Today was a work day! We woke up early and headed to the El Alfarero Baptist School in San Juan de Oriente that was about an hour away. This is the school that we focused on for our Co-impact construction project!
We are so thankful for the generous donations from our community back home because without this we couldn’t have supported this school.
The funds raised is providing a new metal roof for part of the school. The Nicaraguan work team removed the old steel panels today and prepped it for the new roof. As a team, we brought all kinds of paint brushes and rollers to use this week and Peter from EduDeo purchased 12 massive pails of paint, trays, plastic, and all the buckets needed to paint.
When we arrived we were greeted by the principal, pastor and students. The church pastor welcomed us then led us in prayer and Bible reading that Nilda translated for us. Then, the grade two class sang a song in Spanish for us. After that, we went outside and ten students in traditional outfits presented us with a traditional Nicaraguan dance.
Then we got to work! Our job was to paint all of the classrooms and the outside walls of the school building. Even though it was hot the team worked so well with praise & worship music 🎶 for inspiration! We were able to paint so many sections of the school.
After a long day of painting we headed to the Apoyo lagoon in Catarina where we could see the Mombacho volcano in the distance while shopping in a market to buy any last souvenirs. The lookout gave us the perfect view of the largest volcanic caldera crater in Nicaragua that has been named the Apoyo lagoon.
When we came back to the Nehemiah Centre, some of us played volleyball while others rested, relaxed, or played games together. We enjoyed dinner with everyone on our team as well as our construction leaders Peter & Trudy and the Holtrop’s Hudson’s cousins. After dinner Steve Holtrop shared the history of Nicaragua which helped us understand the beautiful country we are in.
After dinner some of us played basketball while others chatted together in the beautiful open area at the centre. The temperature at 28 degrees feels like 33 degrees tonight! Then Meghan taught us how to line dance which was so much fun!
By 10 pm we could sing happy birthday to Meghan because it’s midnight 🕛 in Ontario.
Our trip planning started almost one year ago and to see where the money we have raised helping this school community was remarkable today! We are looking forward to another work day at this school tomorrow!
On behalf of our entire team, Emma & Mrs. VanderVelde
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