Restoration of the Nations: 2010

Friday, December 31, 2010

2010 Year in Review

"Even if surrendering means leaving everything behind" is a line from the video song "I Would Die for You". When God first called us to serve in Nicaragua, we never imagined that we would be leaving all behind. There were personal possessions which we knew would be helpful in our work here, but we sold or gave them away. Our children, grandchildren and now a great grandchild remain in the US.

Prior to coming to Nica, we had an acquaintance ask us "Do you have to do this?" "Have to? We GET to" was our reply. We never dreamed that surrender would come at such a cost. Each day brings a new set of challenges, but it also brings rewards beyond measure. Many days we feel that we receive far more than we give.

It's hard to put into words the love that we have for the nation of Nicaragua. Only God can bring a person to respond with this kind of love.

We came to Nica to provide vocational training to the young men. We are teaching the poorest of the poor. When we say poor we are not talking only about their economical condition but also their mental and spiritual condition. Most of the boys have lived without parents, either living with extended relatives or on the streets. They've learned how to use manipulation to get whatever is needed for them at the moment. They are lonely, untrusting yet they desire to be recognized, validated and most of all, loved. They are young teen age boys who have never had the opportunity to be teens. All they've known is hard times and intense responsibility to either keep themselves alive or help keep the people they live with alive. They are proud, in spite of their living conditions, they keep themselves very clean. They are God's chosen children who have been given a chance to "change their destiny".

In early 2011 we will be starting the next phase of the ministry. It's in this phase that we hope the greatest growth in the lives of the boys will take place. In the beginning, we will have a residential facility that will accommodate 4 boys. The original vision of the ministry was designed to encompass a residential facility to house the students with the greatest needs or where distance from school would be a problem. The vocational training is the practical side of what the ministry does. What the ministry is really about is "the whole being". The bible teaching and discipleship that we do during class is elementary. We want to speak into their lives on a deeper level.

Having boys live in the school's residential facility will allow for deeper biblical teaching, model Christ-like behavior one to another in a home setting, teach them the life-skills needed to effectively manage their lives on their own and give them the attention, acceptance and love that they so desperately want. Our days in class are interrupted on a regular basis because of a boy acting out only for the need to be reprimanded - someone pay attention to ME!

We are including with this blog a video recapping our experiences during 2010. It shows our life as we live it everyday along with the boys from the school, our purpose for being in Nicaragua. We've been blessed beyond anything that we could imagine. God is so amazing!

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Saturday, December 25, 2010

Israel

Israel Antonio Hernandez Ramirez is 16 years old and comes from Honduras. He is the middle child with 9 siblings. His parents do not live together.

Just when you think the stories about the boys' backgrounds couldn't get any worse, you hear one more. Israel has been at the Remar Leon facility for almost 2 years. He suffered extreme abuse back in his native Honduras and it caused him to act out. He had a father and uncle that tried to kill him. He tried to cross the border into Nicaragua and was captured and had to spend 4 months in prison when he was 14 years old. He also has told us that his life would be in danger if he returned to Honduras. A Christian recommended the Remar facility and that is now his home.

When we first met him, he was quiet and had a hurt look about him. As we've come to know him, he has opened up and is a lot more outgoing. He is transforming before our eyes. This kind of change can only come by a touch from God. See for yourself the change in him.

He is always very helpful with the other boys in class. There is a protectiveness that he displays towards some of the other boys. He works very diligently on the projects. During class, he likes to sing to himself and his voice is deep and beautiful.

He had been attending "public" school on Saturdays and studying English, but circumstances have recently prevented him from continuing his studies. It is evident that he understands us more than he lets on. He wants very much to be able to continue his studies.

His desire is to serve the Lord and be a good example to others. He would like to stay on at Remar and serve in their ministry.

We enjoy Israel's presence in class. He truly is a special boy and God will use him in huge ways.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Jairo

No Thanksgiving would be complete without the story of Jairo Moise Hernandez Salina. At 17 years of age, he made a decision to turn his life over to the Lord Jesus. During one of our daily devotions, we had a teaching about Nicodemus and Jesus discussing how a person is born again. It touched the heart of Jairo and he asked if he could give his heart to Jesus.

What is so amazing about this story is we have considered Jairo to be our "resident" prayer leader since the first day of classes. Every day we start the class with prayer and Jairo is the first one of the boys to volunteer to lead the group in prayer.

Jairo use to go to church, but quit attending because he felt so bad about himself for getting high. His past has been marred by drugs and alcohol and he lived on the streets for 8 months. He spent 3 days in prison, the local term for jail. He wanted to make changes in his life and grasped the opportunity to attend the Remar facility in Leon.

Since we have known Jairo, his grandmother has died. He was not able to see her and it affected him very much. She was the only person who was loving toward him. When he came into class on that day, he said he wanted to run away. He was hurting so bad and did not want anyone to see him cry.

On another day, he was having a particularly bad time at coping with life. This was before we moved the school into the house. Preston said Jairo wanted to see me (Sandra) and brought him to the house. It seemed he just needed a hug; some assurance that someone cared about him. This is huge, because when you hug him it is like hugging a tree; he just leans in toward you stiff as a board.

Jairo is probably our most photographed student but we will never get a picture of him with a smile. He is missing his 2 top front teeth. Once we had ice cream bars for a snack and he took his into the back room to eat it out of sight from everyone. He is very self-conscience about having no teeth. Dental work is very inexpensive here in Nicaragua and we hope to be able to get his teeth replaced before he leaves Remar.

Jairo is a special but complicated boy. We love him and enjoy his presence in class and in our lives. God has a plan to use Jairo's gift of prayer.

SIDENOTE: Preston and Jairo just came into the office. Preston had a straight edge with him and showed me how Jairo had planed a board that is to be used as a chair leg. The board was perfectly sized, straight, smooth as glass AND he had not sanded it yet. Jairo is one very proud young man right now!

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Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Michael O.

Michael Alberto Ortiz Espinoza is an 18 year old mighty man of God. He just does not know it yet. We have seen tremendous changes in him in the short time that we have known him. He is a born leader. He is very outgoing, has a great wit and is thoughtful.

Michael has been at Remar for 6 1/2 months and is required to stay as long as the judge decrees is necessary. From what we have learned of him, he got into trouble on the streets while living in Managua. He had problems with drinking and stealing. There was an incident with a mugging that brought him to a crossroad in his life. In his time at Remar, there is unmistakable evidence of his repentant heart. He was the first of our students to request a Bible from us for his personal use.

He has a 1 year old son who lives with the baby's mother. Michael's desire is to become a better man in order to be a positive influence on his son. He also hopes that when he leaves Remar that he can begin to work on his relationship with his son's mother and one day become a united family. For now, he feels that God has a purpose for him at Remar; he struggles with the need to stay there for as long as it takes to turn his life around and the desire to go home.

In his future, he sees himself spreading the Word of God and working to help guys who have taken to the "streets". He is very appreciative of the chance to learn carpentry from our school. He works hard at all the projects and is extremely helpful toward the other students. He gets it, he knows that this is his time to grasp the opportunity of a new life, both vocationally and spiritually.

This young man has touched our hearts deeply and we look forward to seeing him step into the Man that God created him to be. Michael has a future that will be huge; one that will match his huge loving heart. Please keep him in your prayers.

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Tuesday, November 9, 2010

1st Pantry Cabinet

The boys have finally shifted from building stools and shop equipment (sawhorses & workbenches) to making cabinets.

The work all started with a lot of instruction in teaching them about measurements, fractions, design layout, figuring materials lists and finally a material cut list. Then the day came to make the first cut on the plywood. The boys all helped Preston in making a cabinet in order to learn the fundamentals of cutting and assembling a cabinet.

We have divided the boys up into 4-man teams and assigned each team a project. They will build 2 very large pantry cabinets to store the tools and supplies for the school, as well as a large cabinet in the laundry room to store away brooms, ironing board, ladder and other materials.

Beginning in December, January at the latest, we anticipate the quality of the boys work to be acceptable to the point of building an entire sample kitchen display of base and upper cabinets.

On our second visit to Nicaragua almost 3 years ago, Preston had to make cabinets for the kitchen area of the rental we had at that time. There was a shell of a room and he turned it into a kitchen. During the building process, as he was working on the sidewalk outside of the house, people would walk by and inquire as to what he was doing. There was a lot of interest and several expressed a desire for him to make them cabinets. We explained to them that we were not able to help them at that time.

Now, as we train the young men in carpentry, we want them to be able to build cabinets and turn it turn into a source of income for the ones that choose to stay on in the apprentice phase of the program.

In Nicaragua, the cabinets that are found in stores are usually of a hoosier type unit. Or as in the rental house that we now occupy, there are one piece base cabinets installed upon cement with no "floor" or "backing" to the cabinet. Thus you have a very damp and musty cabinet. The concept of individual cabinets in specific sizes that the customer can purchase, take home and install themselves will position the boys to be prepared to meet the future changes that are coming to Nicaragua. By having individual pieces, the customer can buy a single cabinet to meet a present need and add to the cabinets as their finances will allow.

We speak to the boys about them being chosen by God for "such a time as this". We consider it an awesome privilege that God has chosen us to train up these young men. Most every day, there is a lesson within the class or a life experience that can be used as a biblical principle.

These young men are special to God and He hears their prayers.

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Monday, November 1, 2010

Combined Classes - 1st Week

In a recent post, we spoke about the changes that were made in regards to the school location and the class structure, this can be reviewed in the post entitled "Changes".

When we announced to both classes that we were going to combine the two sessions, there was a mixture of emotions. The morning class had always expressed a desire to meet the afternoon class. The sentiment by the afternoon class was not as enthusiastic. They had anxiety over how they would be treated by the other class.

Day 1 of the new session was interesting. Some of the boys from the Remar group walked into the class with their armour on ready to do battle if need be. Each of the boys sat in their own familiar, safe cluster of friends throughout the day eyeing one another.

Not only were the boys in a new environment but we were all without our trusted friend and interpreter, Scarleth, for the entire week. Her presence is comforting for us all, not only to handle the language barrier but in helping with the cultural differences.

On Day 2, we broke them into small groups and integrated the boys. During any type of break in working on their projects, they would move back into their safe cluster for conversation.

As the week went on, the barriers began to disintegrate. After all, they are teenagers and teens are naturally curious about their peers. On Friday, we had a field trip planned to take everyone to a Furniture Co-op. This would allow the boys to see furniture made by locals and inspect the quality of the pieces. They enjoyed the trip to the co-op, inspecting the furniture, getting ideas for future projects and seeing what furniture sells for in the marketplace.

Our other objective was to get the boys outside of the classroom in a casual atmosphere. We stopped on the return trip at a local park near our house. We purchased "frescas" and chips for everyone. Can you imagine everyone having their own bottle of soda and a bag of chips, 16 people in all and the cost was $8.10 US. When we observed the boys talking and laughing with one another, we knew combining the classes was the right way to go.

After the field trip, it was the first pay day for some of the students who had finished their stools and sold them. They worked as 2-man teams and shared in a portion of the profit. Making stools will be an ongoing project which we hope will be a constant source of revenue for the school and the students.

It was a week with lots of challenges in combining personalities, stretching the boys beyond their comfort levels, and teaching them tolerance of one another. This is just the beginning, it can only get better with time. They each are unique in their ways but even the "stinkers" are a joy to have around. The week was exhausting, but we are ready for more.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Noel

We received a new student 2 months into the start of the session. Noel Diaz is 15 years old and living at Remar, the international facility with which we now have a relationship. After 3 weeks, I thought it was time that I try to get to know Noel. He is VERY quiet and shy. When I started to ask questions, it was evident that he was extremely uncomfortable. I explained to him that I did not want him to think of it as prying but as my way of trying to get to know him better and I have asked all the other boys the same questions.

The first question I asked was how he came to live at Remar. He said it was because of his brother. When I asked him if his brother was worried about a substance abuse problem he might have, he looked shocked at the thought of it. He said he has no problem. He and his brother have lived at Remar for 4 years in the Managua facility because they had no where else to go. They had different fathers, which is very common in this nation. Noel's stepfather would beat them in his drunkenness and they ran away.

A couple of months ago, Noel was transferred to the Leon facility; separated from his brother. I asked him about his parents and he said "they probably think we are dead". Noel has had no communication in 4 years with family members. In Nicaragua, families who have no roots move frequently, thus making it easy to lose track of each other quickly. It's hard to imagine children being totally abandoned.

We have noticed that he stays in the background during class, like he is trying to be invisible. We sense that he longs for attention but will not seek it for fear of being rejected. He is very polite, courteous, conscientious and wants to please.

We enjoy having him in the class; he works hard and is a good example to the couple of boys who present behavioral issues. I will continue to draw him out and encourage him to share more in conversations with the other boys.

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