A Week of Transformations

This week was spent with my home church, BridgePointe Church out of Owensboro, KY. Throughout this week we saw many different types of transformations.

In the community of Ticuantepe, we thought we were going to just put a roof on a church, but we basically built an entire sanctuary for this church. Being in this community we saw many things transformed. Of course, you have the obvious transformation of wood and tin into a place of worship: 

A shot of the before roof and the after tin roof behind it.

Before

After

Also, we were able to visit the community of El Canon and see some more transformations there. First, Jessica was able to use her skills and passion of cutting hair to bless and transform the look of about twelve or so girls in the orphanage.

Before

After

The girl were loving this time with Jessica and they were all getting all of their hair cut off. Also, we were able to build soccer goals for a local field that the younger men of El Canon use to play on each day. Prior to this they only had sticks but now they have metal goals with nets!

Finally, we were able to donate multiple boxes of school supplies to the director of the school here in El Canon. If this picture doesn't say enough she was VERY excited about it all. "I don't have the words to describe how I feel right now!" - Directora Maria

But above all we were able to come down to Nicaragua and plant seeds in many individuals lives and let the Lord grow them and transform their lives. BridgePointe thank you for sending this group here to Nicaragua and know that they have blessed this country and I feel that they have been blessed by Nicaragua as well!

If you build it, they will come...

Field of Dreams is a classic movie and I am glad dad quoted it last night during the service because it is exactly true. Yesterday, we went and visited Pastor Jorge's church in Ticuantepe, just outside of Managua. This church is a very small church and has been in the city for four years.

Our task for yesterday and finishing it up today is to build a roof for this little church. So the BridgePointe team rolls in with wood, tin, concrete, and a few nails to accomplish this task. They hit the ground running. We have posts set in concrete and will be getting the cross beans and tin laid for the roof this morning. 

We have eaten breakfast this morning and we're gearing up for another day out in the community of Ticuantepe. Please be praying for the group today. And  know we are all safe and having a good time working for the Lord here in Nicaragua.

Notice the gloves on the wrong hands!

Tenemos agua!

Yesterday, was a very rewarding day! As the team winded down there week with a boat ride, zip lining, and the usual tip to the market. I loaded up in the truck with Pastor Franklin and a generator and headed back out to Los Cedros.

The goal for the day: Flush the pipes and let the water flow through the community!

We started off the morning smoothly as we hooked the generator and began pumping the water into the tank. Franklin, Daniel, and I were very excited as this 2900 liter tank began to fill up.

But then we hit our first and only bump in the road. The well we were pumping the water out of had ran out of water. The locals said, "una hora" and after one hour we were able to begin pumping water again. As the tank began to fill up more and more the buzz began growing around the community. And soon enough this community would have water.

View from the tank overlooking the community in Los Cedros

Finally, the tank has been filled as Franklin runs to one end of the piping and Daniel and I run to the other end. The people of this community began to come out into the streets in anticipation of the water soon being ran through the newly laid pipes under their ground.

People waiting down the road for the water

After opening up all the valves, we were ready to flush the pipes out so the community would have clean water to use for the first time at their homes. Prior to this moment they would have to walk to the well and draw water out and then carry the buckets full of water back to their homes. But not anymore!
As Daniel and I stand at the end of the pipe waiting for the water to flush out, we can feel the air from the end of the pipe. Daniel was so excited he could not wait to see the water flow. He made sure I had my camera ready for pictures and video of the water.

We have water!

The excitement that filled the community as these pipes were filled with water was incredible. Sounds of clapping, cheering, and praise to God filled the air. One lady washed her hands in the water and immediately began praying to God, repeatedly saying, "Gloria a Dios, Gloria a Dios."

As I walked back through the community it was amazing seeing the buckets fill up with the clean water and that same water running out of each families personal spigot. I was being asked to take pictures by every family in the community I will end this blog with a few of the other pictures and be sure to check out the video on my Facebook page of Pastor Armando drinking the water for the first time.

Pastor Armando with a family enjoying the water.

Group of boys at their house after bathing and washing off in the new water!

Project Photos

Here are a few pictures from our water project we are working on this week...

No more cranking this well for water for this lady after this week

The new water tower!

The ditch is has been completely dug

Trenches and Sickness

Hey just a quick update this morning, we have nearly all of the main trench dug throughout the community. This is ran through about 32 different house in the area. Today, we will be digging the T's to give each house it's individual spigot with running water for the first time ever. It will be a big relief to finish the trenches after today and begin laying the plumbing down for the water.

But also, be in prayer for the team members as some of them are having a difficult time adjusting to the heat here and getting sick. Just yesterday alone, we had three people get very sick and two of them needing shots to get back to normal. They are feeling pretty good today and will be going back out in the community, but Grayson isn't feeling well this morning now. So please be praying for energy and the health of everyone here in Nicaragua.

I will some pictures of the work today and post them later on tonight!

Digging...

Today, was a very busy day today in Los Cedros. We accomplished many different things as a group, including digging more than half of the trench for the new water line. This was a very tough job and took a lot of time and effort. We spent nearly all day with a pick, shovel, or other tools in our hands. But it is really encouraging to see the members of the community chipping in. We had multiple guys hanging out and working with us all day long. We even had a few ladies group a shovel and chip in. I really enjoyed seeing an older man that could not help us out very much, grab a pick and break up the ground in front of his house. He wanted to help out as much as he could and that was great to see him taking the time to invest in the water project in his community.

Also, part of the group conducted a medical clinic at the church. I heard they treated 100 people, gave out medicine, and taught the kids how to properly wash their hands. It is great to see how this community is already taking pride and their spirits are being lifted. The locals want to learn about us and I really think the men and women just like being around us. They will spend the entire day working with the men or sitting at the church talking with the women. I have learned a lot about caring for others  and how special just spending time with people can be.

New Week New Team- CAK

Yesterday, Christian Academy of Knoxville arrived here at the mission house. I am excited about the plans for this week as we will be working in a very poor community just outside of Los Cedros. This team is gong to be installing around 300 feet of PVC pipe, water tower, and other things to give this community running water. I have never been apart of a water project like this one and excited to see how it is done.

As we do, this water project it has got me thinking about how Christ is the living water for us. And I pray we have the opportunities to share this message with the people in this community and giving them living water along with running water.

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 
John 4:13-14

Today, we will be going to the service at Bethany Church this morning and then visiting the community and inviting them to a movie night tonight at the church. We will be showing the movie Courageous to them. Stay posted for further updates as the water project and our mission this week get underway.