Please for Support

G’day Friends!

Okay, so our interviews are tomorrow.

I’m writing to ask you all to consider supporting us with the remainder of funds we urgently need in the next couple of days in order to get legal documentation together for our minors (under 18 – there are 8 of them on this tour) and to purchase our return plane tickets. We need in the ballpark of one grand ($1,000). 

Please share with your friends and the like; there ARE people out there who believe in the future of Nicaraguan kids…

Love you all,

Jeddoxo

POST by JESSICA: Bus(t)

Jessica in a moto-taxi with Jed and Myron

This past weekend I went along with the Brien kids to support Fran in her Bboy competition.  Whilst there I was also able to visit some of the guy’s (Nicavangelists) homes and meet their families (as if I don’t spend enough time with them during the week).

On Sunday afternoon, while the Brien children were spending some quality time with their mom, I was invited to go to the mall with some of the guys just to walk around and window shop because they had nothing better to do. So after spending about two hours at the mall we headed back to the boys’ barrio.

I went straight to Jose’s house to meet up with Lorenzy and to use the internet. In all honesty, Jose and his mother have got to be to sweetest people I have ever met in my entire life. José’s mother was cooking up this big dinner to feed all of us, and might I say it was delicious!! She made baked chicken (one of my all time faves) and I swear I felt like I had just ordered it from a restaurant. 

I slept the night with the Brien children in the boys’ barrio. The night came fast, but the morning came faster. I was woken up at 7am by Jason, one of the guys in the group, who came to pick me up to head back to Nicavangelists Headquarters.

Well if anyone knows me they know that I AM NOT A MORNING PERSON, so there I was, half asleep, walking down the road to the bus stop at 7am with Jason laughing at me. Knowing I had the most tired/ disgusted look on my face I asked, “What are you laughing at?” which only made him laugh harder.

We finally arrived at the bus stop and it was like perfect timing, the bus was there to pick us up. We got on the bus and headed down the road trying not to be thrown into different people because the drivers here are not easy on the breaks AT ALL. Well before we knew it there were so many people on the bus that we were practically smashed up against the window.

A few stops into our ride there was this old man who looked homeless and he kept chanting the same thing over and over again. The only word I understood was “dinero.”  I looked up and to my little surprise I saw Jason digging around in his pocket and looking at the change we’d received after paying for our bus ride. Whilst looking at me he shrugged his shoulders, and handed the old man his money.

I had the biggest smile on my face and my heart was so happy. The guys (Nicavangelists) really are so amazing! They come from very little to nothing, and yet they are still willing to give some if not all that they have to people whom are not as fortunate as them.

I honestly am so thrilled that God has placed me in this group. God is changing these boys and their hearts daily, and they are becoming AWESOME young men of God.  

If you would like to partner with the Nicavangelists, please CLICK HERE... Thank you for being a part of what God is doing in the hearts and lives of young Nicaraguans... 

POST by STIVEY: Daddy Work-for-Bucks

Stivey with his family at Managua International Airport (Capital on the Edge) 

At the age of 2, my dad lost his mother and father and he did not know, because he was really little. So his uncle and aunt became his parents.

Well the years went by and nobody wanted to tell him the truth of how his parents had died. But one day his uncle was tired and couldn’t wait anymore, so he told him the truth.

At the age of 7 his uncle told him that he was just a one year old babe when his father was fixing the roof of their house and he suffered the misfortune of falling and breaking his neck. Not long after, his mother died in a car accident and that’s how both of his parents died.

Several years later, the pain of my dad’s losses were beginning to heal. However, one day his older brother and he were mucking around, at first, joking and carrying on, but then they became entrapped in a massive fight. In the end my dad’s makeshift family evicted him from his big brother’s house. At the age of 14 he received his school certificate and was working fulltime.

My dad started to hate his family because they had thrown him out of the house and because of that he concentrated all of his efforts and care towards his job. At the age of 15, my dad became the boss of the business where he worked and he thought that he had everything with his job. He thought…

When he was 18, he had to pay for a room that he rented and at that age, he had become even more important in his job role. But one day he saw his family, yet did not care because he hated them. With his new job and life he was able to move foward and did not need his family. My dad paid for his own schooling and the room that he rented.

Now I thank God because my dad repented of everything that he did wrong as a young man. He forgave his family and even his brother.

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 SUPPORTING something significant?
To learn more about our home Church in Australia, please CLICK HERE

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. 

This story was translated by Lorenzy and edited by Jed.
 

Stivey, the boy with a grandisome Corazon...

A la edad de 2 anos, mi padre pierde a su mama y papa y el no sabia porque estaba muy pequeño entonces sus tíos a esa edad se hacen cargo de el.

Pues pasaron los anos y a el nadie le quería decir la verdad en la cual murieron sus padres pero un día su tío se canso y no espero mas y le dijo la verdad entonces ala edad de 7anos su tío le dijo tu tenia 1ano cuando tu papa murió componiendo el techo de la casa y se resbalo y callo y se quebró el cuello y tu mama murió en un accidente automovilístico ha si fue como paso la muerte de los dos.

Entonces pasaron los anos y mi papa hi va superando su dolor al perder sus padre pero un día su hermano mayor por bromas se pelean y a mi papa lo corren de la casa pues ala edad de 14anos mi papa se recibe de bachiller sale de su secundaria del colegio pues mi papa a esa edad ya trabajaba.

Pues mi papa había agarrado odio con su familia porque lo corrieron de la casa por ese motivo mi papa ya no le importaba nada que solo su trabajo pues mi papa ala edad de 15anos mi papa era jefe de la empresa donde trabajaba el y el pensaba que

lo tenia todo solo con su trabajo si pensaba el.

Pero a los 18anos de edad mi papa tenia que trabajar para pagar el cuarto donde vivía el pues a esas edad mi padre era mas que jefe de su empresa pero un día el mira su familia y no le importo porque el odiaba a su familia.

Si con su trabajo el salió adelante y no necesito de su familia y el pago su estudio y su cuarto donde vivía el ahora mi yo le doy gracia a dios porque mi padre se arrepintió de todo lo malo que hiso el en su pasado pues su familia el y su familia se quieren mucho y con su hermano también.

POST by ORLANDO: Vida de Mi Padre

Orlando taking the wheel, on a Capital on the Edge trek to Wisconsin

I want to tell you about the life of a restored father.

My name is Orlando and I want to tell you about how my dad’s life has changed. My father’s name is Marvin and he is from Masaya, Nicaragua. He was born in 1968. He has suffered and had a lot of really hard times in his life.

My dad is the only man in his family, apart from his father. He has worked since the age of 8 years old. He worked hard because his parents made him work - he was the only male! He suffered horribly, being treated poorly. Often times, his parents would tell him to leave the house because they used a lot of drugs and drank alcohol until they were drunk.

At the age of 16, the military grabbed him because of problems in Nicaragua. That’s where he learnt to fix cars that had been in accidents and paint them. But even there he suffered through the pain of hunger, because he was not able to leave that place.

A long time later he was able to leave the military and then he decided to look for a job. However, Nicaragua does not have a lot of jobs available (80% unemployment) and if you get a job, it most likely won’t pay a lot of money.

Because of that, my dad decided to try travelling to Guatamala, a country close to Nicaragua. There he found an uncle who had the same job as my father. He was there for just a few years and then decided to immigrate back to Nicaragua.

At the age 26, my father decided to study and that’s when he met my mum. After a while they were married and then my mum became pregnant. When my brother was just 1 ½ years old I was born.

Approximately 5 years later my dad became an alcoholic because of the bad examples that his parents had been. He started hitting my brother and I, and my mum would almost always be crying because he was very offensive. His main struggles were drugs, alcohol and womanising.

Often times he would be lost on the streets vomiting from the alcohol, but I would go and yell at him "Dad stop it!!!" I would say in my mind "God help him! Give him strength and let him understand!"

Thanks to God, I used a lot of people to try and help me, help my dad. It took about 12 years for him to change, but thanks to God, He touched his heart and he’s now a changed man.

My dad then sent me to a Christian school and the Lord truly was helping us. The teachers were Christian people. They told us that our parents should be going to the same church that the teachers of the school attended.

My dad would help out and go to church, so that he could see even greater changes in his life, and give his testimony so as to encourage others, showing that God had changed his life in a marvelous way.

Now, thanks to God, he is a servant of God. He has started a church with God’s help and now has many members in his church. The change is huge because God walks with my father and my family.

Everyone who truly seeks God will find him. Thank you for your attention and God bless you!

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 SUPPORTING something significant?
To learn more about our home Church in Australia, please CLICK HERE
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. 

This story was translated by Lorenzy and edited by Jed.

Getting ready for a rehearsal at Zimmerman Community Church, in Minnesota 

Quiero contarle la vida de un padre restaurado.

Mi nombre es Orlando, quiero decirle el cambio de la vida de mi papa, el llama Marvin él es de Nicaragua, Masaya el nació en 1968 el asido un hombre muy sufrido y ha tenido muchos golpes de la vida.

Él es el único hombre de la familia a parte de su padre, el asido muy trabajador desde la edad de 8 a;o él trabajaba ya que sus padres le exigían el trabajo, ya porque él era el único varón, y el sufría mucho maltrato y muchas veces lo corrían por los mismo padres ya que ellos tenían mucho vicios llamado alcohol y drogas.

Al pasar el tiempo a la edad de 16 año, él fue agarrado por el servicio militar , por diferencias que hay en un país, y el ahí aprendió un oficio que es un trabajo donde el adquiero practica en el trabajo de enderezar y pintar automóvil , pero sin embargo el ahí sufrio mucha hambre y sufrimiento al no salir de ese lugar.

Al salir del servicio militar después de un largo tiempo, el decidió ir a buscar trabajo pero como en Nicaragua es un país donde el trabajo es escaso y es muy poco el dinero al pagar, entonces mi padre toma la decisión de ir a Guatemala un país cercano a Nicaragua y el ahí se encontró con un tío que de igual se desempeñaba en el mismo trabajo que mi papa y así fue como el trabajo unos cuantos años con él y decidió regresarse a Nicaragua.

Ala edad de 26 año el decidió estudiar y conoció a mi mama, se conocieron poco tiempo y se casaron luego salió mi madre embarazada salió mi hermano al 1 año y medio Salí yo. Y al pasar un periodo de 5 año veía en mi padre que él tenía mucho vicio por el mal ejemplo que los padres de él le daba, y veíamos mi hermano y yo que él nos pegaba mucho a mi madre casi siempre la veíamos llorando porque él era muy ofensivo, el problema de él era el alcohol las droga y muy mujeriego.

Muchas veces a él lo daban por perdido por que dormía en las calles vomitado, y varias veces lo veía a él y como todo hijo iba donde él y le decía, Papa ya no más!!!

Solamente decía en mi mente Dios ayúdalo, dale fuerza y entendimiento.

Gracias a Dios uso a muchas personas para el cambio de mi padre fue un periodo bien largo alrededor de 12 año pero gracias a Dios toco el corazón de una persona en ayudar a mi familia Y Principalmente a mi padre y la solución fue en ponerme en un colegio cristiano de ahí el señor ya estaba tratando con nosotros, y los profesores son personas cristianas y nos decía de que los padres tenían que ir a los culto y que era exigido , y de esa forma mi padre le ayudo mucho en ir a los culto para que el cambiara y así dar testimonio que Dios lo cambio .

Ahora gracias a Dios él es un siervo de Dios , esta levantado una iglesia con la ayuda de Dios y de los miembros de la iglesia y el cambio es grandioso porque Dios está con él y con mi familia, y de igual forma con cada uno de las personas que lo busque en verdad Dios estará con el .
　

Gracias por su atención Dios les bendiga.

POST by JOSE: Trauma Mia (Mumma)

Jose, of Capital on the Edge, flying with Taca

My mum’s childhood was one of the cruelest experiences that I have ever heard of. Everything started when she was just 8 years old. My grandmother got together with a man who wanted to abuse my mum. He would tell her to leave the house and he would not give her anything to eat. My mum told my grandmother about it all, but she did not believe that she did not have a normal childhood.

My mum escapes her parents’ house:

Every time my grandfather told her to leave the house, she would sleep on the streets and would be really hungry and would suffer. She decided to escape all the suffering and abuse.

Relationship of my mum and dad:

My mum ran away from her house at the age of 10. She had a boyfriend who is my dad. He gave her a place to stay and they lived together. He was 19 years old and my mum was only 11.

Abuse to my mum:

After a while, my mum became pregnant. She was only 13 years old. She bore her first son, my first brother, who died. This death affected my mum a heap. At the age of 14, she had me.

Then my dad started to change and he would hit her and treat her bad. There were a lot of times where he would grab her hair and pull her across the room and sometimes he would try to kill her. She had my brother at the age of 17, yet her boyfriend kept on abusing her.

The abondoning:

At the age of 18, she decided to run away from the abuse. She went to another country leaving us with him. Years passed and we did not hear anything about our mother. My dad said that she had been bad to us and that she had abandoned us.

After many years my brother and I grew up. One day I was playing and I saw an elegant and beautiful lady and she approached me and said "son, how are you?" and at that moment I felt really happy and all the hatred I held for my mother, disappeared.

Forgiveness to my mother:

My mum took us with her and we were all very happy. Though, she was the happiest out of us all. The most important thing is that she forgave my grandparents for all of the damage that they had done to her, and the traumatising pain that they left her with.

Years passed and the economic situation became more and more difficult. There were times where we would go hungry and she would always prefer to give us her food so that she would be hungry instead of us.

My mum is my hero and a marvelous woman. I love her a lot. We are extremely poor but at least we are together. I will always help her. I love her.

Forgiveness sets you free:

The best advice you can get is that it does not matter what your mother does, nor what she is, she will always be there to protect you and take care of you. She is your best friend and forgiving makes you feel free. Thank you God for giving us all marvelous mothers!

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 SUPPORTING something significant?

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

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. 

This story was translated by Lorenzy and edited by Jed.

Jose enjoying dinner with Siren Assembly of God

La niñez de mi mama fue una de las más crueles y duras todo empezó cuando ella tenía 8 años mi abuela se juntó con un hombre quien quiso abusar de mi mama repetidas beses, el la corría de la casa y no le daba de comer mi mama le decía a mi abuela y ella no le creía ella no tuvo una infancia normal.

Escape de mi mama de la casa de sus padres:

Cada vez que mi abuelo la corría ella dormía en la calle y pasaba hambre y sufrimiento, ella decidió huir de todo su maltrato y sufrimiento.

Relación de mi mama y mi papa:

Mi mama huyo de la casa a los 10 años ella tenía un novio que era mi papa el le dio refugio y vivieron juntos el tenía 19 años y mi mama 11 años.

Maltrato de mi mama:

Después de un tiempo ella quedo embarazada a los 13 años de mi primer hermano quien murió en el parto eso la afecto mucho a los 14 años me tubo a mi, mi papa comenzó a cambiar y le empezaba a pegar y la maltrataba mucho hubo veces que la agarraba del cabello y la arrastraba barias veces la intento matar, ella tubo a mi hermano a los 17 años mi papa cada vez la maltrataba mas.

El abandono:

A los 18 años ella decidió huir de ese martirio y se fue a otro país dejándonos con el , pasaron los años y no sabíamos nada de ella mi papa nos decía que mi mama había sido mala con nosotros y que nos había abandonado, mi hermano y yo crecimos paso el tiempo, un día yo estaba jugando y mire a una mujer elegante y bella ella se me acerco y me dijo hijo como estas en ese momento me sentía muy feliz todos los rencores desaparecieron.

Perdón hacia mi madre:

Ella nos llevó con ella y éramos felices ella lo más importante perdono a mis abuelos de todo el daño que le hicieron y los traumas que le dejaron, pasaron los años y su situación económica se iba haciendo más difícil habían beses que pasábamos hambre ella prefería darnos su comida y ella pasar hambre ella es mi héroe, es una mujer maravillosa la quiero mucho somos pobres pero unidos y siempre la apoyare en todo.

El perdón te hace libre: uno de los mejores consejos es que no importa lo que nuestra madre haga o sea ella siempre estará ahí para protegernos, amarnos y cuidarnos es nuestra mejor amiga y el perdonar te hace sentir libre. (gracias a dios por darnos un ser tan maravilloso nuestras madres).

POST by JONNY: The Cost of a Kid's Life

Jonny (Center) with his friends, before leaving for Guatemala

Hello my name is JONNY

My story is about a friend who was killed in a very bad way.

My friend's name was Jonny and he was a break dancer like me. One day Jonny told me “hey boy, I’m going to work in Guatemala and there I’ll also be able to dance with some of my new friends.

I said “be careful. Guatemala is a very dangerous country.” He said quietly to me “it’s okay. I have friends in Guatemala who will look after me.” I responded with “okay, very good. Keep safe…” and with that he left.

The year after that I went to a competition in Guatemala and I saw my old friend Jonny. He had a lot of money and so I asked him “What work are you to be earning so much money?” Jonny hushed me and asked that I go with him to a place where nobody could hear us talk. When we arrived in a secluded area he told me “I am hitman.”  

“A hitman? What’s that?” I was confused. He replied “I get paid to kill people.”  I asked Jonny “Why do you do this awful job?” He responded “This is my life here. I never had a father like you. Do not ask me more questions, ok?”

In that moment I decided to return to the dancing competition. Jonny left. He turned around and walked out, not even looking back.  

After the competition, I returned to Nicaragua. Three months later, I was practicing my dancing at our usual spot. A friend of mine came to where I was practicing with my group and told our troupe that Jonny had been killed in Guatemala.

I was upset, “Who killed him?” I asked. My friend explained that MARA had killed Jonny. “Mara” is an organisation, a gang, and they kill for money. My entire dance group felt very bad about Jonny’s murder.

The next day, the body of Jonny was transported from Guatemala to Nicaragua and placed in a morgue.

Jonny’s family went together to the morgue, as they wanted to retrieve the body. The staff explained to Jonny’s family that it would not be possible to even look at the body, let alone take it away. The body was in a terrible state and must be buried in the ground immediately.

The family of Jonny, said “it’s okay to bury him now. But his mother would like to see her son, just one last time.” The doctor responded with “no, it’s just not possible.” The mother insisted, “I want to see my son!” The doctors finally gave in and permitted just the mother to take one last moment with her son.

When finally the mother was with her son she became distraught. Her son had been cut into pieces. His head, legs and arms had all been severed from his body. The doctors were also very upset, as they had really tried to not allow this lady to see her mutilated son’s body.

Without knowing what had happened, I asked my mum what had happened to the body of my friend. She explained that the hands, feet and head of Jonny had been cut off. I then felt really bad about what had happened.

Later, the mother of my friend said to me “He wanted to go to Guatemala, but I said no. It’s a very dangerous country. He didn’t listen to me. Later I learnt that he was killing people for a living. For this reason he was murdered.”

Because he wanted to earn a bit of money, my friend’s life has been destroyed forever.

God bless the people who read this story.

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, ContemplatingSUPPORTINGsomething significant?

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

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. 

Hola mi nombre es JHONNY

Mi historia se trata sobre un amigo el cual fue asesinado de una manera muy mala .

El nombre de mi amigo es JONNY y al y gual que yo tambien break dance .

Y un dia el me dijo JONNY me boy a ir a trabajar a guatemala y hay mismo bailare con unos amigos que tengo a ya . yo le dije ten mucho cuidado que ahy es muy peligroso ese pais y el me dijo tranquilo a mi me cuidaran mis amigos de a ya guatemala y pues yo le dije esta bien que te baya muy bien , y en eso el se fue .

Al siente ano yo fui a una competencia a guatemala y hay estaba el y el estaba con mucho dinero y yo le dije de que trabajas aqui ). y el me llevo a un lugar en donde no nos escuchara nadie y cuando fuimos a el lugar , el me dijo yo soy SICARIO , y yo le dije que es eso . y el me dijo a mi me pagan por matar personas y yo le dije que . porque si eso es malo , y el me respondio eso es mi vida aqui porque yo no tube un padre como vos y ya no me preguntes mas ok .

Y en eso fuimos al evento y el se fue y no lo volvi a mirar y luego yo regrese a nicaragua y despues de 3 meces, un amigo llego a donde yo practicaba y el me dijo mataron a JONNY y yo le dije como si y el me dijo que la(MARA) la mara es una organisacion que matan por dinero ) y yo me sentia muy mal cuando me dijieron eso .

Al dia siguiente trasladaron el cuerpo de Guatemala a NICARAGUA y cuando el cuerpo estaba en medicina legal , la familia de mi agigo yego a pedirlo para ellos enterrarlo y los de MEDICINA LEGAL le dijieron que el cuerpo ya estaba muy mal que tenian que ir a enterrarlo de inmediato cuando lo sacaran , y la familia de mi amigo dejo que si que no era problema y en eso la mama de mi amigo pidie mirar el cuerpo y los doctores le dijieron que no y e ya insistio asta que la dejaron mirara el cuerpo y e ya estaba muy mal al mirar el cuerpo de su hijo en pedasos .

Y despues que paso todo yo le pregunte a la mama de mi agigo que como estaba el cuerpo y ella me dijo que le cortaro la caveza manos y pies . y despues yo me senti muy mal por lo que le paso y la mama de mi amigo me dijo que eso fue lo que busco su hijo al ir a guatemala y que el tambien mataba y que por eso lo mataron .

Por un poco de dinero mi amigo destrullo su vida .

dios bendiga a las personas que lean esta historia y a las que no tambien gracias

POST by FRAN: Tissue Toime!

Beautiful Francesca! (Watch out for that TREE!)

We have a big family and a lot of friends who live near and far from us… We have traveled a lot and we have only made more friends by doing so. Even if we go to the beach we make new friends.

Since November we have had family and friends come and visit, and most of the time it was hard for someone. One week Jenny Seaburg had a virus and it started out little but then it woke her up in the middle of the night and sent her to the hospital along with my Mum, Shane, Nanny, and myself as the translator.

It is important for us to know that we have friends that still love us. I know my friend limits are being lowered just because of the ministry I live in with my family and some friends’ relationships have changed so that now they’re like family to me.

This blogpost is sort of a good bye/I’ll miss you/thank you and memories to/for some of my closest friends and family.

Anna: I am going to really miss you when you go back to Minnesota, and if you don’t come back for a while I will always facebook and skype you. You are more than a friend to me… you are like my older sister that I have never had. I can’t wait to go to California and Minnesota with you!

Fran & Anna - Our first EVER GAP YEAR Leader... a GOLDEN GIRL if ever there was one!

Lorenzy: I know that you ARE my sister, but you are also my best friend. It will be harder to steal your clothes while I am in Canada, but when I see you I will. I have learned, with Anna’s help, that your sister is usually the only one that will always care about what is going on in your life. And you have always known and been there, in a way. I’m always here for you.

BFFs for LOIFE! Franny-pan & Renzy-roohs!

Jocasta: I have loved every talk that we have talked and every walk that we have walked, and I´m glad that you are back in Nicaragua. Don’t have too much fun while I am away in Canada I will miss you heaps! Love ya!

Jocasta the GREAT!

Natalie: I haven’t known you for that long, but you remind me of myself in some things. I know you don’t think so but, we are very similar in a few things, and I think you are a really nice girl.

Natalie, our latest GAP YEAR Leader...

Monica: I have known you for less than a week and I already think that you are awesome. You are like my Mum’s friend Racheal Morejon and I love you like a sister already! I’m happy that I have met you.

Monny, our newest Mexican-Australian Gapper - what a gal! We love you!!!

And for the tricker boys… I will miss you all after a while, but only after I get really home sick and start skyping everyone… haha just kidding… I really feel like you guys are my brothers and I will miss you guys just as much I will miss everyone else.

Francesca on tour in El Salvador with the Nicavangelists

And for my 3 real little brothers… stay safe, don’t get into trouble, and always trust your family. Sez lay off of the wii for a while, Raf don’t start any drama, and Billy stay little and cute.

Franny having a Good ol' laugh with Raffy

Mum and Dad: I have had a hard time and I know sometimes it was hard for you too, in understanding me. But I really haven’t been the best person for you to talk to. I haven’t been trying to change my attitude into a bad one.

Thanks for the opportunity to go to Canada. I’m preparing myself to go travel with all the boys and you guys to the states and I can’t believe that the visas got approved and it is such a blessing from God - I can’t wait to see their reaction on the plane! I’m already laughing! LoL… anyway, I’m just saying thank you and I hope you understand me… LOVE you guys lots!

Brian, Mummy, Franny & Daddy xoxoxo

 Always remember that Family and friends are the best thing in life. For me this year is going to be great!

The Brien family...

POST by RENZ: Driving Miss Lorenzy

Relatives from both sides of the family have been visiting ever since Francesca’s birthday. All four grandparents, my cousins, and my aunt and uncles have been here. I have not seen most of them for about five years so I was really excited.

Nanny, (my dad’s mum) thought that it would be a good idea for my sister and I to learn how to drive. So she took us out in our little grey car that is all bashed up and old but I love that car.

First up was Fran and she already knew how to drive a little, so it was not too hard for her. But for me, I had only driven whilst I was sat on my parents lap and used the steering wheel to turn. Plus, our grey car has a gear stick so I also had to learn how to use all the gears.

I managed to go down the road ok but I stalled a lot of times. When I went to turn around at the end of the road, I was reversing then going forward, reversing, forward, backwards, stall, forward. It took me a while to do it.

It took a lot of patience from me and from my grandmother. Also, it did not help when my sister was in the back randomly yelling things like “Watch out there’s a dog!” or “Speed bump!” and many other things like that.

When we got back to the house, my grandmother suggested that Sezni, my younger brother, should also start learning how to drive. Fran got out of the car and went inside, but I stayed because I wanted to see how my little brother would do.

When he got into the driver’s seat you could tell that he was really nervous. Nanny started talking to him very calmly and he followed her instructions very well. When we were going to go into the drive way to our house my nanny said to Sezni “I think Lorenzy should drive into the driveway, ok Sez? So just brake.”

His reply was “ok nanny” but instead of hitting the brakes, he put his foot on the accelerator and then nanny said a bit louder “No Sezni, on the brakes! That was the accelerator. Now put your foot on the BRAKE.”

He was starting to give up so he just slammed his foot on the accelerator thinking that it was the brake but he was in reverse so we went flying back and right as we hit our wall, Nanny pulled the handbrake. When the car had stopped, we all started laughing really hard, but then I realized that Sezni was not laughing and was nearly in tears. I tried to stop laughing so that he wouldn’t feel so bad but I just couldn’t.

Sezni started saying between sobs that he sucked and that he was stupid because we crashed and we were trying to calm him down. After he stopped crying and felt a little better I changed place with him and drove into the driveway. 

Health: Nicaragua Declares H1N1 Health Alert

First lady and government spokeswoman Rosario Murillo today announced a nationwide health alert for the H1N1 and H3N2 influenza strains following the detection of nearly two dozen new cases of the viruses in Managua, Estelí and Chontales.

CLICK here to learn more