Dear Friends,

This month’s update takes a tour around our community to stop off at places all within (or just a few steps) from our school door.

In our barrio, everyone walks unless they need to take a cab to the market, to the doctor’s, or to visit a relative.

We’re proud to be a big part of it.

Thank you for making this possible

With continued gratitude,

Chuck

How to Build Community

Our small but vibrant community in Nueva Esperanza began to come together shortly after we arrived in 2018. Although we were unaware of the outcome, our school and dining room unknowingly created a hub for the barrio.

Two years ago, in recognition of our achievement, the government funded a small health clinic across from our school. We helped them rehabilitate the abandoned shed with labor and materials, and now we provide daily meals to the two nurses who work there and who connect with our kids and staff with talk and hugs.

The nurses recently invited our children to a talk about sexual education and family values, sponsored by the Department of Health. We were very grateful to them.

When we support each other, everyone benefits. Thank you!

When It Rains in Nicaragua…”Es La Vida”

In the U.S. we are celebrating the arrival of one of the most beautiful of our four seasons: autumn.

There are primarily two seasons in Nicaragua: “dry” (Dec. – May) and “rainy” (May – Dec.).

When it rains hard in Nicaragua, limited drainage makes for water mixed with road dirt (AKA..mud!) to enter under entrances. People stand at their doors with homemade brooms to beat it back. Exterior walls sometimes soak through with water, depending upon the way the wind blows and upon the material of the walls.

At our school, we recently initiated new classroom construction to consolidate our students into one building for learning. Last week, we finished construction of three new classrooms on the second floor.

...and then the rain arrived.

Our first floor was flooded with mud. We’re so grateful to the generous young men in our youth program who spent last weekend cleaning up in order for classes downstairs to resume on Monday.

A couple freshly painted walls in our new classrooms are demanding some re-painting and sealing. We’re on it!

In Nicaragua, they say….“Es la Vida” (Such is life…)

Welcome, Cony!

Puedo Leer (which means “I can read”) is a non-profit that requested space in our school to run a library to serve our school and the rest of our community. Last week, they brought in a new assistant librarian.

Her formal name is Orquídea de la Concepción Lazo Bermúdez, but she prefers to be called Cony.

Our students love her. Her sense of enthusiasm and kid-friendly demeanor is a perfect fit that brings the adventure of reading to life for them. Thank you, Cony!

Let’s Start from the Very Beginning

If you stop by Marvin’s classroom any weekday, you’ll find a small group of serious, industrious young students working very intently.

Nine months ago, they couldn’t hold a pencil correctly.

Then they met Marvin.

Marvin’s creative teaching abilities has enabled them to build a firm foundation by mastering basic reading, writing and math skills, all in an impressively short time. He has given them nothing less than a true love for learning. There are fewer greater gifts.

GRACIAS, MAESTRO MARVIN!