T-minus 36 hours left in Nicaragua. Today we had a packed day, we started by doing some work around Casa Bernabe, where we are staying. We split into three groups and split up around the orphanage compound. One group took all of the donations that we had checked onto our airplane in trash bags, sorted and hung everything for the kids. The second group went to the kitchen of the orphanage took down, painted and replaced all of the ceiling tiles. The third group ‘renovated’ a bunch of school desks. Replacing and broken slats and painting the frames (using gasoline to remove the paint from their hands). The orphanage is a huge production, housing, feeding, teaching, and discipling the 65 kids that call Casa Bernabe their home. It was great helping in a small way in that process.
After lunch we headed to a soccer tournament with all of the college groups (us, UVA, Virginia Tech, and James Madison), The kids from ‘Casa’, Nueva Vida, and another orphanage. We had four fields set up and played college groups against the kids and kids against kids, they had a blast. Most of the kids, even the 8 year olds, were more skilled at ‘futbol’ than most of us. I think the kids loved showing up some of us gringos.
Following is a story that illustrates the heart of the Nicaraguan people, told by one of our team members.
When you talk to someone about Nicaragua, its almost cliché; it seems like all everyone says is “the people there are so loving, they are just different,” or “Nicaraguans are so amazing are they are so different,” but for someone who has not been here that answer is certainly less than satisfactory if you ask me. What exactly does that mean? Well, today I got yet another taste of that “difference,” and I think perhaps, in a small way, it can help show what people mean by this. First, it’s important to know that the extent of my Spanish knowledge barely goes beyond “Hola.” So when I say that any and all communication that occurred between me and the ladies that serve us breakfast every morning was limited to smiles and “Gracias,” I mean it. This morning however, I managed to sleep through the morning madness of everyone else getting up for breakfast and it was not until we were ready to leave for our first activity of the day that one of my friends noticed my absence and came to awake me. I promptly got up, and I realized almost immediately I had missed breakfast; I accepted my state hunger and headed over to the rancho. When I got there, however I was greeted by Mary Carter (shout out to her two loving parents, wonderful sister Brittany, and lucky boyfriend John) and a plate full of delicious food. When I moved to thank her however, I was informed that it was not her, nor any of my fellow teammates who had noticed that I was gone, but rather the ladies who serve us every morning and at every meal. Not knowing so much as my name, they noticed, amongst the 60 people they serve every morning (between us and the UVA students staying at Casa Bernabe), that I was not there. They asked everyone where the tall, dirty kid who doesn’t shower was, and made sure that someone saved food for me to eat. I personally, couldn’t tell you everyone who is on our trip, and I not only speak the same language as them, but also have spent everyday of the past week with them, not just meals. These ladies however, cared so much for me and my well being that they not only noticed I was missing but made sure I had a chance to eat. And yet, I was not surprised. This is the fourth time I’ve come to Nicaragua and it didn’t take more than a few days the first time I was here for me to realize that Nicaraguans are no ordinary people. The love that they exert on a regular basis has led me to expect nothing less. And so, it was a great start to a great day, and it was just one of the infinite ways that Nicaraguans have blessed me and continue to bless me so much more, than I, despite my best efforts, can bless them.
Thanks to the two best parents in the world, Jim and Leslie Knicely, who helped me get here this year in so many more ways than one, including helping me pack in the 20 minutes I had before leaving, -- you guys better be reading, I love you.
-Ricky
