After almost two weeks in Nicaragua, I have finally returned. My time in Nicaragua was one of eye-opening and learning experiences. The first two or so days were spent in the capital of Nicaragua, Managua. We visited sites that are important to the history of Nicaragua and influential in Nicaragua today. We went to a national park/memorial of Sandino. He had an influential position in the political spectrum and still is important today. After, we went to the heart of Managua where there were hundreds of families living in a shantytown in protest of the banana plantations. They have been living under sticks and tarps for almost three years. They are protesting against companies such as Dole and Chiquita because of the use of harmful chemicals used on the bananas which gives the workers skin cancer, kidney diseases, and other forms of cancer. From the companies, they are asking for compensation for the trouble they have had to endure, and medical attention. It was amazing to see the conditions these people were willing to live in so that their voices might be heard.
We also had the chance to hear from an amazing woman of Nicaragua who also protested against the government. Dora Maria Tellez led a hunger strike when she was just 20 years old. She led this strike against the government because the people weren’t being heard or listened to. I found it so interesting that woman at such a young age could lead such a empowering strike against the government. Because of her strike, she now leads her own political party, which focuses on helping the poor and oppressed.
In Nicaragua, it is obvious the influence the government (or lack thereof) has had and continues to have in the lives of its people. The church of Santa Maria de Los Angeles has beautiful murals along the walls of the inside of the church, but they are forced to keep them covered up because of the controversy they hold. The murals are depictions of times when the Nicaraguan people have seen God work in their lives through oppression. Many people don’t approve of them because in many of the scenes of the murals, the National Guard is seen as a horrible monster that kills the citizens. It is sad to see that the people can’t express themselves or have the freedom of decorating the church as they see fit.
For six days, I lived with a Nicaraguan family in a town called El Eden, like the Garden of Eden. To get to the tow, we had to take two buses and a moto-taxi down a dirt road. My Nicaraguan family is a little complicated and confusing. Everyone seems to be related but I’m not exactly sure how. I’ll try my best to break it down. My mom was Julia, and she was the mom to Rachael and Annie’s moms (two other students). My sister, Carolina had a daughter Esther. My nephew (?), Elvis, was 22 years old. We all (excluding Elvis because he gave up his bed to me for the week and slept elsewhere) slept in one room where the beds were separated by sheets.
Throughout the week, we just lived life with our families. We helped out the church by building a fence, and we played with the kids. We went on a couple hikes ate the freshest pineapple ever and drank straight out of a coconut. I chewed on some cacao seeds and drank lecheagrila. I also had the most amazing shower of my life. After playing soccer with the kids for a couple hours, I was so hot and dirty. The shower was outside with walls made up of thin metal sheets. The water wasn’t even lukewarm and I was a head taller than the walls, but the shower was so wonderful. There is nothing like showering outside.
Nicaragua is such a beautiful lush country. Unfortunately, it is lead by an unstable government, but its people are so content with what they have. It isn’t about who has the biggest house or best job. The people just live life off the land, which I imagine is more like what God had intended for his people, like in the real Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve.
