WBL Experiences Life Change in Nicaragua

posted July 2, 2010 by Don Graffam |

White Bear Lake

I thought I’d send an update on our amazing experience in Managua, Nicaragua, that took place from June 14-21 with 48 Eagle Brookers. While I could tell you stories that break your heart, make you laugh, inspire you or challenge you, here’s one story that I want to keep in my mind for a very long time.

It took place on our third day, when half of our team went into one of the most poverty-stricken areas on our planet called La Chureca. You may remember Bob talk about this on a weekend back in February, but this place is a garbage dump in which more than 1,500 people live. Those that live there rummage through the garbage every day looking for recylcable products that they can sell to make some money. The families live on dirt floors with pieces of corrugated metal for walls and a roof. Kids randomly walk the dirt roads surrounded with rabie-infested dogs with no parents anywhere to be seen.

After navigating a narrow, mud-filled road with a bus going backward (don’t ask) full of WBL suburban folks who were way out of their comfort zones, we pulled up in front of a fortress-like gate. As the gate swung open, we walked into dozens of kids who instantly befriended us as they climbed on our backs, took pictures with us and allowed us to push them on some nearby swings. The kid on my back kept yelling some like ”coripado.” (I later found out that meant ”run faster.”)

The child-driven “ambush” brought many to tears, others to laughter and put many in a state of shock. Here, in the heart of a garbage dump housed a school, led by a young Christian woman, where kids could be safe, get a meal, an education, and on this day, a dose of joy.

The moment of our arrival floored me and reminded me that our church — thousands of miles away — is making a difference. Here we are, different colored skin, totally different backgrounds and speaking a different language, yet, a team of people who decided to give up their vacation time and money were making a difference, and were being changed into different people. It wrecked me!

This is just one of the many stories from our trip. I could tell about a time that we got to pray with a pastor who feeds starving kids every day and God showed himself in a powerful way. I could tell of a worship service that turned into a dance party, or the time we got to bring kids to see Toy Story 3 at a VIP theatre, and I could talk about the power of 48 people sitting in a circle every night sharing stories of how we “saw Christ” every day. But I would never be able to give our trip the justice it deserves.

My best suggestion…GO! You just gotta! Don’t keep saying “some day.” Make “some day” today. You’ll be a different person for doing it.

Look for another post this week with some amazing photos from our trip, but for now, here is the video I made from my first trip to Nicaragua last fall: