September 4, 2006, 9:33 p.m.
I'm sad to say today is our last day in Nicaragua. We spent it at an orphange for special needs kids. It is definately in need of additional staff. The children hardly get enough attention and it just broke my heart. The orphanage director said that they only have 2 people to sleep on location at night for all 21 kids. One girl who had a fully functioning mind, was 14 years old, trapped in the deformed body of a 4 year old. I couldn't help but think that could have been me. She was just lying there in a crib with only a few hours of stimulation per day. Kristin spent a lot of time with a deaf boy named Brian - laughing, playing ball, communicating. I think she has found her niche. We have had an amazing experience here. Now that we know the needs it is time to get back to the US to work. Thank you for following our journey and for your support. Please stay tuned to HALO for updates. --Rebecca
August 31, 2006, 9:07 p.m.
We are in a town called Estali until tomorrow. Today we had meetings all day with the congresswoman (Diputada) who is in charge of all women and children aid in Nicaragua and all over Central America. She said there are over 100 street kids in this town alone and there are no orphanages in the area. It saddened me to see the situation and imagine what it must be like for these kids completely alone running the streets hungry. We are looking into options of partnering with another organization to provide a home for these and hundreds of other children from all over Central America. It takes a lot of funding for something like that but I believe it can happen. --Rebecca
August 25, 2006, 9:39 a.m.
We have enrolled Luis in a school for the deaf. I canīt describe how happy he is. We visited him the other day and to get there we walked through a local housing area where people literally live in shacks made of pieces of metal and wood. We had to cross the local river of sewage by jumping on bags of rice piled up. Kristin's foot slipped and fell in the sewage water. Yesterday we went to an orphanage in Managua where the children acutally learn trades such as carpentry and machinery. It was amazing. They currently have a waiting list for children that want to be there - they are at full capacity. There are three more orphanages we are visiting that are in need. Last night when we came back to the hostel we are staying in a there was a little boy sleeping in front of the door. On cardboard. It was storming. We went inside and asked if we could get him a room and they said they were not allowed to do so because he sniffs glue which is a very cheap but very damaging way that street kids get high. So we could do nothing and he slept there in the storm all night. I got up this morning to find him but he was gone. They said he will be back. Hopefully he will and we can place him somewhere. --Rebecca
August 21, 2006, 11:28 a.m.
Yesterday I fell in love with a little boy on the street. He was trying to sell something like cashews for a few American cents to me. So he sat down for a while and we had a conversation without words. He was deaf and couldn't speak but was so amazing at expressing himself with his homemade sign language and genuine smiles. Of course he couldn't afford to go to school for the deaf so he is destined to sell something like cashews for the rest of his life. While his brother is in school, he works all day. Before he could finish his story, a decision was made. We are meeting with the school. His life will change. He will learn to sign, to write, to read. When I told him that, he asked me to repeat it 5 times to make sure it was true and then his beautiful face lit up like nothing I had ever seen before. --Rebecca
August 18, 2006, 11:06 a.m.
So far this trip has been full of pleasant suprises. Yesterday we conducted our art therapy program with the children at Land of Judah. Kristin Kenney, our art director spent time with the children doing projects such as self portraits, painting a day they could remember, and painting people who are important in their lives. This instills positive self image, builds their self esteem, and gives them the chance to express themselves. The children gave their work to us to bring back to the US to support their future. We are considering many projects that will better the lives of all orphans in this area such as providing proper training for them so that when they leave the homes they will have a chance to make it. -- Rebecca
August 17, 2006, 7:54 p.m.
nicaragua is beautiful. the people are friendly and inviting. i thought it would be much worse than it is. we've been staying with a great guy, scott felder, who runs an orphan, a prison ministry, and provides food and ministry to this bedouin sort of band in this area called mosquito. they're super poor and never have any food and eat the bark during the rainy season (winter-now). we've visited a few orphanages and done a little art therapy with scott's orphanage. i fell in love with this little girl named fatima immediately. i sat outside and wondered whether or not i couldever be responsible enough to adopt her. i decided i would make a great aunt as there are already about 5 people who are financially and responsibly stable enough to actually adopt her. i have the sister thing down so we'll stick with that for now. but the baby bug got me. -- Kristin
August 16, 2006, 9:05 a.m.
Normally when surprised with circumstance when travelling, it is a bad thing for us. Not in this case. We are very lucky to have met a man named Scott Felder who is the kind director of Tierra de Judah Orphanage. He has kept us safe, fed us, has driven us around, and taken us in to his home. An absolute blessing. We were exhausted from travelling yesterday but were able to visit the orphanage in the hills. It it a beautiful home where the children are cared for and seem very happy. They are all toddlers and babies at this home and absolutely precious. Kristin spent time playing with the children in the afternoon and disappeared for a while. When she finally turned up, she looked a little stressed saying she got locked in a room with a bunch of kids who don't speak her language for about an hour. Hilarious. The people are peaceful and simple. The pace of life seems right. Electricity is off for 4-6 hours a day here so it's hard to email when we want. We are going to try to visit more orphananages today... I'll write more when we can. -- Rebecca
