Day 3 water water everywhere!

Since coming to Nicaragua water has become a big part of our daily lives. We have to be constantly aware of how much we are drinking so we do not get dehydrated. This is so important we have a team member who checks with each team member every hour to make sure we are drinking and to refill our water bottles. We need to make sure that we do not drink the tap water because it will make us sick. We cannot even use it to brush our teeth. Like I said water is a huge part of our lives in Nicaragua.

Today water played an even bigger part than it has over the last few days. One of our projects was to cut the main water line to the school and install a new filter system. Well, as sometimes can happen an easy 15 minute job turned into an all afternoon affair. It's hard to say why things did not go as planned but they just didn't. By the time all was said and done many of us were muddy and wet while two us were soaked to the bone and covered with mud from head to toe.

While I was contemplating the day it occurred to me that the events of today could be easily be used  as an illustration. We receive the Holy Spirit through water and the sacrament of baptism. Like the water from the pipe, it floods into us, filling us and spilling over to those around us. Like the water we need to make sure we drink, it provides nourishment and gives us strength. It also cleanse us removing the muddy stain of sin and making us clean and righteous before God.

Today was also Steven's birthday. Our hosts went out of their way to make sure it was a great one, starting the day with a special song sung by the school staff and culminating in fireworks. It has been such a blessing to work with Wayne, Megan and the staff at Centro Escolar LifeLink. We came to touch their lives but are all finding they are having a much bigger impact on ours.

Enjoy the pictures.

Location:51a Avenida S.O,Managua,Nicaragua

Day two the lessons we learn!

Today at Centro Escolar LifeLink the children were not the only ones learning. The team also learned some important lessons. We had an amazingly successfully day working on a number of projects and found along the way that there was a lot we had to learn.

The first lesson was that working in Nicaragua requires paying close attention to the amount of water you drink and to the signals your body is giving you. It is very easy to become dehydrated if you are not paying attention.

The second lesson was that working as a team requires patience, flexibility and a whole lot of hands. Today one part of the team installed toilets in 6 of 12 stalls. They also dug a number of ditches to expose pipes needed to hook up the water to the new bathrooms. The other part of the team helped 2 classes, kindergarten and second grade, build puppets and learn the English words for a number of colors. All in all we helped the children assemble 76 puppets. We also helped serve lunch, played at recess and built a puppet stage.

The third and most important lesson was that love is a universal language. We found that despite our lack of Spanish we were able to communicate to the children of Sandino simply by giving them our attention and showing them Christ's love.

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34, 35 ESV)

Enjoy the pictures!

Day one seeing life with different eyes.

Today was the team's first full day in Nicaragua and I don't think I'm the only one on the team who will be going to sleep tonight with a new perspective. Perspective is something that, try as we might, we can never truly share with someone. Perspective is unique to the individual and only really changes when God touches our lives and allows us to see things through different eyes. Today was one of those days when God touched many of us and allowed us to see with different eyes.

In July I wrote a post speaking about why we were traveling to Nicaragua and why in particular we were working in Ciudad Sandino. In that article I talked about natural disasters, poverty and over crowding. Today I walked through the streets, spoke to the families and saw the things I wrote about. The experience was, to say the least, perspective changing. They say a picture speaks a 1000 words here is just a little of what we saw.












In the middle of all this poverty, LifeLink has built an oasis - an amazing school facility that offers the children of Ciudad Sandino an opportunity that most of us take for granted - an education. In amongst the dirt roads and tin shacks, the school wall rises 9ft high topped with razor wire. At first glance it could be mistaken for a prison but that is until the gate is opened and you get a glance of the green grass, the palm covered rancho and the green and white school buildings. The school is an amazing contrast to what exists just outside the walls. Centro Escolar LifeLink offers children a chance at a future, the tools to change their lives and, most importantly, shares God's love.













Today was a perspective changer. As we walked through the streets of Ciudad Sandino surrounded by poverty, mud and burning garbage, I caught glimpses of God in the smile of a child, in the friendliness of strangers and most of all in the people who make Centro Escolar LifeLink possible.







We ended our day worshiping with the people of Sandino. We found whether in English or Spanish giving thanks and praise to God is universal and was something we could all share in despite our differences.

We Have Arrived!

This is just a quick post to let you all know that the team has arrived in Nicaragua! It was a long day starting at 5:00 am culminating in our arrival in Managua at around 10:00 EST everyone is super tire but really anxious to get started tomorrow.

Keep checking the blog I'll try to post an update every night and hopefully tomorrows post will include some more photos.




This is just a quick pic of where I'm sitting while writing this post.

Location:51a Avenida S.O,Managua,Nicaragua

Packing Up!

Tomorrow we leave for Nicaragua so tonight was packing night! We loaded up lots of extra suit cases with supplies for LifeLink's school in Ciudad Sandino. As you can see in the photos below we are bringing everything from construction paper to vitamins.

What you can't see in these pictures is the excitement and nervousness which every team member seemed to be experiencing in varying amounts. We are excited to see just how God will use us on this trip and nervously praying that we are up for the challenge.

Tomorrow we leave and tomorrow your work begins! Pray! Pray! Pray! Pray for our safe travel, for our mission and for the young people who we will be working with.

Your prayers and support are as important to this mission as the team which is leaving tomorrow. 

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” - Mark 11:24

Meet the Team - Peter Smith

Hi, my name is Peter Smith. My wife Jennifer and I have been members of BLC for the past 9 years. We have 4 children, of which 1, Jacob, was baptized at BLC and our other 3, Sam - Katie and Grace were all confirmed by Pastor Mueller. I have served on numerous boards in town such as Bethlehem Babe Ruth, Delmar Track & Field, Bethlehem Music Association and former Committee Chair for Elsmere Boy Scout Troop 58. Jennifer and Grace served on the Mission team that went to Poland last year so Sam and I decided we couldn't let them have all the fun serving our Lord, Jesus Christ. I enjoy playing golf and skiing in my free time as well as tinkering around the house and I look forward to perfecting my plumbing skills in Nicaragua.

Meet the Team - Sam Smith

Hi, my name is Sam Smith. My family and I have been members of BLC for the past 9 years. I have two younger sisters, Katie and Grace, and a younger brother, Jacob. I was confirmed at BLC by Pastor Mueller. I am currently pursuing a degree in environmental economics with a minor in music theory at the University of Connecticut. I am a member of the Men’s Varsity Track & Field team at school where I participate in the Heptathlon and Decathlon events. At UConn I also serve as a board member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee which coordinates and participates in many charitable events including Coats for Kids and local food drives. When I am not studying or training (this is rare for me at this stage in my life!), I enjoy singing, playing the guitar and relaxing with my friends. During the summer I work as a carpenter’s apprentice for Forster Construction and as a field events coach for the Delmar Track & Field Club. I am very thankful for the opportunity to be a part of this Nicaragua team. I am very excited to use my construction and music skills to serve our Lord and to help extend the message of God’s love to all.