I spent my Spring Breakin Nicaragua on a mission trip. Our mission was two-fold. We worked with an orphanage for malnutritioned children and then we worked in a place called Cristo Rey feeding children in extreme poverty, with what was probably their only meal of the day. The male members of our team worked to build two “houses” in this place. The houses consisted of a 10 x 10 metal building with a concrete floor. Most “houses” in this place have dirt floors and are sided with whatever materials they can scrounge from the dump.
The orphanage was started by a couple named the Bagwells. You can read about them and the
orphanage at the web address newlifenicaragua.org. My team played with and loved on these kids all week long. Each child had a very sad story of how they came to be at the orphanage. My daughter and I bonded with one particular child who was days away from dying when she was brought to the orphanage. Her parents basically just did not feed her. She could not even stand on her own. She is now a vibrant little girl with a great sense of humor. If I win the lottery, I’m going back to get her!
Our team also painted rooms, made a sandbox, cleaned out the gutters, and cleaned up the property at the existing orphanage. We also dug a trench for a wall to be built on the property where a larger orphanage is being built. We even got to take the children on a field trip to the zoo while we were there. This zoo was nothing like our zoos are here in America. Even these zoo animals looked as if they were suffering from malnutrition. While I was there, the teacher in me scoped the place for educational items. The orphanage had only two books!!! Upon returning home I checked into the adoption process and I looked for places I could purchase some books written in Spanish. The books, I could afford, I’m waiting on the lottery for the other.
Nicaragua is the 2nd poorest country in Central America. There was poverty everywhere. But Cristo Rey was unlike anything I had ever even imagined. Basically there were a couple thousand homeless families living in a dump, scavenging for items to sell or eat. The government took a very large piece of land, moved the dump there and transported all the people out there, and said “Find a way to survive”. The actual place where the people live is about 2 miles deep into the area; 2 miles of trash dump! The people have lean-to huts for shelter. The children, despite their poverty, were full of life. They were loving and eager to share with us, and let us share with them. Two women came to know Jesus while we were there.
As I reflect on my experience, I am so grateful that the Lord provided, through you all, the means for us to go and be a part of the vast work that needs to be done. I left there and came home to my house of many conveniences. Those people live their life like that every day. There is no escape. Our group is planning another trip this year. Our group was very moved and touched by the people and their needs. I have a feeling we will be going there at least twice a year to work with them. Please pray for the work that needs to be done and for the workers to do it.
One of these times I may bring back one of those children from the orphanage!
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| Cristo Rey |
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| Me with Dasary |
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| Me with one of the Orphans |
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| Me painting the Orphanage |
