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Saturday, December 28, 2013

POST by LIZ: Pulled the Trigger Now You're Dead






“BANG - BANG - BANG!” and that was all it took – the man who had beaten you and opened up your face with his fist, fell to the floor and you were safe. But no one knew that that night of victory would be cut short and change your life forever.

I can’t prevent my mind from replaying 

the weeks leading up to that event. Things were going so well.  The centre was buzzing and it was a second home for you.  Jocasta and I poured into your life and I remember you looking into my eyes one night pleading me to take you to church because you needed God in your life.  I said I would love to take you, but you wanted me to know that you were serious. We talked deep that night and I know you soaked in every word spoken.

I knew that you had gotten into trouble while I had been away in the States.  I knew that you had returned to robbing yet this time it had gone further than stealing the average Joe’s home belongings.  When I had returned, I noticed you were harder in your heart and you knew it too.  Just seeing me again convicted your spirit and I could see you were crying out for help, for change, for freedom. 

We picked up from where we had left off, and I could see relief in your eyes. Relief that I accepted you for you and relief that I put my trust in you regardless of the rumors and the past. 

Many nights you’d ask if you could stay longer at the centre, you were happy messing with the DJ function on my computer and you were content, you could be yourself. 

Things were going well.  We helped our friend take his mind off his depression by dressing up as the characters from Dragonball, and making a lasting impression on the people in Galerias.  We laughed and joked and it was pure and innocent fun that restored and refreshed our souls.

I could see you were struggling; you didn’t want the streets, you didn’t want the zany life, you wanted stability and acceptance, you wanted change.

We took many trips in those few weeks; We focused on Jocasta having those final glimpses of Nicaragua and we drank in some of the beautiful landscapes and features of this country.

I cherish the time I visited you and your Mum.  I thoroughly loved sitting in the plastic chairs outside your humble home and talking through your passion of want you wanted Capital Edge to help you achieve. You wanted us to host a soccer tournament for the barrio and you promised you’d help me achieve this in practical ways. 

That night I bonded with your broken mother.  I remember thinking what a strong woman she is and I loved speaking positive words about you to her and seeing her eyes twinkle with delight. 

You were sick one night and you came to me for help - I took you to hospital and I know that you felt loved and cherished.

Do you remember the time, we karaoked the night away at the centre and we repeatedly sang, “Stand by me” over and over and over again until our voices broke on us. 



You were actively willing to help me fix things around the centre and you served and loved just being a part of my daily life. But sadly I was distracted and I allowed many opportunities to pass by and unfortunately, greed got the better of you.  

One night you came to visit, but I was out.  I didn’t realize that this would be the night that you most needed the centre – the protection – the acceptance.   That night you borrowed our motorbike, but you didn’t return it.  That night, the outdoor speakers were stolen, and that night changed the course of a life!     

After three days, I contacted you.  I knew you were renting out the bike to others. I know that bike has stories – horrific stories.  You returned the bike but things were different.  I was angry and I told you that if you wanted to be welcomed into the centre again, you would first have to think hard about your actions and you would have to return our stolen speakers before the doors would say “bienvenidos”. 

You were offended. You were hurt.  I watched as my words stabbed you and your dreams. You tried to justify your actions, but I wasn’t in the mood for excuses.

I didn’t realize the safety and security our centre provided to you.  I was at a low point, feeling the pressures of the world and doubting the calling God had given me.  I had many verbally express their concerns over the facebook photos I had posted with you in them.  People thought the worst and I allowed their narrow mindsets to eat at me, and I saw this as an opportunity to keep you at arm’s length.  

I didn’t value the beauty of what we provided for you, I listened to my critics and believed them when they hissed that all we do is provide a party and nothing more.  From every inch of my being, I am sorry that I didn’t value the influence I was to you, I didn’t see how you valued the acceptance that we offered you, and I didn’t believe that we were making a difference just by opening our green gate to you and allowing my home to be yours too.

I passed you in the streets and you were rejected and I was harboring unforgiveness and confusion.  I felt used and abused and focused on earthly matters rather than heavenly achievements.   
Your pride and culture wouldn’t allow you to say a direct Sorry to me, but you desperately tried to display this to me through your actions the night I visited your cousin that you happened to be at too.  I knew it wasn’t an accident or coincidence that you were there, but I was stubborn and tired and listened to earthly options instead of God’s.   

I missed the opportunity to speak words of life to you and as a result the streets became your home once again. 

“BANG”

I am sure this sound will haunt you and your mother for the rest of your life. 

You had gotten into trouble and trouble had decided to fight back.  You were fighting for your life and this time you called for your mother instead of me.   

That night, she took the law into her own hands.  She pulled the trigger and freed you for a moment. 


Now I see why God called us to open our home to the youth on the streets, now I can see that beyond the laughter and fun there is so much more taking place, now I am convinced of my calling… but it is too late to turn back the clock and redo the past - now you are on the run, now you are not welcome back to the barrio, now your mother is behind bars. 

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

POST by JED: Home Sweet Home

The Nicavangelists performing in Chicago

I had stayed up ALL NIGHT LONG. Seven of our troupe had already left, in two groups, utilising car, taxi cab, train, bus and plane to get back to Managua. I was left with the ones I trusted supremely, and the others I had no faith in whatsoever.

Lorenzy gently asked, “Dad, it’s 2am now. May I please sleep for a while?” I stared hard at the floor, wondering how they managed to get the wooden panels to shine the way they did. “Sleep? SLEEP?!!! Heck no, we’ve got to get ALL of our belongings into one place, pack everything to fit into the few suitcases we have left, and clean this house from TOP TO BOTTOM!!! No you may not sleep. Not now, NOT EVER!!!” Lorenzy’s exhausted 13 year old frame meandered away.

Elizabeth is our “packer.” Without question, she is amazing. This woman can get an elephant into a handbag, and a house into a suitcase. She rolls, pouts, pushes and screams! It’s almost the same as her giving birth. And with both scenarios I do the same thing, drink coffee and say “yes dear…”

American punctuality I cannot fathom. At 3:59am, I do not lie, in waltzed valiant Pastor Dominick of the Center Moriches (Long Island) Assembly of God, toting gloves, hat, and a grin from ear-to-ear. His early morning cheer offended me. I skulled a cup of hot coffee a little too fast and ran around inflicting torture on everyone else as I transformed our dormant house into the semblance of a brightly lit Christmas Tree. If I must suffer, than SO MUST YOU!

We dawdled to the van and plonked our bums on the clean, fabric seats. Thankfully, we’d packed the van the night before, and didn’t need to coordinate anything. I checked that we had our passports and paperwork for the 50th time and then proceeded to make RIDICULOUS attempts at 4:05am small talk.

Pastor Dominick understood my pain. He kept the conversation light.

The Long Island Airport (Macarthur) was barely alive. I was thanking my lucky stars I hadn’t had us fly out of LaGuardia or JFK. My good friend Deidra, from the Evangel Church in Long Island City had helped me out with purchasing our homeward bound flights. The woman was a brainiac with all things aviation and internet, helping me to save hundreds of dollars and my sanity.

We wheeled our 3 trollies of bags into the terminal, and I don’t mean the conventional passenger trollies, I mean the heavy duty, 3 metre long types. There were no other passengers waiting at the US Airways check-in area (America’s equivalent to Air India – soon to be merged with American Airlines, and hence to become America’s very own equivalent of Air China). We began to shift and shuffle suitcases, backpacks, pillows and blankets. I checked in for our flights via the kiosk (American efficiency, I LOVE IT!!!).

The first bleary eyed worker came out of the back office and I knew my work was in front of me. Airport workers will bend rules, but you have to get them onside first. Men are generally more willing to turn blind eyes, but there were none available.

I struck up a conversation, smiling broadly (not authentic, and I could feel the cracks in my performance from the outset) and bunging on my most Aussie accent. “G’day love!” I said as if I knew her. It worked… Phew! From that moment on it was “Australia” this and “Australia” that from her. I stopped smiling after but a few moments, and almost interrupted her to say “look, could you just hurry up!” However, I restrained myself. We hugged and kissed like long lost cousins, and I retreated to the wiry metal seating close to the revolving entrance door.

“Right” I said. “The time is now!... Jonny, I am entrusting you with my very own often forgotten son. Please, please, PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE take care of him, just as if he was YOUR very own offspring… and if you lose him, I will hunt you down and GUT YOU LIKE A PIG!!!” (One of my favourite lines from “The Grinch!” I use it whenever I am nervously serious, and need a little light relief) More hugs and more kisses. The boys toodled off towards the security zone and the departures area.

I slowly bent my knees, not wanting to frighten them with a fast sitting motion, and reveled in the sensation of my botty being cut into a hundred pieces. Lorenzy asked a further 1,000 unnecessary questions and I answered them all, at times referring her back to answers I’d previously given.  We stared at each other without expression, just comfortable not to be busy or in a hurry.

Just as the very last muscle in my tired body began to relax, my long lost cousin from check-in appeared before me. I looked up. “WHAT?” I wanted to ask. I again, restrained myself. “Are you guys okay?” Now honestly, this is not a question to be asking a missionary travelling solo with 12 kids in his charge. I wanted to break down and cry, pouring my heart out to this kind and generous soul, but her facial expression didn’t emanate social worker type of love at this point, instead it exuded “there is a massive problem” kind of love.

“Your flight is scheduled to depart in 25 minutes! You have to get all the way up to the other end of the airport for your security check, and then all the way back down this end to board your flight!” I’d wanted coffee!

Up I jumped, everyone else (bar Lorenzy) unaware of the potential catastrophe we were about to face. I barked orders, having everyone put their 2 backpacks and pillow stuffed with blanket and many other items, onto one of the airport’s industrial sized trollies. (Side note: You can get away with murder when travelling with children – even as an elderly person, I’m going to hire my grandkids so that I can take extra stuff on planes: “Oh, that’s his teddy bear! He likes it… Bah, that’s his i-pad! It helps to relax him… Grrrr, that’s his pair of dumbbells! He needs them…), I fanged it down the departures hall, near-missing many a Long-Island-Business-Type-Person (I kept checking behind for the kids who initially strolled, then jogged, then pelted it too…).

By the time we arrived through screening, we were near naked (on account of belts, buckles, coins, shoes, socks, pens and paperclips being extracted from our persons) and exasperated. We flew past Sezni and Jonny, who had blank expressions on their faces.

We were the last to board the flight, and they had been just about to close it prior to our arrival. I pulled out a sock, a ladies feminine hygiene product, a toothbrush and an array of papers before retrieving our boarding passes. We skipped out onto the tarmac, once again happy to be alive, hearts thumping wildly, only to be turned around to retrieve our passports back at the departure gate, which we’d stupidly left with the airport worker.

As I approached the plane the flight attendant called out “THAT BAG WON’T FIT IN THE PLANE!” I turned my head sideways, pretending not to hear. I looked into the distance and saw an amazing picture – the sun was rising…

The annoying woman continued to call, filling my ears with more “no’s.” She should have realised that I was the wrong person to tackle on a Tuesday morning out of Long Island Airport. “G’DAY!!!” I yelled as I came to within a metre of her, sending her swiftly backwards towards the coffee pot, bee-hive becoming entangled in the handle. “PLEASURE TO SEE YOU!” I exclaimed, as I marched straight past her.

I didn’t get far, she hurried behind me. “Sir, sir, that bag won’t fit on the plane!” I turned around sharply. “Yes it will, it’s only blankets”, my hand harshly squishing the oversized object downwards, though the bag rebelliously not moving an inch making me out to look like a liar and a fool! Many of my fellow passengers’ eyes began to roll…

I arrived at my seat and pulled out a backpack from within my “backpack.” I handed it to her. She raised question mark arms with matching face and asked “where?” I opened the overhead bin in front of me, which was completely empty, stuffed the back pack and other bag in it, and then sat down, ripping the magazine out from the seat pocket in front of me, and pretending to read an article on some new emerging pharmaceutical drug. “Hmpf” and she was gone…

Our flights were dreamy. We made it to Fort Lauderdale, via DC, in record time. We took a taxi to Miami International Airport and made it to Taca. What a disaster! This airline is beautiful, inflight, but a bit chaotic on the ground.

I looked for the end of the line, however confusion reigned. I went to the check-out area and looked back across the empty queues. The congestion started at the back of the line, where bags were being weighed for extra charges, before people were permitted to queue(?).

I approached one of the “bag weighers” and asked him if it might be possible to move the scales halfway towards the check-in counter, so that people could queue within the ropes, rather than obstruct all the increasingly cranky Lufthansa passengers, who were also trying to use the terminal building to access their flights.

The lad looked at me as if I was from Mars. I asked for the manager, who suddenly appeared beside me. I again explained my brilliant idea, and she said “thank you for your ideas, but we have to abide by specific regulations (in queue procedure???).” I asked to speak to the airport manager. She explained that she was the airport manager.  Our exchange became increasingly heated, as I begged her to have an idea that might assist her in assisting others.

I marched away highly annoyed, and returned to my group, HOPING for some support. Not to be… As I approached them, Sezni, my gallant son,  started pointing his thumb in hitchhiker fashion, calling out loudly, embarrassingly and with authority “AH AH AAAAAH! BACK OF THE LINE FOR YOU!!!” Thanks for the support, Sezanator!

We arrived back in Nicaragua to huge fanfare. Thank you Elizabeth for the fuss! I was thrilled to be home and delighted to have our family reunited. We crammed, all 50 of us (she’d brought half of our barrio with her), into our currently running ute.

As we drove along Managua’s busy, people saturated streets, two things struck me about Nicaragua.

Firstly, people love, love, love people. They’re out and about, partly because of necessity and partly because they need to be with others. They’re human. One problem in the west is that we work our guts out to get the biggest house possible, and then retreat to them, henceforth creating a copious supply of loneliness in our societies.

Secondly, people are desperate. In the US, for the most part, I had NOT experienced hunger. Any time I felt a need, I filled it. Driving home I began to feel hunger, in Nicaragua hunger is my companion.

As we drove home Lizzie relayed the sad events of the preceding evening. Alex, a 17 year old boy and a regular at our center, had become entangled in a brawl on the street. A friend of his, unable to really help, ran to Alex’s mother and communicated exactly what was transpiring. Alex’s mother came to the aid of her son. She shot the offender and he is now permanently paralyzed. Both Alex and his mother have been sent to prison.

Last night, I went with Aben and Harrison to buy snacks. As we entered the petrol station it became apparent that the attendants were mopping up blood. “What’s going on?” asked Aben. “We’ve just had a machete attack.”

I had been so critical of much I’d seen and heard in the US. I had begun to idolize my beautiful Nicaragua. However, I am at the place of completely accepting that “None is righteous, no, not one…”  (Romans 3)

So where to from here? Nothing has changed and so because we know God, understand the call on our lives, we continue… we carry on… “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”  But wait, here’s the promise:  

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age!!!
(Matthew 28)

We currently have an urgent need. Our Brien children need an education. We've managed to this point, but cannot continue teaching upper high school classes to them (I'M A 4th/5th GRADE TEACHER!!!). We are enrolling them in an American online school, so that they will receive a Higher School Certificate. The cost is $4,000 per year, and we do not have this in our budget. If you feel to assist us with this need, please contact us (CapitalontheEdge@gmail.com). You helping us, will help us help others... Thank you! Jeddoxo

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

POST by ERICSON: Thanks and Praise

Ericson performing at a Bboy event in downtown Minneapolis

On our first day in the United States, it was exhausting but it was also a new experience, a change in culture, big buildings, big cities and a good and new experience for everyone in our group.

In San Diego, we visited a really nice and humble family. The pastor and his wife received us with their arms wide open.

When we were in Davis, California, we visited a church where they had a lot of Mexicans and that church was really strong in the Lord. The pastor, his wife, and his kids gave us a lot of advice and a gift of a lot of blessings.

We also went to the New Life church in Sacramento. They were really generous because they gave each of us money and we helped with the community. It was really fun.

The second trip to the United States was when we went to Minnesota. There were really nice families waiting for us when we got there. It was a really nice experience because Gods plan was great and eight people in our group were baptised along with a lot of other people from the church. The people we performed for were accepting of Christ and it made me feel really happy because we were winning souls for Jesus.

The problems that we may face always have solutions and God always is with us. Everything is always in his hands and when we are with him, he will never leave us and he will always help us. He will move us and guide us.

The third tour took us to Richmond. This part of the USA was a huge blessing for us. There were a lot of happy families, happy because of our arrival. Also, they were happy and proud to have us with them. The people at the church had really good hearts.

We went to a Baptist church in Chicago that took us to a camp where we had a lot of fun. Video games, rides, water slides, and pools. It was a really pretty place, thank you for letting us have that great experience.

When we got back, we were visited an Assemblies of God church. We were there for two services and so we performed twice. The people there liked our praise and worship a lot.

When we went to the next church, Sezni was standing in front of one of the windows and he started peeing in front of it and the people where still in the service. Jed went to cover him because that was very embarrassing. He said, “Lets go walking to the other church and not wait for the transportation!”

Whilst in Chicago we were with both poor AND rich people. We did our CREATED performance for the people in Chicago and we won a lot of souls in churches and schools. We would invite people off of the street to come and see us perform. That city really was a blessing.

Right now we are in the house of a lovely family. Shane and Jenny and their kids take care of us really well and also everyone else that we have been with too. We are really thankful to all the people that have helped us and who we have stayed with, the people that have helped us with transportation, a place to stay and their love. Thank you!

This story was written by a Nicaraguan youth, and was voluntarily given to Capital on the Edge for publishing. The subject choice was his entirely. He has elected to write about his experiences for the glory of God and so that others may learn from his experiences. The translation of this work is performed voluntarily and not professionally, hence there may be some errors. Any decisive deviation from the text is in consultation with the author, and is done so to make clear the life events written about and to provide further information so that the story is more understandable.

If you would like to support this fellow on a monthly basis, please CLICK HERE

To learn more about our street theatre production, "CREATED", please visit our page,NICAVANGELISTS: "CREATED", North American Tour (2013)

If you would like to see a video of some of our Nica-Youths practicing, please CLICK HERE

We are not up to budget, and travelling with 14 people is very expensive. We need an investment from Christian people for our next evangelism tour to the Midwest. To support us or make a once off donation, please visit our page, Contemplating SUPPORTINGsomething significant?

Ericson and Jonny being HE-MEN and lighting a fire with the Bridge to Hope folks in Richmond, Virginia

Primer dia en estados unidos muy cansado pratodos una nuava experiensia un cabio de cultura edificios grande y siudades grande una buena y nueva experiensia para todos los del grupo siudad san diego visitamos una muy buena familia y umilde el pastor y su esposa nos resivieron con los brasos a biertos y nos a consejaron la pasamos bien estubimos en siudad David california es tubimos en una iglesia de mejicanos una iglesia muy sometida Dios el pastor y la esposa el hijo nos direon munchos consejos y regalo una vendision tanbien estubimos iglesia new life hellos fueron muy buenos con nosotros nos dieron realos y simos a lluda comunitaria fue muy bueno y divertido.
Cegundo viaje a estados unidos fuimos al norte de america estado minesota Lindas familias esperando a todo el grupo fue muy buena experiensia por que Dios hiso la hobra con todo el grupo uvieron bautismos se bautisaron 8 personas del grupo y munchas personas mas y munchas personas arepintiendose y a sectando a cristo en sucorazon parami fue una dision ver todas esas almas ganadas para la gloria de cristo.
Los problemas que siempre pasavamos todos siempre se solucionavan nose pero yo se que Dios los solusionaba las vendiciones son muy grande a limento rropa un techo donde dormir es lamano de Dios moviendolos i guiandolos .
Tercer viaje SIUDAD RICHMOM Fue una vendision muncha familias a legre de nuestra llegada munchas familias a legre y horgullosa de tenernos conosimos familias muy podres y buenas de corazon estubimos en una IGLESIA BAUTISTA con una familia muy a legre hellos nos llevaron a un canpamento pasamos un buen momento en el canpamento estubimos en video juegos y juegos mecanicos y picinas fue un lugar ermoso gracias por esa experiensia
Regresamos y estubimos en una IGLESIA DE LAS ASANBLEAS DE DIOS . Y llegamos y nos resivieron muy bien es tubimos en dos cultos y simos dos precentasiones y alas personas les agrado cuando regresavamos a la hotra iglesia SEZNI separo en la ventana de la IGLESIA estava horinando y era todavia el tiempo del culto y jed su padre corio a cubrir a su hijo de la pena jed nos diojo vamonoa a pies no esperamos los veiculos y llegamos a la hotra iglesias .
Salomos a siudad chicago estubimos con personas de munchas razas podre y ricos y simos la hobra de Dios en CHICAGO munchas almas ganadas en escuelas y Iglesias estubimos in bitando en las calles para la hobra y fue una vendision esa siudad .
A hora en la actualidad estamos en la casa de una ermosa familia SHANE Y JENNY ellos y sus hijos son muy vondadoso estar con esta familia y todas las hotras que hemos estados le estamos a gradesido familias a mables de buen corazon Dios les dara reconpensa y los vendesira por cuidarnos gracias por todo familias por los alimentos y techo y trasporte y su amor gracias.

POST by FRAN: A Head count for Head Lice

Francesca at Niagara Falls with Canada in the background

Do you want to know what it's like to be standing outside a familiar house, with familiar people inside the house and not be invited in, but instead be put in their cold garage all because you have head lice? 

It all started on a cold Thursday morning... around 10:30 a.m. The Capital on the Edge group, which contains ten Nicaraguan boys, my Dad, my Brother, my Sister and me. We reached the Seaburg's after a long bus ride, and Jen Seaburg, the woman of the house, detests lice! 

She came into the garage and talked over all of us in her best Spanish: "Okay guys, DO NOT come into our WARM house, you have to stay in the COLD garage, while I go through each of your hair one by one!" 

The response I heard after Jen's little speech sounded a little like this: "NOO!! We don't have lice!" Dad then yelled "At least we aren't sleeping on the street again tonight!" Jen laughed a little and slowly said in a bitter-sweet voice "Alrighty, who is first then?" What happened next was excruciating!

Francesca with her baby cousin

POST by ELIEZER: Parties, Machetes, Alcohol, a Fight and Dead People

Eliezer at a pond in Richmond, Virginia

Hello, my name is Eliezer. This time I am going to tell you about what happened in a street fight that left many hurt and two people dead, at a time we celebrate each year across Nicaragua.

On both the first and the 10th of August each year, there is a parade called the “IPICO.” Horses and carriages represent each Nicaraguan city, and in every town there are different activities for the local people to participate in.

My village chose a girl to be the queen of the party. They called her the Beautiful Indian. At the party in our barrio there were games and activities for the people to partake in. Men on horses walked through the crowds and everyone gathered around and played a game called the “Oily Pig.”

This game is a lot of fun. You see, there is a pig that they smother in oil, and then they let the pig go and you have to try and catch the small animal. It’s really hard. Whoever grabs the pig without letting go is pronounced the winner.

In this game the participants are formed into eight groups. There are three men per group. One person in the group has to go and catch the pig, and this is how my story starts.

At this celebration my cousin, , decided to play with a group of friends. When the game started everyone went to grab the pig and it was a tough fight. When someone had grabbed the pig, someone else came along and pushed the other fella off of the pig, freeing the grunting animal and creating an escape route for the wee mammal.

In one of these fights my cousin, Marcial, grabbed the pig but a man punched him from behind and my cousin fell unconscious.

When he woke up, the game was already over, but my cousin was really angry because of what had happened to him. My cousin went to go and drink alcohol at 6pm in the evening.

My cousin, Marcial, went to the man that had punched him in the game, to talk to him about the punch. The man who’d punched him grabbed a bottle and struck him over the head and he fell to the ground with blood gushing from the wound. A fight erupted and all of my cousin’s friends started to fight against those who were beating them.

Marcial stood up and grabbed a stick and started to hit the man who was attacking him and it turned into a massive brawl, with all of my cousin's friends fighting against the friends of the man who had slugged my cousin.

One of my cousin’s friends got hit by a machete and cut his hand. And his other friend was stabbed with a knife in the stomach and all of his guts came flying out. My family was afraid that the assailants had killed my cousin.

At that time my cousin was fighting with the man, but the man had a machete and my cousin only a stick, so my cousin grabbed a rock and hit him on the head, but other men arrived and started to beat my cousin. They left him in a wounded state, almost dead.

When the fight was finally over everyone realised that two people had died. One of the people murdered was a friend of my cousin and the other was a friend of the man who’d punched my cousin. Everyone else who’d participated in the battle was badly wounded. It was a very horrible fight. A celebration that sadly ended in tragedy.

I learnt through this horrendous event, that we can have black hearts, but we need to forgive and be patient because the loss of life from that celebration was needless and sad.

Thanks for reading my story.

Eliezer, the CHAMPION!

This story was written by a Nicaraguan youth, and was voluntarily given to Capital on the Edge for publishing. The subject choice was his entirely. He has elected to write about his experiences for the glory of God and so that others may learn from his experiences. The translation of this work is performed voluntarily and not professionally, hence there may be some errors. Any decisive deviation from the text is in consultation with the author, and is done so to make clear the life events written about and to provide further information so that the story is more understandable.

If you would like to support this fellow on a monthly basis, please CLICK HERE

To learn more about our street theatre production, "CREATED", please visit our page,NICAVANGELISTS: "CREATED", North American Tour (2013)

If you would like to see a video of some of our Nica-Youths practicing, please CLICK HERE

We are not up to budget, and travelling with 14 people is very expensive. We need an investment from Christian people for our next evangelism tour to the Midwest. To support us or make a once off donation, please visit our page, Contemplating SUPPORTINGsomething significant?

To learn more about our home Church in Australia, please CLICK HERE

Peleas y desastres en fiestas patrias de Nicaragua
Hola, mi nombre es eliezer esta bes les bengo a contar loque paso en pelea que dejo muchos eridos y 2 muertos en una fiesta que selebran cada a;o en toda nicaragua

El primero de agosto y el 10 de agosto asen cada a;o un desfile ipico de caballos y carosas que representa cada una de las siudades de nicaragua i en cada pueblo asen diferentes actividades
En mi pueblo escojen a una chica para coronarla reina de la fiesta la yaman la india bonita en esa fiesta asen juegos y actividades los hombres de el pueblo caminan en caballos y asen un juego que se llama el chancho lucio es un serdo que le echan aseite encima para que cuando lo quieran agarar sea mui dificil y el que lo logre agarar gana en ese juego se ponen 3 grupos de hombres i en cada grupo son 8 uno del grupo tiene que agarar y asi ganar y de hay comiensa mi historia.

Ese dia mi primo  desidio jugar con un grupo de amigos ese juegocuando comenso el juego y todos salieron a agarar el cerdo fue una lucha mui dura cuando alguien lo agaraba benia hotro lo empujaba para que lo soltara en una de esas luchas mi primo  lo logro agarar pero un hombre lo golpeo por detrás y mi primo quedo inconciente.

Cuando desperto ya abia terminado el juego pero mi primo estaba mui enojado por lo que le abian echo y mi primo se puso a tomar alcool a eso como de las 6 pm de la tarde mi primo  fue donde el hombre que lo abia golpeado para reclamarle qu porque lo abia golpeado el hombre agarro una botella de bidrio i le pego en la cabesa a mi primo y callo al suelo tirando sangre y todos los amigos de mi primo comensaron a pelear contra los que lo abian golpeado.

Mi primo se lebanto y agaro un palo y comenso a golpear al hombre y se iso una pelea de todos los que estaban hay los amigos de mi primo estaban peleando contra los amigos de el hombre que abia golpeado a mi primo a uno de los amigos de mi primo le abian pegado un machetaso y le cortaron la mano y a hotro le sacaron las tripas con un cuchillo mi familia estaba con miedo de que mataran a mi primo.
En ese momento mi primo estaba peleando con el hombre pero el hombre tenia un machete y mi primo solo un palo asi que mi primo agarro una piedra i le rajo la cabesa pero hotros hombres llegaron y comensaron a golpear a mi primo lo dejaron erido casi muriendo cuando termino la pelea abian 2 muertos uno era amigo de mi primo y el hotro amigo de el hombre y abian muchos eridos fue una pelea muy horible una selebracion que termino en trajedia.

Loque nos ense;a que no hay que tener maldad en nuestro corazon y perdonar y ser paciente porque eso podria ebitar una trajedia.
Gracias por leer mi historia.

POST by MYRON: Look How Far I've Come

Myron at Niagara Falls, with Canada in the background

Five years ago, everything at home was very different. My dad would drink a lot of alcohol, a lot! He used to drink almost every day. My father would only cause destruction in the life of my mother and my siblings.
We were forced to go and sleep at my grandmother’s house. My grandmother was very loving and kind to me, because I was the youngest out of my siblings.

The years passed by and I was growing. My dad was starting to stop drinking, and me and my brothers and my aunt would always go to church. We learnt a lot about the Bible. I was eleven years old and I grew close to God in my heart.

My older brother started to drink a lot of alcohol, and he became a gangster. My mother was working and so was my dad, and I was going to school like other kids in my community. On my birthday we went out to eat and to go and see some cool places. My mum was very proud of me, and my dad was too.

Months went by and I met the Brien family and their group. I now am a part of the Nicavangelists dance crew, and that’s why I’m here in America. I am proud to tell you my stories. This is all I have today, thanks for reading.

This story was written by a Nicaraguan youth, and was voluntarily given to Capital on the Edge for publishing. The subject choice was his entirely. He has elected to write about his experiences for the glory of God and so that others may learn from his experiences. The translation of this work is performed voluntarily and not professionally, hence there may be some errors. Any decisive deviation from the text is in consultation with the author, and is done so to make clear the life events written about and to provide further information so that the story is more understandable.

If you would like to support this fellow on a monthly basis, please CLICK HERE

To learn more about our street theatre production, "CREATED", please visit our page,NICAVANGELISTS: "CREATED", North American Tour (2013)

If you would like to see a video of some of our Nica-Youths practicing, please CLICK HERE

We are not up to budget, and travelling with 14 people is very expensive. We need an investment from Christian people for our next evangelism tour to the Midwest. To support us or make a once off donation, please visit our page, Contemplating SUPPORTINGsomething significant?

To learn more about our home Church in Australia, please CLICK HERE

Myron dressed up as a demon for CREATED at Wellspring Family Life Church in Syracuse, New York


Bueno hase como 5 anos atras todo en mi casa era muy diferente mi papa bebia alcol mucho mucho bueno eso era casi todo los dias bueno no le pegaba solo discutian mi mama con mi y mis hermanos nos ibamos a dormir donde mi abuela mi abuela era muy carinosa com mi porque yo era el mas menor de mis hermanos bueno pasaban los anos y yo cresia mas y my papa iba mas dejando el alcolismo y yo y mis hermanos y my tia ibamos ala iglesia siempre ibamos aprender mas de la biblia yo tenia 11 anos yo asecte a dios en mi corazon y my hermano mayor bebia alcol mucho bueno ya era de una pandia mi mama estaba en el trabajo y my papa tanbien y yo estaba en la escuela como todo nino estudia bueno era mi cunpleanos salimos a comer y a barios lugares bueno y mi mama estaba muy horguyosa de mi y mi papa tanbien bueno pasaron meses y pude conoser ala familia brien y un grupo que haora por eso estoy aquí horguyoso de estarle contandole esta historia a hustedes bueno es todo lo que les cuento a ustedes grasias por hoirme.

POST by JOSE: The Ladies in My Life

Jose cooking dinner in the Ohio Valley (West Virginia)

Hello my name is Jose Ballardo and I would like to tell you a little bit about how Jesus came into my life and how I accepted him as my Saviour.

My life in the past: I hadn’t yet accepted Jesus in my life. When I was 10 years old I was very spoiled by my mum. She worked hard and spent most of her time with my brother. I had a babysitter that took care of me. My mum gave us everything we wanted and we were very happy because we had everything we asked for.

Bad friendships: Over time, things became worse for our family. My mum got fired from her job and we didn’t have enough money. I would watch my mother cry because sometimes we didn’t even have food at home to eat. When I was 12 years old, I made some friends who were going through the same economic circumstances as me.

Bad decisions: My new friends were poor and knew my life. I felt comfortable being around them. Yet I saw that they would go out well dressed and with elegant style. They would say to me, “Do you want to look like us?”

I looked at myself and thought about all the poverty we were lived in. I said “okay, I would like to dress like you.” They said, “Good, let’s go steal some stuff… We are going to teach you how to do it!” So I followed them.

We walked to a specific location and then my friends said, “See the lady who is walking along the road? We will follow her and you're going to grab her around the neck and you’re going to throw her down to the ground and then steal all the money she has.”

I started to think about it, because the lady was very old and it seemed like a really bad idea. However, desperate times call for desperate measures and so I agreed to the plan. “Alrighty, I'll do it. I have nothing to lose…” So I approached the old lady and robbed her of the money she was carrying. I then ran fast and far. When we regrouped, we split up the money somewhat evenly and I felt full of adrenaline.

After the “old lady” incident, I started getting into fights with other people. I viewed it all as a game. However, my mum did not realise what had happened or any of the bad stuff that I was now doing. I would skip school to go and get into trouble with my so-called “friends.”

FLAWS THAT ENTERED MY LIFE: I would escape with my friends and they began to drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes, but I would only watch them. Then one day they said, “Jose, try this… You’re going to like it a lot and it will make you feel better, and you will forget about your troubles…” I asked them, “What is it?” They intelligently explained “It’s Marijuana.”

I started smoking the Marijuana and then began to feel really weird. After that I didn’t try it again, but I did try alcohol and cigarettes. Thank the LORD my body would reject these different drugs. I would ask my friends, “Why would you consume these drugs if you act like idiots after using them?” Their only response was to laugh at me.

The Sadness and suffering of my mother: as the time passed I would spend my time doing bad things. All I would think about were bad things and I listened to a lot of Satanic Rock and very violently music. I internally felt that my life was rubbish. I even came to a day where I cursed and insulted God’s name and blamed him for all my problems and thought about killing myself.

However, in these moments of rage, something would stop me. I would get really angry and I would yell and offend my mum and she began to cry because I treated her badly and would yell at her.

She had begun to notice me hanging around with bad people and doing bad things. I would never have acted like that in the past. My mother became very sick because of the problems I was causing her. She asked me, “Son, please change? Please go to church and seek God in your life?” It was funny to me and so I would laugh at her, “Who is God? For me God is like a whatever…”

Jesus touched my life: I was still into really bad things but one day a lady came and said to me, “Son, can I talk to you a little bit about Jesus?” I was 17 years old and I said “Okay, sure – why not…” This lady started talking to me about the Lord, and about the love he has for us.

She explained to me that Jesus sacrificially gave his life to save us and I hadn’t really known much about Him before this. When she had finished reading the word of God, she told me, “I’m inviting you to church tomorrow and if you don’t come I'll come get you and bring you myself.”  I told her I’d go because I had nothing better to do.

The next day I went to church to see what it was all about. When I entered, “wow” - I felt something different. I felt a heat in my whole body that comforted me and made me forget all my problems.

We started to sing and praise God. After that day I started going every week to church. God began to walk in my life. All the evil things I’d done were forgiven and I didn’t have a lot of problems in my life anymore.

Growing In Jesus: God has healed and changed me. Now I am a missionary and I give my testimony for the glory and the honour for God. Every day I pray for all the wonderful people that I have met on these trips.

My mother is healthy and everything is all falling into place, even though sometimes I fall down, God is there to pick me up and he says, “Come on son, I’m here with you. My hand is holding you.” In each church that I go to, I meet wonderful, nice people and I know that God has changed them like he has changed me.

This story was written by a Nicaraguan youth, and was voluntarily given to Capital on the Edge for publishing. The subject choice was his entirely. He has elected to write about his experiences for the glory of God and so that others may learn from his experiences. The translation of this work is performed voluntarily and not professionally, hence there may be some errors. Any decisive deviation from the text is in consultation with the author, and is done so to make clear the life events written about and to provide further information so that the story is more understandable.

If you would like to support this fellow on a monthly basis, please CLICK HERE

To learn more about our street theatre production, "CREATED", please visit our page,NICAVANGELISTS: "CREATED", North American Tour (2013)

If you would like to see a video of some of our Nica-Youths practicing, please CLICK HERE

We are not up to budget, and travelling with 14 people is very expensive. We need an investment from Christian people for our next evangelism tour to the Midwest. To support us or make a once off donation, please visit our page, Contemplating SUPPORTINGsomething significant?

To learn more about our home Church in Australia, please CLICK HERE

Jose & Eliezer at Niagara Falls

Jesús en mi vida y como me a cambiado

Hola mi nombre es jose ballardo y les quiero contar un poco de como Jesús entro en mi vida y lo e aceptado como mi salvador.
Vida pasada: En mi vida pasada cuando no había aceptado a Jesús cuando yo tenía 10 años era un chico muy mimado por mi mama ella trabajaba mucho y pasaba solo la mayor parte del tiempo con mi hermano y la niñera que nos cuidaba mi mama nos daba todo lo que queríamos y éramos muy felices porque teníamos todo lo que queríamos.
Malas amistades: Con el tiempo las cosas se fueron  poniendo peor a mi mama la habían despedido del trabajo y no ajustábamos con el dinero habían mas deudas yo solo miraba llorar a mi mama porque abecés nos hacía falta la comida en el hogar. Cuando tenía 12 años conocí a unos amigos que pasaban por la misma situación que yo.
Malas decisiones: Ellos pasaban por lo mismo y me sentía cómodo con ellos, pero yo miraba que caminaban bien vestidos y muy elegantes y ellos me decían quieres ser como nosotros, yo me miraba y pensaba en la pobreza que estábamos pasando y les dije ok si me gustaría vestirme como ustedes y ellos me dijeron vamos a robar  te vamos a ensenar como hacerlo y yo les seguí y me decían te vamos a explicar vez aquella señora que va caminando la vamos a seguir y tu la vas a sujetar del cuello y la vas a tirar al suelo y le sacas todo el dinero que lleva y llo me puse a pensar por que la señora era muy anciana, pero después me dije ok lo voy a hacer no pierdo nada y vine y agarre a la señora y le quite todo su dinero y salimos corriendo y nos repartimos y yo me sentía con aquella adrenalina.
Después de lo sucedido con la señora me anduve metiendo en peleas con los demás yo lo miraba como un juego hacer todas esas maldades, pero mi mama no se daba cuenta de lo sucedido y de nada de lo que hacia, yo me escapaba del colegio por andar haciendo maldades con mis supuestos amigos.
VICIOS QUE ENTRARON EN MI VIDA: Yo me escapaba con mis amigos y ellos comenzaban a tomar y a fumar cigarrillos y llo solo los miraba y un dia me dijeron jose prueba esto te va a gustar y te ara sentir mejor y olvidaras todos tus problemas y yo les dije que era y ellos me dijeron es marihuana y yo les dije que si y la comencé a probar y después me comencé a sentir muy raro y después de eso no la volví a probar y después probé el alcohol  y los cigarrillos pero gracias a dios mi cuerpo los rechazaba, y después yo les decía a ellos que para que consumían ese tipo de cosas si se miraban como estúpidos y ellos solo se ponían a reir.
Tristeza y sufrimiento de mi mama: Haci paso el tiempo y yo solo pensaba cosas malas y escuchaba rock satánico y músicas con mucha violencia y yo sentía que para mi la vida era basura hasta llegue a maldecir e insultar a dios y lo culpaba de todos mis problemas y pensaba en quitarme la vida pero siempre algo me detenía me ponía tan enojado que ofendía a mi mama y ella se ponía a llorar por que yo la trataba muy mal ella se había
 dado cuenta que andaba en cosas malas porque yo antes no me comportaba aci ella se ponía muy enferma por los problemas, le ocasionaba  muchos problemas ella me decía hijo por favor cambia por favor ve a la iglesia y busca de dios y llo solo me reía y le decía quién es dios para mi dios ni es nada le decía.
Jesús toco mi vida: Yo seguía en las cosas malas pero un dia se acercó una señora y me dijo hijo le puedo hablar un poco sobre Jesús yo ya tenía 17 años y llo le dije si está bien y me comenzó a hablar sobre Jesús sobre el amor que nos tenía a nosotros que dio su vida para salvarnos y llo no savia nada sobre Jesús y cuando termino de leerme la palabra me dijo mañana te invito a la iglesia y si no vas yo te voy a venir a traer y yo le dije que si no tenía nada que hacer.
Y al día siguiente fui a la iglesia para ver de qué se trataba y al entrar wow sentí algo diferente sentí un calor en todo mi cuerpo que me reconfortaba y hacia que olvidara todos mis problemas y en ese instante comencé a cantar y alabar a dios y después de ese día comencé a ir más seguido a la iglesia y dios me iba cambiando mi vida y todo lo malo en mi lo perdono y no tenía muchos problemas como antes.

Creciendo con Jesús: Dios me sano y me cambio ahora soy misionero y doy mi testimonio para la gloria y honra de dios cada día oro por todas las personas maravillosas que e conocido en estos viajes gracias a dios mi mama es saludable y todo está saliendo bien aunque en veces tropiezo y caigo pero dios está ahí y me levanta y me dice animo hijo estoy con tigo mi mano te sostiene, en cada iglesia que voy conozco personas bellas y amables y dios a cambiado sus vidas como a mi gracias a dios y a ustedes por esta oportunidad de estar aquí.  DIOS LOS BENDIGA