During my first trip to Nicaragua two years ago, visiting La Chureca, the city dump, really gave me a sense of how desperate the need is here. I know others felt the same way. The impact of witnessing it in person cannot be easily or accurately explained when describing it to others. Therefore, I wanted to take this group to La Chureca to see some families in even harder situations than VISEDAL children.
We drove through yesterday morning. Thankfully it’s not the rainy season so the dirt roads were not impassible. Brad took us through the residential side of La Chureca on the way to the school. He explained how missionaries from the US support the school, allowing 350 kids to get an education and get a break from the misery of living in trash.
He also talked about some of the bigger social issues present in the dump. Glue-sniffing is popular because it takes away the hunger for a while and child prostitution is fairly common. Not everyone who lives there does so out of absolute necessity. I always assumed people lived in the dump because they had nowhere else to go. But some live there because of its lawlessness.
On our way out we drove towards the part of La Chureca where the trash is actually dumped. People climbed mountains of garbage sifting through their contents. From a distance it looked like ants on an anthill.
After the dump we had about an hour to get ready for our Christmas party. We packed the van with stockings and Christmas sacks for all 20 kids, a guitar and a Santa suit. Brad dropped us off at the restaurant, Maria Bonita’s, and went to go pick up the kids.
On my first Spring Break trip we took the orphanage kids to Maria Bonita’s, so we knew it would be a great place for our party. There are two large rooms and we set up shop in the one attached to a central outdoor courtyard. It’s much nicer than the fried chicken place, Pollo Campero, and I think a few of the mothers were hesitant, or perhaps felt uneasy, about coming in.
The kids, however, ran right in. They greeted us with hugs and smiles. Everyone sat down and ate while some raggaeton/salsa music played in the background. We had the pleasure of meeting four of the mothers of the kids we signed up this trip. There was some minor drama, which is not uncommon with some of the mothers from our first group of children, but eventually everybody got situated and dug into their chicken (grilled!), fried plantains, rice and beans.
We then, of course, had a dance party in the courtyard. At one point about 15 of us held hands and danced in a circle while other kids formed smaller circles inside of our larger one. My dad then played guitar while the group sang some Christmas carols. Ben did a wonderful job of leading the singing in Spanish.
The next part of the party was my favorite moment of the day. My mom had the idea of having a graduation ceremony for the children and Emily made some certificates congratulating them on their successful completion of a year in school. Brad told them all how proud we are of them and then called them one-by-one to receive their certificates and a gold medal. The kids were more excited to receive their certificates and medals than the Christmas presents we gave them later. Even some of the tougher, less emotional children were proudly smiling as Brad called their names and they came up to get their awards while their peers clapped. Later in the day, Noel made the point that many graduations on the US are considered long and boring exercises but that this one was far from that.
Little did the children know, but while we were having our graduation ceremony my dad became Santa Claus. When we were finished Santa miraculously appeared and the kids almost knocked him over as they all tried to hug him at once. Everyone took turns sitting on Santa’s lap while my mom took a Polaroid picture. Some of the kids even held their certificates while their picture was being taken. Then everyone took turns posing for Polaroids with various team members. And each other. And their families. If everyone took Polaroids like we do, they wouldn’t have stopped making the film.
Finally we gave each child and mother a gift bag with all of the donated clothes, stuffed animals, toys and school supplies we gathered over the last few months. We tried to encourage them to wait until they got home to open them and, impressively, most of them resisted the urge to tear into their bags. Then, it was time to go. We flagged some taxis and said our goodbyes. Our farewell wasn’t overly emotional, as it has been in the past. We think the kids now realize that we are, in fact, coming back twice a year.
We went back to the hotel, took showers and walked to dinner. Following dinner, we celebrated our trip the only way one really should celebrate in Nicaragua; by attending a concert/street party sponsored by the Sandinistas. We joined over 2,000 people packed into a section of the main street downtown and watched some musicians perform. I enjoyed people watching even more. We were all tired so we left by 10. It was only a short walk back to our hotel so we could still hear the music quite clearly. The concert ended about an hour later accompanied, of course, by a firework display. It was loud.
We woke up early this morning and headed to the airport. Overall it was a great trip. I’m so thankful for the selfless dedication of our team. Everyone pitched in and made the trip run smoothly. I know the kids felt loved. I’ll write a more substantive general overview to send out to our supporters, and to post here, within the next week. Until then, thanks for reading and for your interest in VISEDAL. I’m grateful for your support.
-Dylan
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
A Last Day Teaser
Today we visited the dump and had a very successful Christmas party for the kids. To top things off, tonight we attended a giant Sandinista party in the streets outside of Metrocentro, the big mall downtown. As I’m writing this a barrage of fireworks is going off. Either that or some people are shooting cannons right outside our hotel.
I’m afraid fatigue would limit the quality of a blog right now, but I’ll write on the airplane tomorrow and post tomorrow night when I get home. Thanks so much for reading during this trip. It was a really wonderful trip, and I’m so grateful to have such a fantastic team with me. Happy New Year, and until tomorrow, adios!
-Dylan
I’m afraid fatigue would limit the quality of a blog right now, but I’ll write on the airplane tomorrow and post tomorrow night when I get home. Thanks so much for reading during this trip. It was a really wonderful trip, and I’m so grateful to have such a fantastic team with me. Happy New Year, and until tomorrow, adios!
-Dylan
Monday, December 29, 2008
Fried Chicken, Home Visits and a Wedding: Day Two
We slept in a bit today; I guess the giant rooster was off his game a little bit. Our first task was to pick up the mothers and take them to the market to buy uniforms for the upcoming school year.
The experience was, well, a bit trying, but successful. It took us more than three hours to get the shoes, uniforms, backpacks and notebooks, meaning we didn’t get to Pollo Campero for lunch until around 2 p.m. Stomachs were growling and blood sugar levels were low, but the team was quite flexible and very patient.
We ordered 75 pieces of chicken and, not surprisingly, none was left over. The kids ran around the ball room and read letters from their pen pals at The Big Top Child Care Center. Our team climbed the jungle gym apparatus chasing after kids and played games in the kids’ area. We handed out the backpacks and notebooks as we were leaving and the moms took the uniforms home as well.
We drove three families who live close to each other back to their neighborhood in order to spend some time together and see their homes. The first house we visited, where four of our kids live, had pictures of us and the kids that we’ve given them decorating the walls. It’s funny to see my family’s cat (from our Christmas card) hanging on a wall in Nicaragua, but on a deeper level, I’m touched that they treasure our relationships so much.
We then walked down an intense hill—an unnamed team member may or may not have fell down, holding a baby (everyone was perfectly fine)—to visit the home of two of our other kids. These kids, Glenda and Katy, are sweet girls who excitedly showed us their home. Before we could even go inside Katy ran in and bounded out of the door holding a stuffed bear. With a huge smile, she asked her mom if she could give it to Emily. Her mom agreed and Katy rushed over to give Emily her gift. Katy then gave all of the team members a stuffed animal. My parents received two small yellow fish that stuck together at the lips using magnets.
It was getting late in the afternoon so we walked back up Mt. Everest/the hill. Before we could leave though, we were told that our presence was expected at the first house we visited. Indeed, we arrived to find ourselves attending a wedding for Noel and Nefret! Their wedding was much more elaborate than the two Emily and I had at Pollo Campero last year. One child, Ninoska, served as the priest. She held an open Bible and recited familiar words “in sickness and in health” and some unfamiliar ones “in fullness and in hunger.” The happy couple was then given water (wine) and interlocked arms for a celebratory drink. Nefret tossed the bouquet, which Emily came away with. The kids chanted, “Beso, beso” (kiss) and cheered when they obliged.
Tomorrow is our last full day. We’re visiting the dump in the morning then throwing a Christmas party for the kids in the afternoon. I can’t wait to see them when they see Santa Claus (aka Gary Waugh)!
-Dylan
The experience was, well, a bit trying, but successful. It took us more than three hours to get the shoes, uniforms, backpacks and notebooks, meaning we didn’t get to Pollo Campero for lunch until around 2 p.m. Stomachs were growling and blood sugar levels were low, but the team was quite flexible and very patient.
We ordered 75 pieces of chicken and, not surprisingly, none was left over. The kids ran around the ball room and read letters from their pen pals at The Big Top Child Care Center. Our team climbed the jungle gym apparatus chasing after kids and played games in the kids’ area. We handed out the backpacks and notebooks as we were leaving and the moms took the uniforms home as well.
We drove three families who live close to each other back to their neighborhood in order to spend some time together and see their homes. The first house we visited, where four of our kids live, had pictures of us and the kids that we’ve given them decorating the walls. It’s funny to see my family’s cat (from our Christmas card) hanging on a wall in Nicaragua, but on a deeper level, I’m touched that they treasure our relationships so much.
We then walked down an intense hill—an unnamed team member may or may not have fell down, holding a baby (everyone was perfectly fine)—to visit the home of two of our other kids. These kids, Glenda and Katy, are sweet girls who excitedly showed us their home. Before we could even go inside Katy ran in and bounded out of the door holding a stuffed bear. With a huge smile, she asked her mom if she could give it to Emily. Her mom agreed and Katy rushed over to give Emily her gift. Katy then gave all of the team members a stuffed animal. My parents received two small yellow fish that stuck together at the lips using magnets.
It was getting late in the afternoon so we walked back up Mt. Everest/the hill. Before we could leave though, we were told that our presence was expected at the first house we visited. Indeed, we arrived to find ourselves attending a wedding for Noel and Nefret! Their wedding was much more elaborate than the two Emily and I had at Pollo Campero last year. One child, Ninoska, served as the priest. She held an open Bible and recited familiar words “in sickness and in health” and some unfamiliar ones “in fullness and in hunger.” The happy couple was then given water (wine) and interlocked arms for a celebratory drink. Nefret tossed the bouquet, which Emily came away with. The kids chanted, “Beso, beso” (kiss) and cheered when they obliged.
Tomorrow is our last full day. We’re visiting the dump in the morning then throwing a Christmas party for the kids in the afternoon. I can’t wait to see them when they see Santa Claus (aka Gary Waugh)!
-Dylan
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Party in the Park: Our First Full Day
I set the alarm clock on my phone last night but for some reason it either didn’t go off this morning or I didn’t hear it. Thankfully, nature provided a wake-up call in the form of a giant rooster who lives on the land behind our hotel.
Our hotel doesn’t provide breakfast so Ben and I went on a mission to find food and coffee this morning. The local coffee shop was closed when we walked by at 7:40, as was the supermarket. Out of other options, we walked to Burger King. It didn’t open until 8, so we stood outside for about 15 minutes, looking like the two American guys who traveled all the way to Nicaragua but couldn’t shake their fast-food habit and ended up stalking a restaurant before it opened.
After breakfast we went to church. The service was very energetic, with powerful music and intense participation from the congregation. The worship band played some of the same songs we play at church in Baltimore, much to my dad’s delight. We picked up some groceries, stopped the by hotel and then headed to lunch at a Nicaraguan restaurant.
The day’s big event was the party we threw for the kids at a local park. Brad and I dropped everyone else off then headed to pick up the kids and their moms. Right about the time we arrived at the intersection to get them some dark clouds rolled in and a heavy rainstorm ensued. We packed the kids into the van and headed back to the park, only a short drive away.
Little did I know, but the rest of our group had already set up at the park the games, sodas and Christmas letters for the kids. When the rain started they grabbed everything and dashed into the pump house. But alas, the Nicaraguan security guard swiftly informed them they were not allowed there. They headed to a gated section of the park which had a pavilion, where we met them a few minutes later.
The party was a great success from the beginning. The kids ran into the arms of familiar and new team members alike from the minute our van parked. Friendships picked right up after months of absence. Watching and listening to the kids greet our team was pretty special.
We had our six new kids join us, putting our total at 20 kids. The rain dissipated and we had some cooler temperatures for the afternoon. Noel, a first-time visitor to Nicaragua, formed new friendships by tirelessly playing Wiffle ball with a few boys, chasing down every hit with energy that would put some of the Orioles to shame.
My aunt JoAnne and my mom gave pedicures to the girls and their moms. My father became a human jungle gym. Emily and Nefret ran around playing various games and commenting on how beautiful the girls looked. Ben and Brad spoke with the kids, both translating for everyone else and getting to know them better on their own.
All of the team members worked together to make the afternoon wonderful. The rain, some mild girl drama and the great number of kids didn’t stop them from selflessly showing the kids how special they are. I really believe the children went to sleep tonight smiling, thinking about how nine Americans traveled all the way to Nicaragua to show them just how much they’re loved.
A VISEDAL party wouldn’t be complete without fried chicken so we ordered 60 pieces for the masses. After they ate we handed out Beauty and the Beast t-shirts donated by The Seton Keough High School in Baltimore and took a group picture of all of the kids in their new clothes. We also gave the kids some pictures that Emily had printed out for each of them.
We had dinner and a thoughtful group discussion before heading off to bed. Tomorrow we’re going to buy school uniforms, hit up Pollo Campero for some more fried chicken and visit the homes of a few of our children.
Thanks for reading. I’m off to bed. We appreciate all of your thoughts, prayers and support during our trip!
-dylan
Our hotel doesn’t provide breakfast so Ben and I went on a mission to find food and coffee this morning. The local coffee shop was closed when we walked by at 7:40, as was the supermarket. Out of other options, we walked to Burger King. It didn’t open until 8, so we stood outside for about 15 minutes, looking like the two American guys who traveled all the way to Nicaragua but couldn’t shake their fast-food habit and ended up stalking a restaurant before it opened.
After breakfast we went to church. The service was very energetic, with powerful music and intense participation from the congregation. The worship band played some of the same songs we play at church in Baltimore, much to my dad’s delight. We picked up some groceries, stopped the by hotel and then headed to lunch at a Nicaraguan restaurant.
The day’s big event was the party we threw for the kids at a local park. Brad and I dropped everyone else off then headed to pick up the kids and their moms. Right about the time we arrived at the intersection to get them some dark clouds rolled in and a heavy rainstorm ensued. We packed the kids into the van and headed back to the park, only a short drive away.
Little did I know, but the rest of our group had already set up at the park the games, sodas and Christmas letters for the kids. When the rain started they grabbed everything and dashed into the pump house. But alas, the Nicaraguan security guard swiftly informed them they were not allowed there. They headed to a gated section of the park which had a pavilion, where we met them a few minutes later.
The party was a great success from the beginning. The kids ran into the arms of familiar and new team members alike from the minute our van parked. Friendships picked right up after months of absence. Watching and listening to the kids greet our team was pretty special.
We had our six new kids join us, putting our total at 20 kids. The rain dissipated and we had some cooler temperatures for the afternoon. Noel, a first-time visitor to Nicaragua, formed new friendships by tirelessly playing Wiffle ball with a few boys, chasing down every hit with energy that would put some of the Orioles to shame.
My aunt JoAnne and my mom gave pedicures to the girls and their moms. My father became a human jungle gym. Emily and Nefret ran around playing various games and commenting on how beautiful the girls looked. Ben and Brad spoke with the kids, both translating for everyone else and getting to know them better on their own.
All of the team members worked together to make the afternoon wonderful. The rain, some mild girl drama and the great number of kids didn’t stop them from selflessly showing the kids how special they are. I really believe the children went to sleep tonight smiling, thinking about how nine Americans traveled all the way to Nicaragua to show them just how much they’re loved.
A VISEDAL party wouldn’t be complete without fried chicken so we ordered 60 pieces for the masses. After they ate we handed out Beauty and the Beast t-shirts donated by The Seton Keough High School in Baltimore and took a group picture of all of the kids in their new clothes. We also gave the kids some pictures that Emily had printed out for each of them.
We had dinner and a thoughtful group discussion before heading off to bed. Tomorrow we’re going to buy school uniforms, hit up Pollo Campero for some more fried chicken and visit the homes of a few of our children.
Thanks for reading. I’m off to bed. We appreciate all of your thoughts, prayers and support during our trip!
-dylan
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Back in Nicaragua
We made it! I’m typing from our hotel room in Managua, looking at a mountain of suitcases full of donated clothes piled next to my bed. Our plane was a little late but we managed to get into the hotel around 11. Everyone headed to bed not too long ago.
I’m so excited for this trip. I’m honored that eight of my family members and friends chose to join us in celebrating the one-year anniversary of VISEDAL’s kids being back in school. We have some great stuff planned.
Tomorrow we’re going to kick things off by going to the church I attended when I was living here. It’s quite lively. The twirling dancers will be a nice introduction to Nicaraguan culture.
Then we’ll have lunch and prepare for our party at a local park for the kids. We’ll bring some sports equipment, letters from their Big Top pen pals and, of course, fried chicken! It will be so great to see the kids again.
Ok, bedtime for me. Thanks for keeping tabs on us. I’ll have more tomorrow night.
-Dylan
I’m so excited for this trip. I’m honored that eight of my family members and friends chose to join us in celebrating the one-year anniversary of VISEDAL’s kids being back in school. We have some great stuff planned.
Tomorrow we’re going to kick things off by going to the church I attended when I was living here. It’s quite lively. The twirling dancers will be a nice introduction to Nicaraguan culture.
Then we’ll have lunch and prepare for our party at a local park for the kids. We’ll bring some sports equipment, letters from their Big Top pen pals and, of course, fried chicken! It will be so great to see the kids again.
Ok, bedtime for me. Thanks for keeping tabs on us. I’ll have more tomorrow night.
-Dylan
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