Pantanal

We have been in Nicaragua for a little over two weeks now.  We are settling in to how life could be if we were to relocate.  Not having a vehicle has been challenging for our big family.  Today we walked to the grocery store and then each took 2-4 bags each and walked back.  Even Kaiyin had a bag.  We're quite a site walking through the streets of Nicaragua. Eli said he has been hungry since we've gotten to Nicaragua, but he doesn't really know what real hunger is. It's amazing how ministry opportunities just pop up out of no where.  On Wednesday of last week, I (Heather) went to a women's Bible study in Pantanal.  It was their kick off night and there were about 15 women who came and shared.  One girl turned to me during the Bible study and asked if I would be interested in adopting more children.  After letting her know I was not, she told me about a young family who's dad had just died two days prior.  She said there were four kids and they were living alone with the oldest being 15 and the youngest being 5.  I got her in touch with the right people who could help this little family.  The next day they visited the family to figure out the whole story, bought them groceries at the market and have plans to help them secure their house with the help of their older sister of 18 who is supposed to come in a week.  We've had the privilege of leading kids worship music on five different occasions at different Bible clubs.  

 On Thursday, the kids and I spent the morning in Pantanal helping hand pump water from the well to fill up the water tank.  In the afternoon, the kids played soccer and tag in the uneven dirt street while dodging garbage and ditches which weave throughout the roads. The kids were invited to see the new born chicks that had just hatched the day before and Oscar (one of our new little friends) proudly invited Eli to his backyard to see all his toys which he poured out of a potato sack and declared "muchos".   As I was standing there, two women, who I'd previously met at a Bible study, brought me a chair to sit in the street and chat with them.  I found out one lady has 8 kids, the youngest being 2 and her niece, who was in her twenties was starting 1st grade next month.  We chatted for about an hour before going to a backyard Bible study.  

The girls and I led worship songs with the kids and they seemed to love the music.  The kids were learning the books of the Bible.  

The past two Saturdays we've spent at the sports ministry and soccer league games.  We've played baseball and soccer from kids ranging from two years old to grown up.  I've given the message both times and the kids seemed especially reflective about the message this past week.  I told them that Jesus calmed the storm and he could calm the storm inside of them as well.  The people in Pantanal have been accustomed to so much violence.  When people get angry, they just punch and hit each other or in true Nicaraguan form, throw rocks at each other.  One of the missionaries here carries around a first aid kit that I've seen her use 5 times since we've been here!  This Saturday I helped butterfly stitch a finger which had been cut while cutting firewood with a machete. 

The kids already have friends.  Today while walking to church, one of the girls came running down the street to hug Abi and Zoe.  There is much work to be done and it's just beginning.