Walking With the Poor - Notes From the Field

MISSION AWARENESS TRIP TO NICARAGUA

August 13-20, 2005

All photos courtesy of Kristin Lile.

This mission awareness trip finds us once again in a large group with a total of 28 participants. We are a diverse group of sponsors coming from places like Vermont, Puerto Rico, Colorado…

- Sponsor Antonio is a professional musician, now retired. Antonio has a group of musicians who offer concerts in senior citizen homes in Puerto Rico.
- Aubrey and Susan have participated in MAT trips to Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Guatemala and currently sponsor eight children in five countries.
- Bill suffered a high speed accident on a highway near Detroit a couple of weeks ago. His truck was “totaled,” but Bill was not seriously injured. He considers his presence in Nicaragua as providential.
- Sponsor Craig is Jewish; his wife is Catholic. They have been sponsors with CFCA for eight years. Craig is making this trip alone. On one of the home visits, Craig asks to sponsor Lidia, the younger sister of Flavio, who suffers from a brain tumor.
- Ten years ago, sponsor Loretta began to sponsor twin girls in Leon subproject. The two are now university students, one in economics, the other in business. Loretta wants to help them with special English classes. Their older sister, also sponsored, is studying medicine. Loretta also sponsors children in the Philippines and in India.

These and so many other personal stories are shared on this trip. Each sponsor here is a gift. It is truly by providence that we find ourselves in this beautiful but economically developing country.

Good to be in Nicaragua

We go first to the CFCA Center in Managua, where we meet the sponsors who arrived on earlier flights. By about 9:00 P.M. all travelers are accounted for. A fairly good rain helps to cool things down during the night.

At subproject EMA in the eastern part of Managua we now have 487 children sponsored and 22 teens on CFCA scholarships. These dynamic teens form a united and loving group which promotes solidarity and participation. Hospitality and creative organization are characteristic of Sister Ana, Bethlemita Sister and subproject coordinator who is originally from Costa Rica and is one of fourteen children.

The harshness of the reality of this Managua neighborhood, known for drug addiction and unemployment, is contrasted by the faith, friendliness and sincere human warmth projected by the sponsored children and their families. As we step off the big Greyhound bus, we are lovingly escorted to Holy Mass by children in typical dress. The liturgical dances by the children are very inspiring. Lord, it is good for us to be here.

One can feel the loving hand of Sister Ana in the quality of the children’s performance. I took the group on a brief musical tour of the CFCA projects worldwide. A hot lunch prepared by the mothers is shared with sponsors, children, staff and scholars.

From misery to dignity…through personal outreach

In one of the corners of the Mercado Oriental (Oriental Market), largest popular market in Central America, the CFCA staff discovers a five-year-old girl, Esmeralda Aldana Ruiz. The year is 2001. Esmeralda and a few friends search for food in the trash bins of the market. Her mother, a drug addict and prostitute; her father a drug addict and thief. Esmeralda suffers from anemia, parasites, lice and a venereal disease. In the year 2002, the Lord shows His love and compassion through sponsor Helen. Esmeralda’s grandmother brings her home and enrolls her at Maria Auxiliadora School. She receives the medical treatment she needs. Thanks to her teachers’ support and the support of CFCA staff, after special medical and academic care Esmeralda is making constant improvement. Today she is a happy and spontaneous girl. Through the sponsorship program and with the support of her grandmother, Esmeralda receives help with nutrition, health, tuition and school supplies. CFCA offering hope…restoring dignity…worldwide.

Again to the bus and off to Acahualinca area of Managua which is basically adjacent to the huge Managua landfill. Many of the families of sponsored children are recyclers, who pick through the refuse for anything of value. Two religious Sisters of Lumen Christi, Teodora and Mercedes, coordinate the CFCA program here with great personal attention for the 241 sponsored children, two aging and seven scholars.

Survivor--more than a TV show

Little Felix was born in the Acahualinca area in December of 2000. This little guy knows the presence of neither mom nor dad. His 16-year-old mother is addicted to sniffing pegamento (glue). So precarious were his initial months, his great-grandmother took him away from his mother and stepfather. Doctors found him malnourished and sick enough with pneumonia as to be diagnosed as close to death. Felix’s great-grandmother is very poor herself and often sick but willing to strive for his survival. On the occasion of the MAT trip to Nicaragua 2004, Barbara became his loving sponsor. At the present time, Felix is enrolled in Maria Reina School. Coordinators Teodora and Mercedes love Felix and watch over him as their very own. Felix calls them both Mama. He is beginning to speak and to develop other skills. He still needs some psychological treatment to continue his healing process. Felix now enjoys the benefits of belonging to the CFCA program: tuition, school supplies, uniform, clothing, nutrition, healthcare and the companionship of a pair of loving Sister/Moms.

Muy Muy and Matagalpa

As we moved through Managua traffic and on north towards Muy Muy, only one trip participant got carsick on our swaying bus. This is the largest subproject in Nicaragua, with 2639 children sponsored. In the very rural aldea (province) of San Miguelito, we are invited to participate in a Celebracion de la Palabra (Celebration of the Word). This included a scripture reading of the Beatitudes, a homily, and strong-beat hymns, accompanied by guitars and belted out in the noon-time heat with charismatic fervor. What we lacked in accuracy, we made up for in volume. We were treated to a huge bowl of gallina criolla (chicken) soup. It took only one bite into the chicken to convince us that we were talking about free-range roosters and hens.

The distance from Muy Muy to Matagalpa is not far; however, this is the rainy season. The dirt road is in such rough shape that it takes us three and a half hours to reach Matagalpa. We currently have 484 children and aging sponsored in the Matagalpa area. Staff, moms and children prepared a nice gathering for us.

The gathering is held on the campus of the university, in sharp contrast to the extremely challenging areas where our sponsored families live. When the bottom fell out of the international coffee market, most producers were forced to fire their employees--including the parents of our sponsored children. They came into the hills surrounding Matagalpa with no utilities, shelters built with whatever could be found: plastic, scraps of wood, pieces of tin, a few rocks or cardboard.

It’s easy to understand the excitement of these families about belonging to the CFCA community. I made it a point to introduce and publicly thank the mothers who are CFCA community representatives. CFCA staff members, Martha and Ana, together with these community promoters, are known for their loving personal attention to each sponsored child and aging. A shared snack and a bilingual rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ to sponsor Craig mark the afternoon. A traditional small gift is given to each visitor, called up individually like a commencement exercise. We spend a short but pleasant night in the hotel, about 20 kilometers into the cool mountains of Matagalpa. A few of us who were up before dawn are treated to a magnificent display of stars and a vociferous dialog between families of howler monkeys.

Somoto

We find ourselves 210 kilometers northwest out of Managua and only 20 kilometers away from the border with Honduras. The 302 sponsored children in Somoto are very outgoing and friendly. “Please tell my sponsors, I love them.” In terms of the daily reality these children live in, the Somoto area is known for child labor. The CFCA subproject encourages children to stay in school. At the Mamma Margarita Center, which houses the subproject, the children receive daily lunch, uniforms, school supplies and health care. The honest spontaneity of the children (including a few minor scuffles) tells me that they consider this place theirs. As part of the after-school program, the 700 or so children and teens can opt for choral music, guitar, marimba and other electives. Their polyphonic choral work is impressive. One course is called “Affinity for Technology” and focuses on basic computer skills. Outdoor activities between sponsors and children were cut short by a tremendous downpour. No problem. Some good music and a strong amplifier had everyone dancing until the storm passed.

Wednesday of this MAT trip is very special. All children sponsored by participants came together to spend this entire day with their sponsors. At our early morning prayer service, Rafael led a reflection on the Gospel of St. Matthew 19:15 “Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Wendy from Bluefields, Don Oscar from Muy Muy and I led the singing of hymns.

After breakfast, in two buses we travel to Masaya Volcano National Park. This volcano is also known as Popogatepe, the “Mountain which Burns” in the Chorotega language. Last eruption was in 1772, although one of the craters currently displays gaseous activity and incandescent lava in its interior. We are able to walk to the edge of the crater and to perceive the beauty of God’s creation. The children and many of the staff had never seen the volcano.

We enjoy a walking tour of the principal square in Granada, 40 kilometers southeast of Managua, followed by a nice lunch for our group of about 80 at Restaurante La Bandeja. We pay a short visit to the area overlooking the Catarina Lagoon and then on the handicrafts market in Masaya. After supper we have another good sharing with the children, sponsors and staff. All seem to enjoy watching Pilgrimage of Faith video.

Planes de Arenal and Casa Ave Maria, Masaya

It’s always a pleasure to visit the 182 rural families in the area of Planes de Arenal. For the last kilometer or so, sponsors were transported in horse-drawn carts called berlinas. Our gathering spot was in the shade of the two huge mango trees in front of the campesino (rural) home of Don Alfredo and Dona Maria. After the well-done folk dances and the spontaneous participation of mothers and sponsors, we are invited to inaugurate the new home of Amada.

In my last report from Nicaragua, I mentioned the alarming situation of Amada and her young family--totally inadequate shelter, abandonment by the father of her five children and the health challenges of the children. I had also pointed out Amada’s very positive attitude and her active participation in the project. Thanks to the CFCA program, Amada now has an adequate home across the courtyard from her two sisters. The project provides the materials; the family provides the labor. Amanda works 15 hours per day in a factory in Masaya. With her salary of $35 per week, she could never have dreamed of owning a house of her own. The children seem to be doing better in health and in school.

Casa Ave Maria

I always look forward to seeing the spontaneous children of Casa Ave Maria—subproject CAM. After lunch, we are treated to enjoyable musical numbers by both sponsors and children. This is an after-school program, which serves 443 children. They offer training in sewing, carpentry, cosmetics. Nutrition is a big part of the program. They also have a strong musical program. 245 of the 443 children are sponsored by CFCA. Several new children were sponsored by members of this MAT trip.

This evening we say good bye to Fr. Duane. He had to get back to his parish in northern Minnesota for week-end services. Godspeed, Fr. Duane.

This second MAT trip to Nicaragua is noted for the tremendous bonding between sponsors and their sponsored children. They have had lots of time together. The presence of the children during the week has offered a warm personal touch to all of our activities.

A day in Leon

Our final day of the MAT is spent in the colonial city of Leon. The morning includes a visit to the colonial cathedral and the main city square. The afternoon is spent with hundreds of sponsored children, gathered at LaSalle School. We enjoy a wholesome lunch and an excellent cultural program. Two of the sponsors visit the homes of their sponsored children.

Sponsors will be heading home tomorrow morning. Cristina and I will return to Guatemala. We will be traveling to Bolivia in two weeks. Thank you again for journeying with us.

Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.

Bob Hentzen
Nicaragua
August 19, 2005