Dear Family and Friends,
I came back to San Francisco 2 nights ago from Nicaragua after being there for 8 amazing days. During this period, God had blessed me with His creation and the amazing people of this place in Central America.
Nicaragua is a beautiful country, lush with greeneries and full of mountains and blue skies. Our team of 19 people first arrived in Managua, the capital city of Nicaragua, and stayed at the orphanage at Los Cedros for our first day. Some of us went to help with translation for the people at the dump site, while the rest of us stayed at the orphanage to help with taking care and playing with the infants and toddlers. The next day, we headed up to Jinotega, approximately 4 hours northeast of Managua, to the orphanage there where we spent 3 days performing various tasks. I helped with painting different areas of the orphanage, took blood pressure of the people who came to the clinical site, aided with cleaning the buildings, played basketball with the children, learned some Spanish, climbed a mountain, drank some best coffee, and made friends with the staff. After Jinotega we then headed back to Los Cedros and spent time with the teenage boys there, and visited the cities of Granada and Masaya. We finally headed home on the eighth day and it was not easy saying goodbye to the children and staff.
This trip is one of the best things that ever happened to me. Serving alongside with 18 other amazing people from my team, I watched and interacted with these children, whom without parents, all had much love to give and ready to receive love. Their circumstances did not make them victims but as individuals who love God and their friends, disciplined and hardworking in their schoolwork and chores. I also made strong connections with some of the staff at the orphanages and was amazed by the humility they had with their works. Many places in Nicaragua were poor in their healthcare and educational systems, but it was from there that I saw the works of God through His people.
I would like to thank you for your encouragement, prayers and financial contributions for me throughout this whole time. You have made this happen for me and I truly appreciate all your support and love. With my heart still in Nicaragua, I am transitioning back to the life in San Francisco and looking forward to the new challenges ahead.
Gracias y el dios bendice,
Connie
