Nicaragua Day Six

Our third day of the water project started out with Pastor Greg leading an interactive morning devotion for the children, staff, and parents using the parable of the seed from Luke 8: 1-10.  He used individuals with varying levels of expertise in the Spanish languages as illustrations for his lesson. God speaks to us about His Word in our own language, but we're all joined together in Christ.  

Pastor Silvio's heart for the people of his congregation is evident.  Here he swings an infant girl in a hammock and was the only one who could get her to smile during our visit. 

Pastor Dave's health conversations with people continued today.  The photo below shows Coca, his translator, handing out another verse from the "Spiritual Vitamins" jar.  Most of the families he spoke with had better things to report about their health, though the last family had the most tragic story of loss we've heard yet as all 3 of her children had died, primarily from dengue fever. 

Pastor Greg made Tippy Taps again in the morning, helped by Justo Guillermo, who brought some laughter to the work.  

Pastor Brian and Pastor Silvio surrounded a member of the church with love after receiving a new filter system...

And through one of our translators, Coca, they made sure that she understood how to use it.  

Pastor Dave made it a specific point to pray with every person after their interview, and so much prayer is needed.  He learned that 13 children among the 23 families surveyed had died - mostly due to the deadly Dengue Fever.  There is currently no inoculation for it.  

Afternoon Tippy Tap installation duties were handled by Pastor Paul.  Here Frank the interpreter translates for him as he describes its use:

Frank also helped considerably as the VBS program continued. The music leaders for today also included Kara, Sam, and Paula, the teacher at New Jerusalem’s Lutheran School:

Over 40 students and their related family members attended the morning VBS session today.  The team led them in a variety of interactive Bible stories, crafts, games, music, and prayer times:

Kara read a Spanish version of the story of Jesus washing the disciples' feet to the students:

To illustrate the concept of service with our hands and feet, the students created funny hands and feet puppets.  Later on they added teeth to their puppets as they learned about the importance of brushing and flossing their teeth:

Fun and games help tremendously with connecting to the students:

Nutrition and oral hygiene were the focus topics for the children’s classes this morning.  Using over-sized teeth and toothbrush, Sam taught them about proper brushing:

They learned about the importance of food groups and played a game in which they had to remember the food group of a piece of food that they were given.  When their food group was called they had to quickly change chairs with someone else who also had an item from their same food group:

The children were excited to be able to pick out a brand-new toothbrush and toothpaste.  

Thanks to the donations of several churches the following dental health items are being distributed in this village:               Children's Toothbrushes:  87; Children/Adult Toothpastes: 137; Adult Toothbrushes (to be given out on Thurs.): 175

Once again, our lunches were amazing.  Today it was Pollo Asado with rice, bread, and a small salad.  

Samuel has become a “Pied Piper” in the village with the children. He enjoys playing with them at the church and in the surrounding streets:

While the adults were learning and interacting with Diana and Greg and their health and hygiene lessons today, the children were able to watch a kids version of a DVD called “Jesus.”  We were fortunate to have Justo Guillermo hook up an audio connection to view it off of one of our laptop computers.

Here Greg is distributing samples of Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) made with measures of water, sugar and salt to allow replacement of fluids lost through diarrhea.  Everyone got to have a taste.  

Talking about being sick can be a challenge.  Topics like diarrhea were taught more easily using a "water-bottle doll".  

After a busy day at the village, the team had to pick up some supplies at the hardware store, grocery store, and the seminary.  While some of the team picked out materials at the hardware store to repair a door tomorrow, some of the other team members enjoyed watching the people and sites of downtown Chinandega.  This horse with his cart was especially interesting to watch as it was parked between two very modern cars on the street across from the hardware store:

Tomorrow is our last day in the village. Our prayer tonight is that the children will remember all they enjoyed at VBS, that all of the families that received the 24 water filters and Tippy Taps will be physically blessed, and that the afternoon teaching sessions would have a lasting impact for the adults.