Our first day started off slow as our driver was taking us to the wrong city. In an effort to make up time he sped back through the streets of Managua and I felt like I was in a Chilean micro all over again.
Stop signs mean nothing down here and I watched a motorcycle come less than two inches from losing his life. At about 3 p.m. is started to rain and within minutes the streets were filled with water. I had to have a pictures of myself in it, so risking my life of being swept away I stepped out and got soaked. It was a blast.
We also had the opportunity to go to Paolo's house. He is a street vendor who sells fried banana's in little plastic bags. His life has changed for the better as a result of getting a loan from Cause for Hope.
His house is down by the sewage river and it used to be made out of plastic and sticks. He would always worry for his families safety because anyone or anything could enter at any time. At one point he had a machete at his house to beat off the dogs who would come and steal his bananas (his lively hood).
Because of the loan he received from Cause for Hope, he has been able to increase his business and make some upgrades on his house. It is now comprised of used plywood and has a lock on the front door.
Their living was so humble and yet I have never seen a man with more joy in his eyes. He got to know the Church through CFH and was baptized two years ago. When he talks about the joy he feels in his heart in getting to know his Father in Heaven and studying about the gospel it seems as if all the cares in the world go away for him.
It broke my heart to see so much abject poverty. Not more than 200km from the National Assembly there was a slum village where people had sticks in the ground and they used whatever plastic, metal, or wood to make a house. They lived there without doors, without walls, without much of anything. This country is in such a poor economic situation, people are leaving the country to work and bring the money back.
My day, however, brightened when I got to see the future of Nicaragua. In a room sat about 15 future missionaries. They were bright-spirited and had so much hope and anticipation to serve the Lord. In watching them talk about how the gospel had changed their lives, the Spirit touched my heart.
I wanted to cry as I watched a young lady talk about how she is the only member of the Church in her family. She has fought to move forward in her life and will be going on a mission alone. It amazed me to see so many girls who were preparing to serve missions and it made me happy.
The experience thus far has been amazing and I love the feeling I have among these people.
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