Nicaragua 08

2008-06-04T11:28:00.000-04:00

2008-06-04T11:26:00.000-04:00

An evening with the kids at El Ayunday Child Protection Center! It was such a blessing to see them.

2008-06-04T11:25:00.001-04:00

The boy and girl pictured here touched me beyond words. I felt so helpless seeing them stand there looking over the hill. But they were smiling!

2008-06-04T11:23:00.000-04:00

We also toured the Fort (Fortin) which is at the top fo the hill. During the wars, many, many people died here in this prison.

You could see all of Leon from the fort.

2008-06-04T11:20:00.001-04:00

These are God's beautiful children.

2008-06-04T11:20:00.000-04:00

2008-06-04T11:04:00.000-04:00

Pastor Felix has a wonderful ministry to feed the people who come to the dump. They come to forage for items that can be used and I'm sure sometimes for food. We did not have enough hot food or food bags for everyone and there is nothing that can explain the feeling of saying "no mas" to someone who you know must be hungry.

2008-06-04T10:55:00.000-04:00

The new clinic on the campus of El Ayudante was dedicated on the 12th of May. A very nice facility where we were able to see the children at the Protection Center as well as the staff and their families.

2008-06-04T10:52:00.000-04:00

Who are these two? And they are actually from our team.

2008-06-04T10:37:00.000-04:00

This is what happens to Ralph when he gets too close to birds!

2008-06-04T10:33:00.000-04:00

What happened to our doctors?

Update

2008-05-30T09:51:00.000-04:00

The flight is currently onTime. We did not have any bad weather overnight. Thank you for all your prayers during the storm. We will be home soon!

God Bless.

Update

2008-05-29T18:51:00.002-04:00

I just wanted to update everyone. We are currently at the hotel in Managua, there is a tropical storm making land fall at Leon (which is where El Ayudante is) and the surrounding barrios are in harms way. The storm is named Alma and is currently not a threat where we are. I will try to update if there are any changes. Again, please feel free to email for any reason.

Please pray for the people of Leon, El Ayudante and the surrounding communities that they will be safe through this storm.

In Managua

2008-05-29T17:18:00.002-04:00

Agua in Managua - it is raining here but we are at the hotel and settling in. The hotel is very nice - the pool may not get used because of the rain, but I'm sure there may still be a few who unintentionally go in!!

We are looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow night. You can email me at kflatford@gmail.com if you want to get a message to anyone on the team - I will be checking email tonight and again in the morning.

God Bless Everyone!!

2008-05-27T21:21:00.002-04:00

The evening storm is coming in!!

2008-05-27T21:21:00.001-04:00

And the rain is pouring!!

2008-05-27T21:20:00.000-04:00

We got in the middle of cows being herded down the street - we thought we would chase them all they way back to Leon. They were finally pushed off to the side so we could pass.

2008-05-27T21:19:00.000-04:00

A family leaving the clinic stopped to pose for a picure.

This is the utility pole leading to the school. We also saw these (as many as 5 in a row) out in a field holding up the electricity as well.

2008-05-27T21:15:00.000-04:00

More from the medical clinic at the school.

2008-05-27T21:12:00.000-04:00

More of the children

2008-05-27T21:11:00.000-04:00

Beautiful children!! Many were tired during their time waiting in line.

2008-05-27T21:06:00.000-04:00

Medical team setting up at La Mahada, serverd about 160 people in one day!!!!

2008-05-27T21:00:00.000-04:00

The ride to Mahada is a bumpy one!

2008-05-27T20:56:00.001-04:00

On the way to breakfast, these leaf-cutter ants where taking their flowers home. We thought we were watching the discovery channel.

2008-05-27T08:40:00.000-04:00

More from the lunch break, some even went for a little walk.

2008-05-27T08:39:00.000-04:00

Lunch break at the medical clinic. There was another school next to the medical clinic and the children were next door playing in the yard.

2008-05-27T08:37:00.000-04:00

We handed out bracelets and a few other items to the kids. The boy with the glove is William who has been showing up to help us. He was very proud of the glove that Gary gave him, even asked Gary to sign it!

2008-05-27T08:32:00.000-04:00

We got finished just in time for the rain.

2008-05-27T08:31:00.000-04:00

The constuction team had an interesting day of animals. The cattle drive was unusual to me because the guy keeping them going was on a bicycle and holding the cow's tail so that he did not have to peddle! In addition, we found a lizard and a frog in the hole we were digging for the septic tank.

2008-05-27T08:28:00.000-04:00

More from the VBS team - the school was just down the street from the medical clinic.

2008-05-27T08:27:00.000-04:00

The VBS team visited a school in William Fonseco.

Comments

2008-05-26T23:44:00.000-04:00

Comments are now open to everyone, Please comment on any pictures you want - especially the t-shirts and other various objects. We'll update them later with answers.

2008-05-26T23:30:00.000-04:00

Who are these people?? You may know them.

2008-05-26T23:23:00.000-04:00

A day at the beach - La Corinto.

2008-05-26T23:20:00.000-04:00

How precious are these two?

2008-05-26T23:18:00.000-04:00

They can't wait to get to the beach!!!

Look at the excitement!

2008-05-26T23:15:00.000-04:00

The whole gang. Look for your loved one you won't see them looking this nice in any other pictures!

2008-05-26T09:00:00.000-04:00

Deuteronomy 5:24 The Lord our God has shown us his glory and his majesty.....

2008-05-26T08:46:00.000-04:00

Can you name this? Please leave you comments and I'll answer later in the week.

2008-05-26T08:45:00.000-04:00

The kids love to get their pictures made. The last two girls were just precious and appeared to be great friends.

2008-05-26T08:42:00.000-04:00

They are so proud of their lambs!

2008-05-26T08:41:00.000-04:00

The two girls in green are sisters. The big sister was taking good care of her little sister!

2008-05-26T08:39:00.000-04:00

2008-05-26T08:38:00.000-04:00

The VBS team took the children to Sunday School (Children's woship). There were about 70 kids who heard the story of Jesus is our shepard and made lambs. They weren't quite sure at first and then they just dug in and had a great time! In the following post you will see the great children and the love they have in their hearts.

2008-05-26T08:34:00.000-04:00

This church building was started 4 years and the Fountain City team first worshiped in it last year. It is a beautiful building with lots of breezes. The people are just amazing.

2008-05-26T08:32:00.000-04:00

On the road to church, it is just a little ways into the Ruben Dario neighborhood from El Ayudante.

2008-05-26T08:31:00.000-04:00

We are getting ready to go to the Ruben Dario Mission Evangelical United Methodist Church. The porch is such a pleasure to sit and bring in the morning together.

2008-05-26T08:26:00.000-04:00

More children from the Children's Protection Center came to breakfast. They were searching for fruit - we'll try to get all the fruit names.

2008-05-26T08:23:00.000-04:00

Who does this belong to?

2008-05-24T21:46:00.000-04:00

More wonderful kids at Calos Fonseco - one of the poet barrios near El Ayudante

2008-05-24T21:44:00.000-04:00

Lambs, bubbles and then off to the races!

2008-05-24T21:41:00.001-04:00

VBS

2008-05-24T21:41:00.000-04:00

VBS - 60 kids, sandwiches and snacks were also given out.

Happy Birthday

2008-05-24T21:33:00.000-04:00

2008-05-24T21:29:00.000-04:00

This is a real live Mariachi band.

The University of Kentucky Marching Mariachi Band - at least according to Coop.

2008-05-24T21:27:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday Lauren!!

2008-05-24T21:24:00.000-04:00

Thankfully the VBS crew decided to come by for a visit in the afternoon. They helped mix more concrete. We got a little more than half way complete with the floor.

2008-05-24T21:21:00.000-04:00

More pictures. Louis, pictured with Kelley is our interpreter. William is a kid that lives behind the school who helped mix concrete.

2008-05-24T21:15:00.000-04:00

Construction crew. We are building a kitchen for a local school. The hole will be the septic system.
We first had to dig out more of the septic hole, then tamp down the floor of the kitchen.
For the rest of the day we mixed and poured concrete - about 9 batches!!! (each made about 4 wheel barrows full)

2008-05-24T21:12:00.000-04:00

Breakfast with some of the kids from the Children's Protection center.

2008-05-24T21:09:00.000-04:00

Getting Ready

2008-05-21T15:57:00.000-04:00

Everyone is busy getting ready for the trip. We can't forget to pray as part of our preparations.

I pray for everyone going on the trip - that we may represent God in all that we do, have safe travel and above all - learn and grow from this experience.

I pray for my family (Brad, Brooke & Cameron) as I leave them for a week, this will be the longest I have ever been away from my family. And May 23rd is Cameron's 6th birthday - I am still trying to convince her that I will not be missing her birthday party!

I pray for the people of Nicaragua that we will meet while we are there.