The North Country Mission of Hope is a multi-denominational humanitarian organization working in Nicaragua.
By Bonnie Black
Today is A Team's last day on the ground here and we are just about set to put the key in the door and head for home at 4am tomorrow (although it will take us until close to midnight to actually be in Plattsburgh - if all connections go smoothly!).
We had many loaves of bread leftover, so this morning Jim Dumont and Bill Calmbacher took them over to CFC and they were used immediately! We have also completed the boxes for giveaway sneakers, clothes and toiletries to those who so desperately need them. A few of the boxes we took directly to the convent yesterday afternoon so that the very poor we saw on Monday will soon have some clothes, soap and shampoo.
Continue reading "Wednesday, February 27, 2008" »
By Bonnie Black
A bittersweet morning with the Despedida then the departure of the main group. By the time most people got their day started, 9 of our group had already headed home: Roger Patnode, Sarah LeFloch, Morgan Araldi, Morgan Boatwright, Richard Garzarelli, Yamilette Flores, Oscar Flores, Gabby Flores and Kristin Gagnier.
Continue reading "Tuesday, February 26, 2008" »
By Bonnie Black
Well, here it is. By the time you read this, the large group will be in the air on their way back to you. But let me bring you up-to-date with what was done on our last full day as a full group here in Nicaragua.
This morning at our daily meeting, we listened to Celtic Women's "One World." After a week here, the refrain rang true in our minds and our hearts.
So, we were off to complete the rest of the tasks left for Mission #27.
Continue reading "Monday, February 25, 2008" »
By Bonnie Black
Our day on “our own!” So to speak – we had no work assignments today, except for taking care of our own kitchen and bathroom needs and there was no morning meeting as 37 of us headed to Mombacho Cloudforest at 6:15am this morning in order to get there in time for our 8:30am reservation. The other 9 headed into Managua for the historic city tour. Both groups had lunch out and then met at the Roberto Huembes Market – Yami, Sr. Debbie and Sr. Steph had meetings to attend with Mauricio.
Continue reading "Sunday, February 24, 2008" »
By Bonnie Black
This mission has been blessed with constant electricity – something that the last few mission did not have as a luxury. And luxury, it is. A commodity about which we don’t think, even wasting it at home leaving lights on in rooms or hallways that no one is walking through or having our thermostat at more than 70 degrees at this time of year. Once you live for an extended period of time without electricty – or water – the value of what most of us take for granted increases. So why do we have electricity this time? An agreement was reached in January between the government and Exxon-Mobil which will allow the importation of 10 million barrels of oil a year from Venezuela under preferential payment conditions. Under the terms of the agreement, Exxon-Mobil has agreed to sell a number of oil storage tanks in the port of Corinto to the Nicaraguan state oil company PETRONIC and to buy, process and distribute the oil from PETRONIC (which imports the oil from Venezuela).
Continue reading "Saturday, February 23, 2008" »
By Bonnie Black
This morning we woke up to our breakfast served by Sister Stephanie, Lynn Grovine, Mary Garcia and Sarah Deeb. We had in front of us the most ambitious home building day on this mission’s schedule – 4 homes including the all-women’s crew site. So, first thing after the morning meeting, Oscar Flores and Jim Dumont took out Eliza Zalis, Alex Munn and Bill Murray to build the Sunrise Rotary Club’s shelter. By 10am, the all-women crew of Eliza Zalis, Emily Palmer, Bethany Trombley, Morgan Boatwright, Renee Bean and Libby Yokum jumped on the truck and headed out to build a home for a single mother with two children under 2 years of age.
Continue reading "Friday, February 22, 2008" »
By Bonnie Black
Another bright, sunny day here in tropical Nicaragua! Sorry, just though you might want to know that none of us are missing a white landscape -yet!
A lot of interesting things unfolded today as we are now through our complete second day on the ground. What has set in is a wonderful tone and work ethic among everyone here and all have a sense of being here for a while already. The people of Nicaragua are so welcoming and appreciative of what we do…there is great satisfaction for each of us with a dose of humility.
Continue reading "Thursday, February 21, 2008" »
By Bonnie Black
This morning, one of the newest posters Sister Debbie brought with her was "How to Build Global Community" which is hanging outside of the oficina. The first three actions listed are:
· Think of no one as "them"
· Don't confuse your comfort with your safety
· Talk to strangers
The last three are:
· Think South, Central and North - there are many Americans
· Assume that many others share your dreams
· Know that no one is silent though many are not heard - work to change this.
After our first complete day here in Chiquilistagua, these rang very true for most of us.
Continue reading "Wednesday, February 20, 2008 (2nd edition)" »
By Bonnie Black
Everyone in the large group departed Seton around 3:30am with "You Raise Me Up" as their musical sendoff. Waiting at the Trudeau Airport was peppered with yawns yet no one could really shut their eyes in anticipation of what was to unfold. This is an interesting Mission as only 15 of the 49 have been here before. Sister noted that she was deeply grateful and touched by the flexibility in the airport, especially how well everyone did once they landed in Managua with 82 of the 92 boxes "missing" for a while. One of the AirTransat stewardesses told Sister that this was one of the outstanding group of young people that fly their skies.
Continue reading "Wednesday, February 20, 2008" »
By Bonnie Black
A Team has had their work cut out for them! Roger Patnode, Joy Cayea, Bill Calmbacher, Jimmy Dumont and Bonnie Black have been on the ground in Nicaragua since Friday afternoon getting Nicasa set up for the others who are to arrive later this afternoon.
All materials for the home shelter projects have been arriving over the past 2 days, so we are ready to build the 10 dwellings beginning on Wednesday morning. About 1200 pounds of rice and beans for distribution are sitting in the kitchen waiting to be packed and given away among the hungry of this area over the next week.
Continue reading "Tuesday, February 19, 2008" »
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- Wednesday, February 27, 2008
- Tuesday, February 26, 2008
- Monday, February 25, 2008
- Sunday, February 24, 2008
- Saturday, February 23, 2008
- Friday, February 22, 2008
- Thursday, February 21, 2008
- Wednesday, February 20, 2008 (2nd edition)
- Wednesday, February 20, 2008
- Tuesday, February 19, 2008
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