We had a great first day yesterday. We went to a wonderful church service in Managua, and it is amazing how different cultures, speaking different languages, can worship and pray together, as one body of the church.

The team met the kids from the girls home that Dan and Jessenia run, for the first time. Wow! They treated the girls, like they were cousins. I havent heard so much screaming and laughter for a long time, and it does ones soul a service to see kids just being kids, and college students acting like kids, both laughing, running, and singing at the top of their lungs.

We spent a good amount of time in the car, doing a loop from Managua to Masaya, and finally ending at the girls home, before finally heading home to the compound. Yesterday was a day of acclimation. Today will be a day of doing. Meeting people in the dump, most likely spending time at a school in the dump, and walking through seeing the oppression that weighs heavily on this small community.

Im not sure how much I’ll be blogging. I will be shooting lots of photos, but I dont want to post for the sake of posting. I want to be putting together a story to really show what Dan and Jessenia do here, so I may decide to just blog with photos from my iphone. but not today. Enjoy

P.S. Be sure to check out the trip blog @ www.mission2nicaragua.wordpress.com

Fresh Mango in the morning

Girls and a Clown; Lunch Sunday afternoon

Dan and Elias

Morning light

A room with a view

I had planned this on being a longer introduction, but i wasnt saving often enough, and when I went to publish the post, my internet had kicked out and I lost everything. So here are a few photos since I am heading to breakfast. 

Yesterday was our last day in La Chureca. I’m sad to be leaving. While we don’t leave to come home til Saturday the rest of the trip will be spent debriefing, which while totally necessary, puts an end to the trip.

Two more weeks here still wouldn’t be enough, but that’s ok. The answers I have been seeking have been made very clear. This trip brought to light that I am to be using photography for change. To tell the stories of those who dont have a voice.

As exciting as this trip has been, its still not over yet.

Today we head to the Masaya market, and then back to Grenada. I can’t wait. I’m going to try and get outside of the main square and shoot some more photos.

Till I have internet access again, have a great day.

Yesterday was a little bit different for us. Instead of going to La Chureca, we brought more than 60 kids from La Chureca to us, to spend some time playing soccer and doing crafts at a beautiful sports complex up in the Mountains. I’ll edit and post photos from that later, but last night when we got home I was just to physically exhausted to even try to stay up late. In fact, our whole group was in bed by 9:30 last night. Crazy!

Doug (the group leader), Kara (the translator) and myself will be here for another week working with a second group from Northway Oakland, and I cant wait to see what God has in store for us over the remainder of the trip. So far this has just been a taste, and I am so excited to get more of it. The exhausting days are nothing compared to the work that the people of La Chureca do every day.

I promise to post more pictures soon, most likely tonight, but I need to go get ready for an exploration of old world Nicaragua.

Adios

Before I tell that story though, look at the view from where we are staying!

Migdonio was sitting on the side of the road talking to his brother when we walked up and said hello. For some reason, our simple “Hola” turned into a two hour conversation filled with prayer and healing.

He had come from Grenada 10 years ago with his brother. They began tending cattle making between 60-70 Cordoba (currency- aprox 21=$1) but when they heard that on a bad day they could make 100 Cordoba working in the dumps at La Chureca, collecting recyclables, the draw was just to much, and they ended in the dump working.

It was during that time that Migdonio became an alcoholic, moving from one place to another, sleeping where ever he could. MOst likely passing out and not caring where.

More than a year ago Migdonio was working in the dumps when one of the trucks hit him. Dislocating his shoulder, and hip. After visiting the hospital, and not understanding what they were going to do, he left, in pain and without a real hope of recovery.

Yesterday, after more than an hour and a half of intense prayer, and encouragement, Migdonio stood up on his own, free of pain, and began taking little steps, like a child learning to walk, he made little steps into the waiting arms of encouragement, without the use of crutches.

A miracle happened! Any doubt of what I believed before, was put to rest. I saw a man walk of his own accord, with the peace of God propelling him forward.

For more on this amazing moment, visit the group blog Mission 2 Nicaragua.

Enjoy some photos.