POST by RENZY: Seaburg School

Jonny & Lorenzy at Niagara falls (Canada on the left and the USA on the right)

Right now as some of you may know, our group is in Rochester, New York. Since we used to live here when I was really little and have come back to visit, I know some people here.

The people’s house that we are staying in is the Seaburgs and they have four kids. Their oldest child is a little bit older than me so we hang out a lot. His name is Josiah. He is such a fun and weird kid. SO much fun to be around…

They are also homeschooled like us, so we get to hang out even more. Every Friday morning, they go to co-op classes. The first day that we were with them on this trip, my sister and I were invited to go with them if we wanted to, and maybe join in some of their classes too. We both decided to go and see what it was like.

On Friday morning, we woke up and got ready to go. Josiah and Aidan, Josiah’s brother, who is twelve years old, were already at the co-op place because they went earlier with their dad to play basketball.

Mrs. Seaburg , whose first name is Jenny, and her two daughters, Izzy age four and Cora age eight, were in the back with my sister, and I was in the front with Jenny. As we were reversing we all of a sudden heard a big bang and the car stopped because we’d crashed into something.

We were all in shock and I was laughing so hard - I don’t even know why. We looked behind the car and saw that there was another car parked behind us. The other car belonged to one of my dad’s friends, the Hinmans, who were lending it to us so that we could all get around to the places that we have needed to go to.

Jenny jumped out of the car and checked both cars and luckily only the license plate on the other car was damaged. She got back into the car and this time reversed around the other car.

When we got to the co-op place, which is actually a church, we went inside to the basketball area so that Jenny could play. Fran and I took care of Cora and Izzy. Then I took Izzy to her class and on the way I saw my friend’s mum. I said hi to her and then sat down with Aidan.

When Josiah walked into the room, I walked over to him and talked with him until he had to go to his next class, which was science – they were to dissect a fish. He asked Fran and I if we wanted to join the class and I accepted just because I wanted to know how it felt and what it would look like. Then Jen said that we also had the option of going with Aidan to a cooking class. Fran decided to do that instead.

We walked into the class and I sat down next to him. His teacher walked up to me and asked me some questions about myself. Once the room was almost filled with like ten people, the teacher started the class. She told us all to take our fish out of the plastic bags that they were in. She had her own fish in her hand and it had already been cut open so that she could use it as an example.

She told us to look at the fish and she named some of the parts on the fish then told us to open up where the guts were and to take some out. We looked at them and then set the stuff aside. They looked like they were soft but I didn’t want to touch them without my gloves on.

Then the teacher told us to cut open the bottom of the fish. Josiah had already cut up the side as well but I don’t think it made a difference. We cut all of the sides and then took the flap off. Inside there were a bunch of tiny gross organs.

The teacher went around the class observing the work that was being done, and told us to take the stomach out. Since all the fish were a little different, it was sort of confusing to know what to take out.

The classroom smelt horrible. Some people even had to go outside because they could not stand the disgusting stench. Inside of the fish was a bubble. It was kind of purple and had liquid inside of it, but the bubble consisted mostly of air. It was really tempting to pop it but I restrained myself. Then Josiah popped his fish’s purple bubble and this gross liquid came flowing out. It was yucko!

Josiah had told me that last week, when they were dissecting fish, he had poked the eye out and in showing his friends, they had snatched the fish from him and had thrown it at him. At the beginning of the class, the teacher had said that they were not allowed to do that because it was rude and unacceptable.

I was staring at the wall whilst the teacher was talking and then I looked at Josiah and he was using one of the tools to poke at the fish's eye. He was trying to see what was underneath it and he poked something and a gross smelling liquid squirted everywhere. It splattered my cheek and I immediately wiped it off of my face with a paper towel. I almost threw up.

As soon as the class was over, we cleaned up the desks and put the stuff away. Then, I went to the bathroom and scrubbed my face and arms until they were red and painful. It was a gross and smelly experience, but overall a really enjoyable day.

Renz and Leiky in the Ohio Valley

POST by SEZ: Renz's New PC

Sezni performing in CREATED

The Briens are my family and the Nicaraguan people are kids that live with us. The Nicaraguans are young boys that do tricking and Bboy. Together we did a play called created, which is about God and the Devil. We do it at churches to tell them the story of good versus evil.

One time, my sister felt sick and tired so she went outside to the van to wait until we had to go home. Aben and I, her brother, were in the van waiting when Jonny came out and also went in the van.

He brought my sister a plastic bag and inside the bag was a computer. He gave her the bag and said “this is for you” and she said ‘’what’s this?’’ He said ‘’it’s a computer’’ and it was a computer, but her face was just normal.

Jonny, Sezzy and Renzy enjoying the facilities we were treated to at the Grizzly camp

POST by ABEN: Lorenzy's Dreams Come True

Aben riding his pony

This is a story about my friend Lorenzy Brien. The first time I met Lorenzy was at a mall with my friend. Her and her family went to the mall to see a Nicaraguan folklore dance presentation. After watching the Nica show, the Brien family went to a restaurant to eat and that is where something awesome happened.

They met two boys that were doing flips in front of the restaurant that they were at and they saw something spectacular. She saw how those boys jumped and flipped very well and so Lorenzy’s family and her got out of their seats and said “oh wow thats incredible!” and at the moment that those guys were leaving because security were kicking them out, her dad and Lorenzy’s sister went after them.

Before the boys left, the Brien family approached them to chat about their fantastic gymnastics abilities. They did not have jobs and they were looking for jobs and Lorenzys dad asked them if they wanted a job at her dad’s house to teach the kids in their community and school. Her dad had even seen the boys on youtube because the boys would upload videos to the internet of themselves doing the sport, “tricking.” (a modern street form of gymnastics with martial arts)

Lorenzy’s dad would pray every day, asking God to help him find the boys and God heard his prayers. It was a miracle that Lorenzy’s dad found the boys.

Now she feels very happy because there are kids that are searching for God that they are helping. Her sister and the people their family have taken from the streets, and herself, have now formed a group to serve God. They are taking a message that is about good choices and bad choices and that only God can save us, to the World.

Today Lorenzy is even happier, because before she met us she only had like seven people in her family and now she has like 20 people. She thanks God because now the Christian group, the Nicavangelists, have fourteen missionaries in the troupe, and they are helping people in the World that have lost their way. Now the word of God is going to other countries, so that other people may find salvation in a loving God.

Aben, Jonny & Lorenzy in transit

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

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

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

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

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

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

la historia de mi amiga lorenzy brien; la primera vez que la lorenzy conocio a dos chicos fue en un centro comercial ella y su familia,havian llegado ahi para ver una actuacion de un baile nicaraguense llamado folklor.despues de ahi ella y la familia brien fueron aun restaurante a comer y ahi paso lo genial ,conocio  a dos chicos que giraban ahi  en frente de ese restaurante  y ahi vieron algo espectacular.

  

Ella miraba como esos dos chicos brincaban y giraban muy bien y ella y su familia se lenvantaron de sus sillas y dijieron ho wow que increible,y al momento de que esos dos chicos se iban por que el personal de seguridad estaba sacando alos chicos,su papa y la hermana de lorenzy fueron detras de ellos  antes de que se fueran ,para hablar con ellos dos sobre de que la habilidad que tenian era inpresionante esos dos chicos, no tenian trabajo y andaban en busca de trabajo el papa hablo con ellos que si querian trabajo en su casa de ensenar  en su orgonisacion de ayudar ala comunidad el increible mente los habia visto en youtube por que esos chicos subian sus propios videos ala red.

el papa de lorenzi horaba todos los dias pidiendo adios encontrarlos a esos chicos y dios lo escucho por que fue un milagro haberlos encontrado .

ahora ella se siente muy feliz por que ahora hay mas ninos buscando los caminos de dios,

por que ella,su hermana, y esos chicos hasta hoy en dia forman un grupo de dios llevando una ensenanza donde el mensaje refleja que la maldad y la oscuridad que hay en este mundo solo dios   puede  salvarnos.

y hoy en dia esta mas contenta por que ahora en su familia despues , de 7 personas que heran ahora son como 20 en su familia y da gracias a dios por que ahora el grupo cristiano capital on the edge es ahora de trece misioneros buscando almas perdidas para dio nuestro unico salvador y ahora el mensaje  de dios va llegando mas, y mas a muchos lugares del mundo .

para mas salvacion

POST by RENZ: Aben's First Flight

Aben in Fancy Dress

When Aben was a child, about 13 years old, he liked to watch a lot of action movies and movies where people would be flipping all around the place. He would say to himself "Ah that is really cool, but what they’re doing is not real."

One day, at Aben’s house, he was having a lot of problems that were humiliating and offensive to him. So, he left everything and went to his aunt’s house.

When Aben got there, his cousin, who is more like a brother to him, was already at the house. Having Aben’s cousin there was like a gift from God because at that moment he did not know it, but his life would have a new beginning because he did a flip, which was the first trick that Aben had seen in real life.

When Aben saw his cousin flip he could not believe it, but it made him feel excited and he liked the tricks a lot. Aben did not know what gift God had given him but through his cousin he found out that his gift was an acrobatic sport called “tricking.”

Aben Tricking

The best thing about being able to do tricking is that he can teach other people how to do the gift that God has given him and now there are a lot of people that do tricking, because of our Nicaragua boy, Aben.

God loves all of us the same and we all have a place with him but we have to find him.

Aben performing with Stivey, Lorenzy, Jose, Eliezer & Jonny

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 FRAN: Brave New Girl!

Lorenzy, Grandad, Francesca, in Rochester, NY

Traveling is a lot of fun, but it can also be really scary, especially when you’re flying with just your 13 year old sister, by yourself. First time being in charge of passports, first time going through security by myself, with my passport in my bag instead of it being in Dad’s bag along with everybody else’s passports.

Well my sister and I flew from Baltimore to Buffalo with Southwest Airlines a while ago, and that was probably the scariest thing I have ever done. As we lined up to cheek in our bags, Dad was scaring me more and more every second. He made me check in our bags and he made me do all the talking and he made me take charge!

My sister was acting calm and I was trying not to get confused. I guess I had to be the responsible one, so that meant I couldn’t freak out! Otherwise we both would have freaked out!

We went through security and I started to panic as I couldn’t see my little brother or Dad anymore… All that was going through my head was “Oh My Gosh!!!! I don’t know where to go!!! I need to PEEE!!!! CALM DOWN!!!!”

I calmed myself down and Lorenzy asked me “can we go to the bathroom? I think this is the wrong way any way.” We went to the bathroom and I went into one of the stalls… “Oh… where should I put the passports?!” I didn’t even put them in my bag… I told myself “there’s a bathroom on the plane!”

I waited for Lorenzy to come out and we went to find our gate, it was really close to the bathroom! We sat down and I turned on my computer and began to work on my last Bible study for Teen Ranch, in Canada, where I was headed to.

Then I began to get excited thinking about seeing my two little cousins and my aunt and uncle and my Granddad! It wouldn’t be long before I’d be working at the Ranch for a couple of weeks, either.

A loud voice came on over the airport’s PA system, saying that we were going to start boarding soon, so I turned off my computer and got the passports ready. When the line had gone down a little we got up and walked over to the aerobridge entrance. We smiled and got onto the plane without any problems.

We went to the back so we wouldn’t have to sit next to any weirdoes. We got seated and everything, and then we were ready.  The flight was very short and we got there in no time… Southwest Airlines is my  favourite airline when efficiency and fun are high on my to-do-list!

we started to walk following signs to the baggage hall. We went through a smallish hallway and on the other side saw aunty Jamie and Granddad waiting for us! All my fears were gone when I saw them smiling and pointing to us, and waving at us!

We went to get our bags and then went to the car and drove to Rochester (New York), where we were going to be staying. We went to Aunty Jamie’s house and saw Tidgh and allegra, our adorable cousins.

Francesca with her adorable little cousin, Tadgh

We went out for dinner or lunch, not quite sure which one it was, but I know that the food was good! We had a load of fun and went to our good friends, the Seaburg’s. We would be staying at their house. I was only going to stay one night. Lorenzy is still there with them now, having a load of fun.

The next day I left for Canada with Granddad. I said my goodbyes to everyone and then hit the road… it took us 3 hours to get there, but we made it safely!

I just wanted to say Thank you to my Parents for letting me come here and for making this possible… I love you guys.

Fran, Mum (Elizabeth) and Renz in San Diego (A GORGEOUS city in Southern California)

Thank you Granddad for driving me here, it was a lot of fun spending time with you… I hope you made it back ok.

And thank you to the Stevens for adopting me as a new addition to your fun-loving family!

Lorenzy, Aunty Jaime & Francesca

To learn more about Franny, please visit our page, Our People 

If you would like to support the Brien family, please visit our support page and learn how you can be of help: Contemplating SUPPORTING something significant?

To learn more about the Australian Christian Churches, please CLICK HERE

To learn more about Capital on the Edge's home Church in Australia, please CLICK HERE

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. 

POST by RENZ: Family First, PARTY!

Lorenzy with her grandparents from the UK, Richard & Sue

Here in Nicaragua, when you turn fifteen years old, you have a quinceanera. If you don’t know what that is, it is a big party because you are now old enough to do what you want to do (well, sort of). Like you are allowed to make your own choices. Most of the time only the girls celebrate it but some guys do it as well, but it is not that common.

First, what happens is the birthday person wears a HUGE dress, and I mean huge, somewhat like a wedding dress. Then you go to a church to have blessings and things like that and then you go to the actual party. It is pretty much the same as a wedding but you do not get married.

You have fourteen other people, who are very close to you, and they walk with you into the party. You are the fifteenth person and each person represents a year of your life. They are usually wearing the same dresses (the girls) and the boys the same suits, except for the people at the front like the little person at the front who might have a wand, and they lead the other people and he or she walks alone.

The rest of the people go with their partners most of the time. Once the birthday girl/guy is in the party, she or he has a special dance with the person that walked into the party with them. Then when all that is done you just have a normal party.

Francesca is fourteen and in November she is turning fifteen and she decided to have her quince. My parents have invited a bunch of people from different places like England, Australia, and the United States. Even people we don’t know but that my Dad knows were invited!

Our grandparents from both sides are coming and so is my Uncle and Aunt and my cousins and I am so excited to see everyone again because it has been a very long time since I have seen them. The first family members that are coming are my grandparents from my mum’s side. I was told that they were going to come on Tuesday at night.

Every night we watch one episode of Frasier and one episode of Seinfeld before going to bed. On Monday night we were in the middle of watching an episode of Frasier when my mum went to her computer like she always does and got onto her e-mail.

None of us noticed but none of us really cared, because we were so intrigued with the show. All of a sudden, right in the middle of the show my mum screamed and came running to us still screaming like a headless chick. Then, when she had gotten our attention she ran back and my sister and I followed her asking her “WHAT?! WHAT HAPPENED?! TELL US!!!!”.

She stopped screaming and went back to dad and said that my uncle had sent her a message saying that my grandparents were at the airport waiting for us to pick them up and asking if we were going to pick them up.

She was confused because the flight information had said that they were arriving the next day so she did not know what to do. We did not have our car because it was getting fixed and so it would be harder to get them.

My mum said it was probably a mistake or something, but my dad said that if Uncle Nick wrote the message, then it was most likely that he had been contacted by my grandparents to tell us, since they probably didn’t have anyway to tell us.

We sat there for a while wondering what to do. We decided not to go and get them so we went back to watching our show.

In the morning my mum, Rafael, Billy, and Ericson, went to the airport to go and get them because we had been told that they were staying at the hotel across the road from the airport.

My mum borrowed a car from somebody and went to go get them. When I saw them I felt so happy and couldn’t wait to catch up with them. I love it when people from different countries come. Especially family!