POST by ERICSON: Testimony

Ericson, in His Room at Capital on the Edge

I am from Nicaragua, a very poor country (in Central America).

The story of my life begins like this. I was born into a hardworking family. Our family was poor and humble.

One day my Dad went to work in Costa Rica. When children are little, they do not know how life will unfold. I was five years old at the time. My mum was waiting for my dad to send us money but the money never came. That’s when I started working for other people.

On top of working, I realised that my family had many problems. My family too began to worry, because of all our problems. All of my brothers ended up going to work. I worked at a famous market in Nicaragua, the Mercado Oriental Monte Negro.

I decided to work so that at least I could provide food for my family. But I realised my earnings were not enough. My mum told me not to work and so with time, I stopped working.

One day I noticed that my older sister was getting an attack of epilepsy and I asked my mum “What is happening to my older sister?” She did not respond to me and I was scared so I started to cry.

The next day, I asked my mum again about what was happening to my sister. She told me that my sister was experiencing an attack of epilepsy, and then she started crying because she did not have money to by medicine for her.

I woke up the next day and my mum asked my “Where are you going so early in the morning? It’s only 4am!” I replied “Mum, I am going to work.” Then she asked me “where?”  I told her that I was going to work in the market. “Why?” Mum, you said that you did not have money so I am going to go work and bring some money home.

She thought that I was lying but she let me go anyway. I worked when I was seven until I was ten. One day in that market a man asked me “Do you know where the lady that makes blankets is?” I told him that I did know and he said to me, “I will give you one hundred cords (a little over $4) if you take me to her.

I agreed because I used to earn that much money in one week and I went with him. He asked me if it was far away and I replied that it was and so he suggested that we could go in his car and I agreed.

In that time he said to me “This will be the last time that you ever see the light of day” I asked him “Why?” He told me “Because we are going to sell your organs.” I do not know where I got the strength from but I fought with the man and jumped out of the car and started running.

When I got home I did not leave the house for three months. After ten days, a man came to our house and he had gifts. I was wondering, “who is that man?” My mum eventually told me “that’s your father.” At that moment I went running. I was mad because I thought he bought me a gift so that I would forgive him. I started thinking “where was he when my mum and brothers were suffering? Where was he when we almost lost my mum’s farm? Where was he when my older sister got an attack of epilepsy? I am never going to forgive him because I have suffered so much.”

As time passed, I started to trust my father and our family became pretty normal. One day my Mum said that she was going to go to her farm to take care of it, but I said “no Mum, don’t go.” I said, “I will go.” So I went and took care of the farm by myself. I was out there for one whole year. My mum only came to visit me twelve times. She used to come and visit me on the weekend, once per month, every month, at the end of the month.

Ericson Performing with Capital on the Edge, on Nicaraguan Television

I needed to take care of myself that whole time. I would plant fruits, take care of the cows and sell wood. That’s how I survived. One day I saw in the news that a man had been killed on a farm right behind where my mum’s farm was. My family did not know about it.

One night at 1am, I heard a sound and a bunch of voices. I started to pray. Then the voices went away. The next day all of our dogs were dead. One of my neighbours said that people had come and shot the dogs. He knew this because when the voices came he went outside to see who was there and he had seen what was going on. He didn’t see them very well though.

On another day, whilst I was still on the farm, I heard lots of shooting and thought that people must have been having a fight. I didn’t know who was shooting. I couldn’t see anyone.

Two days later and I went to Managua. Someone kept telling me that something had happened. My father was at work and had been shot in the leg. My Dad was a security guard and I told my Dad “I’m going to go in your place.” I worked in my Dad’s place for 2 months until my Dad’s leg healed.

A brother of mine was put into prison for 3 years. My older brother trained to be a pastor at university, so that he could preach the Gospel.

My Dad took care of the farms and took care of his parents, because they were very sick. Then I had to start working again in the market. At this time I suffered, because my brother was in jail.

I worked to give money to my older brother, so that he could complete his qualifications at university. I always have given money to my Mum and continue to do so. After finishing work I would cooked for everybody else in my family. Everyone would get home very late and so I cooked dinner every night for 3 years.

Thank God, because he has changed my life.

I have been practicing breakdancing for 3 years and now I am helping Capital on the Edge.

My family now has a lot of blessings. We are all Christians.

I didn’t have a fun childhood, because I had to work, but I am proud, because I wanted to kill myself when I was taking care of my mother’s farm, but I didn’t do it because I knew that God had a purpose for me. So I resisted. Now my family and I are blessed.

God opened the doors for me. 

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Ericson and Jonny, Working on their Studies

un dia en la noche como alas 1am  escuche un ruido y un monton de voces y  yo solo co mense a orar y des pues se fueron y al dia siguiente amanecieron muertos todos los peros y u vecino que le dieron un tiro por que el salio a esaora praber kien andava a esa ora y segui un tienpo mas y des pues un dia yo decia en mi mente a alguien le dieron un tiro pero noce kien es y pase un dos dias asi u mefui a la capita y solo algo medecia que avia pasado algo y al que le avian dado un tiro a mi papa en una pierna y el era vijilante y yo ledije papa yo boy a ir por ustep y pase dos meces trabajando como viji lante en la noche en una en presa asta que el serecupero de la piena y de pues un er mano mia cae preso por tres anos  mi otro ermano mayor estaba en el intituto biblico para cer un pasator para predicar el ebajelio y otro en la uni bersidad y mi papa cuidando las fincas y asus padre por que estaban muy en fermos y otrabes comenso mi es clavitup y yo comense a trabajar otrbes en el Mercado y en todo eses tienpo yo sufri en toda mi vida pasada por que a mi ermano que estaba preso le pasaba dinero cemanal ami er mano pastor le dava una ayuda para que ter minara su curso de 5 anos ami ermano de la unibercidad tan vien y ami mama sienpre le edado dinero y en todo ese tienpo ami ernano pastor des pues de trabajar yo tenia que cosinarle a el porque yegaba muy noche diario port res anos metoco eso gracias a Dios que a canviado mi mvida tengo tres anos se praticar break dance  y ando apoyando esta obra micionera y mi famila es muy abuntante en bendiciones por que todos somos salbos por que tenemos a cristo en nuestro Corazon  y en mi paiz no exciste nines pero estoy orguyoso por que yo kise asta colgarme de un mecate cuando cuidaba la finca y no lo ise por que yo savia que Dios tenia un propocito para mi y yo resisti y aora mi familia y yo bendecida prosperada y en Vitoria talve suno dice abeseces que estamos asiendo en este mundo asta que terminamos en dexescion y nu estro auto estima se baja eso me paso amia y yo serre esos malos pensamientos y dios me abrio sus puertas  gracia por aber leido mi istoria primera mente Dios ante todo.  

Ericson at the Beach, with Capital on the Edge

POLITICS: Iran & Nicaragua... Swimming Across the Sea... Getting along fabulously, POLITICALLY!!!

In a meeting with his Nicaraguan counterpart Sandinista René Nunez, Iran Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani said, “Political and economic relations between Iran and Nicaragua are expanding.”

CLICK here to read article

POST by YADER: Testimony

Yader in San Diego

My name is Yader, and this is my story.

When I was 5 months old my parents left me with my grandmother, her name was Carmen. My parents went their own two ways because of an argument. My grandmother raised me.

When I was 5 years old my parents wanted to meet me and tell me that they were my parents. I told them that I understood. They left again and I stayed with my grandmother.

Yader's Gran, Carmen Castillo

My grandmother always looked after me and I thank God because I feel like my grandmother is my mum. I entered preschool when I was 7. I passed into secondary and then dropped out of school.

I went to a band and I have played in that band for 13 years. I feel really happy to have my grandmother who introduced me to my teacher who has taught me a lot. I play the bongos.

In 2011 I had to go to jail because of going to a disco with a few friends and wanting to change an American 100 dollar bill, which they said was fake. The disco folks called the police and I went to jail at 10pm. I called my grandmother and she gathered 80 signatures in support of my innocence. She went to my teacher and the CPC (the Sandanista’s youth department) insisted that I be let go. I am glad to have those people that fought for me so that I could get out of jail.

Now I am sorry for what I did when my grandmother was suffering and I am sorry that I didn’t obey her and didn’t listen to her. I feel grateful for my lovely grandmother who looked after me and raised me and cared for me. I give thanks to God that he gave me such a wonderful grandmother. I learnt a lot from her and I am sorry for everything that I have done, because she was always there for me.

Thank you for reading my story. Now that I have God in my life, I feel bad for all the bad things that I have done in my life and am so thankful for my grandmother and God. My grandmother’s name is Carmen Castillo.

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Yader's Beautiful Cousins (who are like siblings, because their parents also left them with little ol' Gran too)

POST by ELIEZER: Testimony

Eliezer in Sunny San Diego

Hello, my nam is Eliezer. I am going to share with you a little bit about my life.

I grew up in a very small region called Cedro Galan in Managua, Nicaragua. As a child, I had many needs, because we are very poor and things were not so good for my family.

 

When I was about 8 years old I went to work on a small coffee farm. I woke up at 2 am to be able to get there early enough to make money for my grandparents.

My parents left me with my grandparents for half of my life. I couldn’t be with my parents because they didn’t have a good house to live in. My Dad never wanted my family to tell other people, when I was born, that I was his son. I was denied and told that I was not his son. I never experienced true love from a father.

But with luck, my sisters could have that love from my father, the love I always wanted. I have two sisters. The one that is 11 years old is the one that I love the most.

The other one is my age, she is my half sister, she is very selfish and my dad always gives everything to her, but he gives my little sister very little. He never gives me anything. I feel a little better because my sister hopefully won’t have to go through what I went through.

My dad was very bad to my mum, he always mistreated her when they were not together and told my sister and I horrible words about my mama. I always have those bad memories when he would say "your mum is a bitch, I am going to kill her and cut her head off." I felt very bad and my sister did not deserve to hear those words from my dad. Because of the horrible words, I can never forgive him.

Due to the conditions we lived in, it was hard for me to go to school. I had little time for my studies. I started to study very early, but my job made it difficult for me to study. It’s very sad that these things can change a person’s life.

My house was made very poorly. It was made of sheet metal on the sides as walls, and the house was very bad. The wood roof had so many holes that my bed would be wet when it rained. I would sleep in wet my wet bed, and my grandmother always cried because I was so sick. I was always cold.

I always had a childhood with hurt feelings and a broken heart.

I never had a birthday party or Christmas celebrations. But I have hope in God, and since I am with God, my heart feels better and I believe things will go well.

I hope you enjoyed my story, thank you for reading. God bless you today.

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Eliezer in San Diego

Ola mi nombre es Eliezer les vengo con un poco de mi vida
 

Desde muy pequeño crecí en una comarca llamada cedro galán en Managua nicaragua teníamos muchas necesidades porque somos muy pobres las cosa no eran tan buena con my familia alrededor de 8 anos de edad ya me ponía a trabajar en una finca de corta de café recuerdo que me despertaba alas 2 de la mañana para poder llegar temprano para hacer mas dinero para mis abuelos

Mis padres me dejaron la mitad de  mi vida con mis abuelos porque no me podían tener con ellos por falta de una casa para poder vivir bueno mi mama porque mi papan nunca me quiso my familia me cuenta que el cuando yo nací el me negó dijo que yo no era su hijo i nunca e sabido lo que es el verdadero amor de un padre

Pero de suerte que mis hermanas si lo pudieron tener ese amor que yo siempre quise tengo 2 hermanas  una de 11 anos que es lo que mas quiero  loa otra es de mi edad mi media hermana es muy egoísta y mi papa siempre le a dado todo a ella pero ami hermanita le da muy poco y ami nunca me da nada pero me siento un poco bien porque por lo que yo pase mi hermanita tal vez no lo va a pasar

Mi papa era muy malo con mi mama siempre la maltrataba aunque no estaban juntos y a mi y a mi hermanita nos decía unas palabras horribles de mi mama siempre llevare esos malos recuerdos el decía “tu mama es una perra la boy a matar le boy a cortar la cabeza “ i yo me sentía muy mal y mi hermanita no se merecía oír esas palabras tan despiadadas de mi papa contra my mama nunca lo podré perdonar

En el particular estilo de vida pues e tenido muy pocas oportunidades para mis estudios yo comencé muy temprano mis estudios  pero por mi trabajo era muy difícil estudiar para mi es muy triste porque esas cosas te puede cambiar la vida

Mi casa era muy pobre era de laminas de metal a los lados y madera  muy mala el techo tenia tantos agujeros que mi cama seme mojaba cuando llovía era horrible yo me dormía mojado y mi abuela siempre lloraba por que yo siempre me enfermaba era muy frío nunca pude tener una infancia siempre fue dolor por todos mis sentimientos

En mis cumple anos nunca tuve alegría  ni en navidad ni en ninguna época de el ano pero siempre queda una esperanza que es dios desde que estoy con dios en mi corazón me ciento mejor y las cosas siempre salen bien espero que les higa gustado mi historia muchas gracias por leer  que dios los bendiga.

POST by LIZ: Oooh, I could Crush a Grape!

Elizabeth & Rene in downtown San Francisco

It is an incredible privilege to be touring California with my beautiful family,  which of course consists of Jed, my four precious ones and the eight wonderful lads whom God has put into our lives.  Our days are never monotonous; observing our engorged family soak in this surreal experience and growing more in God, brings a sense of contentment in my spirit.

Each and every one of my “children” have their own unique quirks. Political Correctness (PC) demands parents to say they treat all family members the same, but I personally find this to be highly unachievable.  Personality has a huge role to play and tends to eschew PC with great force. Honestly, while I strive to treat all the same, my daily interactions and methods of discipline with them all vary, due to ‘Personality’. 

While I love them all, Rene tends to have a special place in my heart.  He is young (15), passionate, impetuous, and majorly self-absorbed (like the majority of 15 year olds!)  Over the year I have known him, he and I have come a long way and we have had major collisions throughout the journey (some involving knives and others involving fists).

To let you in on a secret - he almost didn’t make the tour due to his inflated attitude that totally clashed with mine! But he made it on the California tour by a hanging thread, and certainly brings  vibrancy to the group.  

When we were in Nicaragua, waiting to submit passports, the line was long, the day was hot, and it seemed like days were being sucked out of our lives.  After three hours of moving at a snail’s pace towards the building which  would provide the precious document, lunch was overdue and we were fading away... 

“I’ll just run and grab us all something to eat,” I said trying to slip away quietly, but they all wanted to come with me for the adventure. So, Stivey and Eric held our queue positions, while the rest of us went to find food.  “How about McDonalds?” Rene quickly suggested, but at $6 per person, this was way out of our lunch budget, which was $12.50 for our entire group. Like a mother hen with chicks in tow, we made our way to the grocery store. 

“No Liz” Rene whined, wiggling a can of red bull in my face while I grabbed a pack of plastic cups and a couple of 3 litre water bottles.   

I expertly dodged the two-cm-from-my-face, visual requests for cans, pks of chips, and chocolate, as I swooped in and grabbed a cooked chook and some freshly baked rolls.      

“Pleeeeease...” Rene requested, with pitiful eyes that seemed bigger and more innocent than Puss-in-Boots’, a basket of fruit.  “Not today, fruit is expensive and right now we don’t have the money for this,”  but that wasn’t enough... Beycker, Jonny and Rene started to steal and eat the grapes and caused a riot – I stopped them, told them how utterly embarrassed I was of their rude behaviour and explained that they would get NOTHING if this behaviour continued...  This seemed to verbally slap Beycker and Jonny back into civility but Rene was persistent. 

As we left the fruit’n’veg section, and made our way towards the check-out, via aisle four, I noticed Rene munching on grapes while hosting a bunch in his hand.

“Rene, I said No more, grapes are really expensive and when you eat them like this without paying for them it’s called stealing!...” but he cut in my words stating he was going to buy them.

Knowing full well his personal budget, I stressed once again that I was not okay about him stealing, and that I would not be buying the grapes for him or anyone today.  But he stressed that he was paying and promised not to eat another grape until after paying.

Putting the cups, water, chicken and bread on the moving belt, Jonny’s eyes moved side ways towards the snickers. He then grinned as my eyes narrowed and my face indicated “not on your life!”

As the checker started scanning, I noticed the now hot and sweaty, ‘we’ve-been-in-Rene’s-hands’ grapes next to the bag of rolls.  All the boys had seen this and were silently watching for my reaction. 

Fearing the last minute requests for craved items from the other boys if I allowed the grapes to pass, I picked up a divider and placed it between the rolls and the grapes. Rene grinned whilst asking, “Please Liz?”  He looked at me, the check out chick looked at me, the other lads’ eyes were darting from the grapes to Rene, to me.  But I ignored Rene’s pleading and pulled out the cash from my pocket, handing it to the cashier, “Just these items thanks.” I cooed.

We picked up the bags and stood in a line entertained by the thought of Rene’s next reaction.  Jonny and Beycker chuckled while Rene fumbled in his pocket for loose cordabas. 

“That will be 23 cords please,” the woman at the teller said after scanning the forbidden fruit.

”WHAT?” Rene retorted, “That’s a rip off- 23 cords for a just a handful of grapes!”  

Rene looked at his treasure, then requested for the guys to lend him C$13. None of them had a cord... “Liz, can you lend me C$13?”  But I just smiled and shook my head. 

The lads couldn’t control themselves and burst out laughing, as Rene had to put the grapes to the side and walk away from the till.  Rene looked at me, I looked at him and we both started laughing which made everyone laugh harder.   

POST by JONNY: Testimony

Hello, my name is Jonny. I am writing to tell you about my life.



Jonny

When I was very little, 7 years old, I had to work in order to eat and buy clothes. I helped my parents to keep fighting for our lives, because my family is poor.

For many years, whilst working my job, I got up at 4am with 2 buckets and walked 2 miles in order to retrieve water. The buckets were very heavy for me because I was so small. But nevertheless, to help my parents, and in order to continue going to school, I kept working.

One day I realised I had a hernia, which was harsh for me, but I asked God to help me to keep going and to be a good person. One of the saddest things was that I lived where my grandmother lived and she made us move out at midnight, in the rain.

We got a little house, but we couldn’t all fit in it. As time passed, we could keep moving forward.

Even though I was really small I suffered a lot because my toys were my tools for work. They were very heavy. I thank God for everything, for everything he does for me and the World.

The most beautiful thing was to be with my family, even though we didn’t have anything to eat. God always filled us up with his Word. One of the saddest things, was to see my Dad drink alcohol for one month. He would do this about 5 times per year.

My Dad would treat my mother badly. I was very small and had to live through that, but I thank God because my Dad asked God to help him with this problem. God is so great, he made my Dad stop doing the bad things that he was doing.

Today my Dad is a very healthy person, and so is my mother. Today I am walking with God and the sweetest thing is that God can change everything. God bless everybody!

Jonny, Lorenzy & Franceca in San Francisco

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Hola mi nombre es JONNY es contare acerca de mi vida pasada bueno cuando era muy pequeño como de 7 anos tenia que trabajar para poder comer i vestirme y ayudar a mis padres a seguir luchando ya que mi familia es de bajos recurso económico y fueron muchos anos los que pase trabajando i mi trabajo era levantarme alas 4 de la mañana con 2 cubetas e ir a caminar como 2 km para poder ir a traer agua y eso era mucho peso para a mi por que mi edad era muy pequeña para poder hacer lo que Asia pero sin embargo lo Asia para poder ayudar a mis padres y poder ir al colegio y transe el transcurso de el tiempo medio hernia y tuve muy grabe , pero le pedí a dios que me ayudara para poder seguir adelante y poder ser una buena persona y unas de las cosas mas triste es que vivía en donde mi abuela y ella nos corría a media noche y debajo de la lluvia a mi y hermanos ya que en mi casa en donde vivíamos era muy pequeña i no cabíamos mis hermano y padres , pero con el tiempo pudimos seguir adelante mis hermanos y yo aunque yo era muy pequeño pero sufría mucho porque mis juguetes eran herramientas de trabajo muy pesadas y doy gracias a dios por todo y por todas las cosas que ase por mi y el mundo y lo mas lindo era poder estar a lado de mi familia aunque no teníamos que comer pero siempre dios nos llena con su palabra . Y unas de las cosas mas triste era ver a mi padre tomando alcohol por 1 mes casi en el ano como 5 beses y los maltratos que el le Asia a mi madre y yo muy pequeño tenia que vivir eso pero doy gracias a dios que el pidió a dios que lo alejara de ese Visio y dios es grande el lo saco de todo mal i hoy en día es una persona sana y mi madre tan bien .. hoy en día estoy en el camino de dios y eso es lo mas lindo el cavia todas las cosas .

POST by RENE: Testimony

This is the small story of my life, starting when I was a baby.

When I was two years old I was given away like a dog to a family that was very humble, but poor. Why? My parents were drug addicts and they only liked money for drugs. Since I couldn’t take care of myself and give myself love, my parents – instead of giving love to me, gave their love to drugs.

Since I was so small, I was happy with my adopted family. I didn’t know who my real family was, but I was happy – I didn’t care. I only wanted to play, eat and when I looked at them, they had a smile that was really pretty. It was like a light from the sky. They were such a nice couple, and made my life happy. They gave me love and I passed pre-school in a very humble school and I liked it very much. I don’t know why, but I liked it.

When I turned 10 my adoptive parents told me the truth, that they weren’t my parents of blood and so I said to them “who are you?” They explained everything to me. I went running from my house, not knowing where to go. I asked myself “Where are my parents?” I was on the streets for 10 days. I slept on cardboard and the rain fell on me. I stole fruit to eat.

I slept near a casino that was close to house my house and it was like a nightclub. There were prostitutes and they would pass by looking at me weirdly. They asked me where I was from, but I didn’t tell them anything. My parents were really worried and wanted to find me. They would cry and cry. They would pray a lot so that I would go back home.

One day a prostitute came to me and gave me a plate of food and 20 cordobas and said to me “I miss my son.” I asked her “Why?” She replied “Because I gave him away.” It made me think and I started to cry. I hugged the prostitute tight in that momento. And then she told me that her son was 13 years old when she gave him away. My dream of finding my parents faded. The prostitute hugged me and told me to go home because my parents were waiting for me. My heart felt lighter.

I ran home. I knocked on the door and my Dad cameo out. They held me very tightly and my heart spoke to me and said “do not keep looking. Your parents are very close to you even though you don’t know it.” Even though they were not my blood-related parents, they gave me a home and love, and were very nice to me. Even they are poor, they have BIG hearts of lions. With God next to you, the Nicaraguans say “Money doesn’t matter, and fame doesn’t matter. The only thing that is important is to have God in your heart.”

This story will be continued…

Rene Teaching Billy How to Ride a Pony

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POST by STIVEN: Testimony

Stivey Teaching Kids at Capital Edge Community School

Hello my name is Steven. I have had a hard childhood, because my cousins were mean to my parents. My cousins did everything posible to get my family out of their house. My cousins would throw buckets of urine and pooh on my families’ beds. It was a very sad time for my parents, because they did not have money to buy a house. This was how my family lived until I was 12 years old.

My grandmother helped my family buy land, but my parents had to find the money to build a house. But my parents were poor and needed a large loan from the bank to buy all of the materials needed to build a house.

My mum had to sell her little store, which was located at Managua’s busy and dangerous Oriental Mercado and my mum helped our family by providing food out of the sale of her business, because my Dad couldn’t find a job. So I helped my mum by selling sweet cream and  water in the streets of the market.

At 12 years old I looked for a job, but wasn’t able to find one, because I was too young. In Nicaragua they don’t let you have a job if you are too young. That is how I helped my mum. My other brothers, except for one, did not live with me and my parents. We were young but did everything posible to help my parents. My parents are old, but thank God they took us to Church. God helped us in moving forward.

I have tried drugs, alcohol and cigarettes. I am now quitting smoking. I didn’t like any of those things. All thanks to God. My childhood was very sad. Nobody helped me except for God. We are happy  because of God’s help.

Stivey in his New Barrio, with His Friends

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Hola mi nombre es Steven y es un poco fuerte mi infancia por que donde vivía era donde mis primas y ellas eran muy malas con mis padres porque ellas asin todo lo posible para corrernos ami padres y hermanos entonces ellas aventaban valdes de orines y esgremento en el lugar donde estábamos y eso era muy triste porque mis padres no tenia dinero para comprar una casa y  asi pase a los 12 anos anos de edad entonces mi abuela le ayudo a mis padres para comprar un terrenos de la casa  pero mis padres tenia que comprar materiales de construcción pero mis padres eran Pores entonces mi papa tubo que prestar mucho dinero en el banco para comprar los materiales y mi madre tubo que vender un tramo que tenia el mercado ese tramo mi mama nos ayudaba para comer porque mi papa no encontraba trabajo y yo estaba muy triste y yo a la edad de 12 anos buscaba trabajo pero no me daban trabajo porque era menor de edad y en Nicaragua no le dan trabajo a los menores de edad y yo le ayudaba a mi mama por que yo vendia atolia y agua en las calles del mercado asi le ayudaba a mi mama porque mis hermanos no vivian con mis padres solo yo y mi hermano que estábamos pequenos pero asiamo lo posible para ayudar a mis padres porque mis padres eran muy viejos pero de todo le doy gracias a dios porque mis padres y vamos a la iglesia poreso dios nos ayudo a salir adelante he probado las drogas el licor y cigarro pero ningunos de esos visios me gusto poreso le doy gracias a dios poreso mi infancia es muy triste porque no tenia la ayuda de nadie solo de dios y le doy gracias dios por todo y actualmente mi familia es feliz porque tenemos la ayuda de dios.

PERFORMING TONIGHT!!!

Really, REALLY excited to be performing at the HOUSE tonight, in San Carlos... If you're in the area, COME ALONG!!!

6:30pm, 2811 San Carlos Ave, San Carlos - There is a street opposite the San Carlos Cal-Train, just head straight up it! After 5 minutes, you'll see the Church on your left...

Jeddoxo

PS.. I don't know why I am advertising this, and none of the other events we've had, cause I don't even know anyone in SFO!!! (Besides all of the lovely Church people we've met! ha ha)

POST by BEYCKER: Testimony

Beycker, Teaching at Capital on the Edge

My name is Beycker Manuel. I am 20 years old. When I was younger, as a child, my life was very difficult. My parents divorced because my dad treated us very badly. My father assaulted my mum and left my family for another woman. He left my family all alone.

I got a job and worked during the days in one week and then alternated to the evenings for the next week. I could not study and with the money I earned we were able to buy food for the family. I helped her mom and my brothers. I worked for my family and for me it was very difficult because I could not go to school, but God was always with me and he blessed me a lot.

Thank God he gave me a talent, “tricking.” I thank God for this sport, for through it I was able to meet some people who are Christians from Australia. Their names are Jed and Elizabeth. They are people God has put into my life to bless me and I thank them known for offering me opportunities and many experiences. We have been able to travel to many different countries.

 

Flying to Miami



I thank God for Elizabeth and Jed. They have helped me with my life. With them I was able to fly and it was exciting flying for the first time.

When I was 13 I drove a car and smashed into a bridge. I was meant to be going shopping. The car hit the side of the bridge and rolled over. Thankfully I didn’t die, because many people have died on that bridge.

Well my dad, he is with another woman. They have lived together for 12 years. I have a half-brother with my father’s other wife.

My full sister is 23 years old and she has a baby. It is very difficult for her because her husband left her alone and went to another country. My sister has had a very difficult time, trying to both work and raise the baby. When I was working I helped my sister by buying milk.

Beycker with His Little Nephew

I have 4 siblings, there are 5 including me. I thank God that he always takes care of me. I love God, he blesses me.

My problem now is I have a twisted tendon in my left leg. I was tricking and had an accident. I made a turn in the air and fell badly. I have had 5 months of problems with my right leg. My heel is also sore and I can hardly do my tricks. However, I pray a lot to God to remove these pains that I have in my body and I know God is going to heal me.

Beycker, in PAIN...

Mi nombre es beycker manuel mi nombre es beycker manuel. tengo 20 año cuando yo era  pequeño en mi niñees fue muy difícil para mi mis padres se separaron por que mi papa nos daba mala vida el agredía a mi mama  y nos trataba mal muy mal y cuando mi papa se fue de la casa se fue con otra mujer y nos dejo solo a mi y mis  hermanos y  entonces yo comencé a trabajar en una empresa trabajaba una semana de noche y una semana de día y no podía estudiar y con el dinero que ganaba  so lo ajustaba para la comida de la casa yo le ayudaba  amia mama  y a mis hermanos  yo trabajaba por mi familia  y para mí era muy difícil por que no podía ir  a la escuela  pero dios siempre estuvo con migo el me a bendecido mucho gracias a dios que me dio un gran talento que es el tricking gracias amia deporte y a dios yo pude conocer  a unas personas australiana  que son cristianos  gracias a dios y a las personas australianas  que son jed y elizabeth están personas dios me las puso en mi vida para bendición a mi gracias a ellos yo e conocido o tras países  y e tenido muchas oportunidades  e tenido muchas experiencia en mi vida   y le doy gracias a dios  y a jed y elizabeth  por que ellos me un a y u dado en mi vida  para mi fue muy emocionante viajar en avión por primera ves  en mi vida cuando yo tenia 13 años yo conduciendo un carro hacia un puente yo andaba de compra pero accidentalmente   choque en el lado del puente  y di muchas vueltas  y muchas personas que han tenido  choques en el puente que yo choque   han  muertos muchas personas pero gracias a dios a mi no me paso nada dios me cuido me protegió bueno mi papa el esta con otra mujer  el tiene 12 años de vivir con ella el tiene otro hijo de 13 años  mi hermana mayor de parte de mi  mama y de mi papa  mi hermana tiene 23 años ella ya es mama  tiene un bebe  y para ella es muy difícil  su vida por que su esposo la dejo  sola se fue a otro país y para mi hermana a sido muy difícil trabajar y criar al bebe  yo cuando trabajaba  yo le a y u daba a mi hermana para la leche del bebe  yo tengo 4 hermanos y con migo somos 5 de  hermanos pero le doy gracias a dios  el me cuida y siempre me bendice  amo a dios pero mi problema en este momento  es en mi pierna izquierda tengo un tendón torcido  golpiado por que hice un giro en el aire  y caí muy mal tengo como 5 meces de tener este problema en mi pierna  y también en mi pierna derecha el mi talón esta golpeado y me cuesta mucho hacer mis trucos pero le pido mucho a dios para que me quite estos dolores que tengo en mi cuerpo y yo se que dios me va a curar

POST by YORDY: Testimony

Yordy & Gran

My name is Yordy and I am 17 years old.

When I was just two years old my mom left our house and walked out of my life. She moved to Panama. My dad was with me just for my birth and then disappeared from my life. It is very sad to remember all that.

My life of poverty grew harder and harder.

One day I was with a close friend, at his house, which is located near where I used to live. He liked listening to very satanic rock music, which contained very bad words. I still remember that day that, because he was smoking marijuana and I asked for some. I then became addicted to Marijuana.

I liked rock music. My friends laughed at me because of this. I just told them that someday I would hurt them and grew up with a very spiteful mind. I felt no love for anyone, just hatred and envy. I started smoking Marijuana at 8 years of age.

My grandmother lived with me after my childhood. I was the bad guy in my class. I was completely evil, robbing my classmates and beating my own friends. I grew up hating everyone in my head. I hated my parents for what they did to me.

When I was 8 my mum arrived from Panama to the house where I was living. I was very happy, though felt a little weird because I had no feelings for her.

After 3 days a man came to my house and asked for forgiveness, because he had left me alone. I was crying of joy and said “okay.” He hugged me and gave me many clothes.

Within days my mum asked to have a relationship again, just like before, but he angrily said “no” and ran to my room and told me “you are not my friend! I just wanted to have a relationship with your mother again!” I went to the street to smoke Marijuana again.

For 5 or 6 years I lived in the world of drugs. I had a poor life. I cut my arm with a knife three times and tried to hang myself.

Grandmother was concerned whenever I tried to hurt myself and always went to the hospital with me. When things like that happened she thought I was crazy, but did not know that all I needed was true love.

One day I was with a friend and he told me about a boy was practicing tricking. I went and saw this boy and laughed at him. I told him he looked stupid, like a monkey. I thought he might break a foot or an arm, but he just laughed at me and told me that wouldn’t happen.

I felt bad. I left that place and started to cry a lot in the street, because I was having problems with my grandmother.

A few years before this happened I had to start working (when I was just 10 years old). I went to a place called “Escasan” – a place where many guys put cows into a truck. The pay was very bad and it was a very difficult job too, but for me it was the only way to make a living because Nicaragua is a very poor country. 

I was afraid of the cows and laughed frequently. I laughed because I wanted to work, yet inside I was scared of the cows.

One day I decided to try and pull a cow down, to prove my strength and conquer my fear. Thank God nothing happened to me. I stopped being afraid of cows. I grabbed a stick and beat the cow until she was bleeding heavily. Everyone laughed about it.

I worked at this job for many years, earning very little Money. I needed the money to buy marijuana, but killing cows is very horrible and difficult work.

Over the years I started practicing “tricking,” which is like gymnastics. We didn’t have the resources to practice in a gym, and so we just put sawdust  on the ground.  

Yordy Tricking Near His Home in Managua, Nicaragua

A lot with my friends practised with me and we thought eventually we’d be famous - people would look at us like we were rock stars or something.

One day my friend went to a mall and started to “trick.” He loved tricking in front of people and it was there that he met a very interesting family from Australia. They went up to him and said “Hey, we’ve been looking for you for a very long time. We’ve seen your videos on youtube and we want you to come and live in our house.” The condition was that he had to give kids tricking clases. He said “yes” and went with another friend to their house.

They were there for two weeks and took another friend, Beycker. They explained everything to me and I practiced whilst they were gone. After about three weeks I received a call from my friend asking if I could go with them. I said yes.

Yordy and the Beautiful People of Capital on the Edge

I had a great time, enjoying the fun at their house. I danced a lot, even with people from my new community. I still had communication problems. I'm very shy. But thank God because I was having so much fun!

Yordy Having FUN! (With Francesca Brien)

We went to the beach and practised “tricking.” I thought everyone was crazy or drunk. I still did not believe in God. I thought God was just a story. I made fun of people who went to church, but one day they took me to church.

At the Beach with Anna and the Brien Family

A while later I was asked if I wanted to have God in my heart and I said “yes.” That day, for the first time in my life, I felt good in my heart. I felt peace after feeling empty for such a long time. I felt God’s love.

Yordy at Church

Whenever I think of my past I become very sad. However, I'm now very happy because I have God in my heart and my life is full of happiness.

Now I'm traveling with Capital on the Edge to countries with a mission, preaching the word of God and showing the change in my life.

We went on a trip for God to El Salvador. We were very happy and so were the Churches. They wept for us and they washed our feet, which was unusual and special. They said that God was preparing a special place for us in Heaven.

Yordy with the Nicavangelists, in El Salvador

We then returned to Nicaragua to apply for our visas to travel to the US. It is very difficult for a Nicaraguan to get an American visa. But we prayed frequently and gave it all to God. People made fun of us and told us that we wouldn’t get a visa because we are por. They laughed at us. I told them “if we're getting a visa, it’s because we are rich in faith. We have the power of God and so everything is posible.

Thanks to our God our entire group received US visas. We decided to travel to California, one of the largest states in the USA. Right now we are here, sharing the word and love of GOD.

People are very friendly here and it’s a beautiful country. It's amazing what God does with all the lovely people here. God has a special place in Heaven for all of them and I'm sure it's time to share the love of God with the rest of the world.

Thanks for Reading and God bless you.

If you would like to support Yordy on a monthly basis, please CLICK here

Mi nombre es yordy, tengo 17 años.

Cuando era pequeño mi mama se fue de la casa y de mi vida a los 2 años de edad, ella se fue a vivir a panamá, mi papa solo estuvo conmigo para mi nacimiento después desaparecio de mi vida, es muy triste recordar todo eso.

Mi vida era cada vez mas difícil creci en la pobreza, un dia estaba con un amigo muy cercano a la casa de donde yo vivía, el escuchaba música rock muy satánicas con palabras muy malas aun recuerdo que el estaba ese dia fumando marihuana y yo le dije que me diera un poco, entonces empezó mi adicción a la marihuana, también me gustaba la música rock. Los amigos que tenia todos se reian de mi, yo solo les decía que algún dia los voy a lastimar a ellos y creci con una mente muy rencorosa, no sentía amor por ninguna persona solo odio y envidia empeze a fumar marihuana a los 8 años de edad.

Mi abuela vivio conmigo después en mi niñez, yo era el malo de la clase trataba a todos mal les robaba y también golpeaba a mis propios amigos.

Crecí con el remordimiento en mi cabeza de odiar a todas las personas asi como mis padres lo hicieron con mi. Cuando tenia 8 años mi mama llego de panamá a la casa donde yo estaba viviendo yo estaba muy alegre aunque poco raro porque no tenia sentimientos por ella, como a los 3 dias llego un señor a la casa y el me dijo hijo pedoname por todo y porque dejarte solo, yo estaba llorando de la alegría y le dije esta bien y el me abrazo me regalo mucha ropa estábamos gritando por toda la casa aun lo recuerdo. Pero a los pocos días el le pidió a mi mama que vuelvan a tener una relación como antes pero ella muy enojada le dijo que no y lo corrió de la casa y el me dijo a mi tu no eres mi amigo yo solo quería tener una relación con tu madre otra vez y yo me fui a la calle fume marihuana por como 5 o 6 años estaba en el mundo de las drogas y la mala vida me cortaba mi brazo con una cuchilla tres veces trate de ahorcarme pero mi abuela me encontraba cada vez que lo intentaba y siempre iba al hospital conmigo cuando hacia ese tipo de cosas ella pensaba que estaba loco, pero no sabia que lo único que necesitaba era un amor verdadero.

Un dia estaba con un amigo y el me dijo que fueramos donde un chico el estaba practicando capoeira y hacia muchas vueltas y yo me reia de el le decía hey estúpido pareces mono te vas a romper un pies o un brazo pero el solo se reia de mi y me decía que nunca iba hacer eso porque solo era un ladron, me sentí mal y me fui de ese lugar empeze a llorar muchísimo en la calle porque no tenia donde dormir había tenido problemas con mi abuela. Mucho mas antes de eso yo tenia que trabajar a los 10 años yo fui a un lugar que se llamaba escasan estaban muchos chicos allí metían vacas a un camión y les pagaban poquito era un trabajo muy difícil pero para mi era la única forma de trabajar porque es un país muy pobre, pero yo tenia miedo a las vacas jajajajajjaja eso era raro todos reian porque quería trabajar y tenia miedo pero yo decidi bajar para intentarlo una vaca me lavanto muy fuerte pero gracias a dios no me paso nada y empeze a perder el miedo a las vacas me baje agarre un palo y la golpeaba muy fuerte hasta que estaba hechando mucha sangre todos estaban riendo de eso, empeze mi trabajo allí trabaje muchos por anos ganando muy poco dinero todo lo que ganaba era para comprar marihuana también trabaje matando vacas es un trabajo muy horrible y difícil.

Con los anos empeze a practicar un deporte que se llama tricking es como gimnasia o algo asi. No teníamos los recursos para poder practicar en un gimansio teníamos que poner acerrin en el suelo es un tipo de polvo de madera nos golpeábamos mucho con mis amigos y con el tiempo nos hisimos muy buenos la gente nos miraba famosos como una estrella de rock o algo asi. Un dia mi amigo se fue a un centro comercial y el empezó hacer sus vueltas  la gente le gustaba mucho y entre todas las personas había una familia muy interesante ellos eran de Australia se le acercaron y le dijeron ey donde estabas te hemos estado buscando por mucho tiempo hemos visto tus videos en youtube y le preguntaron que si podía irse con ellos a vivir a su casa pero tenia que darle clase a unos niños y el le dijo que si y se fue con otro amigo estuvieron 2 semanas y se llevaron a otro amigo que se llama beycker y bueno yo practicaba solo mi deporte porque los amigos que me ensenaron se habían ido y como a las 3 semanas recibi una llamada de mi amigo diciendo que si puedo ir con ellos y yo le dije que si. Pasaron los días, hicieron una fiesta muy divertida en su casa bailamos mucho y tuvimos una competencia de baile con unos chicos de la comunidad. Yo aun tenia problemas de comunicación soy muy tímido. Gracias a dios me estaba divirtiendo mucho fuimos a la playa y jugamos mucho hisimos tricking estábamos borrachos todos fue muy loco. Yo aun no creía en dios yo pensaba que era solo una historia me burlaba de las personas que iban a la iglesia pero ellos me llevaron un dia a la iglesia. Y fui por mucho tiempo después me preguntaron que si quería tener a dios en mi corazón y yo les dije que si ese dia me sentí bien por primera vez en mi vida sentía paz sentía que el vacio que tuve por mucho tiempo dios los estaba llenando de su amor cada vez que me recuerdo de mi pasado es demasiado triste me causa mucha tristeza pero ahora soy feliz porque tengo a dios en mi corazón ya toda mi vida se lleno de felicidad. Ahora estoy viajando con ellos a los países con una misión, esa misión es viajar por todo el mundo predicando la palabra de dios y demostrándoles el cambio que dios hiso en mi vida viaje hacia El Salvador la pasamos muy felices con las iglesias ellos lloraron por nosotros y nos lavaron los pies fue muy raro y ellos nos dijeron que en el cielo nosotros nos vamos a dar cuenta ye entonces regresamos a Nicaragua a preparar nuestras visas para viajar nuestro plan era ir a los Estados Unidos es muy difícil para un Nicaragüense que le den la visa. Pero nosotros oramos mucho y le dimos toda la confiaza y antes de ir la gente se burlaba de nosotros y nos decía que no nos íban a dar la visa porque somos pobres yo riéndome les dije si nos van a dar la visa porque somos ricos en fe y con el poder de DIOS todo se puede y gracias a nuestro dios nos dieron la visa a todo el grupo y decidimos viajar para California, uno de los estados mas grandes de los Estados Unidos ahorita estamos aquí compartiendo con ellos la palabra y el amor de DIOS y conciendo mucha gente preciosa y muy amable este país es muy lindo DIOS, es increíble lo que dios hace con toda la gente preciosa de aquí dios tiene un lugar especial en el cielo para todos ellos estoy seguro y es hora de seguir compartiendo el amor de DIOS por el mundo gracias por todo que dios los bendiga.

POST by SEZ: On the Streets in Sacramento

Homelessness in Sacramento

On Tuesday, we gave thirty-two bags to people. Some people were walking, others were on bicycles and skate boards. We gave them clothes, food and water. Some people sleep under bridges and in tents, and there were thousands of people we didn’t help. 

Taking it to the STREETS, with New Life & the Dream Center in Sacramento, CA

Some people thanked us and some people didn’t thank us and we only had thirty-two bags, so some people got a bag and some people didn’t. In the bag we had cookies, clothes, chocolates, a banana and a bottle of water.

The "American Dream" isn't so Dreamy for Some...

We gave people these bags because they are poor and don’t have a family or a home.

We saw literally HUNDREDS of Homeless People in Downtown Sacramento

POST by NEW LIFE member (Sacramento, California)

Easter weekend has always been one of my favorite times to celebrate. Anyone who knows me is aware that I like to celebrate anything and everything. I love the colors during this time, I love the new springtime weather. It is also a time of rebirth and hope. My soul gets a makeover as well.

To read more CLICK here