POST by RENZ: Carving Up the Surf

Lorenzy with her Nica brothers, Mayron & Leiki

Right now, as many of you know, we are in Minnesota. Here it is very pretty. They have a lot of lakes, and I mean a lot. We have been staying at a girl’s house. She lived with us for six months in Nicaragua and her name is Anna.

Anna’s parents live on a lake and have a really cool place. Her dad has a boat that he uses for his youth like to go tubing or other things on the lake. After being with her and her family for a while, we traveled about three hours away to some different people. My mum and I stayed in a different place to the boys, it was also on a lake. We spent two days on the lake, since we had nothing really going on.

The first day that we had free we were able to go on the tubes. The guys piled onto the boat and about four jumped into the green water and got onto the tubes. Since the boat had too much weight in it, some of us had to get off and wait until they came back.

Rafi, Erick and I got off and decided to wait. I read my book whilst I was waiting for my turn. Sometimes I would look out onto the lake and look at them speeding by on the boat until someone would fall off. It looked like so much fun and I could not wait for them to come back and get us so that it could be our turn for seaside silliness.

When they finally came back, they decided to take a 10 minute break because the boat was not being its normal self. When the ten minutes were up we got into the boat and instead of going on the tubes again, they decided to go onto the knee board.

One of the little boys went on first. It did not take him too long until he was up and gliding through the water. He made it look so easy and I thought in my head that it was going to be really hard for me.

One by one, we took turns going on the knee board and then it came to be my turn. I jumped into the water and swam over to the board. I lay down on my belly and waited for the triangle thing to come to me so I could grab a hold of it.

Once I was ready to go, I told them to start the boat. I felt the boat drag me. I pulled the triangle I was holding onto, up to my chest and tried to bring my knees up so I could sit on them. I had one up and then the board went sideways and down real fast - I did a face plant into the water!!!

They came around with the boat as I was swimming over to the board that had escaped from under my body. I tried doing it more and more and on my third try, I was up! Once I had caught my balance, they told me to jump on one of the waves. It did not look too bad so I tried it.

I fell onto the smooth water on the other side. I went back over the wave and did this quite a lot of times. My arms ached but I did not pay attention to that since I was having so much fun. The boat turned and we were headed for some waves. I was not really prepared for the waves that came and so I bumped some of them, went flying in the air, dropped the board and landed on my side.

It hurt just a little but then we went back to the house. We were all talking about how we had fallen off or how well we had done on the water. It was a great, fun, relaxing day on the lake.

If you would like to support this lass 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? 

Lorenzy at the Assemblies of God Family Camp in Minnesota

POST by JOSE: AGRADECIMIENTO A LAS IGLECIAS

Jose in one of the MANY Youth Group rooms we visited (stayed in)

I really just want to thank the American Church!

Jesus is in the hearts of the Christians in the Churches of the USA.

Receiving us: The first day our group went to a church in the USA was an exceptional moment for me. We were able to get together and fellowship with people who had big hearts, people who were very special, people who were filled with faith and love towards Jesus.

Hospitality: The Christians in America gave us love and kindness. They gave us hospitality. We met a lot of true people that were sincere, respectful, and very warm towards us.

Nicaraguan and American Christians: We, Nicaraguan Christians, have had really good experiences with churches in the USA. We shared with them about our lives, and they opened their hearts towards us, listening intently to us about our past and problems.

Christ in their hearts: The people we have met have Christ in their hearts. They adore Him with all that they are. We are brothers in the faith. They have opened their hearts and ears to listen, regardless of whether our stories are good or bad. I have those who we’ve visited all in my heart.

Gratitude: We are a family in Jesus Christ. It does not matter where we are from or what color skin we have. The churches that we have visited are very special to me.

To everyone: We have you in our hearts and have a lot of gratitude to you for opening your hearts towards us. I thank God that I have met you guys.

Thank you so much for receiving us with open hearts. Everyone here at Capital on the Edge are extremely grateful to you!

God bless you and protect you.

Amen. 

Capital on the Edge with folks in Wisconsin

AGRADECIMIENTO A LAS IGLECIAS

JESUS EN EL CORAZON DE LAS IGLECIAS Y LOS CRISTIANOS ESTADOUNIDENSES.

RESIVIMIENTO    el primer dia que visitamos las iglecias en estados unidos fue un momento muy especial al reunirnos con personas con un gran corazon muy bellos y muy especiales yenos de fe y de amor hacia jesus.

HOSPITALIDAD nos brindaron todo su amor y su cariño nos dieron su hospitalidad.conocimos muchas amistades verdaderas y cinseras personas muy respetuosas y muy calidas.

CRISTIANOS NICARAGUENSES Y ESTADO UNIDENCES nosotros los cristianos de nicaragua vivimos experiensis muy bellas con las iglecias en estados unidos hablamos cosas de la vida y ellos abrieron su corazon y escucharon nuestro pasado y nuestros problemas.

CRISTO EN SUS CORAZONES las personas que conosimos llevan a cristo en su corazon y lo adoran con todo su espiritu somos hermanos en la fe ellos habren su corazon y sus oidos escuchando nuestro pasado sea malo o sea bueno los tengo a todos en mi corazon.

AGRADECIMIENTO todos somos una familia hermanos en cristo jesus no importa la raza o el color de piel o los defectos, las iglecias que visitamos son muy especiales y muy bellas.

a todos los llebamos en nuestro corazon y les agradecemos de corazon el resivimiento que nos hicieron y por abrir su corazon le doy gracias a dios por conocerlos son muy especiales.

muchas gracias por recivirnos con el corzon abierto, todo el grupo de capital on the edge se los agradecemos dios los bendiga y los proteja amen.

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.

POST by JONNY: Aprender a sobrevivir por mi propia

Jonny at the Assemblies of God Family Camp in Minnesota

At the age of eight, I watched my family struggle with financial problems and learnt a lot about the harsh realities of life in Managua, Nicaragua. I saw that my parents worked hard, providing food to eat and paying for us to attend public school.

After observing the financial pressures of life in our house with my parents, I felt really bad inside. My older siblings contributed to the household expenses by working jobs, yet I was the only one who was not helping, because I am the youngest member of our family.

After witnessing my family’s many economic problems, I made the difficult decision of seeking out a job. However, I was only eight years old and I could not find employment. I had friends who worked as garbage men (kids). So one day I decided to go and ask my friends if they could help me get work with them.

The very next day I started working with my friends, but I did not know how or what to do, and so one of my friends said “Hey, you have to go over to that house and ask if they have trash that they want to throw away.” I responded to him by saying, “You are crazy. That is embarrassing!” However, he replied back to me, “Then go home and don’t be here earning easy money.” I thought about it and then decided “Fine! I’ll do it.” So that is how I started working, earning money to help my family.

Some time later, after having worked in the garbage business for a while, I began to realise that I felt really tired. Some of my work friends asked “Hey! Why do you give your money to your parents? They work and should support you. Why are you making it your responsibility to give to them?”

I answered, “My parents do not know that I am working.” My friend looked at me with a curious expression on his face and then said “Let’s put our money together and buy some drugs.” I was not impressed with this stupidity and said “Hey, you are crazy! It’ll be better for you if you leave me now and don’t ever talk to me again!”

After a long period of time my parents found out I was working as a garbage man. They sat me down and asked, “Jonny, why do you go around the town, throwing away other people’s rubbish?” I explained to my parents “I want to help you guys with supplying enough food for the family, because you two work and I feel bad about how difficult things are for you.

When I had finished sharing with my parents about my reasons for wanting to work, they started to cry and said “you will not continue to work on the streets.”

Many years later, I realised that I needed to learn to support myself. Even if my parents did not provide a good life or a good education for me, the one thing they did give me was the ability to live for other people in humility and with respectfulness.

I thank God he has led me in his path, giving me direction and showing me his purpose for my life.

Thank you for reading my story!                           

Jonny, a boy with GREAT potential...

                

Hola mi nombre es JONNY

Tema . Aprender a sobrevivir por mi propia cuenta .

A la edad de 8 año . Yo mirava que en mi casa habia muchos prolemas economicos .Y tambien mirava a mis padres que se esforsavan para poder mantenerlos comiendo y para que pudieramos ir al colegio . despues de mirar todo lo que pasaba en casa de mis padres yo mensentia muy mal . Porque todos mis hermanos trabajavan y yo era el unico que no estava trabajando porque era el mas pequeno de todo mis hermanos .

Despues de mirar todo lo que pasaba , tome una desicion la cual fue buscar un trabajo . Pero como solo tenia 8 año de edad no podia encontrar . Pero yo tenia unos amigos los cuales trabajavan botando basura . Y yo un dia me decidi a buscarlos a mis amigos para desirles que si me podian dar un poco de trabajo . Y miaamigos me dijieron que si que no habia ningun prolema .

Al siguiente dia comense a trabajar con mis amigos . Pero yo no sabia como hera el trabajo y derepente uno de mis amigos me dijo hey tienes que ir a esa casa a preguntar si tiene basura para para ir a botarla . Y yo le dije que estas loco eso meda mucha pena . Y el me respondio en tonces bete a tu casa y no estes aqui por dinero facil ..       Y yo le dije esta bien lo are . Y  asi enpese a trabajar por un poco de dinero el cual era para poder alludar a mi familia .

Luego de mucho trabajar me sentia muy cansado . y unos de mis amigos con los que trabajava me dijo hey porque tienes que darle el dinero a tus padres si ellos tranajavan y ellos tiene que mantenerte, porque tu eres su responsabilidad . Y yo  les respondi hey mis padres no saven que yo estoy trabajando . Y el me dijo en tonces mejor unamos nuestro dinero y vamos a conprar drogas . Y yo le dije hey tu estas loco saves mejor bete y no me buelvas hablar .

Despues de mucho tiempo de trabajar mis padres se dieron cuenta y me dijiero que porque hacia estas cosas de andar botando basura y yo les dije quiero alludarlos en la comidad porque ustedes rabajan mucho y yo me siento mal por eso . y mis padres cuando les dije todo eso , ellos se pusieron a llorar y me dijieron bente que tu no seguiras trabajando .

Despues de mucho tiempo llegue a comprender de que mi vida era aprender a vivir por mi propia cuenta . Y aunque mis padres no me dieron una buena vida no me dieron un buen estudio  . Pero me enseñaron algo que me enseño a vivir entre medio de todas las personas en respeto y umildad . doy gracias a dios que me a yluminado en su camino para poder salir a delante en todos sus propositos  .

GRACIAS POR LEER MI HISTORIA.

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.

POST by ERICSON: Guerra de Nicaragua

Ericson, the Luchadore

Nicaragua’s civil war resulted in my family losing all of their land and personal belongings.

In the year 1979, at the beginning of the war, my family lost their farm and cattle. It was all confiscated by the newly risen communist government. All of my country’s problems started because the president, Daniel Ortega, made bad decisions.

Daniel Ortega wanted to be a dictator over our country, but some of the people that lived in rural areas of Nicaragua objected, because the President wanted to take away all of their land and belongings, and give the possessions to our country.

My grandparents objected to the decisions made by President Ortega and because of the ongoing issues, decided to flee Nicaragua, becoming refugees in Honduras. They bribed border officials with items made out of gold, so that our family could cross over into Honduras.

President Ortega tried to recruit every Nicaraguan man and boy. He wanted to send them to war for the Sandinistas. Everyone who objected to the conscription was killed. It was for these reasons too, that my grandparents decided to leave Nicaragua with their children.

But in Honduras, farmers would recruit their own people and my grandfather joined the oppositional army. He was there for three months and then died.

After my grandfather died, my mother joined the army. She was sent into Nicaragua and she had an accident, tearing one of her hands. The army sent her back to Honduras.

My uncle joined the army as well and was there for just two months. He died also.

When the war ended, my mum and grandmother decided on returning to Nicaragua. They began a new chapter of their lives in their homeland. They started working at the markets selling vegetables and ironing other people’s clothes. They were quite the entrepreneurs, sending food to other towns.

They worked hard, and that is how they moved into the position of being able to buy their own house.

Thanks to God my mum did not die, or my siblings and I would not have been born. Thanks be to God, because all of my family work very hard.

Ericson at Minnesota's Assemblies of God Family Camp

La guerra de Nicaragua hiso que mi familia perdiera todo los bienes que tenia.                                                                                                    

Año 1979 mi familia perdió sus finca ganado todo los problemas del país iniciaron por el presidente Daniel Ortega  Daniel tomo malas decisiones para el país en tero él quería hacer  una dictadura en el país pero las personas campesina se opusieron porque él quería tener todos los bienes del país  mis abuelos se opusieron las decisiones del presidente al momento mis abuelos tomaron la decisión de ir al vecino país honduras dieron todas su prendas de oro para pasar a sus hijos las fronteras. 

El presidente reclutaba a los hombre y niños para mandarlos a la guerra y el que se oponía los fusilaban  por eso fue la de cisión de mis abuelos llevarse  a sus hijos del país.

Pero en el vecino país honduras los campesinos se reclutaban ellos mismos mi abuelo se integró al ejercito dilato en la guerra  tres meces y murió des pues mi madre se integró  y fue a Nicaragua y mi madre le desgarraron uno de sus manos y a ella cela llevaron al vecino país honduras se integró mi tío el dilato solo dos meces el murió termino la guerra  mi mama y mi abuela se decidieron regresar  a Nicaragua.

A si  inicio una nueva historia en mi familia iniciaron a trabajar en mercados vendiendo verduras trabajaban planchando des pues trasportaban en el tren comida a los pueblos  y a si compraron  sus casa gracia a DIOS que mi mama no murió por que no u hubiera nacido yo y mis hermanos gracias dios porque toda mi familia le servimos.

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.

POST by Eliezer: Nica Hard Knock Life

Eliezer whilst on tour in the USA with Capital on the Edge

Hello my name is Eliezer. This week I am going to tell you about my country and the place where I live.

I live within a community, in a town that is close to the capital of Nicaragua, Managua. My barrio is a very poor place and the people who live in my community often steal and are hungry all the time.

The people in my barrio work on farms. They live off the land – they are subsistence farmers. Whatever they grow, they trade or sell in order to have enough to live on. Many families have a single cow, which gives families milk to drink.

In our community there are many social problems. Most of the youth drink alcohol and use drugs. The young people, when they become dependent on drugs and/or alcohol, then need to steal in order to maintain their addictions. It’s a terribly difficult cycle.

My desire is to see my community be more responsible and caring of each other, so that our barrio can move forward and have a brighter future, without these social problems plaguing us. The landscape of our barrio is beautiful, I wish the people were too.

The most gorgeous element of our physical environment are the calm fields, which are rich with both flora and fauna.

The farmland is a tough place. Ever since I was really little, I have worked out in the fields with my grandfather. He has shown me that agricultural work is a very difficult job, but there are few occupational choices in Nicaragua for me, and so I help out with great joy.

Everybody in Nicaragua works very hard, but we earn very little. Ordinary items are very expensive and the President, Daniel Ortega, does not do anything to make it any better and so our town suffers.

In Nicaragua, most kids do not have parents because they do not have enough money to support their families.  Mothers, all alone and without help, seek to try and get ahead with and for their kids. For this reason, the trade of prostitution prospers. People cannot find jobs, because there are none (80% unemployment rate).

Nicaragua is the second poorest country in all of the Western Hemisphere (North America, Central America, the Caribbean and South America) and the poverty makes it difficult for families to be happy. This is the life we must endure.

I always ask God to help Nicaragua so that one day we can all have a much better life.

On the plane, AMERICA BOUND, Eliezer  (middle) with Yordy and Jose (Capital on the Edge)

Hola mi nombre es Eliezer

Esta vez les vengo a contar una historia de mi país y del lugar donde vivo

El lugar donde vivo es una comunidad en un pueblo cerca de la capital de Nicaragua. Es un lugar muí pobre donde ay mucha delincuencia y hambruna la gente de ay trabaja en el campo las personas viven de la agricultura y de la ganadería pero ay mucha corrupción la mayoría de los jóvenes toman licor y consumen drogas lo que hace que la juventud comience a robar para comprar mas y mas drogas es una situación muí difícil.

Yo quiero que algún día mi comunidad  sea mas sociable i que la gente haga algo i pueda salir adelante que pueda encontrar un mejor futuro sin tantas cosas malas , porque una de las cosas que caracterizan donde vivo es la belleza de su paisaje.

Lo más bello de mi lugar es la tranquilidad del campo es rica en flora y fauna es un lugar donde aprendes que la vida no es fácil.

Desde muí pequeño trabajaba en el campo con mi abuelo el me enseño que la agricultura es un trabajo muí duro pero que no ay muchos trabajo de donde escoger en mi país.

Toda la gente de Nicaragua trabaja mucho i gana muí poco las cosas son muí caras el presidente no hace nada para mejorar la situación y el pueblo sufre, en Nicaragua la mayoría de los niños no tienen padres porque los padres no tienen como mantener a sus familias y las madres buscan como salir adelante sola con sus hijos así que ay mucha prostitución porque la gente no encuentra trabajo y es porque no hay.

Nicaragua es el segundo país más pobre del mundo por eso es difícil tener una familia feliz esto es lo que pasa en mi país siempre le pido a dios que ayude a Nicaragua para que algún día podemos tener una vida mejor.

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.

Media: From Nicaragua to Worthington, by way of breakdancing

Jose, 20, grew up on the streets of Managua, the capital of Nicaragua, located in the heart of Central America. His mother worked long hours, and he didn’t know his father. He wasn’t very old when he learned to steal and began smoking marijuana.

To read entire article, please CLICK HERE

POST by LIZ: The LOVE Shack!

Elizabeth with some of her boys

As I fumbled my way through my purse hunting for the $20 Radio Shack discount receipt, the cashier asked me typical questions we get when entering places with a mass of Nicaraguan lads in tow.

I explained why we were in the States and why we live in Nicaragua. 

“Wow!” he gasped, after my spill, and at that moment he ceased just being the professional Radio Shack cashier across the counter from me, and revealed his humanitarian heart.  “I really want to do something like that too – I want to make a difference – wow, I bet that must make you feel really good…” and he continued to lavish praise and admiration for the work that we do. 

His eyes were gentle and genuine, but the rest of his words were wasted on me.  I couldn’t get past his phrase ‘I bet that must make you feel really good…’ His words whirled around my head, I couldn’t shake them.

“Make me feel good!” if only he knew how it made me feel.  I wanted to tell him how it really made me feel.  The recent events flashed through my mind like a B rated horror movie from the sixties.

Situations flashing through my mind recalling all the rejecting statements, compulsive lies, and bad attitudes which had been thrown into our path, like ugly weeds growing in a rose bed.

Now to be fair, this particular day had been especially tough; I had started out the day dealing with tired teenagers wanting to get their own way - which of course clashed with my own agenda for them, and I was having a particularly tough season dealing with Yordy, who was slipping away into depression, Rene, who wanted to act like a porn star, and Beycker, who thought he was every girls’ dream come true. 

I wanted to scream out and release the pent up feelings I had harboured and allow those who had taken out their own hurts and rejections on me, to see that I was just human too. I wanted to pour out my bottled-up hurt from constantly being rejected, unloved and unappreciated. 

My captured feelings shocked me.  I didn’t realise that I held on to so much hurt.  Over the years, I had helped many people unlock their trapped hurts and had explained that hurt left untouched would morph into binding bitterness – yet here I was, standing on a polished floor with a beaming cashier believing in what we do, and seeing the mountain of bitterness I had allowed to build within.

Never-the-less, I snapped back into my reality, smiled at the kindhearted cashier man, and said, “Yep, it’s rewarding, but it sure is a rollercoaster ride at times,” 

We left the shop with shouts of well-wishing from all the staff, including the district manager, who was visiting the store and had also taken interest in our life.  The lads were high spirited, and left the shop in normal style; double twists and flips. Everyone whooping and cheering and laughing and totally unaware of the mountain I carried inside.

Later that night I checked my heart before the Lord.  “God, I didn’t realise I was so hurt and I can feel bitterness consuming me.  I want to ‘feel good about what I do’, but right now I just feel that no matter how much I pour myself out, I receive a stack load of rejection, fear and failure thrown in my face.”

“You know what your problem is, Liz?” God shot back at me. “You are doing things out of your own love for people.  Even Jesus didn’t do this!  You think Jesus died for you because he loves you – but this is not true!”

“WHAT?” I thought… “that goes against EVERYTHING I was raised with. ” 

“Well, read the scripture Liz, it doesn’t say, ‘for Jesus loved the world so much he gave his life,’ No! It says, ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only son..’ you see Liz, Jesus died for you out of love and obedience for me! But YES, Jesus does love you – because of my love for you! And this is the way you need to operate too.  If you do things out of your own love for others then you will either only love those that are lovely, but Matthew says... where is the reward in that?! But if you love the unlovely out of your own love, then you will get burnt out, rejected, unloved, and unappreciated. 

Because those who are rejected will reject, those who are unloved will be unlovely, and those who don’t feel appreciated will be ungrateful.   But, if you do it only out of love and obedience for me, then you won’t even look for praise or acceptance from others.  If you do things out of love for me, then it doesn’t matter what the reaction is from the person, because you will only look to me to say ‘Well done good and faithful servant!  Then you will truly be living for an audience of one!  The best part is that your love for others will actually increase – Jesus does love you and did die for you because he sees you through my eyes.  This is how I want you to approach your ‘work’ for me. ”

So, I can’t say that I am fully there yet, but I can say that when I receive the rejecting words and actions, especially the ones so typical from teenagers, they don’t stab my heart like before, because I’m now doing things out of love and obedience for God.

If you would like to learn more about our ministry, please watch our latest update,CLICK HERE

If you would like to learn more about who our Nica-Youths are, or to support them, please visit their page, SUPPORT Nica-Talent

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?

POST by SOPHIA: My Life

When I’m alone with Him, in my mind he takes me to a path in the woods that he’s leading me on.

Doing what we're doing, we come across a LOT of broken lives, and people desperate for answers. To date, I haven't been as moved by anyone's story, in the way that I've been moved by the life of Sophia. This young lass, is beautiful and talented, smart and driven, yet she has been used, abused, rejected, despised, and now works with everything she's got to get her life on track for the promise of glory.

I have met Sophia's parents, who are just human like the rest of us. They've done a magnificent job at raising their kids, with compassion and love, and yet, like other parents, they’re not supernatural beings and can only be in one place at one time. Unfortunately, their baby girl was deeply broken, and nothing that they could do would mend the heart of their daughter, which lay in tatters.

But, there is hope. Jesus Christ came for the lost. He came for the sinner. He came for the broken. He alone knows the pain and suffering of all humanity. He took it with him to the cross. And so I’d like to allow Sophia the opportunity of sharing with you her story. She’s a brave girl and I’m mightily proud of her:

Everyone goes through hard times in life, some worse than others. But it’s who you depend on and how you get through it that makes you who you are. I've been through a lot in my life, but instead of leaning on God, I just wanted people to pity me.

When I was ten, my best friend at the time told me every detail of how her dad had often sexually abused her and what he had done to her. I remember everything she told me, but because she told me when I was so young, I blocked out all memories of my childhood to protect myself. I don't have any memories of anything until about the age of 13, and even then I only have bad memories.

I am the 5th child of 8 in my family. I was homeschooled ‘til 9th grade and in 10th grade I started getting into drinking, drugs, boys and sex, and everything bad. I thought that the only way to be happy was to do all of these things.

Well, surprise, surprise, I was wrong. Guys and drugs only hurt me. I have had my heart broken in so many ways. Guys would tell me they love me and they don't want anyone else, and that I am so beautiful and special. Yet after they gotten what they’d wanted, they would tell me it was all a lie and that I am actually trash.

I tried to kill myself many times and I used to cut myself every day for many months. All I could think was I just wanted to get away from the hurt and the pain. Yet, I continued to run after guys and drugs.

Twice I thought I was pregnant and I would worry about what I’d tell my parents and what I’d do with a kid at 17. But lucky for me, I was not pregnant and God helped me through it.

Now, for the last four weeks or so I’ve been reading my Bible and talking to God. When I’m alone with Him, in my mind he takes me to a path in the woods that he’s leading me on.

I often feel really alone and sad. I cry myself to sleep because I wish I could remember my past... but then I remember that God is always there, even when no one else is.

A couple of weeks ago I met all of these wonderful, handsome, nice, crazy Nicaraguan boys who got me to think in a whole new way. They have been through hell and back and they still dance and sing for God with smiles on their faces. If they can be happy then I think I can too.

Sophia & Cecilia (Sophia's younger sister)

POST by YORDY: Vida Sin Sentido

Yordy working hard on his BLOG POST

Since I was 8 years of age, I thought bad thoughts which were caused by the people around me. I thought that my life did not mean anything, that friends did not truly exist, because the friends that I had would just fill my head with bad thoughts.

They showed me how to do bad things. When people would try to help me, I always tried to make their life a living hell. I did not trust anybody.

My family turned their back on me and I never had love that a kid should get when they are that age. Everything that happened every day would just make it worse. I would cry with hatred for all people, mainly my family and my so called ‘friends’ that would laugh at me when they saw what would happen to me.

I was around 8 or 9 years old and living on the streets. I smoked marijuana since I was little. I would go and rob people with an ex-friend. I was lost on the streets.

I had dangerous jobs like killing cows. I would cut their heads off and then take their skin off. It was not a pretty sight. It was an experience I will never forget. I would earn just enough to eat, even though some days I would not eat.

I was exposed to death in everything that I did. I also had problems with depression because I knew that no one would give their life for me. The main problem for me at that time of my life was that I was so close to committing suicide by jumping in front of a moving car. However, I thank God because he gave me the strength to keep on moving forward.

Today I am alive because of the grace of God. When I accepted Jesus into my heart, my life changed. He showed me how to live life through him. My point is that it does not matter who is with you, it does not matter how many bad things have happened to you, if you have done something bad it is your turn to ask God to forgive you and show you how to live a life with him, the only true source of happiness.

Your life will be real and I invite you to give your problems to Jesus.

Brother, if Jesus came to die for us on Earth, it was not so that we could suffer. He has a purpose for each and every one of us. Believe me, everyone has a marvelous place in Heaven - but stop thinking about yourself. Help people that need it, give your love to other people.

God bless you, Amen!

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.

Yordy, one clever tricker

Vida sin sentido.

Desde que tenía 8 años tenía malos pensamientos por causa de las personas de mí alrededor, yo pensaba que la vida no significaba nada, pensaba que los amigos no existían, porque los que tenía me llenaban la cabeza de malos pensamientos, me decían como hacer cosas malas. Cuando alguien llegaba y me quería ayudar yo siempre trataba de agredir su vida, no tenía confianza en nadie.

Mi familia me daba la espalda, Nunca tuve el amor que un niño a esa edad debía tener, todo lo que iba pasando cada día me afectaba más y más, lloraba con rencor hacia todas las personas más mi familia y los que decían ser mis amigos se reían de mí, al ver lo que me pasaba.

Tenía como 8 o 9 años y estaba viviendo en la calle, fumaba marihuana desde que era un niño, solía robar a las personas con un ex amigo, estaba perdido en las calles.

Tuve trabajos muy peligrosos como matar vacas yo les cortaba la cabeza para después quitarle todo era muy feo, una experiencia inolvidable, ganaba lo suficiente para comer, aunque a veces no comía.

Estaba expuesto a la muerte en todo lo que hacía, también tenía problemas de depresión al saber que nadie daba la vida por mí, la mayor parte del tiempo de mi vida estuve cerca de cometer auto suicidio pero le agradezco mucho a dios porque él me dio las fuerzas para seguir adelante.

Hoy en día estoy vivo por la gracia de dios, cuando lo acepte en mi corazón mi vida se volvió diferente, me enseno a gozar la vida, mi punto de este tema es que no importa quien este contigo, no importa cuántas cosas malas que te han pasado en la vida, si has hecho algo malo es tu turno para pedirle a dios que te perdone y te haga gozar y sentir que solo con el eres realmente feliz tu vida será muy real te invito a que entregues tus problemas a Jesús. Hermano si Jesús vino a morir a la tierra por nosotros, no fue para que sufriéramos él tiene un propósito para cada uno de nosotros y créanme todos tenemos un lugar maravilloso en el cielo pero deja de pensar en ti, más bien ayuda a las personas que lo necesitan dale amor a tu prójimo Dios te bendiga. AMEN

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.