(Click on pictures below)

From February 11 to February 18, 2009 John and Brenda Lankhof, with Nate, Dan and Kadee, Roger and Deb Grootenboer, with Ashley, Eric, Kevin and Daniel as well as Kate Kielstra and Stefanie Bultje were in Nicaragua with Worldwide Christian Schools (wwcs.ca). Their project was to rebuild two deteriorated pressed-board classrooms to cooler and sturdier concrete blocks and plaster.  The school’s name was Vida Y Esperanza (meaning Life and Hope) located in Ciudad Sandino. 

Their welcome was very warm and genuine as they sang in Spanish “We are All in God’s Ocean” and thanked them for coming and working. The team painted, made rebar, mixed and poured concrete, mudded the walls, graded top soil and did general clean up around the classrooms.  The Nicaraguans at the school are a beautiful people who are seen with smiles 100% of the time.  They wear pressed white tops and jeans or dark pants each day despite the heat and despite all the dust.  Their houses are often shacks that are gated; their staff sometimes does without a salary so the school continues to run. 

The project was just a backdrop to the efforts of many organizations in the country.  It isn’t that the people of Nicaragua do not know how to build schools. Nor is there a shortage of willing local workers. Rather, it serves a mutual benefit for both the giver and the receiver.  If we were to give only money to build or repair, it would seem that money comes from the sky and this attitude would be detrimental to the people we are trying to help.  The presence of the team gave them a face, someone to thank and to get to know, and understand why we gave.  Their need became personal as the staff and students embraced the team in joining in their soccer games, skipping, Spanish clapping and sitting games.  They loved interacting and trying to communicate and help each other understand.  The team learned that to ensure sustainable economic development, you need to develop a relationship with the people needing it; you need to understand their culture and their history.

The entire team came back with a completely different mindset and hopes to find ways to give sustainable aid in our local Chatham-Kent community as well as worldwide.  We appreciate all that the people of Nicaragua have taught us in our experiences there.  This opportunity would not have been possible without the wonderful support (through prayers, financial donations, attending or giving time at our fundraisers) we received from our church and school community, our family, friends, co-workers, and neighbours who attended our car washes, boerenkool supper, pancake breakfast, bottle drives, Euchre Tournament and Mr. Pickle sales.  Mucho Gracias!!

Weekly Schedule
Sept. - April