how it began. In the 1980's during the revolution, the land that is now the community was owned by one individual. He decided to leave the country and he gave the plantation to the workers who worked for him. The story doesn't end there, though. The workers were from three different groups in Nicaraguan society. There were ex-Sandinista soldiers, those who fought for the Sandista government prior to and during the revolutionary period. Others were memebers of the Contras, short for Counter-revolutionaries. These were soldiers who opposed the Sandinista government and were supported, sometimes legally but mostly illegally by the Reagan Administration. They were based out of Honduras and would raid villages in the northern part of the country. Finally others were former members of the National Guard under the Somoza Dictatorship, which amounted to the personal police force of the Dictator and in many instances, his Death Squads. In other words the community was made up of people that a few years earlier would have killed each other on sight.


Yet they formed this community together and have been very successful in their business. In both good times and bad, the community has rallied and have overseen many obstacles. It is a great example of what can happen when people realize that what is good for your neighbor is also good for you. We are, despite many thoughts and political rants to the contrary, our brother's keeper. We had a wonderful meal of rice and beans waiting for us when we got there, along with coffee, corn tortillas, melon juice and as a special treat avocados. Every bit of the food was grown, harvested and made right there in the community. After lunch we were given a tour of the plantation and were able to see the beginning part of the coffee process. We also saw Cacao, which is used to make chocolate and the avocado trees. We were shown the warehouses and were taught about how the coffee gets from the plant to the table.


One member of our group had the wonderful idea of bringing along a gift for the kids, bracelets made from rubber bands. The bracelets were distributed to kids thoughout the community and as we got ready to leave a few of our younger members had a great time playing with the kids in the center of town. It was amazing to hear the screams and laughter as they chased each other. Kids, it appears, are the same around the world, whether they have expensive toys or roam around dirt roads with no shoes. Laughter is the same in every language. We would do well as a species to remember that simple truth. God has been present with us throughout this trip, but we could really feel God's presence in the laughter of the kids.


We then journeyed forty five minutes in the tractor and trailer down the mountainside and back to the van which brought us back to Managua. Arriving home at almost 8pm we were greeted with a wonderful dinner of taco soup which tasted amazing.

We gathered for some Scripture and reflection and talked about what lessons our churches and congregations could learn from this community. Sometimes we take what we think as what Jesus wants, when what we are really supposed to do is endeavor to know what Jesus wants and do that. And more importantly, sometimes what Jesus wants may not be whether or not we should have Ham Salad or Chicken Salad, whether or not we should sing traditional hymns or modern praise songs, whether or not we should have communion once a month or every week, whether or not we should welcome those who are different or not. Sometimes what Jesus may want is that we realize those decisions are not about morality, but about what we misunderstand about the message. It is a way to concentrate on ourselves rather than what is best for our neighbor. Sometimes, we think, Jesus wants us to stop the arguing over whose plan to follow and just start working, trusting that we will be shown the way in our trust. Our churches would do well to learn what, in essence, is such a simple but profound message.


Tomorrow morning we head back to the clinic to continue our construction work there.

One last note, the name of the community we visited is El Porvenir. For those who don't speak Spanish, the name is important here. El Porvenir literally means “that which is to come.” In referring to a place it can mean, loosely, “The World to Come.” Lesson: The world to come is dependent not only on our faith but just as important, it is dependent on our ability to trust in its existence and work day and night to make it a reality, despite whatever human complication may arise.

Hello from Nicaragua!

It has been an amazing trip so far. Unfortunately, we have not been able to post anything up to this point because the night before we got here, there was a power surge that knocked out the router and we had to wait until another one could be found. So to recap the trip and the experience to this point...

Our journey started with a very long day. Meeting at the church at 1:00 on Sunday, we made our way to Reagan National Airport. Our first leg took us to Houston where we had just enough time to find some small breakfast items before boarding our second flight to Managua. We landed in Managua just about lunch time, made it through customs only to find that our ride was not there. Turned out there were some traffic issues that got them there later than expected. But after waiting about half an hour, we were taken in a van across the city of Managua. Since it was the middle of the day, the group was able to see a good bit of the city. The compound where we are staying is on the far west side of the city. After riding for a little over a half hour, we arrived at our home for the week, the International Training Center of the Jubilee House Community – Center for Development in Central America. We were greeted with a lunch of rice and beans, tortilla chips, some vegetables and juice. Then we were taken to a new addition to Managua, the “Puerto Salvador Allende.” It is a park that was built by the government along the shore of Lake Managua. It was intended as a place that people could come and enjoy each other's company, have an ice cream, play on a playground, or listen to a concert at an extremely low cost. It cost about $1 to park for the van, and any snacks were equally cheap. After that, we were taken to an outdoor Catholic Mass. This particular church is well known as an example, in practice, of what is called Liberation Theology. It is a theology for the masses and came out of Latin America. Nicaragua, in particular, has provided a number of different examples of how theology can be made extremely meaningful and relevant to people whose lives have not been blessed financially, or materially in the way that many of us in the United States are. In addition, in a country with a brutal civil was that ended fairly recently (1990), the relevance of a life of faith is of particular importance in a way that many in the United States find both different, and many times extremely refreshing. There is a mural behind the altar that one has to see to believe. The baby Jesus is depicted with Mestizo skin, angels flying above Him are indigenous women. The three wise men are depicted as three important figures in the modern history of Nicaragua and Latin America, Ernesto “Che” Guevara, Augusto Cesar Sandino, and Carlos Fonseca. Archbishop Oscar Romero, the Archbishop of El Salvador that was assassinated thirty years ago while giving Mass is nearby looking on and a few important individuals who were killed in the civil war are also on the scene. It really brings to mind the idea that Jesus is not only a person who lived and died 2000+ years ago. Jesus is very much a person that lives in the hearts and minds and lives of those who love Him even here in a place like this. Jesus is real and HERE and NOW. Following the homily, all in attendance are invited to participate in the Eucharist which in most places would not be allowed in the Catholic Church, but here, in this church, it doesn't matter whether or not you are Catholic. You are a creation of the living Christ, and are welcome to partake in the holy sacrament of Communion. We then came back to the dormitory, ate dinner, and collapsed in bed, despite the very hot and humid temperature, sleep came fast for most of us.

Monday morning started early. While breakfast wasn't served until 7:30, most of us were up before 7. We ate a traditional Nicaraguan breakfast of Gallo Pinto (rice and beans) with some scrambled eggs with onion and spinach, accompanied with fruit that you have to taste to truly appreciate. Bananas, mangos, pineapples and papayas that are picked once they are ripe and not before bring a much different taste, and can't compare to the fruit home. Coffee and juice also was both much appreciated and, for many of us, much needed. After breakfast we had a visitor who came to share with us some information about the history of Nicaragua. We spent most of the morning learning about not only the country we are visiting, but also the community we are serving in. The history is complex and difficult to hear, but without that knowledge the realities of life in the community of Nueva Vida and Ciudad Sandino are somewhat impossible to really understand. We then were taken to the clinic in Nueva Vida to be given a tour of the facility. There are two buildings on the property currently. The first to be built was the regular medical clinic and the second building is a separate clinic that deals specifically with issues of pregnancy, birthing, care of infants as well as general reproductive health issues. We were then shown what we will be doing. A third building is underway that will serve as a facility to do educational opportunities both for groups that will come down like ours and for health education in the community. In addition this third building will serve a number of other medical purposes that are needed in the community. For instance, radiographic instrumentation like some x-ray equipment, nutritional assistance and possibly even some basic surgeries. It is our job this week to work on the foundation which was already started. The way construction works here is pretty different. The walls are made by putting up beams of rebar tied together and covered with cement. Holes have to be dug about 4 feet down and are about 1 sq. foot. Once the hole is dug, the cement beams (which weigh a couple hundred pounds) are placed in and cement is then mixed and poured in. In between the beams, small trenches have to be dug about a foot deep. All of this is done with simple tools. Shovels and a digging tool called a “coba” which is used to break through the ground, loosening the dirt and then the shovels pick it up. It is taking us, working in groups of two, about 1.5 hours to dig one of the holes. We were treated to a lunch of rice and beans, juice and some vegetables and spent the afternoon braving the heat, digging holes and trenches, mixing and pouring cement, and making a total mess of ourselves. It might actually be lucky that the air in the community smells of burning garbage and raw sewage because it went a long way to mask how awful we each must have smelled after having sweated away a couple of pounds a piece. Monday night provided us with some rest as we tried to renew our strength for a long day on Tuesday.

Tuesday started with breakfast, again rice and beans, fruit, coffee and juice. We geared up and headed out to work all day at the construction site. The morning was spent digging almost exclusively and we were able to work with some Nicaraguan contruction workers who are permanent employees of the clinic and do a number of different jobs. One of the benefits of their job is that they get to boss around groups of Americans who come down for a week. Despite the fact that some of us may have some construction experience, even at our best we can't outdo the locals. So, they have fun with us, but it is a good relationship. They appreciate our efforts and we appreciate that they quickly fix our mistakes. Lunch came and surprise, surprise, rice and beans! We rested up for a bit and headed back out to spend the afternoon at the construction site again. It seemed about 15 degrees warmer in the afternoon, and while we worked hard, our energy level was hard to keep up. The end of the afternoon found us in a digging race with the locals which we miserably lost, but it was all in good fun.

Back home this evening we had a surprise for dinner, no beans! Our host had made her own version of Chicken Tikka Masala with some rice and Mango chutney. Not a traditional Nicaraguan meal, but at least for some of us, it was a real treat. Each night we have spent time in group devotion and reflection. We have come to have a great relationship build up among us and we are all getting along great. We look forward to the wonders that await us throughout the rest of the week. Pictures will also follow soon, I hope, we are still trying to figure out the technical issues.

Keep checking in, and we will keep you posted as often as we can.

From all of us here in Nicaragua,

Buenas Noches! (Good Night!)