Today; Becky, Chris, myself and several others from Mision Para Cristo went to visit the rural community of Las Chiquitas. It's about a 20 minute off-road drive from Jinotega over the mountains. There are approximately 750 people living there and it is one of the poorest towns I've have seen here so far.
The road (dirt trail) to Las Chiquitas is pretty good at first but towards the end it gets really, really bad! The rainy season has started here in Nicaragua which makes good roads bad and bad roads impassable even with four wheel drive. We were able to get there and back today with our front hubs locked and four wheel low but I'm afraid that sometime in the next few weeks the folks out there may find themselves cut off from vehicular traffic.
The people there are really friendly and very eager to work together with us to better the living conditions there in Las Chiquitas. They are living on rice and beans everyday and occasionally some chicken or rabbits that they are able to catch. Their wells are drying up making access to water one of the biggest needs there right now.
There are some aid items that we can help them with immediately like vitamin soup mixes, clothing, parasite medicines for children and adults and other medical supplies. Ultimately however, we want to help introduce things to their community like rabbit and goat breeding, composting, raised bed and table gardens and rocket stoves. There is a time for immediate aid but continuing to give in that manner creates dependency and is not a viable long-term solution to many situations such as this.
The folks there are also very excited to have Bible classes with us and we should be able to bring them some Bibles the next time we visit there. The opportunity to share God's love in Christ Jesus with these people through helping them with physical and spiritual needs is exactly why we all came here in the first place and we are grateful to God to have this chance.
Please pray for all the people living in Las Chiquitas and also for us as we try to work together to make their community a better, safer, healthier place to live.
To God be the glory!
Tommy
Tommy, that trip to Las Chiquitas sounds wonderful. Their openness to your help and to the Gospel is such an affirmation of your work, I'm sure. Praying for continued kingdom building there.
ReplyDeleteTim
Thanks Tim!
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