People at work
Two Jose's at the dump. The shorter one has worked here for 18 years
Carla and her brothers waiiting for some food. 
A boy reading (aloud) his new bible.
A new load of trash coming in.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
More from the dump
People at work Two Jose's at the dump. The shorter one has worked here for 18 years Carla and her brothers waiiting for some food. A boy reading (aloud) his new bible.A new load of trash coming in.
The dump in Granada
Serving the meal
We decided to teach the people the importance of washing your hands before eating this week and how our bodies are a temple of the Lord's and it's extremely important be clean before the Lord's eyes as well as for our health. The people were very excited to wash their hands with soap and water before eating
Stray dogs and buzzards come to search as well
A man working and storing his finding in his sack
The team loading up to go to the dump
Sunday, October 11, 2009
News from Granada
Hello everyone and sorry again it has taken so long to post our travel adventures. We are now in Granada, Nicaragua and will be here for 7 weeks total which is extremely nice to settle in a bit and really embrace the city and the people. We were super tired of moving around from day to day while traveling to get here. We have loved having community again for the first time since we left the States. There are about 12 people here through AIM, a mission organization, for different reasons and for different lengths of time but it has been great to get to know them and have fellowship and get to know their hearts for their specific ministries.
Last week we took the oppurtunity to jump in with all the different activities between the groups and see what everyone was doing. We have prayed about what we wanted our 2 months here to look like and what we think God wants us to do while here and we really think that is to dive into 1-2 things rather than just be an extra hand in all the many activities and really get to know a few people rather than meet 100. So last week we went to everything to see where we felt the Lord was calling us. Some were definitely more apparent than others. Before we got here, Seth felt called to go to the hospital and talk and pray with patients although he has NO medical interest at all. We told him we would love to get involved in this and help him get this off the ground and set up for future teams who come down here to serve. Seth was excited about this and basically just gave us this ministry. We started last week and helped the nurses by taking vital signs of patients (blood pressure, temperature, etc) and then we got to talk to the patients and get to know them. Joe got a quick crash course in how to take vital signs and our medical work that morning was highlighted was a guy laughing and freaking out when we tried to tried to take his temperature orally. They always take temperatures in the armpit down here (??) and when he flinched (with good reason-to avoid and armpit sweat-filled mouth) we were afraid he was expecting a little rectal exam!!
This hospital is free and so a lot times they do not have certain medications or personal to do procedures to patients just sit and wait. The 2 guys we really got to know last week were both waiting for leg surgeries and had major infections but the hospital didn't have the correct antibiotics to treat them after the surgery so they are just there waiting and hoping they can have surgery soon. It is really sad but a great opportunity to share Jesus with them and tell them He is the ultimate healer.
We also went to the dump last week to serve a meal to the people working there. As we arrived to the dump in the back of a pick-up truck, I honestly didn't know if I could get out and walk around because the smell was so horrid and the flies where all over us. As soon as I drug myself out and saw the devastating picture in front of me I could not grasp what I saw. Entire families digging through the trash in a huge space of land to find food, scraps to recycle for money, and items they could resell at the market. Huge buzzards were everywhere and tons of stray dogs were wondering around. Mario, a Nica guy who is really involved with this ministry and works as a translator for many of the missionaries says these people are very heavy in spirit and think this is a punishment for something they did wrong in their lives and they deserve this. The kids don't go to school and they basically don't know life outside of the dump. They do not let kids under about 10 search through the dump now because of an incident at another dump about an hour away where kids from a candy bar and ate it and it actually was rat poison and the kids died. We sang to the people, served them food, and read them Scripture while we were there. It was one of the most eye-opening experiences of my life and we are trying to figure out a way to get them out of there to a better life. If you get bored google Nicaragua dump and read about how a city near here is trying to change their community dump. I am trying to research ways to help the dump here.
Another huge ministry, and the main one the Kay's, the missionary family from Trinity, are involved in is a rehab center for men addicted to drugs or alcohol. They try to get them to come to Bible studies and other activities and then sponsor them to go to rehab in a nearby city. Frank and Bekah, a couple from Birmingham, have a huge heart for addicts and discipleship. Once they graduate from the rehab center, Frank will disciple the men and find them jobs and his wife Bekah will disciple the women in their lives since learning to trust these men again is a huge problem. It's been amazing to hear the stories of the men who have graduated and have given their lives to Christ and just the grace we have through Jesus.
We also went to Vida Joven (Young Life) this week to both club and campaigners. It was really fun to see kids literally off the streets fired up for Jesus. Some of the kids already have a criminal record, are addicted to drugs, and have no families but are starting to show interest in Vida Joven. It was really fun for Joe to be back in Young Life and having fun with teenage kids.
We also visited a girls home with the 4 girls on the team and helped them with their homework and played with them and just loved on them. Most of the girls have parents in town but for different reasons can't take care of the kids. They visit sometimes but the girls all live in the orphanage. It was a good experience but Joe and I both realized this isn't where our hearts are for the next 2 months and probably won't continue going.
There is also a feeding program in a nearby neighbor that we didn't have the chance to attend last week but are looking forward to seeing how that ministry goes. It is in a very poor neighborhood and the girls go and cook the food in blazing heat of a kitchen and serve them and play with the kids.
We also moved in with a family here in Granada which has been awesome and extremely hard. They are a great family with about 13 people living there but it's EXTREMELY hot, as in we can't go in our room from 9am-6pm, and not so private. Nobody down here has air conditioning either and it's at least 95 degrees everyday...crazy! We are praying about what to do whether to stick out the heat or find somewhere else a little more comfortable for us. Oh and the first night we moved in with them they had a funeral on the front porch. The uncle had drank some poison 12 days again, either accidentally or intentionally we aren't quite sure and passed away the day we arrived. They do not embalm bodies here so it was a little weird. People were in the streets being fed by the family until midnight and they all stayed awake with "the dead" all night. The next day the carry the casket to the cemetery and everyone walks with them. It was a little awkward moving in but an experience we won't forget!
Well that's a lot to keep you guys updated for now. We miss you all and would really appreciate your prayers for everything going on down here!
We love you!
Julie and Joe
Last week we took the oppurtunity to jump in with all the different activities between the groups and see what everyone was doing. We have prayed about what we wanted our 2 months here to look like and what we think God wants us to do while here and we really think that is to dive into 1-2 things rather than just be an extra hand in all the many activities and really get to know a few people rather than meet 100. So last week we went to everything to see where we felt the Lord was calling us. Some were definitely more apparent than others. Before we got here, Seth felt called to go to the hospital and talk and pray with patients although he has NO medical interest at all. We told him we would love to get involved in this and help him get this off the ground and set up for future teams who come down here to serve. Seth was excited about this and basically just gave us this ministry. We started last week and helped the nurses by taking vital signs of patients (blood pressure, temperature, etc) and then we got to talk to the patients and get to know them. Joe got a quick crash course in how to take vital signs and our medical work that morning was highlighted was a guy laughing and freaking out when we tried to tried to take his temperature orally. They always take temperatures in the armpit down here (??) and when he flinched (with good reason-to avoid and armpit sweat-filled mouth) we were afraid he was expecting a little rectal exam!!
This hospital is free and so a lot times they do not have certain medications or personal to do procedures to patients just sit and wait. The 2 guys we really got to know last week were both waiting for leg surgeries and had major infections but the hospital didn't have the correct antibiotics to treat them after the surgery so they are just there waiting and hoping they can have surgery soon. It is really sad but a great opportunity to share Jesus with them and tell them He is the ultimate healer.
We also went to the dump last week to serve a meal to the people working there. As we arrived to the dump in the back of a pick-up truck, I honestly didn't know if I could get out and walk around because the smell was so horrid and the flies where all over us. As soon as I drug myself out and saw the devastating picture in front of me I could not grasp what I saw. Entire families digging through the trash in a huge space of land to find food, scraps to recycle for money, and items they could resell at the market. Huge buzzards were everywhere and tons of stray dogs were wondering around. Mario, a Nica guy who is really involved with this ministry and works as a translator for many of the missionaries says these people are very heavy in spirit and think this is a punishment for something they did wrong in their lives and they deserve this. The kids don't go to school and they basically don't know life outside of the dump. They do not let kids under about 10 search through the dump now because of an incident at another dump about an hour away where kids from a candy bar and ate it and it actually was rat poison and the kids died. We sang to the people, served them food, and read them Scripture while we were there. It was one of the most eye-opening experiences of my life and we are trying to figure out a way to get them out of there to a better life. If you get bored google Nicaragua dump and read about how a city near here is trying to change their community dump. I am trying to research ways to help the dump here.
Another huge ministry, and the main one the Kay's, the missionary family from Trinity, are involved in is a rehab center for men addicted to drugs or alcohol. They try to get them to come to Bible studies and other activities and then sponsor them to go to rehab in a nearby city. Frank and Bekah, a couple from Birmingham, have a huge heart for addicts and discipleship. Once they graduate from the rehab center, Frank will disciple the men and find them jobs and his wife Bekah will disciple the women in their lives since learning to trust these men again is a huge problem. It's been amazing to hear the stories of the men who have graduated and have given their lives to Christ and just the grace we have through Jesus.
We also went to Vida Joven (Young Life) this week to both club and campaigners. It was really fun to see kids literally off the streets fired up for Jesus. Some of the kids already have a criminal record, are addicted to drugs, and have no families but are starting to show interest in Vida Joven. It was really fun for Joe to be back in Young Life and having fun with teenage kids.
We also visited a girls home with the 4 girls on the team and helped them with their homework and played with them and just loved on them. Most of the girls have parents in town but for different reasons can't take care of the kids. They visit sometimes but the girls all live in the orphanage. It was a good experience but Joe and I both realized this isn't where our hearts are for the next 2 months and probably won't continue going.
There is also a feeding program in a nearby neighbor that we didn't have the chance to attend last week but are looking forward to seeing how that ministry goes. It is in a very poor neighborhood and the girls go and cook the food in blazing heat of a kitchen and serve them and play with the kids.
We also moved in with a family here in Granada which has been awesome and extremely hard. They are a great family with about 13 people living there but it's EXTREMELY hot, as in we can't go in our room from 9am-6pm, and not so private. Nobody down here has air conditioning either and it's at least 95 degrees everyday...crazy! We are praying about what to do whether to stick out the heat or find somewhere else a little more comfortable for us. Oh and the first night we moved in with them they had a funeral on the front porch. The uncle had drank some poison 12 days again, either accidentally or intentionally we aren't quite sure and passed away the day we arrived. They do not embalm bodies here so it was a little weird. People were in the streets being fed by the family until midnight and they all stayed awake with "the dead" all night. The next day the carry the casket to the cemetery and everyone walks with them. It was a little awkward moving in but an experience we won't forget!
Well that's a lot to keep you guys updated for now. We miss you all and would really appreciate your prayers for everything going on down here!
We love you!
Julie and Joe
A soccer tournament we had today along with a yard sale (Nica's call it a "bizarre"), haunted house, food, and hair salon all at the mission base to raise money for Vida Joven (Young Life). The soccer tournament was played in the streets while cars and bikes continued to make their way through as boys were slidetackling each other.
Our new family, or a couple of the many of them...our aunt and cousin.
The hair salon-a total of 15 cords which is $0.75 for a haircut by Heather who I am pretty sure has never cut hair before!
More more more
Ruth, Annie, and Kayla-girls part of a 13 week mission trip here in Granada.
Bekah, Seth, and Frank-Bekah and Frank from Birmingham are here for at least 1 year and Seth will be here for 2 years.
Angelfish from Honduras (above) and Joe and I (below)
Precious little Guatemalan girl canoeing down the Rio Dulce.
Pictures from Guatemala
The ruins at Tikal
Semuc Champey
Our new friend and travel buddy Richard from Austria
Pictures pictures pictures!!!
This is the room where all the action took place and Joe thought someone was in our room and woke up the entire hostel!
Craziness!!! We actually met up with Amber Roth in Antigua's central park on Guatemala's Independence Day!
Joe and I riding horses on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala...they were actually RUNNING at several points. At least it wasn't bareback!
My teacher Sheni in Xela in the garden which was our school! What a wonderful setting to learn!
Monday, October 5, 2009
Its Been Awhile!
Howdy everybody!!
Its been a solid month since we last posted something. Sorry we are not very experienced or diligent bloggers. Its been a few pretty crazy, sometimes busy, and exciting weeks though.
We finished up our time in Xela on September 12. Julie`s classes finished up well and our time that last week at the clinic was really fun and we definitely felt like we were of use. It kinda felt like we were really settling in to the city as it was time to leave.
After leaving Xela we had about a week to travel through Guatemala before meeting Julie`s mom and stepdad in Honduras for a week. We definitely packed a lot into that week of traveling. Some highlights were taking a 4 dollar, 3-hour horseback tour around the volcanic lake Atitlan, meeting and traveling the week with a really cool Austrian dude, meeting our first (and after that our first 700) Israeli tourists, climbing and swimming through some jungle caves, climbing through some waterfalls and jumping off the top on a verrry safe rope tied to a rock, some sweet hikes, checking out Tikal (a huge Mayan ruin in the jungle that can be seen in Return of the Jedi). We also had two memorable nights... one was in a hostel in the middle of the jungle. It started with me waking up out of our tiny, smokin hot, loft room and barfing my guts out, then going back to bed and waking up half of the hostel a few hours later when I woke up swinging my fists and yelling because I was dreaming that there was someone in our room. This was followed by Julie and I talking for about an hour til we could fall asleep again, then we were up again when Julie spotted a pretty sizable scorpion about a foot from my head. Then the last event of our night of about 2 hours of sleep was me waking up again but to see Julie wide awake with her headlamp on, trying not to wake me up but she thought she had heard some footsteps. So, for the rest of the night we slept with our headlamps on. We were both pretty relieved to see the daylight and get the heck outta dodge. The other memorable night was spent in Honduras, who just went through a military coup about two months ago. We were there 2 nights before the overthrown president re-entered the capital. Our taxi driver wanted to drop us off at "the safest place in town" which happened to be overlooking the city square which was full of young people shouting and demonstrating in the streets. I told him that wasn´t quite what we called a fun night, so he took us to the next safest place, which he swore by. The place was clean and fine, but still definitely in earshot of the madness. It probably sounds worse than it really was, as there was no violence involved, but it was still pretty darn crazy.
Soon we arrived in an awesome resort in Roatan Honduras to do some scuba diving! Julie´s mom and stepdad were there waiting for us. It was sooo good to see them and for them to know we were safe and sound and that I hadn't lost too much diarrhea weight. The diving was absolutely amazing and inexpensive. We had a very relaxing week and it was a much needed break!
From there we flew (to avoid the Honduran capital) to Managua, Nicaragua and stayed there a few days to visit an orphanage just outside the city. It was really good to visit with the orphanage director and some of the kids who had been there since I was last here and for Julie and I to spend some time with other kids who were there relaxing on the Sunday afternoon.
Last Monday we realized we had a few free days until the mission base here in Granada was ready to have us, so we took the time to visit one of Julie`s best friends and her new husband honeymooning in Costa Rica! Honeymoon with Casey and Greg Cunningham!! We were bummed about missing their wedding but it was perhaps more special, and definitely more random to be a part of the honeymoon. We spent a couple of days there on the beach, highlighted by some good gringo food and getting to be surfer dudes for a day. We came through injury free!..and only 1 surfboard broken out of 4:)
We´ve been here in Granada, Nicaragua since Friday and are very excited about things going on here. We will update again soon with things we will be getting involved in here in Nica!
Love you all!
The Kidds
Its been a solid month since we last posted something. Sorry we are not very experienced or diligent bloggers. Its been a few pretty crazy, sometimes busy, and exciting weeks though.
We finished up our time in Xela on September 12. Julie`s classes finished up well and our time that last week at the clinic was really fun and we definitely felt like we were of use. It kinda felt like we were really settling in to the city as it was time to leave.
After leaving Xela we had about a week to travel through Guatemala before meeting Julie`s mom and stepdad in Honduras for a week. We definitely packed a lot into that week of traveling. Some highlights were taking a 4 dollar, 3-hour horseback tour around the volcanic lake Atitlan, meeting and traveling the week with a really cool Austrian dude, meeting our first (and after that our first 700) Israeli tourists, climbing and swimming through some jungle caves, climbing through some waterfalls and jumping off the top on a verrry safe rope tied to a rock, some sweet hikes, checking out Tikal (a huge Mayan ruin in the jungle that can be seen in Return of the Jedi). We also had two memorable nights... one was in a hostel in the middle of the jungle. It started with me waking up out of our tiny, smokin hot, loft room and barfing my guts out, then going back to bed and waking up half of the hostel a few hours later when I woke up swinging my fists and yelling because I was dreaming that there was someone in our room. This was followed by Julie and I talking for about an hour til we could fall asleep again, then we were up again when Julie spotted a pretty sizable scorpion about a foot from my head. Then the last event of our night of about 2 hours of sleep was me waking up again but to see Julie wide awake with her headlamp on, trying not to wake me up but she thought she had heard some footsteps. So, for the rest of the night we slept with our headlamps on. We were both pretty relieved to see the daylight and get the heck outta dodge. The other memorable night was spent in Honduras, who just went through a military coup about two months ago. We were there 2 nights before the overthrown president re-entered the capital. Our taxi driver wanted to drop us off at "the safest place in town" which happened to be overlooking the city square which was full of young people shouting and demonstrating in the streets. I told him that wasn´t quite what we called a fun night, so he took us to the next safest place, which he swore by. The place was clean and fine, but still definitely in earshot of the madness. It probably sounds worse than it really was, as there was no violence involved, but it was still pretty darn crazy.
Soon we arrived in an awesome resort in Roatan Honduras to do some scuba diving! Julie´s mom and stepdad were there waiting for us. It was sooo good to see them and for them to know we were safe and sound and that I hadn't lost too much diarrhea weight. The diving was absolutely amazing and inexpensive. We had a very relaxing week and it was a much needed break!
From there we flew (to avoid the Honduran capital) to Managua, Nicaragua and stayed there a few days to visit an orphanage just outside the city. It was really good to visit with the orphanage director and some of the kids who had been there since I was last here and for Julie and I to spend some time with other kids who were there relaxing on the Sunday afternoon.
Last Monday we realized we had a few free days until the mission base here in Granada was ready to have us, so we took the time to visit one of Julie`s best friends and her new husband honeymooning in Costa Rica! Honeymoon with Casey and Greg Cunningham!! We were bummed about missing their wedding but it was perhaps more special, and definitely more random to be a part of the honeymoon. We spent a couple of days there on the beach, highlighted by some good gringo food and getting to be surfer dudes for a day. We came through injury free!..and only 1 surfboard broken out of 4:)
We´ve been here in Granada, Nicaragua since Friday and are very excited about things going on here. We will update again soon with things we will be getting involved in here in Nica!
Love you all!
The Kidds
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