Update on the mission to Nicaragua

Rev. Pat MacDonald

On October 18, 2007, fourteen members of Burton Avenue United Church - Islay Scott, Miriam Oben, Elsie McGuire, John Sawyers, Amanda Sawyers, Lois Delaforce, Lyla Hubbert, Corri DeBoer, Warren DeBoer, Sal San Juan, Devon Williams, Kari Williams, Rev. Dick Moffat, Rev. Pat MacDonald, plus Rev. Dr. Colin MacDonald from Central United Chruch - set off on a 12 day mission to Nicaragua. Ranging in age from 17 to 77, we quickly bonded into a close-knit group who shared a variety of life-changing experiences. Except for the last weekend in Granada, we stayed at the Cantera Retreat Centre in Managua, which is a beautiful oasis of green gardens, sparse, comfortable cabins and a spacious dining room where we were served delicious, nourishing meals.

Through the leadership of Rev. Dr. Joe Reed of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, we were introduced to the many faces of Nicaragua. We learned that it is a country of lush green countryside, pristine lakes and chattering monkeys hanging from trees in tropical forests. It is also a country of extreme poverty. The city dump in Managua is 50 city blocks in size where 20,000 people are born, live and die. There are markets where 350,000 children have neither health care, adequate food or educaional opportnities. There are endless shantytowns with houses made of concrete blocks with dirt floors, no sanitation and no clean water.

While in Nicaragua, we were priviledged to meet a number of people who are passionate about bringing hope into the many situations that appear hopeless. We met with a lawyer who represents workers in the sweat shops. We spoke with a woman whose organization is reaching out to the "market kids" - teaching them their rights to health care, recreation and education and starting schools that not only teach the three "R"'s, but also art, music and dance.

We were also priveledged to work as volunteers in a couple of specific areas. One was at a retirement home called San Pedro Claver where a small group of us spent several mornings singing and dancing with the residents, helping to fold laundry, and assisting in the craft room. Another group of us joined an existing work team to help build new washrooms at the YMCA Youth Centre in the Acahualinca area of Managua. Last spring, we at Burton Avenue United Church raised close to $5,000 to purchase the building supplies for the new bathrooms, and it was profoundly moving for us to share in their construction.

We were also moved by the connections we made to the recipients of the two other projects supported by Burton Ave. The $10,000 we raised to initiate a micro-loan project was used to buy 23 steers for six families in the Rivas District south of Managua. One rainy afternoon, six people from the village walked 12 kilometres along the impassible, muddy roads to tell us about the difference those steers will make in their lives. We also went to the Moravian Medical Clinic in Managua that will distribute the seven Mei-Packs we took with us. These packs were purchased from Helath Canada International with $3,800 raised by the congregation. Each pack cost $550, and contained $5,500 worth of medical supplies. We learned that most of the supplies would be used by our Moravian brothers and sisters to help the vistims of Hurricane Felix on the east coast of the country.

It was gratifying and humbling for us to learn that through the generosity of this congegation, people have been helped and lives have been changed. But is was also humbling to realize that OUR lives would also change through the experience! We were given so much in our time there. One experience in particular has stayed with us. Inivited to worship with a small church in the village of Citalapa, we were deeply touched by our hosts' gracious hospitality. By our North American standards they had so little; but what they had, they shared. Their small open-sided worship space was festooned with balloons and hand-painted signs with words of welcome. We sang and prayed together. Then, with the children surrounding us and leading us forward, we were welcomed with pride into their dirt-floor homes. Devon joined in an improptu game of soccer, played with an uninflated ball, on a mudsoaked field! We drank the Coca-Cola they offered us, shared pictures of our families, and forged bonds of deep affection in the short time we were there.

We were given so much! We learned to live in the moment; to adjust to "Nicaraguan Standard Time" (as in "Things will happen when they happen!"). In the face of seemingly unsurmountable social problems, we learned that small acts of compassion and justice can bring great hope. We learned that community and relationship are at the heart of all that really matters. We met with people who trust in the providence of God, and through them we came face to face with out own proverty - our "poverty of riches" which means that we have so much in our society that it is easy for us not to know our own great need of God. And we learned that, across the social and cultural and linguistic differences between us and the Nicaraguan people, we are joined by our common commitments to the values of family, as well as a hunger for purposeful life and for God.

In the weeks since returning from Nicaragua, we have prayed about whether we are called to an ongoing relationship with the people there. In early January, we made the decision to make hands-on mission an ongoing part of Burton Avenue United Church. With the approval of the Official Board, we are planning a return mission to Nicaragua in January 2009. We are also committed to three projects: the building of a chirch i Citalapa, purchasing more steers for the micro-loan projects, and taking more Medi-Packs. The mission is open to everyone in the congregation, and it is our hope that a yearly mission trip will be part of who we are as a faith community.

Mission to the world is part of what we committed ourselves to when we developed our Vision Statement in 2000: To know God through Jesus Christ and to reflect God's love as the church in a changing community and world."

It is my deep prayer that God will continue to bless us as we seek faithfully to live out this vision.

Sheaf Espiga