Month 2- Granada Nicaragua
Off to Honduras!
This past month we lived in Granada, Nicaragua, a beautiful city filled with gorgeous cathedrals and brightly colored homes all along the streets. It was absolutely beautiful. We stayed in a dormitory called El Puente for all squad month, where all 47 racers plus our 3 squad leaders are all in one living area. We had new ministries every week and we took turns riding out on a boat to Island Zapatera.
Week 1: Casa de Ancianos which translates to Home of the Ancients
This was a retirement home where we cleaned in the morning and visited in the afternoons. While we were there we met a woman by the name of Barbara from California who stole my heart. She suffers from Alzheimer’s disease and has no clue that she is in Nicaragua instead of 20 minutes from home. She is still very bright and loves to tell us about her younger years as a flight attendant traveling the world.
Week 2: Zapatera Island.
At 6 in the morning 13 other girls and I boarded a dingy boat with a motor attached and traveled an hour and 45 minutes to Zapatera Island, where we helped build their first church. On the island we stayed with the pastor and his family with no running water, an outhouse with a hole in the ground and one light bulb inside the house. We slept in our tents, hammocks and a few stayed in the bedroom his four kids usually stayed in. They shared everything they possibly could and more with us. We woke up every morning around 6 AM to eat breakfast then went to work sifting rocks out of sand, moving dirt with a shovel and wheelbarrow, carrying bags of dirt through lake Nicaragua and making concrete. We would take a break for lunch from (which consisted of armadillo one afternoon) 12-2 then back to work until sunset, eat dinner then go to bed. This week taught me the true meaning of necessities and wants; it was the epitome of the “simple life.”
Week 3: REAP (Restore Educate Activate Perpetuate)
This is a ministry that is working on helping to restore the community of Pantanal, a city known for addictions, gangs and violence. Pantanal is one of the poorest communities in all of Central America. Life is hard for these people but REAP is focused on helping them where they are at. REAP is creating an agricultural farm, a market to sell the produce in, sports areas and a space for the community to have retreats. As of now there is a pavilion and a tree farm. We had the privilege of working in the fields with around 10 men who have come out of addictions and violence. While working alongside these men we were able to get to know their lovely souls. They taught us to plant trees, fertilize them, and dig a trench about 300 yards long and 3 feet deep for an irrigation system. After we ate lunch we would have a bible study with these men and get to know them more. After 5 days working and goofing around with these men I was able to see the kind and loving spirits whom I now consider my brothers that will forever have a special place in my heart!
Week 4: GCEC (Granada Christian Education Center)
This ministry is creating a school system for Pantanal which will eventually be preschool to twelfth grade. As of now there is only one building that hosts a preschool class. More buildings and class rooms are in the process of being planned and built. While we were there we picked up trash and used machetes to cut down trees and bushes around a huge tree that they will use for a gathering place.
I loved getting to know the people in these communities and see the transformation they have gone through. Over all this month has been awesome being able to see and witness what God is doing and getting to know individuals in this city and on my squad on a more personal basis.
