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Published: February 10th 2009
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Today was a fantastic finish to our trip. Our last day was a work day in the town of Leon, about 90 km from Managua, but very different in terms of landscape and culture. It was like being in the Australian outback, complete with cowboys and children selling dead Iguanas for food along the road.
We got to work at a school again, which were my highlights of the trip. We initially were going to go the school to just serve, but earlier in the week I asked if there was anything they needed (besides school supplies which of course we brought with us to Leon) and I found out that a storm had knocked over a tree, crushing the only swing set the school (and community) had. Once again, if you know the right people in Nicaragua, you can procure a swing set, monkey bars, teeter-totter and slide on short notice. We hired a metal fabrication company to make the set and come to Leon and install it for a surprisingly small amount of money.
This meant that our last day would have three parts. First, we arrived to the school in Leon and of course a ceremony
Note the Broken Swing Set...
Not how hard Mr. S is working and a speech broke out (everything in Nicaragua begins with a speech). We then go to distribute the school supplies to the elated teachers. I just can’t imagine working with the limited supplies (in some cases none) that they work with. Second, we got to work distributing the remainder of the 540 pairs of shoes we brought down. This was always a difficult task, with lines of expectant children. Lastly, we worked on installing the playground equipment. Our task was to prep the areas and dig the holes. This may sound easy but the ground was very difficult and hard.
At the end of the day it was a great feeling to complete the tasks…a playground for the children, a school with supplies and shoes on children’s feet. We returned to the Villa, with a sense of accomplishment and yet sadness that our experience is coming to an end.
After an amazing dinner we spent some time with the girls of the Villa, exchanging notes, giving gifts and playing together. There is always finality to these moments, with the realization that one can never go back to a place and find it the way it was in their
memories, in fact, in some cases we can never go back.
As we talked at the debrief tonight, I am reminded of my trip to Guatemala, 19 years ago, also as a high school senior. I realize how much it changed me. The children in the orphanage where we worked are all adults, who knows what each are doing, the buildings have changed, the staff have changed, some have passed away...but that memory, that experience as it was, is still ever present in my 'now'. It is still 'now' to me as it was 19 years ago. The impact on who I am, was then, and still is today, profound. It may sound like a cliche to say it changed my life...it would most accurately be more appropriate to say that it is still changing my life years later. I imagine that the same will be true for your children. They will continue to remember this place, frozen in time, ever presently their 'now' and hopefully, ever presently defining them for the positive.
In summing up our time in Nicaragua, I am reminded of quote from Helen Keller, a quote that has often inspired me and provide me
with rationale for experiences like the journey we have been on for the last 10 days.
"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experiences of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired and success achieved.”
Helen Keller
It is experiences such as these that stretch us emotionally, spiritually and humanly and in this sense are a 'trial and suffering'...let us hope and pray that the rest of the quote follows for each of us.
Stay tuned for post trip reflections from the participants in days to come!
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