Dear friends,
We’re on our way to Nicaragua in a few days, taking with us all you’ve contributed through your encouragement, friendship, prayers, and resources. This is what enables those we serve to have faith in themselves, to be resilient, and to remain optimistic.
Thank you for your continued partnership in our mission. We look forward to sharing highlights from our trip!
With continued gratitude,
Chuck
The Blessings of Our Community Churches
How fortunate we’ve been recently to have experienced the hospitality of the parishioners of Church of the Holy Child in Wilmington, DE. and the amazing kindness of the warm congregation of Christ United Methodist Church in Chestertown, MD. Such opportunities are gifts to us and those we serve. Our sincere thanks to Fr. Michael Carrier and to Darryl and Lucia Finocchiaro for extending such warm hospitality.
Church of the Holy Child – Wilmington, DE
Christ United Methodist Church – Chestertown, MD
They Really Did It!
Three years ago, we discovered that our barrio’s women’s kickball team had been playing together for several years, but they could compete only locally because they couldn’t find a sponsor. We decided to do fill the void.
Last Sunday, the National Women’s Kickball Championship was held in Managua, Nicaragua’s capitol. After Vecinos (Neighbors) to Nicaragua defeated the last remaining competitor from the city of Masaya, they were declared the number-one kickball team in all of Nicaragua, the National champions!
We are so proud of them for their achievement and all it demonstrates to so many in our barrio and their families about industry, and perseverance. BRAVO!
Rosa: Quiet Strength
Rosa Auxiliadora Aguilar is a devoted mother of two daughters, ages 1 and 13. She herself left an unhealthy home environment at age 13 resulting in a street life of partying and alcohol with intermittent jobs of washing clothes and cleaning houses.
Four years later, she committed to sobriety and a healthy lifestyle, and today, she works four days a week walking through local neighborhoods with her baby, a cart, and a bullhorn, selling “churros de queso” (cheese deep-fried in dough) and “refrescos” (somewhat like kool-aid) to make an income to feed her children. She shares a friend’s house for now, but her goal is to have a place like this of her own one day.
In 2021, she came to our school (a stellar student) to learn how to read and write. We occasionally help with medical needs for her children, and in return, Rosa is always available to do anything such as filling in when we need an extra hand in the kitchen. We’re proud to know her and inspired by her strong, kind spirit.
Our Annual Appeal: On Its Way to You!
We know how cluttered mailboxes become this time of year. We hope you can take a moment to look over our annual appeal to see the many accomplishments of the past year that you made possible.
THANK YOU!
Verity and Gregory Day Have a Birthday Party…
For Our Children!
What a gift…for us! Our thanks to 8-year-old Verity and 6-year-old Gregory Day. They celebrated their birthdays with a combined birthday party and invited 32 guests. The invitation requested – in lieu of gifts for them – a new piece of summer clothing for the children in our barrio. They collected a full bag of beautiful clothing for Neighbors to Nicaragua. Next week we will be delivering these gifts to many happy recipients!
A big thank you Verity and Gregory (and to Mom and Dad as well)!
