It is Tuesday afternoon and I am heading southwest on one of Managua’s crowded public buses. Riding past hundreds of houses, the noises fill my ears; Loud vehicles, people laughing, shouting, kids playing, cars honking, birds singing, dogs barking. There are walking vendors selling tortillas, fruit, and cashews, singing various tunes that let people know what they are selling. Even if there were a hundred tortilla venders, each one would have their own distinct melody. Others walk along the sidewalks, shouting out their products for sale or exhibiting them on cardboard displays. Remote controls, rat poison, cell phone cables, plastic bags of cold water, windshield wipers from China, knockoff Rolex watches and Armani sunglasses, hair clips, handkerchiefs and homemade candies are all part of helping families get by and earn enough for their daily bread.
Anticipating my stop several minutes early, I swim through the dozens of people to the back door of the yellow school bus. I quickly learned not to be timid when pushing towards the back after a few times of not making it off in time. Walking an extra mile to get where I needed in the tropical heat was a lesson learned rapidly. When the bus is slowing down, but not nearly close to a full stop, the rusty door slams open and I begin stepping down towards the street. A slight hesitation often involves getting hit by the door or nearly falling down when the driver pulls away with one foot on the bus and the other in the air. I take a deep breath and start walking. There is a large Wal-Mart owned grocery store in front of the bus stop. Several stoplights help guide the city traffic in and out each day. I pass a large elementary school where the only visible part is a white brick wall that surrounds the building. A few blocks further, just before one of the roads turns into a curvy highway, I take a right and go down a hill onto a rocky dirt road. Not too many cars make their way in there. Barbed wire attached to wooden poles in the ground make up the fence in front of my destination.
At the top of a small hill sits the house of one of the families of the church. Without an official Lutheran church building in that neighborhood, they have offered their humble home as a space of worship. Pastor Katia goes out there every Sunday afternoon to give the sermon and service. My task there has been to lead the ‘gender’ ministry meetings on Tuesday afternoons. Gender is the adult program and makes up one of four ministries in which the work of the church is carried out (the others being children, pre-teens, and youth). Beginning as the women’s ministry, it was changed to gender to allow a space for adult men. They are few and far between in a largely women and youth dominated church, but they are more than welcome to participate, and some communities have male adults as very active members.
For the past few months, I have been leading a Bible study at their request. At our first meeting, I asked the 8-10 women present how they would like to spend their time, given that we would be meeting weekly. Many of the women had expressed interest in studying the Bible because they had heard many stories, but did not understand what it all meant. Complicated words, an old language structure not commonly used in Latin America, and a different context and era made the texts challenging. So we go through various Biblical stories each week, looking at them with a gender lens. What was society like at the time? What were the customs and traditions of the people? What were the roles of women and men? What was life like for Maria, given that she was likely a very young teenager when she gave birth to Jesus? How can we relate all of these stories to our daily lives? What can we learn from them? Each week we break down a different text and learn just a little bit more about the lives of the ordinary people who became part of a not so ordinary story.
I arrive a bit early and greet the family members who are present, and some of the women that have started to gather for our meeting. Many of these women are the same people that sell fruits and vegetables and tortillas to make a living. Most of them are single mothers with large families. Most of them began having their kids before their fifteenth birthdays. Some of their adult kids are working and contributing to the family, and some not, but everyone still lives at home and needs to eat. Their younger children, or in many cases grandkids left in their care, are most likely in school, hoping to make it past primary school. There are of course very bright students who have overcome numerous obstacles and are studying in universities. Some have moved out of the area to work, but those that stay are very at-risk. The area is filled with delinquency, violence, and gang activity. With over half of the country’s population under- or un-employed, a lack of jobs perpetuates the poverty in which these families live. Drugs and alcohol become easily available to children at a very young age, and the challenges and problems that come up on a daily basis are countless.
Tuesday afternoons are a time where the women of this community gather together in friendship, solidarity, and the love of God. This particular day, we have decided to take a break from our usual studies and have a more spiritual moment. We burn incense and have relaxing music playing in the background. We close our eyes and try to take a moment for ourselves, to reflect upon our lives and look out into the future. In communities like these, where difficulties and worries abound, we take a moment to offer our prayers in silence. One particular woman tells me that if we were to begin talking about our problems with each other, we could go on for days. That is why we turn to a higher power, write them down, and burn them in a large kettle. We pass out slips of paper and pencils for each one of us to write down our concerns and requests. One woman asks me to do her the favor of writing them down. She never learned to read or write. I dictate her words for her as she writes with her mind. The hand that writes belongs to a different body, but thoughts are still the same. One by one, we put our prayers in the kettle and try to enjoy the blessings in life, rather than concentrate on the difficulties. They are joyful, comforted, and know that they have friends in their neighborhood as well as above with whom they can confide. We close our day in prayer and the women get ready to head back to their daily lives.
A couple of the kids from the neighborhood accompany me down the hill where the house sits, past the barbed wire poles and up the dirt road that leads back to the curvy highway, We walk past the quiet, empty school building, now that it is getting dark. We turn left and see the stoplights. Many of the vendors have gone home, and some are still around, trying to look for last minute shoppers. The noises have faded to the background as we stand in front of the Wal-Mart grocery store waiting for my bus. The oldest of the kids, a very bright 12 year old, tells me about his schooling and asks me if corruption exists in the US like it does in Nicaragua. He tells me about the job he just got helping clean vegetables at a local market. About how he divides the dollar he makes each afternoon after class between his mother, his school fees, his brother and his cousin and how he usually has enough to buy himself a piece of candy or two. We talk about the excitement of Christmas and even set off small firecrackers, as many people do during the month of December. My bus pulls in and I jump on almost as fast as I had gotten off a few hours earlier. Passing by all the people, the noises, the homes, the stores, the dogs, the students and workers finished for the day, and I am on my way home. Everyone goes back to their busy lives, but we´ve taken a moment to refresh ourselves. We have enough energy to finish the day and get ready for the next. We feel just a little bit lighter. A little bit more relaxed. A little more at peace.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Dos Cerros Trade School for Women
For the last few months I have been going to the church´s small trade school called ¨Dos Cerros¨ every Wednesday. I pay my twelve and a half cents (in US dollars) to take a public bus from my neighborhood to one of the Managua bus stations, and then from there take a mini-bus to get to the school for fifty cents. The bus drops me off on the main road, and the school is located maybe a quarter mile off of the highway between Managua and Masaya. They have two teachers that give multiple classes throughout the week. They offer hairstyling and cutting, manicure-pedicure classes, baking and cooking, and various types of sewing classes. The school is made up of all women, from teenagers to grandmothers. Some are learning their first profession and others want to expand on skills they already have. Once they have completed their courses, they will be able to find jobs in sewing factories, larger bakeries, hair salons, or they could work out of their homes. I admire each of these women that dedicate much of their time and energy towards teaching and learning new professions. Each one sacrifices a lot to be able to take courses. They need to pay their monthly fees, as well as their materials, and some of them walk from very far distances in order to get to the school. Their dedication is admirable, and I often wonder if I were in their shoes if I would be able to do the same.
Alicia, for example, is a 22 year old that decided that she wanted to learn how to bake. This was something that she was interested in, and would help to open up job opportunities in the future. The economy all over the world is going through difficulties so every additional skill that you have is valuable. Her class, which began about six months ago, started out with 6 or 8 students, but she is now the only one left. The large outdoor ceramic oven is heated by wood. Being in a semi-rural area, there is firewood available, but the quality is not the greatest and when burning, it tends to create more smoke than heat. So Alicia needs to get wood from another area. Across the highway, and several miles away, a very distant neighbor was selling some. So, awhile back, Marta the baking teacher, Alicia, and myself, set off to go buy firewood. Not knowing exactly where the place was located, we set off to ask people along the way. We never would have imagined just how far away this place was. We walked for about three hours just to get there, and arrived at a pile of wood, sunburned and exhausted. Once we got there, the man who was selling it said that he didn´t have a vehicle and that we would have to go hire somebody to pick it up and take it to the school. We returned to the school that afternoon, and then Alicia arranged transportation and went to pick it up later. The outdoor oven has a tin roof that covers the area, but being in a volcanic region, the heavy air causes the metal to rust within just a couple years. The holes in the roof cause rain water to enter the oven and it is difficult for the wood to catch fire. Sometimes it can take up to four or five hours just to get the oven started, not to mention the wood burning. Because of these issues, the other members of the class either stopped going, or switched to one of the sewing classes.
I have really learned a lot about dedication from these women at the school, and have a great appreciation for the sacrifices they make in order to complete their coursework. It makes me realize that in difficult times we need to struggle more. People throughout the world are experiencing sacrifices, having to cut back, and are going back to school for more training. In Nicaragua, those sacrifices are different than in other parts of the world, but are just as important for survival. Alicia´s a tough one for sticking it out, and when she gets her certificate for the course at graduation in November, she´ll really deserve it.
Alicia, for example, is a 22 year old that decided that she wanted to learn how to bake. This was something that she was interested in, and would help to open up job opportunities in the future. The economy all over the world is going through difficulties so every additional skill that you have is valuable. Her class, which began about six months ago, started out with 6 or 8 students, but she is now the only one left. The large outdoor ceramic oven is heated by wood. Being in a semi-rural area, there is firewood available, but the quality is not the greatest and when burning, it tends to create more smoke than heat. So Alicia needs to get wood from another area. Across the highway, and several miles away, a very distant neighbor was selling some. So, awhile back, Marta the baking teacher, Alicia, and myself, set off to go buy firewood. Not knowing exactly where the place was located, we set off to ask people along the way. We never would have imagined just how far away this place was. We walked for about three hours just to get there, and arrived at a pile of wood, sunburned and exhausted. Once we got there, the man who was selling it said that he didn´t have a vehicle and that we would have to go hire somebody to pick it up and take it to the school. We returned to the school that afternoon, and then Alicia arranged transportation and went to pick it up later. The outdoor oven has a tin roof that covers the area, but being in a volcanic region, the heavy air causes the metal to rust within just a couple years. The holes in the roof cause rain water to enter the oven and it is difficult for the wood to catch fire. Sometimes it can take up to four or five hours just to get the oven started, not to mention the wood burning. Because of these issues, the other members of the class either stopped going, or switched to one of the sewing classes.
I have really learned a lot about dedication from these women at the school, and have a great appreciation for the sacrifices they make in order to complete their coursework. It makes me realize that in difficult times we need to struggle more. People throughout the world are experiencing sacrifices, having to cut back, and are going back to school for more training. In Nicaragua, those sacrifices are different than in other parts of the world, but are just as important for survival. Alicia´s a tough one for sticking it out, and when she gets her certificate for the course at graduation in November, she´ll really deserve it.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Ay Nicaragua, Nicaragüita. La flor más linda de mi querer
Well friends, it has been quite some time since I’ve written much of anything on this blog. I’ll try and pick it up again. I’ve had lots of ups and downs during my time here, but recently mostly just ups. I was able to go home for Christmas and then to Toronto for an ecumenical training in January. Stepping out of Nicaragua for a short time was exactly what I needed to be refreshed and re-energized for a busy schedule in the coming months. Seeing friends and family, and then gaining valuable insight from fellow participants and leaders of the training session has given me a new drive for what I’m doing here. Everything about Nicaragua looks a little bit brighter these days. I feel like I’m settling into my life here, and that this country that once felt very distant is becoming my home- for a while, anyways.
I’ve been enjoying the gradual process of integrating myself into the culture here, which seems to be picking up speed in the month since I’ve returned. I've been meeting new people, and getting closer to ones I've known for awhile. I went to the Maná concert awhile back and have gone to see a couple Nicaraguan groups as well. I went to a salsa and bachata dance class a couple weeks ago. Turns out I'm still really bad at bachata, but hey, I certainly had fun trying. I've come to learn that the unplanned, random encounters I have with people are often the most enjoyable. The waiting- waiting for meetings that never started on time, for authorizations that took days, for my internet to work, waiting in the heat when the bus broke down- the waiting that frustrated me so much before doesn't usually bother me anymore. I thought I was a pretty calm person before, but here patience has taken on a whole new meaning. The hours spent waiting for something or someone are the times when good conversation comes out, and the relationships build.
I’ve realized that I need to just relax on a lot of things. There is very little that is really worth the energy of getting worked up about. This country’s unofficial motto, of ‘Anything is possible in Nicaragua’ seems to be true most of the time, and I’m finding that the plans I work on for two weeks often get traded in for plans that require a 45 second phone call in the last second. And usually plan B (or C or D) works better anyways. Therefore, why not just relax and trust that things will work out? (Unless you are working with the ministry of health to allow medical delegations into the country. Then you should get out your letterhead, your translating skills, your dictionary, and warn your notary public that you will be needing about six different letters notarized a month in advance. You really just have to appreciate bureaucracy no matter what country you're in :)
Hopefully I passed the ‘test of fire’ as the Bishop calls it, with my first delegation from South Dakota. A medical team from Gloria Dei came and went this past week. We went to a few different rural communities to give medical consults, and had one clinic here in Managua. One of the highlights for me was when we broke into small groups and spent a night with different families in one of the communities. The time flew by, after a late arrival due to mechanical problems on one of their flight legs. In true Nicaraguan fashion, we just changed plans at the last minute, and everything went really pretty smoothly. Being with a delegation is such a fun experience for me because I’m right in the middle of two different cultures- one culture I’ve lived in my whole life, and the other I’m learning about on a daily basis. I love being able to blend the two worlds together, translating people’s stories through words and personal experiences. I learn a lot about both in the process, and it’s fun to share bits and pieces of my new life with people that speak my language.
The vendors that walk up and down our street selling everything from food to lottery tickets to ‘things from the oven’ (literally cosas del horno) to branch cutting services with their machetes have become normal. Riding jam packed yellow school buses in the morning has become routine. And purchasing little bags of drinking water from guys that carry out of car windows doesn’t faze me anymore. But somehow there are still things that always catch my attention or make me smile.
Seeing men riding on horse-pulled carts alongside expensive SUVs on the highways still gets me every time. Literally, a horse and cart in the middle of the highway, going around the roundabouts. You would think there’d be more accidents…
When Gloria Dei was here there was a small car accident right outside of the church. And by car accident I mean a car ran into the back of a horse and cart. The horse didn’t seem terribly hurt, just a little agitated. But really, only in Nicaragua…
While doing a home stay/overnight in a rural community with Gloria Dei, we discovered that the family’s dog was named “Scott.” Pronounced, “Escót” by the Nicaraguan tongue, I was a curious as to why this dog would be named that, because it’s certainly not a Spanish name. Well, it turns out he was named after Scott brand toilet paper, because he looks like the dog that is their logo.
The other day on the bus I saw a middle aged man wearing a t-shirt tucked in to a pair of dress pants with a nice pair of shoes. And then I did a double take and realized that in scrolling 90’s neon letters, his shirt said, and I quote, “This is what the world’s greatest grandma looks like”.
Ay Nicaragua, Nicaraguita...
Alright, that’s about all I’ve got for now. There’s another delegation coming on Thursday, so I imagine I’ll have more stories after they come. In the mean time, keep me posted on the happenings of the world up north, and take care!
I’ve been enjoying the gradual process of integrating myself into the culture here, which seems to be picking up speed in the month since I’ve returned. I've been meeting new people, and getting closer to ones I've known for awhile. I went to the Maná concert awhile back and have gone to see a couple Nicaraguan groups as well. I went to a salsa and bachata dance class a couple weeks ago. Turns out I'm still really bad at bachata, but hey, I certainly had fun trying. I've come to learn that the unplanned, random encounters I have with people are often the most enjoyable. The waiting- waiting for meetings that never started on time, for authorizations that took days, for my internet to work, waiting in the heat when the bus broke down- the waiting that frustrated me so much before doesn't usually bother me anymore. I thought I was a pretty calm person before, but here patience has taken on a whole new meaning. The hours spent waiting for something or someone are the times when good conversation comes out, and the relationships build.
I’ve realized that I need to just relax on a lot of things. There is very little that is really worth the energy of getting worked up about. This country’s unofficial motto, of ‘Anything is possible in Nicaragua’ seems to be true most of the time, and I’m finding that the plans I work on for two weeks often get traded in for plans that require a 45 second phone call in the last second. And usually plan B (or C or D) works better anyways. Therefore, why not just relax and trust that things will work out? (Unless you are working with the ministry of health to allow medical delegations into the country. Then you should get out your letterhead, your translating skills, your dictionary, and warn your notary public that you will be needing about six different letters notarized a month in advance. You really just have to appreciate bureaucracy no matter what country you're in :)
Hopefully I passed the ‘test of fire’ as the Bishop calls it, with my first delegation from South Dakota. A medical team from Gloria Dei came and went this past week. We went to a few different rural communities to give medical consults, and had one clinic here in Managua. One of the highlights for me was when we broke into small groups and spent a night with different families in one of the communities. The time flew by, after a late arrival due to mechanical problems on one of their flight legs. In true Nicaraguan fashion, we just changed plans at the last minute, and everything went really pretty smoothly. Being with a delegation is such a fun experience for me because I’m right in the middle of two different cultures- one culture I’ve lived in my whole life, and the other I’m learning about on a daily basis. I love being able to blend the two worlds together, translating people’s stories through words and personal experiences. I learn a lot about both in the process, and it’s fun to share bits and pieces of my new life with people that speak my language.
The vendors that walk up and down our street selling everything from food to lottery tickets to ‘things from the oven’ (literally cosas del horno) to branch cutting services with their machetes have become normal. Riding jam packed yellow school buses in the morning has become routine. And purchasing little bags of drinking water from guys that carry out of car windows doesn’t faze me anymore. But somehow there are still things that always catch my attention or make me smile.
Seeing men riding on horse-pulled carts alongside expensive SUVs on the highways still gets me every time. Literally, a horse and cart in the middle of the highway, going around the roundabouts. You would think there’d be more accidents…
When Gloria Dei was here there was a small car accident right outside of the church. And by car accident I mean a car ran into the back of a horse and cart. The horse didn’t seem terribly hurt, just a little agitated. But really, only in Nicaragua…
While doing a home stay/overnight in a rural community with Gloria Dei, we discovered that the family’s dog was named “Scott.” Pronounced, “Escót” by the Nicaraguan tongue, I was a curious as to why this dog would be named that, because it’s certainly not a Spanish name. Well, it turns out he was named after Scott brand toilet paper, because he looks like the dog that is their logo.
The other day on the bus I saw a middle aged man wearing a t-shirt tucked in to a pair of dress pants with a nice pair of shoes. And then I did a double take and realized that in scrolling 90’s neon letters, his shirt said, and I quote, “This is what the world’s greatest grandma looks like”.
Ay Nicaragua, Nicaraguita...
Alright, that’s about all I’ve got for now. There’s another delegation coming on Thursday, so I imagine I’ll have more stories after they come. In the mean time, keep me posted on the happenings of the world up north, and take care!
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Disaster Relief Requests
Hello all,
Recently many people have been asking about the needs of the ILFE, in response to the flooding in Chinandega. This is the summary of disaster assistance needs, drafted by ILFE and the regional representative of the ELCA. I will update this blog if changes in needs occur, but for now this is the most up to date information. Let me know if you have any questions and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Que les vaya bien.
DISASTER ASSISTANCE NEEDS OF ILFE COMMUNITIES
IN WESTERN NICARAGUA
Where Disaster Assistance Is Needed
Currently, ILFE has a pastoral presence in fourteen (14) different rural communities in Chinandega, the department which was severely affected by nearly two weeks of constant downpours (Oct. 10 - 21). Rainfall amounts were nearly three times greater than the seasonal averages for western Nicaragua.
- Three of the 14 ILFE communities are located in the municipality of Villanueva (Aquespalapa, El Jicote and El Bonete), an area that was particularly hard-hit. Heavy rains not only destroyed crops, but also caused two major river systems to overflow. Widespread flooding damaged homes and drowned cattle and other farm animals. ILFE has given special priority to these communities in a disaster assistance appeal to ACT International (Action by Churches Together) with reasonable prospects for funding from churches, ecumenical and humanitarian agencies in Europe and the United States (including ELCA).
- However, the remaining 11 communities accompanied by ILFE are not included in the ACT appeal. Homes in these communities did not suffer significant flood damage, but crop losses were near-total. Those communities are: La Flor, Los Balcones, Los Limones, El Caimito, El Rodeito, Enmanuel, and Sagrada Familia (in the municipality of Somotillo); and Corinto, Estambul, Grecia I, and Las Veinte (on the western outskirts of Chinandega city). ILFE is requesting support from its network of ELCA companion synods and sister congregations for the 350 families living in these communities.
Nature of Assistance Needed
The 350 families living in these 11 communities are facing severe food shortages and potential famine conditions (a looming prospect for all of western Nicaragua). The rains hit just prior to the November harvest. Severe crop losses carry a double impact for peasant farmers and their families: they neither have food to eat nor seeds for the next planting season. Consequently, two principal forms of assistance will be needed:
- Food Assistance: ILFE projects the need to provide basic food packets to 350 families for a period of up to six months. The current cost of each food packet is $35 and includes the following: corn (20 lb.), rice (10 lb.), beans (10 lb.), sugar (5 lb.), cereal mix (2 lb.), coffee (2 lb.), cooking oil (1 liter bottle) and laundry soap (pkg. of 3 balls). These basic provisions will feed an average family for 2 weeks. Absent major improvements in the food security situation, affected families will need up to 12 food packets over the next 6 months (2x per month for 6 months).
- Seeds for Replanting: In order for peasant farmers to replant next May (just prior to the onset of the 2008 rainy season), they will need seeds since the recent rains not only destroyed their year-end harvest but also their traditional source of seeds. ILFE proposes to provide each farm family with a one-time donation of seeds that will enable them to plant both basic grains (corn, sorghum & beans) as well as vegetables and fruits (squash, bananas/plantains, fruit trees, cucumbers, string beans, watermelon, green peppers, hot peppers and tomatoes). The projected cost of an agricultural recovery kit containing the appropriate quantity of these seed varieties is $55.
How Concerned Individuals and Congregations Can Help
Food Assistance: One-time donations/monthly pledges of
$ 35 Two-week supply of staple foods for a family
$ 70 Month’s supply of staple foods for a family
$ 420 Six-month supply of staple foods for a family
Replanting Assistance: One-time donations to purchase seeds:
$ 55 Seed varieties so that a peasant farmer can replant in the spring of 2008
******************************************************************
If you are not part of a congregation that is planning to send donations through another route, donations can be made directly to relief efforts in Nicaragua through the ELCA website, under "Disaster Response" link. The following information is taken from this webpage. http://www.elca.org/disaster/article.asp?id=78&mode=3
BY MAIL
Make your check or money order out to:
ELCA Disaster Response
P.O. Box 71764
Chicago, Illinois 60694-1764
To designate your giving to this disaster, write "Nicaragua - Hurricane Felix and floods" on your check's memo line.
BY PHONE
(with a major credit card)
800.638.3522
To designate your giving to this disaster, mention "Nicaragua - Hurricane Felix and floods" when you call.
ON THE WEB
(with a major credit card over a secure connection): by following this link: https://www.elca.org/scriptlib/DS/giving/featuredgiving.asp?pageid=2
Recently many people have been asking about the needs of the ILFE, in response to the flooding in Chinandega. This is the summary of disaster assistance needs, drafted by ILFE and the regional representative of the ELCA. I will update this blog if changes in needs occur, but for now this is the most up to date information. Let me know if you have any questions and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Que les vaya bien.
DISASTER ASSISTANCE NEEDS OF ILFE COMMUNITIES
IN WESTERN NICARAGUA
Where Disaster Assistance Is Needed
Currently, ILFE has a pastoral presence in fourteen (14) different rural communities in Chinandega, the department which was severely affected by nearly two weeks of constant downpours (Oct. 10 - 21). Rainfall amounts were nearly three times greater than the seasonal averages for western Nicaragua.
- Three of the 14 ILFE communities are located in the municipality of Villanueva (Aquespalapa, El Jicote and El Bonete), an area that was particularly hard-hit. Heavy rains not only destroyed crops, but also caused two major river systems to overflow. Widespread flooding damaged homes and drowned cattle and other farm animals. ILFE has given special priority to these communities in a disaster assistance appeal to ACT International (Action by Churches Together) with reasonable prospects for funding from churches, ecumenical and humanitarian agencies in Europe and the United States (including ELCA).
- However, the remaining 11 communities accompanied by ILFE are not included in the ACT appeal. Homes in these communities did not suffer significant flood damage, but crop losses were near-total. Those communities are: La Flor, Los Balcones, Los Limones, El Caimito, El Rodeito, Enmanuel, and Sagrada Familia (in the municipality of Somotillo); and Corinto, Estambul, Grecia I, and Las Veinte (on the western outskirts of Chinandega city). ILFE is requesting support from its network of ELCA companion synods and sister congregations for the 350 families living in these communities.
Nature of Assistance Needed
The 350 families living in these 11 communities are facing severe food shortages and potential famine conditions (a looming prospect for all of western Nicaragua). The rains hit just prior to the November harvest. Severe crop losses carry a double impact for peasant farmers and their families: they neither have food to eat nor seeds for the next planting season. Consequently, two principal forms of assistance will be needed:
- Food Assistance: ILFE projects the need to provide basic food packets to 350 families for a period of up to six months. The current cost of each food packet is $35 and includes the following: corn (20 lb.), rice (10 lb.), beans (10 lb.), sugar (5 lb.), cereal mix (2 lb.), coffee (2 lb.), cooking oil (1 liter bottle) and laundry soap (pkg. of 3 balls). These basic provisions will feed an average family for 2 weeks. Absent major improvements in the food security situation, affected families will need up to 12 food packets over the next 6 months (2x per month for 6 months).
- Seeds for Replanting: In order for peasant farmers to replant next May (just prior to the onset of the 2008 rainy season), they will need seeds since the recent rains not only destroyed their year-end harvest but also their traditional source of seeds. ILFE proposes to provide each farm family with a one-time donation of seeds that will enable them to plant both basic grains (corn, sorghum & beans) as well as vegetables and fruits (squash, bananas/plantains, fruit trees, cucumbers, string beans, watermelon, green peppers, hot peppers and tomatoes). The projected cost of an agricultural recovery kit containing the appropriate quantity of these seed varieties is $55.
How Concerned Individuals and Congregations Can Help
Food Assistance: One-time donations/monthly pledges of
$ 35 Two-week supply of staple foods for a family
$ 70 Month’s supply of staple foods for a family
$ 420 Six-month supply of staple foods for a family
Replanting Assistance: One-time donations to purchase seeds:
$ 55 Seed varieties so that a peasant farmer can replant in the spring of 2008
******************************************************************
If you are not part of a congregation that is planning to send donations through another route, donations can be made directly to relief efforts in Nicaragua through the ELCA website, under "Disaster Response" link. The following information is taken from this webpage. http://www.elca.org/disaster/article.asp?id=78&mode=3
BY MAIL
Make your check or money order out to:
ELCA Disaster Response
P.O. Box 71764
Chicago, Illinois 60694-1764
To designate your giving to this disaster, write "Nicaragua - Hurricane Felix and floods" on your check's memo line.
BY PHONE
(with a major credit card)
800.638.3522
To designate your giving to this disaster, mention "Nicaragua - Hurricane Felix and floods" when you call.
ON THE WEB
(with a major credit card over a secure connection): by following this link: https://www.elca.org/scriptlib/DS/giving/featuredgiving.asp?pageid=2
Monday, October 15, 2007
Tropical Storm Barbara
Nicaragua has hit another rough spot in the road, and once again finds itself in a declared state of emergency. Several communities in the northwestern part of the country are experiencing severe flooding, due to Tropical Storm Barbara. This has been a terrible blow to the country, especially considering that Hurricane Felix swept through just barely over a month ago, destroying crops, homes, and taking lives.
The saying, “when it rains, it pours” couldn’t be more accurate here in Nicaragua. I have been here for almost a month now, catching only the end of the rainy season, but even in Managua when it rains it can be extreme. During the rainy season it rains pretty much everyday, down pouring and then stopping quickly. Streets flood, people can’t leave their homes for a few hours, and life outside of shelter is temporarily put on pause. While the rain certainly affects people in the city, its effects are multiplied in the more rural communities where there are no paved roads. Dirt roads turn into muddy rivers that you couldn’t cross even if you had all the ganas in the world (even if you wanted to).
Currently, there are about a dozen communities of the Lutheran Church that have been affected by severe flooding in the region of Chinandega. The official Action by Churches Together (ACT) report cites 3,600 people affected by the flooding, with over 2,000 people evacuated into temporary housing outside of the region. Several of these communities were also hit hard back in 1998 when Hurricane Mitch came through the country. In efforts to rebuild those communities almost ten years ago, the church went out and built homes that were capable of surviving harsh weather. Fortunately, this time around the houses themselves, and the people who live in them, have stood strong during these past few days of terrible rains. Unfortunately, most everything in these houses did not. People have lost food, clothing, furniture and belongings, and farmers once again lost crops and animals. Cars and cattle were swept away in the rains. Most of the buildings are still standing, but almost everything that was once inside of them is gone and will need to be rebuilt.
The situation began to get serious this past weekend, and yesterday (Sunday) Bishop Victoria went to Chinandega to assess the situation. Today (Monday), the church, working with the relief agency ACT (Action by Churches Together) purchased food items and packaged them to send to Chinandega. The packages, which are enough to last a family 15 days, include beans, rice, sugar, soap, corn, cooking oil, matches, oatmeal and coffee. We will deliver the packages to the communities tomorrow (Tuesday), in order to address their immediate short-term need. The pastors of the communities, along with at least one representative of the community board from outside the church, will have assessed the situation and assist with the distribution of food, giving priority to those most in need. In crisis situations like this, food and relief items are distributed to those with the largest need, regardless of whether they are part of the Lutheran Church.
The short-term need for food and supplies is being addressed, but considering that all of their current crops have been lost, thousands are now left without a steady source of food for the months to come. ACT and ILFE are working on plans to sustain them in the near future. As far as the longer term goes, the best-case scenario would be that conditions in November, the last month of the year to plant crops, are adequate. That would then allow the crops to be harvested in February. If November conditions are not adequate for planting, it will be even longer before the communities have the opportunity to see a sustainable harvest.
The communities of San Luis and La Carbonera in Somoto were also affected, but have not been inundated themselves. At this time they are unreachable because the roads to get there are inaccessible. They can survive for now on the food and provisions they have in their houses, provided that the rains do not worsen in the next few days. If conditions worsen, well… we’ll take it one step at a time.
The following is the translation of the informative letter Bishop Victoria, bishop and president of the Lutheran Church of Nicaragua, sent out to alert community leaders:
Managua, October 13, 2007
Dear brothers and sisters:
Once again I am writing, to share with you the sad situation that our Lutheran communities of the west are finding themselves in, especially in Chinandega. This whole week has been one of constant rain. They say that continually low pressure in Pacific Central America is causing this period of rain.
We are very worried because according to the meteorological service, tropical storm “Barbara” is already being felt in Nicaragua. As of right now, we have eleven flooded communities, nine of them without communication; some of which have been impossible to get to because the rivers have overflowed and the routes to enter into the communities are flooded.
For now, we are trying to prepare emergency packages that include basic food and some items of clothing.
Brothers and sisters of mine: thank you for reading my account, of which most is sad news, because it is hard for me to understand why the misfortunes fall upon the smallest, the excluded, the poorest.
I don’t lose my faith in our God of life, that He will move in the hearts of everyone to help this population that is suffering the ravages of rain.
SOLIDARITY IS THE PRESENCE OF GOD ON EARTH!!!!
With love, Your sister in Christ,
Bishop Victoria Cortez
President
That is the latest news for now. I’ll post more information as it comes along. The church is now asking for your thoughts and prayers to be with the people of Nicaragua, especially those affected by the rains, as the end of the road to recovery from a long string of natural disasters seems to be continually just out of reach.
The saying, “when it rains, it pours” couldn’t be more accurate here in Nicaragua. I have been here for almost a month now, catching only the end of the rainy season, but even in Managua when it rains it can be extreme. During the rainy season it rains pretty much everyday, down pouring and then stopping quickly. Streets flood, people can’t leave their homes for a few hours, and life outside of shelter is temporarily put on pause. While the rain certainly affects people in the city, its effects are multiplied in the more rural communities where there are no paved roads. Dirt roads turn into muddy rivers that you couldn’t cross even if you had all the ganas in the world (even if you wanted to).
Currently, there are about a dozen communities of the Lutheran Church that have been affected by severe flooding in the region of Chinandega. The official Action by Churches Together (ACT) report cites 3,600 people affected by the flooding, with over 2,000 people evacuated into temporary housing outside of the region. Several of these communities were also hit hard back in 1998 when Hurricane Mitch came through the country. In efforts to rebuild those communities almost ten years ago, the church went out and built homes that were capable of surviving harsh weather. Fortunately, this time around the houses themselves, and the people who live in them, have stood strong during these past few days of terrible rains. Unfortunately, most everything in these houses did not. People have lost food, clothing, furniture and belongings, and farmers once again lost crops and animals. Cars and cattle were swept away in the rains. Most of the buildings are still standing, but almost everything that was once inside of them is gone and will need to be rebuilt.
The situation began to get serious this past weekend, and yesterday (Sunday) Bishop Victoria went to Chinandega to assess the situation. Today (Monday), the church, working with the relief agency ACT (Action by Churches Together) purchased food items and packaged them to send to Chinandega. The packages, which are enough to last a family 15 days, include beans, rice, sugar, soap, corn, cooking oil, matches, oatmeal and coffee. We will deliver the packages to the communities tomorrow (Tuesday), in order to address their immediate short-term need. The pastors of the communities, along with at least one representative of the community board from outside the church, will have assessed the situation and assist with the distribution of food, giving priority to those most in need. In crisis situations like this, food and relief items are distributed to those with the largest need, regardless of whether they are part of the Lutheran Church.
The short-term need for food and supplies is being addressed, but considering that all of their current crops have been lost, thousands are now left without a steady source of food for the months to come. ACT and ILFE are working on plans to sustain them in the near future. As far as the longer term goes, the best-case scenario would be that conditions in November, the last month of the year to plant crops, are adequate. That would then allow the crops to be harvested in February. If November conditions are not adequate for planting, it will be even longer before the communities have the opportunity to see a sustainable harvest.
The communities of San Luis and La Carbonera in Somoto were also affected, but have not been inundated themselves. At this time they are unreachable because the roads to get there are inaccessible. They can survive for now on the food and provisions they have in their houses, provided that the rains do not worsen in the next few days. If conditions worsen, well… we’ll take it one step at a time.
The following is the translation of the informative letter Bishop Victoria, bishop and president of the Lutheran Church of Nicaragua, sent out to alert community leaders:
Managua, October 13, 2007
Dear brothers and sisters:
Once again I am writing, to share with you the sad situation that our Lutheran communities of the west are finding themselves in, especially in Chinandega. This whole week has been one of constant rain. They say that continually low pressure in Pacific Central America is causing this period of rain.
We are very worried because according to the meteorological service, tropical storm “Barbara” is already being felt in Nicaragua. As of right now, we have eleven flooded communities, nine of them without communication; some of which have been impossible to get to because the rivers have overflowed and the routes to enter into the communities are flooded.
For now, we are trying to prepare emergency packages that include basic food and some items of clothing.
Brothers and sisters of mine: thank you for reading my account, of which most is sad news, because it is hard for me to understand why the misfortunes fall upon the smallest, the excluded, the poorest.
I don’t lose my faith in our God of life, that He will move in the hearts of everyone to help this population that is suffering the ravages of rain.
SOLIDARITY IS THE PRESENCE OF GOD ON EARTH!!!!
With love, Your sister in Christ,
Bishop Victoria Cortez
President
That is the latest news for now. I’ll post more information as it comes along. The church is now asking for your thoughts and prayers to be with the people of Nicaragua, especially those affected by the rains, as the end of the road to recovery from a long string of natural disasters seems to be continually just out of reach.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Just the beginning
I’ve arrived in Nicaragua and everything is going well. Life is busy these days, as Rachel (who is finishing her two years here and is now training me in on the job) transfers her knowledge to me during her last couple weeks. My job has a million descriptions, but I’m the ELCA /South Dakota Synod Representative/ Delegation Coordinator/ English Communications Liaison for the Lutheran Church of Nicaragua (La Iglesia Luterana de Fe y Esperanza), among other things. One of my primary jobs is to plan and organize trips for different groups that come from the US to visit. Once they get here, I am also their guide and translator while they traveling around the country. The delegations that visit usually go out to different church communities to participate in home stays for a night or two, so tomorrow I’ll head out for a couple days to orient myself to some of these communities before actually taking a delegation. I’m currently working on plans for getting a medical delegation to the Atlantic coast to have clinics where last month’s Hurricane Felix hit the hardest, so that should be an interesting trip. I’ve also started working with the youth/young adult group at the central church. Their major project for the time being is CONCASIDA (The Central American Conference on HIV-AIDS), so for now I’m tagging along to see how they run their show. I have an office at the central building, so when I’m not with delegations, you’ll find me in there, listening to salsa music and working on a variety of things. Random written translation projects, email communication with delegations, weekly meetings with all of the pastors from various communities, and the CONCASIDA drama team I just joined, to name a few.
In other news, I’ve settled into a house across town with Rachel and a couple new volunteers from Germany. I now find myself in the midst of three different cultures and languages, but it somehow blends together. I was initiated into the Bavarian culture with a home-cooked meal of schweinebraten, kraut, and knödel last Saturday. My housemates are really fun. Approximately one hour arriving in Managua, they had already planted a banana tree, some type of flowering tree, birds of paradise, ginger flowers, and European tomatoes on our back patio. They are now looking for vegetable seeds so they can grow their own cabbage to make sauerkraut. No, I’m not lying.
I’m exploring my way around town and have become quite skilled at some of the best strategies for stabling myself while standing on a city bus that exceeds capacity by about 97 people. I am also learning the careful balance between watching the ground while I walk so I don’t fall into the four-foot open rain gutters, and watching what’s going on around me. If you weren’t watching, you could literally disappear into the earth. Seriously.
The hand-washing laundry skills that I picked up in Tanzania are once again coming in handy; as washing machines are not something you see much of here. Nicaragua might be one step up on Tanzania though, and the addition of the washboard is something I’m getting used to. I generally just stick to a bucket and my sun-scented soap. I was not previously aware that the sun had a fragrance, but the Xedex Multiacción company has apparently been able to capture it in a detergent. I guess you learn something new every day.
Well, friends, I believe that is all I have in me for now. Feel free to send email and fill me in on the happenings of the northern part of the Americas. I’ll update this blog as often as possible, and if you have questions, comments or suggestions for what I should write about, just let me know.
In other news, I’ve settled into a house across town with Rachel and a couple new volunteers from Germany. I now find myself in the midst of three different cultures and languages, but it somehow blends together. I was initiated into the Bavarian culture with a home-cooked meal of schweinebraten, kraut, and knödel last Saturday. My housemates are really fun. Approximately one hour arriving in Managua, they had already planted a banana tree, some type of flowering tree, birds of paradise, ginger flowers, and European tomatoes on our back patio. They are now looking for vegetable seeds so they can grow their own cabbage to make sauerkraut. No, I’m not lying.
I’m exploring my way around town and have become quite skilled at some of the best strategies for stabling myself while standing on a city bus that exceeds capacity by about 97 people. I am also learning the careful balance between watching the ground while I walk so I don’t fall into the four-foot open rain gutters, and watching what’s going on around me. If you weren’t watching, you could literally disappear into the earth. Seriously.
The hand-washing laundry skills that I picked up in Tanzania are once again coming in handy; as washing machines are not something you see much of here. Nicaragua might be one step up on Tanzania though, and the addition of the washboard is something I’m getting used to. I generally just stick to a bucket and my sun-scented soap. I was not previously aware that the sun had a fragrance, but the Xedex Multiacción company has apparently been able to capture it in a detergent. I guess you learn something new every day.
Well, friends, I believe that is all I have in me for now. Feel free to send email and fill me in on the happenings of the northern part of the Americas. I’ll update this blog as often as possible, and if you have questions, comments or suggestions for what I should write about, just let me know.
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