Community CRC Nicaragua Mission Team Blog

Farewell

2010-03-06T07:53:00.000-08:00

A final day photo with the local workers. They can work hard in this temperature.

Some of the beautiful children enjoying a balloon and friendship.

Here's Pete sharing, cheerfully giving of what we have.

Rene (3rd from right) loved to march around with as many friends as

could hang on to each other.

On Thursday after we were packed and ready to go we went back to the El Jordan School for a farewell gathering with the staff and students. We were presented with an english friendship poster, a traditional Nicaraguan dinner and many hugs and kisses. Christian friends forever!

John and Judy say goodbye.

Everyone wanted to be in the group photo.

The existing El Jordan School on the left and the partially built new 3 classrooms that we helped start on the right. Concrete was mixed on the ground in the center of photo. May God bless the next Hands teams that continue and finish the new classrooms.

Last Full Work Day

2010-03-03T17:01:00.000-08:00

Today was the last full working day for the team. We continued to work on reinforcing rods and cages which were added to the walls. These were tied to the columns to integrate the entire structure. Concrete beams were poured halfway up the walls on which the windows will be set. The local workers have set a steady pace and have made Hank one of their family members, Their Grandpa!

Michelle with a couple of her many new friends after she lost out in a game of musical chairs.

The teachers encouraged us to play with the students and Yolanda showed them how to hop-scotch.

After the end of the school day the teachers helped the team with the installation of the steel cages and here we are after finishing our part of the new school classrooms. The next team is in for a real treat and will really be blessed by being part of a WWSC HANDS team.

Up go the Walls

2010-03-02T15:53:00.000-08:00

The heat today was oppressive, in the high 30's, but the walls of the new building addition at the El Jordan School have started to rise up from the hard clay earth.

John way very effective in keeping pace with the locals laying block for block.

At the end of the work day we visited the Pastor and the Young Peoples group of the local El Jordan Evangelical Church who provided us with some music and a presentation of their ambitious program to fund a speaker along with a movie night to kick off a youth evangelism program.

2010-03-01T19:50:00.000-08:00

Nicaragua Christian Academy

Monday, March 1. The work of our Kitchener HANDS team is more than just a "bricks and mortar" kind of experience. We've been busy with starting construction at a new school site in a rural school outside of Managua. We're also doing finishing work at a previous HANDS built school in the city. Today, the work of our HANDS team was to endorse and represent HANDS teams to local schools.

We enjoyed a time of worship with staff and workers here at Nehemiah centre, Monday morning devotions. Staff from different Christian organizations, with offices here in the centre gather for devotions and prayer. After that, Mark VanderWeis (Thunder Bay boy!) of CRWRC gave us an overview of Nicaraguan history and CRWRC's work here. He commented on the presence on campus of some Mesquito agriculture specialists who were getting training in better soil management. After Mark's presentation, Steve Holtrop of Christian Reformed World Missions gave us more in-depth history of Nicaragua's political-religious history and the work that he does. The Nehemiah Centre is a catalyst for awakening the Christian world view among mission organizations, business people, etc. The staff network with local organizations to get the message out that Jesus is Lord of all of life. All-in-all it was very informative morning.
Before lunch, we toured the Nicaragua Christian Academy, a Christian School that has approximately 230 students being taught in English. 60% of the student body is made up of local Nicaraguan students seeking to learn English, the other 40% is made up of missionary kids and some South Koreans. This school is an English counterpart to the Christian Academy on the grounds of the Nehemiah Centre (where we are housed). The academy on the premises here teaches in Spanish and has approximately 230 students as well. It was important for us to note how Christian education is in great demand here in this country. Class size in local public schools is about 60 students per class on average, yet parents seek quality education and will sacrifice a great deal to receive it for their kids.
From lunch we moved to a school built by Missionary Ventures (based in Guelph, Ont.) which had a building on campus that housed a metal working shop created by the passion and vision of Mike.........., from Sandusky, Ohio. He had training as a teacher, and a hobby as a creative metal work artist. So, he combined these passions into a vocational classroom for metal
working, etc. He's training teachers to teach welding and design to students who can graduate to work opportunities in a much needed occupation. We were so impressed with his passion and dedication. From small beginnings, great things are harvested.....anyone can count the seeds in an apple, but God only knows how many apple trees can grow from a single seed!
With these dedicated committed teachers and leaders we caught a glimpse of what can be created with the "bricks and mortar" we bring. As they appreciate our work, we began to realize in a powerful way, that truly we are servants, with others in building up the walls that give refuge to God's people.
Our day was completed with a short tour of a local market where we could purchase the creative handcrafts and other products locals offered for sale - leather craft, hammocks, etc.
Tomorrow, it's back to cement mixer and electrical panel. We can imagine the sparks flying!

Sunday Morning in Nicaragua

2010-02-28T20:41:00.000-08:00

Sunday morning, the streets of Managua are quieter than usual. There are people walking in clothes that reflect a "sunday-go-to-meeting" flair....there's lots of colour. The church our team attended was called the True Word Church, which was celebrating its 30th anniversary. The atmosphere is casual, people seemed to know each other as they greeted regulars at the church door. There are no ushers to bring you to your seat. It's a "find your own" seating. The building is a rented(?) facility that apparently used to house some kind of factory. The worship band was very well well rehearsed and led by younger members approximately 30 plus years in age. The music was loud and energetic, with older men dancing in the aisles. This struck us as unique, men expressing themselves with this delightful passion. The singing lasted only for 15-20 minutes and then there was time for testimony and prayer for healing. The preaching of the Word was from the prophet Jeremiah - "I know the plans I have for you...." The theme of the message was on God's promise to bless and give blessing, despite humble circumstances the child of God may be experiencing. The message was of reassuring promise. The congregation came forward from their chairs for the offering.
It was a blessing to share in the worship with the Nicaragua congregation. The instantaneous translation we were offered was a tremendous help in making us feel as participants in the service.
As soon as we cleared the auditorium, the second service was beginning. It is apparent that God is building His Church in this place.

Our Host Mike and Tess Tigchelaar

2010-02-28T20:11:00.002-08:00

This is a picture of our host couple where we went
for a barbeque and also celebrated Tess' Birthday.

2010-02-27T18:10:00.000-08:00

Today we had a day off from working at the school. Mike and Tess Tigchelaar took us on a tour of Nicaragua. We first went to a lake that was made from a volcanic crater. Then we stopped at a local pottery maker. He explained how they make pottery and his son gave us a demonstration. We were then able to browse through some finished product.

One of the highlights of the day was zip lining. Here Pete Hansma is playing superman and flying down the zip-line.

Joyce and John are hanging out after completing the upside down zip-line.

Below you will see that Linda was a great inspiration for us all. The guys who ran the zip-line called her "Mama"!

This is the potters son spinning the potters wheel and forming a vase.

The cross at the opening of the volcanic crater was erected in the 1700's by a Bishop who claimed it was the gate to Hell.

The active volcano we went to see is called Masaya. It smelled strongly like sulfur. The last time it erupted was in 1772.

This whole day was an amazing cultural experience. Nicaragua is a beautiful country!!

The "Tres Amigos" or The THREE PEDROS

Below is Boyd doing the electircal work at Vida Y Esperanza.

Boyd and Bernie have done the electrical work and have started their own company called B & B Electrical. They take very good care of each other.

February 26, 2010 2nd post

2010-02-26T19:53:00.000-08:00

The school kids are served a basic lunch of rice and beans every day and of course have to brush their teeth when they are done.

A little girl performed a dance as part of a welcoming ceremony.

The children are so very loveable.

The hard work of twice weekly washing of the clothes.

The local women have their own time to work and socialize and were very encouraged by the ladies on our team joining them under the trees and signing them songs while they washed the sheets.

February 26, 2010

2010-02-26T17:29:00.000-08:00

Full of energy at the beginning of the day, Pete and Hank have just cut off their shirt sleeves to bear the heat.
The parents and teachers of the El Jordan school invited our team to join them in one of the classrooms to express their gratitude. A father spoke with tears in his eyes. Humbling.
As we finished our work day we saw several of the mothers of the students carrying their wash home. They dam up a local creek and wash the clothes on rocks carved to serve as washboards.

Feb 25 2019

2010-02-25T19:25:00.001-08:00

Wednesday Feb 24

2010-02-24T20:07:00.000-08:00

It was very hot today again. Michelle is enjoying a cold cloth around her neck. the girls were twisting again today. Looks like that is going to be our job for the week. We have to make our own ties now. Hank was so hot that he dunked his head in the water barrel. Pete V. sweated so much his pants are filthy. The cool showers at the end of the day are very appreciated.
Bernie and Boyd spent there day at a different school doing electrical work in a new classroom.
Continue to pray for our health and safety as sanitary conditions are less than desirable. Pete D. bought a roll of t.p. for the women and we thought we would leave it in for the day well it was gone for the next person. Tommorow we will do things differently

Today we met the parents of the kids. They were very thankful for what we were doing. One father thanked us for what we were doing with tears in his eyes. He was thankful for a Christian education and what that would mean for their children and the country. That was a highlight for us.

Tuesday, Feb 23, 2010

2010-02-23T19:50:00.000-08:00

After a somewhat restless night, we enjoyed a hot breakfast at 6:45 and were soon on o\ou|r way to the jobsite at 7:30. We had a 30 minute ride to the school we would be working on. It is very simple with only 3 rooms and classes from preschool through grade 6 with about 60 kids. The grounds are very small and very dry and dusty. The children are so happy to see us and look beautiful with their white shirts and navy bottoms. They were getting ready to present some songs and poems and dances for us, which were beautifully done. The principal/directora had been teaching at the school for 20 years and was very enthusiastic and excited to be doing the work she was for the children. She spoke of helping the kids to become all that they could be for their future. The other teachers were alumni. While we waited for supplies, the kids came out for recess and we joined them for an exercise class as well as baseball with a soccer flavour. It was great fun trying to understand their commands and calls. We all had a good laugh. Since we are the first team to work at this school, we have the opportunity to start from scratch. Our supplies arrived and the guys started to dig holes for the foundation walls while the girls tied rebar. We are no longer the pointer/painter sisters, but the twister sisters! We were very thankful for the bit of breeze since the temperature is 37 degrees Celcius. The holes are dug with a pickaxe and had to be 80 cm deep. |VERY hard work! There are 5 hired men as well, who are working along with our guys. The children were done school at 12:30 so the afternoon was a bit quiet. We were served a hot lunch and plenty of fresh cold juice to keep us going. By 4:30 we were all looking forward to our cold showers back at the Nehemiah Centre.

Monday Feb 22

2010-02-23T19:14:00.000-08:00

After meeting at church at 2 a.m. Arend brought us to the airport in Toronto where we arrived with all of our bags and soup. We left on time and arrived in Nicaragua at around 1:30 Nicaragua time. The heat hits us all like a shock! It's very busy here with lots of "porters" trying to help with our luggage, so much that we ended up with someone else's bag which we were able to return. We met Mike Tigchelaar (the HANDS coordinator) who with his helper Lester, drove us to the Nehemiah Centre in Managua. So far, the city reminds us of Guatemala City, although not so much exhaust and honking of horns. The Nehemiah Centre is a complex where different christian organizations work out of with a gradeschool and highschool also a part of the complex. We were shown our sleeping quarters. The guys are in one and girls in the other with bunk beds to share. A bit like camping. |Very comfortable though. Thus far the food is great, lots of rice and beans.

Sunday 21

2010-02-23T18:56:00.000-08:00

We're getting ready to go late tonight. First we have to pack our "soup" packages which we got from the Gleaners right here in Cambridge. This is an organization that collects veggies from various wholesalers and dehydrates it and then packs it in 3LB bags to ship to third world countries to various organizations feeding the poor. This particular organization here in Nicaragua is called Child Evangelism Fellowhip, run by Peter and Yessania Tigchelaar. They feed up to 500 street kids every week and one three lb package feeds 100. We are well loaded down with soup and managed to bring about 500 lbs.

2010-02-19T18:13:00.000-08:00

Kitchener's CRC 2010 HANDS Team to Nicaragua

A team of 12 from Kitchener Community Christian Reformed Church will be leaving Feb. 22 to Managua, Nicaragua and returning March 4th
"HANDS" an acronym for Helping Another Nation Develop Schools is a WorldWide Christian Schools program which partner with local christian schools to assist in providing basic literacy skills and demonstrating Christian teachings in an environment conducive to learning.

We will be working on a school in Mont Fresco which is between Managua and the Pacific ocean. It is about a half hour drive from the Nehemiah Center where we will be sleeping and having our meals. For more information on the Nehemiah Center visit: www.nehemiahcenter.net
To learn more about our church and beliefs please visit: http://ccrc.on.ca/index.htm

Team members are: Michelle F, Hank S, Pete and Joyce D, Bernie and Linda D, Boyd H, Pete and Judy H, John V, PieterandYolanda