Dedication Day

Today was an emotional day for all of us. We met at Ricardo's house. While he and his children were distracted by a neighbor, we began to move the stuff we had been able to purchase with your donations into his new home. First there was the concrete sink that we placed under a tree near his kitchen and water source. 

With this sink they will be able to cook and do laundry. Then we placed two bright-blue metal beds, with mattresses, sheets and pillows, into the girls' bedroom, which we had painted pink. We hung a little round mirror on the wall and placed a stuffed animal on each pillow. 

We then moved a wooden bed which Ricardo had made into the boy's room, along with a hammock which hung from the ceiling.

 No home in Nicaragua comes without a hammock, it seems. We put a new mattress on the bed along with new sheets, and the boy's room - which of course was painted blue — was finished. Then we moved four plastic chairs into the living room and put a set of dishes, along with silverware, in the kitchen.

When everything was in place, someone went for Ricardo and Josefa (the older daughter, who is 13), Anibal Ricardo, (the 11-year-old son) and Ivanial (the younger daughter, who is eight). We all met for the dedication/houseblessing under the new kitchen roof. We all stood together holding hands and, as we prayed, it felt to me as if we were also being held with all of your arms. God made it all happen, through us and through you.

After the houseblessing we opened the door and followed the family into their new home. The last thing Marcus had done the day before was to cut the hole in the door and install the lock. Ricardo was there so that Marcus could teach him how it worked and where to insert the key. This is the first home that Ricardo, who is forty-four years old, has ever lived in that can be secured.

What an awesome sight to watch as this family walked into their new home! Truly the best 'God' moment of the trip.

After the tour of the house, we were stunned as Josefa handed us a letter she had written on behalf of her family. It was a 'thank you' letter to all of us and gave credit appropriately to God. As Marcus and Berthalina translated and read it in English we all began to cry. It was one of the most moving 'thank you' letters that I have ever heard. We will share the translation with everyone when there is time to write it out in English.

When we had ALL dried our tears, Josepha stood in her pretty pink dress and sang two beautiful songs and then followed that with a duet with her father. So far the day was an emotional roller coaster, and the ride had just begun.

From the dedication, we walked back into San Ramon, where we loaded our suitcases for the ride back to Managua. This of course meant that we had to say good-bye to our host families with whom we had shared so much time since we arrived. Donna Aracelli and Don Augustine had shared the best they had to offer. Donna Aracelli had cooked all of our meals and tried to anticipate our needs with all the graciousness that we could have asked.

The evening before, we had gathered as a group with the the host families for a traditional Nicaraguan feast. A live band played traditional music while we ate and when the dishes were cleaned up people began to dance. It was great to see the spontaneous joy that erupted from the group. Such is the power of music.

So the next day, with all these fresh memories it was hard to leave and close the San Ramon chapter of our trip. After more tears and hugs and kisses, we climbed into our van and waved good-bye, and headed down from the mountains into the steamy metropolis of Managua.

—Pastor Larry (San Ramon and Managua)