Team ZEO arrived
at CICRIN (see-kreen) orphanage on the island of Ometepe three days ago. Ometepe
(land of two mountains), which is composed of two volcanoes – one active (forefront) and one
inactive (far right back), is located in Nicaragua. We are staying near the “active” volcano!
CICRIN was
started in the late 1970s but when the revolution took place, the Sandinista’s
took over the orphanage, closed it down and used it as a military base during their reign. After their rule in the early 1990s, the doors
of the orphanage reopened and has been run by Hellen Vindas ever since.
Hellen was from Costa Rica and
came to Ometepe to help reopen the orphanage.
She was scheduled to be there for one month but when she arrived, she
fell in love with the orphanage and dedicated her life to caring for the children. Hellen
maintains dormitories for children ranging in age from five to twenty-four years old. She also built a “guesthouse” for
missionaries and volunteers. They have a
full time cook Delilah, who lives in the nearby town of Los Angeles, and cooks for the children as well as, for us.
Because of Hellen’s
love for the children, they are given opportunities and chances at a life that
they otherwise would not have. Many
orphanages release the children into the world after they reach a certain age
but Hellen gives them the option of staying onsite, living and working at the
orphanage. The twenty-four year old, Oswaldo has lived in the orphanage since he was eight. He now works as the orphanage chauffeur, busing the children to and from school and church. More recently, Hellen organized
a skills transfer with a jewelry maker.
A young couple from Managua, the capital
of Nicaragua,
is currently teaching the teenagers how to make jewelry so that they can
generate revenue. The children are kept
busy with school, prayer, homework, chores and church activities. They are very disciplined. Even the younger ones help sweep the grounds
and pick up fruit which have fallen off the trees.
Today is only
day three and I have already fallen in love with the children here.
Hazel, 12, has lived here since she was
ten months old. Her mother had too many
children and insufficient finances to support her. Hazel is a delight and she has stuck to me
since I first arrived. She teaches me
Spanish and I teach her and other kids English.
Loving these kids feel so natural and easy. I feel privileged to be part of this and I
thank God for bringing me to Ometepe.
“For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.” – Mark 8:35
