Day 1 (Friday):
Our first day (not including our evening arrival) was primarily getting everything sorted and ready for the children. We have shoes, toiletries of all sorts, clothings etc. Afterwards, we head to the beach and have fish at a well known restaurant...At least known by those in Project Educate. The fish is fine, not the best or worst, but pretty good. However, the beach was magnificent.
Day 2 (Saturday):
This day was a lot of hard work but it was a great day. It began with the food for the families being delivered before 9am. There were five+ 100lb bags of beans delivered along with sugar, soup mix, rice, oil, ketchup, soap, dish detergent, sugar & more for each family. The beans have to be sorted into smaller plastic 5lb bags for each family. We stuff everything into bags for each family except the soaps which are in separate bags. We finished in plenty of time to get ready for the Women's Conference at Rose De Saron Church.
The Women's Conference is so cool. It's hard to explain how we can go and speak to a bunch of women who speak a different language and feel so blessed. As I prayed for these women, I prayed that God would supernaturally overcome the language barrier between us. Although it seems our two speakers were attacked; Lori Elder literally since she was hit by a bicycle cart, it was still beautiful to see how blessed the women seemed and truly how blessed we were after the conference.
Afterwards, a night out on the town, even doing a conference, is not complete without Eskimo! Some came home and hit the pool, some the patio and some of us hit our rooms. A tiring but wonderful evening.
Day 3: (Sunday)
We attended Sunday service at Rose De Saron. Our ladies spoke again and Trina had a specific word for the young worship leader. It was so amazing to hear what possibilities are in store for him. Afterwards we went to Los Tios. They call it an orphanage, but truly it is more like a daycare for older children while the parents are working. David Robinson, Trina Jackson and Carolyn McKee shared their vision, desire, thoughts and dreams about Project Educate. It was great to hear them speak and the time was made sweeter when some of the kids showed up as well as Luz and Rosa!
Day 4:(Monday, Day 1 with the children)
Monday was a fabulous first day. More translators showed up and we love our translators. I was able to meet Yarista, a young lady some friends are sponsoring. There were several of the children we know in this group. They were so well behaved and sooooo adorable. It was sweet to see the one young man with crutches being the big brother he was to his little brother. We told him how wonderful his handwriting was as well...explaining that boys in the US do not always have such nice handwriting. I met another young man who spoke quite a bit of English. He is working on becoming a translator. The kids love Hannah and Morgan. They are always their favorites. It's so sweet to see these young ladies with the children!
For those who do not know, I'm attempting to work on my Espanol. It was kind of funny when I told the children they were going to have poop after lunch instead of cake!! Cake in Nicaragua is usually not quite the same as in the US. In the US, our mixes are much sweeter, thus we are sure to bring plenty to share each year!
Of course, we ended the day on the town with 3 of the 4 boys. We had a fabulous time with the guys, Lori, Hannah, Jessica and myself. Eskimo (ice cream) and shopping around town was so much fun. Hannah and I, especially Hannah, were getting us some great Spanish lessons from the guys!
Day 5: (Tuesday)
This was a day with more Los Tios children or should I say young men and women. This day had more teens than most days. It included some of the young men that are part of the families which have worked for David and Marsha. It was great to see all of them. The day was filled with lots of fun. At one point the older teens were jumping rope and the smaller children were simply watching. It was sweet when they included them in their games.
This was the day we played the egg toss game. The game was great, but the joke on Morgan was just amazing. She went to Elias to ask if we could have three eggs. She said we'd get him three more to replace them. He explained that was not an option but that we'd need to pay for them. She agreed and asked the cost. He said $5. $5 for three eggs seemed a little much but she agreed she'd pay $5 for three eggs. He then corrects her and tells her it is $5 per egg. She is flabbergasted. After saying, "really?" she said she'd have to ask. As she goes upstairs to tell the "cheif" the price, Elias comes upstairs laughing and letting her know it was just a joke. Morgan didn't find it nearly as funny as the rest of us have!
The children's day ended with Mauricio telling everyone his testimony. This young man is inspiring and God has done and will continue to do great things with him. With the help of Haven of Rest and many others, he will now be able to obtain his license as a pharmacist!
Another day out on the town after the children left and of course more Eskimo!
Day 6: (Wednesday: El Liminol)
The children from El L. came today. Interesting thoughts: these children are the poorest of the bunch; some of these poorest children brought gifts for their sponsors; almost all of them had on uniforms; these children were probably the least behaved...until the teacher said they'd lose points in school if they weren't quiet during lunch; they were healthier this year; there were still some that had lice; Keiren kept telling everyone that my friends were his sponsors; Raquel realized she wasn't deaf after the Carolyn cleared the hardened wax from her ears; the pastors son was rotten :P and a very whiny day until Lori Amos allowed me to give him a small teddy bear. His face lit up like a Christmas tree. Yearling, a 7 year old girl with brittle bone disease who couldn't walk, allowed us to carry her around all day. It was time for the kids to leave and I put Yearling on the bus with her food. That's always a hard time anyway but it was then that I saw the young lady who broke my heart last year; somehow I just know this child has been sexually abused. I'm not sure if she has told David & Marsha, but I just know...
As I was crying, my heart was lifted briefly as I heard some children saying my name in their Nicaraguan accents. The bus began to drive away through the back gate and the children waved and yelled while leaving. As we realized the bus was coming around the front of the property, we ran to the gate to wave at the children one last time.
Afterwards, two ladies went to another poor community to give backpacks to the children of another school. Some of us stayed and relaxed in the pool. Later, we went to town again after dinner.
Day 7(Thursday)
This was a day... The children arrived in several stages. The young lady we're sponsoring showed up. She seemed somewhat withdrawn or sad at first. I think she was disappointed that her previous sponsor couldn't continue to support her. She smiled when I hugged her and told her that we were her sponsors now; but it seemed more out of politeness.
The day progressed and I met Jonathan. He was a young man who knew a very little English and wanted very much to find his sponsor. He kept asking me about Hannah. I pointed to Hannah and he told me the name of his sponsor which was not our Hannah. He was disappointed but brightened up.
After lunch, I gave Samaria pictures of our family. I told her to keep them and that we would be praying for her. We were family now. After that she truly brightened up. She hung out with me even when I couldn't understand 3/4 of what she said and I don't think she could understand anything I said in English and about 1/2 of what I said in Spanish. After the other children left, we were able to spend more time together. I found out more about her. I showed her pictures of my family including my daughter in law and daughter in law to be. It was very nice.
Later that evening, after our trip downtown, we had visitors. The "boys" came, Oswaldo, Byron, Christian and Raul. They brought the bracelets I asked them to make my boys and one for me :). Rosa, Luz and Yorleni's husbands came over with them as well as Maria, Cindy and others.
It was a sweet time until we had to say goodbye. So bittersweet. We are all hugging, shedding tears, giving kisses on the cheek with promises of next year.
Day 8(Friday)
The sir is much different this morning. At least in my eyes. There is not an air of excitement. There is nothing I'm rushing around preparing for the day. Today we leave the house. It will be a fun day. We'll be at the hotel. Some will swim, some will shop and others will get massages. But, we will see no children. Today, my longing for my family will intensify a bit. Hopefully the fun of the day will make it easier.
Sure enough I was right. The air was different for everyone. Emotions were on edge today. We had a nice breakfast. Elias brought us more of his rice pudding :) We finished our packing and went out for share time. The share time was nice and ended with a reminder from David of what the church really is. Unfortunately it was time for more goodbyes and more tears. Now, we're off to the hotel.
