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- Capital on the Edge -: support
Empowering Nicaraguan youths to grab a hold of their world and see a brightness of future by assisting them in identifying their goals and needs, constructing a roadmap to get there, and partnering in the implementation of effective plans so that young Nicaraguans can build their tomorrow...
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
I am at the stage of
needing to send our older boys for a deeper level of training in the things of
God. I really believe that we need to shoot for the stars in order to best
prepare our budding apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Our overall
goal is not to evangelise Nicaragua, but rather to send Nicaraguans out in
ministry to the World…
In July of this year I
am aiming at sending Jonny and Stivey on a DTS (Discipleship Training School)
with YWAM (Youth With A Mission). This course is generally 5 months in
duration, and concentrates on knowing God and making him known (3 month lecture
phase and 2 month outreach…). One of my desires is that the boys know English,
and so whilst I realise there are some WONDERFUL YWAM schools in Latin America
(and cheaper), I really believe that they are to attend a school in the USA (we
will already be there, and they already have visas…).
Jonny and Stivey have
now been with us for 2 years, and they have proven themselves time and time
again. They have endured days without food, sleeping on the streets, being
verbally abused whilst ministering in public venues, have been spat at, told
they smell like dogs, have been the laughing stock of various groups of people
in Nicaragua, have been turned away by Churches when coming to serve, have been
at times unduly criticized by brothers and sisters in Christ who’ve possessed
leadership positions, and all for the glory of the Great I AM – the loving one,
who died so that we’d all have the opportunity to live in an eternal
relationship with our Heavenly Father.
At this point we are
looking at sending these leaders in training to a bilingual school in either Texas
or California. However, if you know of any YWAM schools that offer a bilingual program
in these or any other states, please contact me (Capitalontheedge@gmail.com).
And so today I am
asking you to be a part of this. We need your help! We are seeking to raise
some $10k per Nicavangelist, which will cover the costs of their flights,
school and additional costs relating to this important experience (outreach
expenses, etc.).
Leiki on the left, with his half-brother on the right
Hi! I'm leyki.
I want to go to America to visit many places and also to be with my group and to
perform our Gospel Centered street production and visit beautiful places with
my group. I want to go to America with my friends, so that we can teach the
people there about God. We want to show them that God can help you have a
better life and move forward.
If you would like to support this fellow on a monthly basis, please CLICK HERE
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
Hola soy leyki yo quiero ir a estados unidos para
conocer muchos lugares y tambien para estar con mi grupo e ir a exiviciones y
lugares preciosos con mi grupo y yo boy a estados unidos por que con mis amigos
bamos a ensenar quien es dios y como el te puede ayudar para que tengas una
vida major y puedas salir adelante.
Hello! God bless all of the nations of the earth, everyone in them, and
every language group.
My name is Jose Bayardo and I'm from Nicaragua. I live in a very poor
neighborhood where people don’t have much. My community is filled with crime
and drugs, but thank God I found a
wonderful family who gave us a hand. Elizabeth and Jed Brien assisted us, and
took us out of our dangerous world.
With their effort, we now have a group that is learning about who God is,
and we have him in our lives. Our hearts are changing and this is obvious
through the new people that we have become. God has so much love for us, His Creation.
When I was a child, I wanted to travel to the United States of America. Now
I want to know new people and make new
friends, brothers in Jesus Christ. I always prayed and asked the Lord to travel to the United States of
America. God has answered my prayers.
God is amazing, he has made my dreams come true. God has helped us come
to America, to perform our street theatre production in Churches, so that
people will know God.
Another one of my dreams is to help and support my mother. I really want
my mother to meet a man who will be her husband, a man who will appreciate my
mother, because she has suffered a lot in her life.
I want the best for my mother. God is wonderful and he wants the best
for us, his children, his creation. He wants us, Capital on the Edge, to walk on
the right path, the path that is just. All
of our group want to learn and we thank God in Heaven for Jed and Elizabeth,
who have given us this wonderful opportunity to go and perform for the folks in
the USA.
In poorer places, where there are many bad things, they have supported
the people and we have performed our amazing street theatre production. We help Jed and Elizabeth with the production.
Thank you for listening to the goals and the dreams of my heart. You play an important
role in our work.
Some of the lads from Capital on the Edge
If you would like to support this fellow on a monthly basis, please CLICK HERE
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
Hola dios bendiga a todas las
naciones, pueblos y lenguas, mi nombre es Jose Bayardo y soy de Nicaragua yo
vivo en un barrio muy pobre donde todos los recursos se limitan, donde hay
mucha delincuencia y drogas pero Gracias a dios encontre a unas personas
maravillosas que nos dieron su mano Elizabeth y jed brien nos auxiliaron
y nos sacaron de ese mundo con el apoyo de ellos creamos un grupo para ensenr
quien es dios en nuestras vidas y los canvios que a hecho en nuestras vidas y
el amor que tiene hacia todos nosotros su creacion yo cuando era pequeno
ciempre sone con viajar a los estados unidos conocer nuebas personas y hacer
nuevas amistades y nuebos hermanos en cristo jesus yo ciempre le pedia al senor en mis oraciones que viajara a los estados
unidos dios a cumplido mis suenos es
algo increible un sueno echo realidad una vendicion conocer muchas iglecias y
llebar a cabo la obra que dios nos a propuesto que agamos .
Otro de mis suenos es que ayudar y apoyar a mi
mama en todo lo que pueda y que
encuentre una pareja que la quiera y la aprecie mucho ya queella a sufrido
mucho en la vida y yo quiero lo major para ella, dios es un ser maravilloso que
quiere lo major para nosotros sus hijos su creacion que andemos en el camino
correcto en lo recto y lo justo, todo el grupo de capital on the edge les
pedimos de Corazon que nos den su apoyo en esta micion que tenemos que nos
brined su apoyo y su amor dios los atesorara en el cielo Gracias a elizabeth y
a jed que nos dieron esta oportunidad maravillosa de conocer a dios Gracias a
ellos acemos exiviciones en los lugares mas pobres donde existen muchas cosas
mala ellos apollan a las personas de escasos recursos tienen un a obra
maravillosa que tododos apollamos .
Gracaias por escuchar nuestras
metas y suenos se los agradecemos de Corazon ustedes ejercen un papel muy
importante en nuestra obra Gracias.
This is the history of a new adventure in Davis, California.
We went to the city of Davis. For me, Davis is a very
interesting place because there is a small church which is very happy, because
it has members that are very humble and they are very active. They have a good future
ahead of them whilst they are walking with God.
For me the church is a good example for other people, to
keep going together as a church. The whole church is very humble, even the
pastor! We have performed in places where I have had a lot of pride, because I am
in the group (Davis Christian Assembly and Capital on the Edge). This church
will always be in our hearts. It has made me think, if all the people of the
world were like these people, the world would be a perfect place for us and for
God.
For me, all the people I have met in all the churches we
have visited, are a great example to me and make me want to keep on going.
The saddest time on this trip was when Jed and Liz were left
behind on the first train that we went on, to get to Davis. Then we were all
reunited again. However, on the next train we got on, Beycker was left behind!
He did not have any money, any food, and worst of all he does not know how to
speak English. I did not find it funny, but God took care of him and with time,
we were all back together again, as a group, in Davis.
I have liked being here because the people here have prayed
for us and all the pain that we have. I thank God for giving me the opportunity
to be here in Davis, because I have been encouraged to keep on going with what
we’re doing.
Thank you for reading!
Ericson
If you would like to support Ericson on a monthly basis, please CLICK here
Istoria de nuebo viaje en ciudad de Deivis California
Fuimos ala cidad de Devis en California y parami es una ciudad muy iteresante por que hay
Una iglesia pequena pero muy alegre por que tiene unos mienbros muy umildes muy adtibos son muy pros perados en la vida de DIOS y parami es una iglesia con buen ejenplo de ceguir por que por que son muy reflejantes en sus vidas asi como y gual como las personas mienbros y gual sus pastores y emos y do acer las precentaciones alugares que para mi es un orgullo ceguir con el grupo mientras pueda y es unas de las Iglesias que estara cienpre en nuestras vidas me he puesto a pensar me e puesto a pensar si todas las personas fueran asi en el mundo fuera un mundo perfecto para DIOS para mi tosdas las personas que e visitado de todas las Iglesias que he visitado son un gran e jenplo de segrir jajjaja lo mas triste del viaje para ciudad de David fue que jep y liz cequedaron en el primer viaje del ten y des pues todos los juntamos y en el Segundo tren ce quedo Beycker en el esta siona miento sin riales sin comida para mi no fue muy chistoso como para todas las personas pero dios lo cuido y los reunimos como grupo nueba mente en David y me gusto por que todas las personas an orado por no sotros y nuestros Dolores y gracias Dios por darme la o portunidad de estar aki e en mi vidas todos son eljenplos por cegir es ta es minueba istoria
Billy assisting us in Setting Up Capital Edge Community Clinic
Here at Capital Edge Community Center, we have literally had thousands of people cross
through our open gates these last two weeks!
We have partnered with MMI (Medical Ministries International) and are providing a General Medical Clinic, a Dentistry Clinic & a Pharmacy to the people in our community.
Moises having a general check-up (for the first time) with Dr. Mah, from Toronto, Canada
One lady who is in her early 30s, Maria, had half a mouth of teeth
left, and of the ones still remaining, she had 11 cavities! She has four
beautiful kids, all with tooth rot due to malnutrition.
It is tough seeing the harsh realities of their living on less
than a dollar a day displayed in their teeth, however thanks to a generous
supporter (you know who you are!!) we were able to help her with the dental and
medical work she and her family needed.
Luisita, a student of Capital Edge Community School, is also having a general check-up with Dr. Mah, from Toronto, Canada
The American, Canadian and Nicaraguan doctors, dentists and nurses have volunteered their services for
free, and MMI have provided medicines and materials at cost... We have just one
day left - and we are believing that we can continue to make a difference!
We have already been able to assist MANY people due to
generous givers and would like to complete our 2 week clinic time as a blesssing.. sooo if you wanna
participate in OPERATION SMILE keep reading....
Two Happy Patients, after a visit to the Medical & Dental Clinic
The cost:
Visit a doctor including all medicines: $3 per person,
Eye care: $3,
Visit the dentist (many folk here have NEVER been to a
dentist) Includes cleaning and all dental work needed: $20 per person,..
Our Nicaraguan Volunteer Dentist, making Jose's smile perfect again!
If you wanna help out by giving another person good health,
sight or a beautiful smile, please visit our contemplating supporting somethingsignificant page for payment methods,and we will in-turn send you information
and a photo of who you helped, you can donate $$$ and pay for a kid, teen or
adult to have their medical needs met!
Blessings to you all - and thank you for allowing us to be
the "glue" that connects you with the needs of poor Nicaraguans
xoxoxo
PS.. We will also be hosting this mobile medical clinic on a regular basis. Please consider supporting this vital ministry to everyday Nicaraguans, who truly cannot afford the necessities in life, let alone having their bodies cared for in this way. To donate, please visit our support page and look at your options for giving: Contemplating Supporting Something Significant
Giving Clothes Away to the Poor Members of Our Community
Tonight I'm pretty mad. I have read an article (entitled: Do handouts really help anyone in Nicaragua?) and find the piece of
writing to be completely unintelligent, ill-informed and to a certain extent
representative, to whatever degree, of what many expats, visitors to Nicaragua,
and the socially elite Nicaraguans truly believe about poverty in this country.
We in the "West", did not elect to be born in our
"blessed" countries, with our well-to-do
families, access to health services and education, low unemployment rates, etc.
The "American dream" here in Nicaragua is simply that... a dream. (and no, it is not their system of government that put them in this position. The poor are poor due to a combination of factors including, but not limited to, natural disasters, poor leadership/corruption, and Western backed war - yes, we are greatly responsible for a significant part of this country's mess)
"One night a group of friends and I went
to a restaurant where a group of Nicaraguan children were performing and
selling goods to the tourists. I enjoyed the performances but I did not want to
continue giving away my money. Instead, I decided to share some of my food with
one of the children. I asked the waiter for an additional plate, and placed
some of my tacos and French fries on the plate. One of the younger boys kept
staring at me while I was eating. I told him to come over to my table. The
little boy quickly came to the table, but as I placed the plate in front of him
all of the children gathered around us and began reaching for his food. A fight
broke out between the little boy and another boy. My heart was pounding because
I had never seen children fight over food in this way. There were cries, yells,
and screams, and punches that filled the surrounding area. I got up to sit at
another table with my friends. My friends accused me of starting the fight
because I had given the little boy food...
Like the Nicaraguans, some Americans are losing the initiative to do to
things on their own. They rely too much on aid from the government...
We all need some guidance as we discover our paths in life, but we also
face the temptation to become dependent: to accept the aid of others with never
a word of thanks, but only asking for more rather than working to provide for
ourselves and for those who have even less than we do."
The Bible says "Give generously to the poor, not grudgingly, for
the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do." (Deuteronomy
15:10) Today I ask you to pray for the poor of Nicaragua. They did not ask to
be born into poverty, but there they are. Our Nicaraguan Church population has an
unemployment rate of 80%, yet you don't find many beggars there, nor dirty clothes,
nor ungrateful hearts. What you will find is love, joy, peace, patience...
Our Nicaraguan Pastor has been told by 3 doctors that he needs to have his arm
amputated. He has not given up, nor given in. He has found a Christian doctor who has worked tirelessly on our Pastor's arm. He needs another surgery, costing $1,800 (plus $50 per month thereafter until the pain subsides...) Please, PLEASE consider donating
to the cause of this man's arm. He is a valiant chap who does the Lord's work.
To donate, please CLICK here to work out a payment method suitable for you.
Today we
are asking you to consider supporting (sponsoring) a Latin Dancer (bachata,
salsa, merengue, etc), Yader - a lad who comes from the poor barrio of Cedro
Galan, on the outskirts of Managua, and who is a gifted dancer, having his
whole life in front of him.
Yader is a young man of just 16 years, unemployed and in his second last year
of high school. Yader now lives at Capital Edge Community Village, helping to
train young students in dancing whilst also being discipled.
Nicaragua is a country that lacks male Christian leadership and is currently on
a course set for destruction. We need to physically support the young Christian
men who are already serving the Lord, and help them to achieve positions of
influence in their communities, whereby they can make a difference. Are you
prepared to sponsor Yader for just $100 per month?
Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My
Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I
was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick
and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' Matthew25:34-36
We need your help. Yader is a young man with great potential. He is a Christian
young man, believing with his whole heart in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He has
the ability to affect change on those within his sphere of influence. Please
consider your role in the life ofvYader - we simply cannot do it without you.
To support Yader please do one of the following:
1. E-mail us: CapitalontheEdge@gmail.com
2. Visit our Webpage and make a contribution (we will contact you via e-mail):
Capital-on-the-Edge.blogspot.com
3: Contact our Church to arrange a payment plan: CapitalEdge.org.au
Who are we? We are Capital on the Edge... We were sent out in 2008 by Capital
Edge Community Church in Canberra, Australia (CapitalEdge.org.au), to help
fulfill the Great Commission, sharing the love of Jesus and making disciples.
Based in Nicaragua, Central America, the poorest Spanish Speaking Country in
the World, we currently serve as a community center, community school, and
foster home.
Many thanks for the time you have taken to watch our video...
Norlan is
our Pastor in Barrio Local. To quote another missionary, ¨he is a true pastor.¨
People come from all over Managua to attend Church, in his tiny, filthy, dilapidated
building.
Pastor
Norlan believes in our vision for Barrio Loco, Solis & Cedro Galan, as we determine to
evangelise, disciple and send out a generation of missionaries from Nicaragua
to the World. He is a Champion for the cause of the Gospel, leaving Worldly
pursuits by-the-way.
Capital on
the Edge, through a generous supporter in Queensland, supports Norlan’s son, so
that he may attend university.
Pastor Norlan's son, Norlan - Supported by a Generous Queenslander so that he may attend University
Two years
ago Pastor Norlan was travelling in a vehicle wrecked as a result of drink
driving. Pastor Norlan was rushed to hospital with many injuries, the most
significant was his arm, which doctors considered amputating. They managed to
save his arm, and Pastor Norlan has had 5 operations on his limb since the
accident.
Pastor
Norlan has movement in his arm, though it is very weak, and almost useless.
Doctors have said in order to reduce pain and increase mobility and strength,
Pastor Norlan needs another operation to place a permanent rod in his arm. This
special surgery is not covered under socialist health and the bill requiring
payment is $400.
In addition
to this, the doctors have prescribed medication for Pastor Norlan, which is not
discounted in any way, unlike most readily available medicines in Nicaragua.
The ongoing cost is currently $50 per month. Without this medication, the pain
is intolerable and the healing process more difficult.
Pastor
Norlan told me about the surgery and medication last Saturday night. I
immediately told him to book the surgery as we will pay for it. We do not have
the funds to cover this operation.
Today we
ask you to consider supporting Norlan so that he may receive this greatly
needed operation and so that we can support this amazing Christian brother with
his health costs, which he only incurred as a result of being in the wrong
place, at the wrong time.
This man is
a part of our Church family. We need to give him our every assistance so that
he can continue ministering to his people (he is not supported in any way via
missionaries or from people/organisations in first world countries).
If you
would like to help in ANY way, please contact us: CapitalontheEdge@gmail.com
Nicaragua’s leftist government, which has diplomatic
relations with Taiwan, is seeking to lure investments from China - in part to
offset a possible loss of support from its regional ally Venezuela.
I've wanted to do it a thousand times
before, write about an average day at Capital on the Edge. Problem is, there
just aren't any average days! So today is the day, like it or lump it.
I had gone to bed at 1:30am on Monday night. We're currently
planning a trip to the USA to speak in Churches and hopefully raise some vitally needed funds for
our ministry here in Managua, Nicaragua. We're believing God for miracles
because we're running at a monthly deficit of $2k, and without a miracle we're
sunk.
Jamil, our gardener/dance teacher, had
called out my name several times shortly after 6am, just like an alarm clock. But, just like an alarm clock, I had (verbally) hit him hard and he too had gone off. I continued to snooze... By 7:30am I
was merely dozing and then, like most sleepy-heads with too much going on in their brains,
I sprung out of bed and into action.
I raced around the house shouting orders
and getting myself ready. "Get out of bed, you LAZY CHILD!!!" I
screamed in this room. "Can't find your other shoe? Well how about you
START LOOKING!!!" I shouted in the next. I'm not a morning person and
today I was a bear-on-brigade due to the all-night planning session I'd had.
"I'll just print off the phrases
I'm teaching the kids and go over them with the staff in our morning meeting. It will be fun for
them to learn a bit of English each day, and will take the tension out of 'Why
were you 3 hours late yesterday?' and 'Could you please, PLEASE, put that
mobile phone away at some stage today...', type conversations that would
invariably arise at some point."
"Good gracious! The printer is not
working!!!" I muttered to myself in a state of frustration. "Reboot,
reboot, everything always works with a reboot." I rebooted, and to my
complete surprise, it worked! However, I now only had 5 minutes to round up 7
children, spot-check the house for cleanliness/tidiness, and make sure we'd bought
enough fruit for the morning snack.
I galloped through our living room
(mostly dressed) and saw that nearly all of our staff were already seated just willing the day to begin.
"Blow it", I thought. "I'm getting a coffee and having a
chat."
I strolled over to the coffee pot, just the sight nearly sent
me off to a special somewhere. I poured myself a cup of steaming, hot,
heavenliness. YUMMO! To all you non-coffee drinkers out there, you're nuts! You
don't know what you're missing!! Best legal drug on the market!!!
Whilst still savoring my very first sip,
I opened the squeaky wire door which leads from the kitchen to our spacious
verandah. (where we do EVERYTHING - It's the HUB of our Community Centre...) As I began
to walk through the door, I noticed that all of the Brien boys, all 5 of them,
were in the pool.
The coffee must have been hot, because
my head 'bout exploded. To say I was mad, would have been like saying Hitler
was a murderer. I flew to the coffee table in a MOUNTAIN OF RAGE, carefully
placed my coffee cup down (so as to not spill a single drop) and swung off the
verandah and into the very faces of the boys I both love and cherish.
"HOW DAAAAAAAAAAAAAARE YOU!?!? Do
you know what time it is? Yes, that's right! Where should you be right now?
Yes, that's right! What were you thinking? Nothing? No that's not right! Well now... GET INSIDE PRONTO BEFORE I COMPLETELY LOSE MY TEMPER AND REALLY LOSE THE
PLOT!" Every muscle and vein in my body was tense, pulsating and visable.
"Goodness, slight overkill", I
thought to myself as I spun on my heel and be "HEAVENS!" Interrupted! Why there behind, all the while, had been a brand new student and mother
standing by. "GOOD LORD NO!"
They were clearly distressed, because they'd left
the comfort of the swing (which was still swinging) and were heading for our laundry, and probably the
front gate after that.
I cannot tell you how difficult it is to get an "angry,
still wanting to show I'm mad and mean business", kind of face - off, and a
"Welcome to your new scholastic home, a World of opportunities, yet to be
unraveled and treasured", kind of face - on... (Check out the movie "Strictly
Ballroom")
It was awkward, but I did it. Phrasing
in Spanish for my excuses didn't automatically pop into my head, so I explained
in English, throwing the odd Spanish word in for who knows what reason. I am
sincerely unaware of what I was hoping to achieve by this tactic, but if I were
to analyse, I think I'd arrive at the conclusion that I was trying to distract
Mum by being a complete loon, so she'd forget the hideous moment which had just transpired.
I spoke rather loudly trying to deceive
the dear Mum. I wanted her to think I was German and that she'd been mistaken - it's just cross-cultural phenomenon...
I hadn't been scathing and scowling, I'd merely been giving my children a brisk
daybreak greeting "Bon Jour" I wanted to say, but again, I couldn't
place the German equivalent. So, I just said "Eins, zwei, drei, view, fünf, sechs (her eyebrows raised at this
point), sieben, acht, neun y zehn? Aaaaaaaaaaaah bien!"
I grabbed her
by the arm and marched, with my feet a little too pointed at the peak of their
ascension, but hey, I'd already made a complete fool of myself - what was left
to damage? I rounded the bend and saw a mixture of expressions on the faces of
my staff. "Francesca, can you please translate?" I enquired.
About 15
minutes later I was whizzing along on our motorbike. We've bought a horse cart,
but unfortunately a local lad mounted the horse that pulls our cart, without
the protecting blanket underneath the saddle. Consequently, the horse has many a sore upon
it's poor back. Ouch! Poor thing. It'll be a while before we can use the ol'
horse and cart to collect the wee tots. For now biking is our only option.
I rounded the
bend and saw two small children I've never seen before. That's a rare thing for
me in these parts. I know EVERYONE in our barrio and the surrounds. I stopped
the bike and turned it off. I jumped off the machine.
The little
boy, of approximately 18 months, leaned into his sister. These children were
filthy. They had scabs all over their heads and leaking noses. Muck and grime
completely covered them from head-to-toe. They smelt awful. The boy had no
clothes on and his sister just had knickers on.
I approached
the children and they cringed. I asked them where they lived. Their resopnse was to merely stare at me with scared eyes. I started to approach them again and the boy turned to
run.
"Are you okay?" I asked in Spanish. The little girl began to
cry. These kids looked sick, malnourished and tired. "Where's Mummy?"
I enquired. A lady came out of her "house" and called out to me.
"The children live up there, in that house", she said whilst pointing.
I approached
the house and knocked on the wooden panels which made up the door frame. I then
wished I hadn't because one of the panels fell off into my hands. A small
figure appeared before me. A woman. A sad and lonely, sickly, desperately
void-of-any-hope woman.
Of course, the
Jed in me wanted to throw my arms around her and cry. That is always my first
instinct. I have learnt to overcome it. "Hello treasure." I said in
Spanish. "Can I take your children to school with me today?" She
looked like she was going to cry. She examined the ground around her feet. I
could tell that something was desperately wrong. I wanted to gently push for
answers, but it would have been inappropriate for me to do so at this point. She slowly
nodded her head and after saying "goodbyes" I whisked the kids away.
School was
mayhem that day. Three new kids and we're nearly halfway through the year.
Jocasta, our fantastic creche director from Australia, was a brave soldier and worked
her behind off, making these kids' first day at Capital Edge Community School a
ripper time!
As a Christian
school we believe it's necessary to come together, corporately, on a daily
basis, to pray, read the Word of God, share in a time of Praise and Worship,
and learn together about the God in whom we serve.
Our "chapel
service" is consequently held on a daily basis. Today I came to the place of
thinking "WOW, these kids are getting English, and the Word of God, and
love, and I'm just so happy..." We sung my favourite Christian song
"At the Cross" (Hillsong) and the kids blasted it with all of their
strength. They sang confidently and with passion. Truly, I was blown away.
Today's chapel
experience gave me one of those "I can conquer the World" type lifts
I needed. The rest of the school day progressed seamlessly and I was able to
turn my hand from one thing, to the next, with a smile on my face and peace in
my heart.
When Liz
arrived home we went to the bank and to pay our electricity bill. No problems
at all. The bank gave us the documents we were seeking and the electricity
company accepted our credit card. Usually there are long lines, leaving me
plenty of time to really stew and get mad. Often times I prepare a speech about
the inefficiencies of their system, etc. It's just to pass the time and pratice my angry emotions in Spanish. But no, wasn't to be today. All good
on the administrative outing. I was almost disappointed!
When Liz and I
returned home, I sat down to commence work on my itinerary for the USA.
"Oh boy, Billy's at it again", I thought to myself. His voice blared and at such a high pitch. In he marched
with Lorenzy by his side.
Now Billy is a regular favourite with everyone he
meets but can tend to be a bit of a drama, from time to time, and this can get on family members' (me) nerves. However, I began to sense, from the sound in his
voice, that something was significantly wrong.
Earlier in the
day he'd been stung by a bee. His cry was different then too. It's the sort of
thing a parent knows about a child and because I'd just heard it with the bee
sting, I was in tune with his pain-cry and ready to pounce on the problem.
"What's
the matter Billy?" I asked affectionately. Nothing could have prepared me
for what was to happen next. He raised his arm and looked at it in disbelief.
"Good Lord, it's hideous!", I lamented. His arm had snapped and was very visibly
broken.
I seriously wanted
to run, but parental instinct kicked in and love pulled me toward the child and
not away. My stomach churned. Honestly, I really don't like medical conditions, even conditions that would
have others curiously looking on. "Oh, we've got an owie", I said, as
I whisked Billy into my arms and started racing out the door.
It's oft'
times weird how you can concentrate with all your might and yet still be a complete clutz. This is what happened to me in this very moment. Somehow I
seemed to be able to come into contact with every item and object between where I'd been
sitting and the front door.
Anyhow, within
seconds Liz and I were on our way to the hospital. Jocasta, once again, proved
herself tremendously valuable as the latest addition to our family. We left
with peace, knowing that all would be well upon our return.
We arrived at
the hospital and found a car park. No problems for us, as Nicaraguans, on
average, don't own cars. We raced to emergency and were seen immediately.
Billy was remarkably calm, only emitting the odd whimper. What a trooper!
Billy's X-Ray
We seemed to
know everyone at the hospital, as this hospital is the place we go to on a
regular basis to pray for, and visit with, sick children.
We met a young
lad of 20 years who's wife had just had a baby. Couldn't wipe the smile off his
face. His wife arrived mid-conversation, and we couldn't get a smile onto her
face. She was tired and looked like she wanted to go home. After having a relatively normal birth, a complication had developed with the baby.The little baby had been admitted to hospital and of course they, the
parents of the baby, had to sleep on the floor or the bench, and were only
permitted to sleep in the hallway.
We went from
doctor to x-ray, to doctor, to x-ray. Finally I had the chance to sit. I
slumped into a chair and began to chat with the older, Cuban doctor who sat
next to me. We talked about all things Nica. Gallo Pinto, the Cuba revolution, American politics, Mexican culture, Nicaraguan landscape, flora and fauna. It
was a thoroughly scintillating time.
The doctors
decided that they'd have to correct the fracture, and put the bone back to
where it needed to be. Horrified, I looked around me. I wanted to escape, but
there just weren't any exits. I fingered the curtain next to me. I couldn't
find where one curtain ended and the next began.
My Cuban friend continued to
talk but I wasn't listening. Oh sure, I nodded my head, but that's a tactic
I've learnt through years of marriage. Doesn't mean I'm actually listening!
Crack, scream,
cry, whimper, sleep. I wanted to throw up. It must have been one of the
single-most horrific experiences of my life. Liz, of course, was leaning over watching,
asking questions, curious. She made me sick too... As the cast was being
applied Billy drifted off to sleep.
When the
moment arrived for us to leave, I asked my new Cuban friend what he did at the
hospital. Head of pediatrics was the response. Basically, I'd just spent the better half of an hour talking with
pretty much the head of the hospital.
I immediately told him about our
ministry within the hospital and how we'd like to expand it and help in other
ways. He laughed enthusiastically and agreed with me that we could be of more
use around the medical centre.
We exchanged details and left the
hospital in high spirits. We'd witnessed healing and made new friendships. Liz
invited several of the medical staff over for dinner on Saturday night. That will
be interesting, because she's not going to be here, we've got no money to purchase food for this auspicious
occasion and we have Church on that night.
We got in the car and flew up Carretera
Sur. We arrived home in record time. We drove through the gate and noticed that
Nestor, our guard, and some of the local lads, had very serious expressions on their faces.
However, we'd had a long night and didn't make too much of it.
I dashed inside and began to, again,
work on the itinerary for our impending trip to the USA. Minutes later Liz
arrived by my side. "One of our neighbours has hacked off his wife's hand
with a machete."
The words my wife spoke floated into my ears
and then sat heavily on my heart. "WHAT?" I exclaimed. I didn't need
her to repeat the words and new exactly what she'd said, but uttered the
programmed response specifically allocated for moments like these.
After talking with our guard for a while longer, we worked out that the couple had
fought and the husband had chopped off the wife's hand with a machete.
I cannot begin to tell you the sense of hopelessness that prevails in Nicaragua. I cannot tell you how many eyes I've looked into and seen despair and emptiness. Honestly, the helplessness is more heartbreaking than the stories of loss. When you look into the eyes of a living person and see death, it begins to make you question.
Our 5 handsome fellas: Sezni, Billy, Raffy, Brian and Oliver
Our
children were none-the-wiser. The police had spoken with our guard and he had
not told members of our family. Thank GOD for Nestor, the best security guard
in the World!!!
Darling Jocasta, our Creche Director, managed the "fort" whilst Billy was in Hospital
And so, another day at Capital on the Edge. What do we make of all this? Well, we live in a World of uncertainty.
What's the old saying? There are two things we can be certain of; death and
taxes. It's true. We live in a World that is dying. Everything around us dies.
We die. From the moment they are born our children are on a path that leads to
a physical death.
Our hope has to be in something that will last eternally.
The only eternal security and value for you is Jesus Christ. He gives the gift of
life, eternally.
Please pray for us here in Nicaragua.
We're short thousands of dollars per month, the poverty which surrounds us is
excruciatingly unbearable and we just cannot turn the needs away. We have
risked everything of value in this World to reap the harvest, which is of
eternal value. Please consider today, supporting us in our mission. We need
your help...
