After the long morning and lunch we headed to Nueva Vida. I was so excited when we got on the bus. Just a right turn, left turn, u-turn, right turn and then we would be there. As we were getting closer I was telling the new people how much longer it would be until we got there. Throughout the entire trip I enjoyed know exactly where I was. After the many hours I had spent at home on Google Earth looking for all the places I had been this summer trying to recreate my drives I would hope that I would know where I was.
When we got to Nueva Vida it was a little bittersweet. I knew that Moise didn't live in Nueva Vida but I would get to see Pastor Berman and everyone else on staff there that I made friends with on my last trip. When we got off the bus I found Pastor Berman and gave him the watch that he asked me to get him while I was there this summer. He was so excited to get it. He took it out of the box right away and put it on.
After giving Pastor Berman the watch I went over to the bakery to get more pictures for my video. I asked them about Daniello who had played jokes on me in the bakery over the summer. They told me that he didn't work there anymore. I left the bakery and went to the store across the street and bought a 3 liter bottle of Coke for the people working in the bakery. When I brought it to them they were really appreciative of my generosity.
Since Moise wasn't there I didn't really have one kid that I invested in that was there. I walked around and visited a bunch of the kids, Walter, Hellen, Oscar, Samuel, Erik, and Jamie. It was neat walking around seeing some of the new people starting to connect with some of the kids. Every time I walked past the gate behind the church Patsy was there playing with the same little kid.
While I was wondering around I saw Pastor Berman coming out of the new building they are working on. I went over to him and asked him about the building. We had a conversation in Spanglish for about the building. He told me that it was a multipurpose building. They were going to put in about 4 offices for different ministries. They are planning on using the big room for English classes and evangelism. They are going to put the projector in that room. I asked him about the other building that is under construction and he told me that it is going to be a cafeteria. They are going to put a playground the area right outside these buildings. The way he described it the playground sounds really nice with swings, slides, see-saws, and a bunch of other really cool stuff. They are going to have certain hours for when kids have to have their parents there with them. This will encourage the parents to come. At the cafeteria they are going to play Christian music to be used as an evangelism tool towards the parents that don't normally come there. They are also going to sell hot-dogs and hamburger there. The cafeteria will give more jobs to people in the community.
After speaking Spanglish for a while we got to a point that I couldn't understand what he was saying so JC, my room mate/translator, came over and help us. He was telling me that around the playground they are putting in a path for people to skate on. I found it interesting that they are going to skate there. Once JC was there I told Pastor Berman about the laptop that we brought down for him. He told me that they have had a bunch of teams come down but they don't get donations anymore. Later I found out this is because ORPHANetwork takes the donations and gives them to their partners who need them the most. Recently the greatest need for those donations hasn't come from Nueva Vida. Pastor Berman explained to me that they take the used clothes that they get and split them up between the different churches and then they sell them at a low cost. This ensures that the people that get them aren't become entitled to things. It also gives the churches money that they use for works projects that are helping the community. He told me that Jose-Luis was going to be coming to Virginia to buy a bunch of used clothes to bring back and sell.
I also asked Pastor Berman if I would be able to see Pastor Guillermo, the pastor who had a vision about me this summer. He said that he could call him up and he would be there in 5 minutes. Unfortunately we were about to leave so I couldn't meet with him that day. I asked him about what he knew about Moise. We had thought that he moved to a small town about an hour south of Nueva Vida. He told me that he now thought that he lived in Cuidad Sandino, which is right outside Nueva Vida. I was really excited because that meant that there was possibility of me seeing Moise sometime during the week. He said that he was going to talk to another pastor and try to find out more details.
After talking with Pastor Berman for a while he had to leave. We went back to the hotel and had dinner. For porch time it was just us because JMU hadn't gotten there yet. Christina just explained to us the rules for the week and told us a little about ORPHANetwork. After that we split into our equipos. I really enjoyed leading the equipo. The girls had some really good questions and I loved being able to tell people all about Nicaragua. I was encouraged when I found out that all three of the girls in my group are Christians and even more encouraged when Lauren said that she wanted to build a closer relationship with God during the trip.
When we finish I hung out and wrote in my journal with Rhya and Suera. JMU came down after they ate dinner and had there porch time. When they came down they were loud so we all went back to our rooms. When I got back to my room JC was awake so we stayed up and talked. He told me his story of growing up in Hogar de Fe orphanage. He told me how he is now a caregiver there and he teaches English there. When we tried to go to bed it was hard because JMU was outside making a lot of noise.
The first day was a really long day but it felt so good to be back in Nicaragua!
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
My Adventure Begins
My adventure began on Thursday March 1 around 1:30 PM. I loaded all of the bags, like 12 of them, in the bed of the truck then went to pick up Alycia. I got to her place and put her bags in then we went to pick up 2 more bags from a guy that couldn't go on the trip anymore. Once we had all the bags we went to Cookout before we left Blacksburg. We drove to Alycia's house so that she could get her passport. On the way up we had fun talking and listening to Taylor Swift and Blink-182 (our favorite band). Before we got to Alycia's house she warned me about her mom and that she would come outside yell "Oh my baby!" Of course when we got to her house her mom came out yelling "Oh my baby!" in that embarrassing loving mother's voice.
While we were hanging out there I started to not feel well. I felt really dehydrated and just wanted to lay down. The stress from trying to get my grad school stuff done before leaving started to catch up to me. I threw up twice while I was there. I was worried that I wasn't going to be able to go on the trip. Looking back I can tell that the devil really didn't want me to go on the trip. I started to feel a little better after laying down for awhile and drinking a lot of water. Alycia was originally going to go to Libby's sister's house and go to the airport from there. Her mom was planning on taking her but that would have been a long drive for her. We decided that it would be easiest if she just came to Rhya's house with me. I was happy about this because I didn't want to drive to Rhya's alone in the condition I was in.
We finally left Alycia's and headed to Rhya's. When we got to Rhya's she was already there with Amanda and Suera. We hung out in the kitchen for a while before we decide it was alright to go in the living room and watch TV with Rhya's parents. When it was time Rhya's dad and sister took all of us to the airport. I drove my truck with all the bags and Alycia. I followed Rhya's dad who was driving her car. When we got to the airport we unloaded all the bags then Rhya's dad drove my truck back. One of the guys working there helped bring all of the bags inside.
Our small group was the first ones the but we had about half of the bags for our trip. Amanda convinced me that we shouldn't wait for everyone else to show up before we started to check-in. I was the first one to check-in followed by Amanda. Everyone else quickly followed. It became a madhouse once everyone else started checking in. Ashley, Katherine, and Maria had to figure out baggage and a bunch of stuff. I was just glad that I had already checked my bags and had my ticket. A couple people went ahead and went through security but I stayed with Suera and help her pass out the tank top shirts. Once we handed them all out we got rid of the book then went to security. We tried to go to the normal security check point but it was closed and a janitor yelled at us in Spanish (ironically while we still in the US people were speaking to us in Spanish) and told us to go to the baggage claim. We were so confused but we found the security check point that was in the middle of the baggage claim. They had to search my bag because I forgot that I put my toothpaste in my bag and they had to throw it out.
We got on the tram that goes to gate A, B, and C since we were at gate B. The tram went to A then C then back A then to were we got on. The girls were starting to worry that we were on the wrong tram but I showed them the map and told that we would be going to B next. We finally got off at B and walked to our gate. There weren't many people there yet so we just hung out. The rest of the group took a long time because they had to deal with all the bags and Maggie McNealy's passport was going to expire in a couple months and that was causing problems. They all finally made it to the gate and we chilled. Some people tried to sleep but I couldn't. We were all laughing at Libby because she looked ridiculous trying to sleep.
We boarded the plane and took off. Right after we took off I passed out until they started serving breakfast. I woke up right before they served my row. I looked up at the screen on the TV and the credits from some movie they played were rolling. I had no idea that they played a movie because I was out. Breakfast wasn't that good, especially since I was expecting the mini pancakes they had on my previous TACA flights.
When we landed in El Salvador we had about an hour and a half layover. We hung out and explored the airport while we waited. After I boarded I was waiting in my seat to see if anyone else in our group would sit next to me. Nobody from our group sat next to me, nobody sat next to me but the guy 2 seats over was one of the trip leaders for William & Mary. I talked with him for most of the flight. He was reading The Heart and the Fist which I finished reading during my trip over the summer. We talk about what an amazing life Eric Greitens has had so far. Everything from studying abroad in China, seeing firsthand the genocides in Rwanda and Bosnia, helping the street children in Boliva, going to Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, becoming a Navy Seal, and starting The Mission Continues to help wounded and disabled warriors serve their country as citizen leaders. I want to have a story like that when I am 37. Thinking back on it now it really makes me want reread the book.
When we landed in Managua I got really excited. We went through customs and got our bags. I was happy that I was in a group this time because I wouldn't have to worry about standing outside alone for 20 minutes again. When we walked outside Christina was waiting for us. It was nice to see a familiar face. Once everyone got outside we loaded all of the luggage into the micro bus while we got into the regular bus. On the way to Hotel Ticomo all of the translators introduced themselves.
As we drove through Managua I just got more and more excited, especially since I knew exactly where we were. I felt so much better than I had at Alycia's house. When we got to Hotel Ticomo we unloaded all the bags and they gave us room assignments. They put me in the room with 2 of the translators. Katherine told me later that when they were trying to figure out the rooms someone said they needed to put someone else with the translators and Christina volunteered me because she knew I wouldn't mind. I was glad I roomed with them. I got to know more about them and have a good relationship with them. We moved in and had lunch before we started the real fun by going to Nueva Vida.
While we were hanging out there I started to not feel well. I felt really dehydrated and just wanted to lay down. The stress from trying to get my grad school stuff done before leaving started to catch up to me. I threw up twice while I was there. I was worried that I wasn't going to be able to go on the trip. Looking back I can tell that the devil really didn't want me to go on the trip. I started to feel a little better after laying down for awhile and drinking a lot of water. Alycia was originally going to go to Libby's sister's house and go to the airport from there. Her mom was planning on taking her but that would have been a long drive for her. We decided that it would be easiest if she just came to Rhya's house with me. I was happy about this because I didn't want to drive to Rhya's alone in the condition I was in.
We finally left Alycia's and headed to Rhya's. When we got to Rhya's she was already there with Amanda and Suera. We hung out in the kitchen for a while before we decide it was alright to go in the living room and watch TV with Rhya's parents. When it was time Rhya's dad and sister took all of us to the airport. I drove my truck with all the bags and Alycia. I followed Rhya's dad who was driving her car. When we got to the airport we unloaded all the bags then Rhya's dad drove my truck back. One of the guys working there helped bring all of the bags inside.
We got on the tram that goes to gate A, B, and C since we were at gate B. The tram went to A then C then back A then to were we got on. The girls were starting to worry that we were on the wrong tram but I showed them the map and told that we would be going to B next. We finally got off at B and walked to our gate. There weren't many people there yet so we just hung out. The rest of the group took a long time because they had to deal with all the bags and Maggie McNealy's passport was going to expire in a couple months and that was causing problems. They all finally made it to the gate and we chilled. Some people tried to sleep but I couldn't. We were all laughing at Libby because she looked ridiculous trying to sleep.
We boarded the plane and took off. Right after we took off I passed out until they started serving breakfast. I woke up right before they served my row. I looked up at the screen on the TV and the credits from some movie they played were rolling. I had no idea that they played a movie because I was out. Breakfast wasn't that good, especially since I was expecting the mini pancakes they had on my previous TACA flights.
When we landed in El Salvador we had about an hour and a half layover. We hung out and explored the airport while we waited. After I boarded I was waiting in my seat to see if anyone else in our group would sit next to me. Nobody from our group sat next to me, nobody sat next to me but the guy 2 seats over was one of the trip leaders for William & Mary. I talked with him for most of the flight. He was reading The Heart and the Fist which I finished reading during my trip over the summer. We talk about what an amazing life Eric Greitens has had so far. Everything from studying abroad in China, seeing firsthand the genocides in Rwanda and Bosnia, helping the street children in Boliva, going to Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, becoming a Navy Seal, and starting The Mission Continues to help wounded and disabled warriors serve their country as citizen leaders. I want to have a story like that when I am 37. Thinking back on it now it really makes me want reread the book.
When we landed in Managua I got really excited. We went through customs and got our bags. I was happy that I was in a group this time because I wouldn't have to worry about standing outside alone for 20 minutes again. When we walked outside Christina was waiting for us. It was nice to see a familiar face. Once everyone got outside we loaded all of the luggage into the micro bus while we got into the regular bus. On the way to Hotel Ticomo all of the translators introduced themselves.
As we drove through Managua I just got more and more excited, especially since I knew exactly where we were. I felt so much better than I had at Alycia's house. When we got to Hotel Ticomo we unloaded all the bags and they gave us room assignments. They put me in the room with 2 of the translators. Katherine told me later that when they were trying to figure out the rooms someone said they needed to put someone else with the translators and Christina volunteered me because she knew I wouldn't mind. I was glad I roomed with them. I got to know more about them and have a good relationship with them. We moved in and had lunch before we started the real fun by going to Nueva Vida.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)