Hello from Nicaragua !!!!!
This is the home stretch!! Currently I am in Granada, Nicaragua and we are working with an organization known as REAP.
BUT …..before I talk about Nicaragua…let me catch you up on El Salvador.
El Salvador
In El Salvador my team and I worked with an organization known as “Sus Hijos” or as in English, “His Children”
As the name suggest Sus Hijos specializes in children and children was essentially our ministry.
In many countries around the world, including the US, “The day of the Child” is celebrated. Central America is no different and in Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador we saw signs advertising “Día del Niño” or day of the child.
Sus Hijos celebrated this in two ways. First they hosted an event in the community where children were treated to snow cones, face painting, nail painting, animal balloons and candy via a pinata.
The second way they celebrated this was by buying out a local water park and allowing the children just to be free and have a great time!
BUT these two bigs events don’t demonstrate the faithfulness they have in serving children. On a normal week, every week, they are visiting children in orphanages, visiting teen mom’s who were put in orphanages, children with special needs, detention centers for adolescents and adults with special needs (who truly are children at heart ♥ )
They also have a transition home. In El Salvador after the age of 18, a child in an orphanage is considered to have outgrown the orphanage and must leave. Sus Hijos has a transition home that gives these teens a place to stay and they even have a diner that employs them and teaches culinary skills.
El Salvador may easily be one of my top 3 favorite months. It was a pleasure working with the kids and I was so impressed with the amount of faithfulness it takes for the staff members to continually show up, week after week. What a commitment and a beautiful way to show God’s love.
NICARAGUA
*Aside from the above photo, all of the below pictures were taken by the talented, Adriana Ernst*
This month we are working with an organization called REAP. (Restore, Educate, Activate, Perpetuate) REAP is 72 acres of farmland used in hopes to be a safe place for the community and for discipleship.
REAP works with local pastors, encouraging them as they serve their local churches and community. REAP also host conferences for the local pastors and their churches on certain biblical teachings , for learning purposes.
REAP takes every opportunity to disciple through a variety of ways.
For women through cooking in the kitchen and jewelry making.
Women will use tamarind seeds and make jewelery they can then sell.
They also have sports ministry where the land is open for kickball, soccer and softball
Then there’s also manual labor. With 72 acres of land there is a lot of work that goes into the farm. From maintaining the grass level, planting, watering plantain trees and general upkeep of the grounds, REAP takes this opportunity to employ willing young men to do the manual labor and disciple them.
While here in Nicaragua we have worked with the pastors doing evangelism and visiting the hospital to pray. We have also had our share of manual labor as well as working with kids at a local community center, recently bought by REAP.
P.S: As Thanksgiving approaches. I’d like to take the time to wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving. I’m thankful for all of you who have read each blog and supported me with your kind words and in prayer! I hope you have a wonderful holiday…See you soon.. 🙂
