Experiences and Stories
Below are updates from volunteers spending time in rural communities:
December 25, 2015 Update
All:
Hope this finds you all safely enjoying your Christmas weekend. Orlando sent us a short video of the snow you received. Believe it or not I miss such a beautiful snow. Now wind and ice, not so much.
While in many ways this is a very different Christmas for me, but Christmas in Nicaragua is also very similar to Shelby County. Many of the young people leave Villa Sandino looking for work, and so the town has filled up with these returning children to celebrate Christmas with their families. Padre is doing his best to make us feel at home during the Christmas season. So a couple stories for you.
Yesterday, Christmas Eve, there was 5:00 am mass, and then Padre took us out to visit a family in the local mountains. This same family is selling him a few acres of land so we got to see his land as well. It was fairly close to Villa Sandino, but on these roads a 10 minute drive turns into a 25 minute drive. It was an hour muddy hike up the mountain, and we walked through some fairly dense jungle on the way. We enjoyed a great visit with the young family living there. We were also joined by the woman and her 2 children who own the land. We carried our chicken lunch (live) with us and they offered me the opportunity to kill our lunch but I passed. Charlotte did get to help pluck it though. They fed us twice while we there, 1st just rice and beans, and then an hour or so later with rather tough chicken and vegetables. They rounded up some horses for the trip down the mountain. I think this old man slowed them down too much.
By time we got back to town it was time to go out for dinner with a local family. They were a little more affluent, and so the meal included both chicken and pork. Then off to 10:00 pm mass, and then a party for the young adult ministry group. This was quite an adventure because the party was held on the flat roof of the new part of the church still under construction. In the dark we had to climb a construction ladder, a good 2 stories high. These kids climbed it like they were steps, but for the old guy it was a bit intimidating. A few fireworks, food, and maybe 1 beer, the day finally came to an end at 1:00 in the morning. (I stopped counting after the 5th meal.)
Today it was Mass at 10:00 this morning. After mass Padre did 30 baptisms. The church was still full of people, and Padre walked up and down the isle doing each part of the baptism with each child until they were all done. This afternoon may be quiet, as most people are resting after a long day.
Tomorrow Charlotte heads to Guatemala for week with Leo Gaul to visit their sponsored children. We also have a Notre Dame college student (who I met at the Denver Catholic Worker), Sarah, joining us for 2 weeks. With English classes starting Monday, I will be happy to see her.
I attached a few photos for your entertainment pleasure.
Have a safe and Merry Christmas,
Tim
December 25, 2015 Update
All:
Hope this finds you all safely enjoying your Christmas weekend. Orlando sent us a short video of the snow you received. Believe it or not I miss such a beautiful snow. Now wind and ice, not so much.
While in many ways this is a very different Christmas for me, but Christmas in Nicaragua is also very similar to Shelby County. Many of the young people leave Villa Sandino looking for work, and so the town has filled up with these returning children to celebrate Christmas with their families. Padre is doing his best to make us feel at home during the Christmas season. So a couple stories for you.
Yesterday, Christmas Eve, there was 5:00 am mass, and then Padre took us out to visit a family in the local mountains. This same family is selling him a few acres of land so we got to see his land as well. It was fairly close to Villa Sandino, but on these roads a 10 minute drive turns into a 25 minute drive. It was an hour muddy hike up the mountain, and we walked through some fairly dense jungle on the way. We enjoyed a great visit with the young family living there. We were also joined by the woman and her 2 children who own the land. We carried our chicken lunch (live) with us and they offered me the opportunity to kill our lunch but I passed. Charlotte did get to help pluck it though. They fed us twice while we there, 1st just rice and beans, and then an hour or so later with rather tough chicken and vegetables. They rounded up some horses for the trip down the mountain. I think this old man slowed them down too much.
By time we got back to town it was time to go out for dinner with a local family. They were a little more affluent, and so the meal included both chicken and pork. Then off to 10:00 pm mass, and then a party for the young adult ministry group. This was quite an adventure because the party was held on the flat roof of the new part of the church still under construction. In the dark we had to climb a construction ladder, a good 2 stories high. These kids climbed it like they were steps, but for the old guy it was a bit intimidating. A few fireworks, food, and maybe 1 beer, the day finally came to an end at 1:00 in the morning. (I stopped counting after the 5th meal.)
Today it was Mass at 10:00 this morning. After mass Padre did 30 baptisms. The church was still full of people, and Padre walked up and down the isle doing each part of the baptism with each child until they were all done. This afternoon may be quiet, as most people are resting after a long day.
Tomorrow Charlotte heads to Guatemala for week with Leo Gaul to visit their sponsored children. We also have a Notre Dame college student (who I met at the Denver Catholic Worker), Sarah, joining us for 2 weeks. With English classes starting Monday, I will be happy to see her.
I attached a few photos for your entertainment pleasure.
Have a safe and Merry Christmas,
Tim
December 23 Update from Charlotte Willenborg
Hi all,
Hope you all are doing well. Things are good in Nicaragua.
As you might remember, we are making plans to do our next solar panel installations the last week in January while people from Shelby County are still in Villa Sandino.
We have been meeting with Alvaro, who is the director of EOS, the non profit who does the installations for us. They are able to do the installations the last week of January. We don't know yet whether the people in the communities will have their share of the money available that quickly. We hope to have meetings with Alvaro and the communities before the end of the year. Those meetings will tell us if we can actually get the installations done soon'
We have been in touch with our English class teachers and will soon meet with them to work out the final details for the classes.
Charlotte
Hi all,
Hope you all are doing well. Things are good in Nicaragua.
As you might remember, we are making plans to do our next solar panel installations the last week in January while people from Shelby County are still in Villa Sandino.
We have been meeting with Alvaro, who is the director of EOS, the non profit who does the installations for us. They are able to do the installations the last week of January. We don't know yet whether the people in the communities will have their share of the money available that quickly. We hope to have meetings with Alvaro and the communities before the end of the year. Those meetings will tell us if we can actually get the installations done soon'
We have been in touch with our English class teachers and will soon meet with them to work out the final details for the classes.
Charlotte
The following stories were written by Tim Sullivan when he stayed in Villa Sandino for a couple months in early 2015.
Update January, 2015
A Day in the Life of Juan, Yaneth, and Marturis
Roosters really don’t know what time it is, but Congos (local slow moving monkeys) on the other hand, keep very accurate time. It had to be 3:00 am when the farm rooster first crowed, and even it sounded sleepy. The Congos started their low, rumbling song at 5:00 am sharp. The Congo’s singing and the dim appearance of first light was the signal to Juan it was time to roll out of bed and get ready to milk cows on this little farm in Riito, Chontales Nicaragua. Janeth and their 10 year old daughter, Marturis would soon follow.
Both 34 year old Juan and his 28 year old wife, Janeth grew up on small farms in Chontales. Juan is an easy to like, soft spoken guy. Janeth is also a quiet person, but with a fire in her eyes that suggests she is not always quiet. Add in their daughter and you will find a friendly, generous, hardworking family that enjoys laughing together.
This is cattle and dairy country. Hundreds of small homesteads dot the country side. Many are an hour walk to the nearest road, 3 or more hours walk to the nearest town, and a 60 kilometer drive to the nearest hospital. A few families own their land and cattle but most work for a large land owner. The average wage for guys like Juan is $4.00 a day, a house to live in, space to have a garden or harvest what grows wild, and maybe have a few pigs of your own. Juan and Yaneth’s house has rough wood walls, a tin roof, dirt floors, no electricity, and no indoor plumbing. Water is gravity-fed from a concrete enclosed spring about half a kilometer up the hill in the forest. The water feeds into a concrete bunker located at the milking yard where cows drink and the family uses for drinking, bathing, and cooking. They do have a pvc pipe that runs water to the kitchen and water is stored in pails for cooking and washing dishes. In spite of dirt floors and difficult water access, Janeth keeps the house amazingly clean.
On this day, Juan’s helper, Julian has the cattle in the milking pen by 5:30 am. Juan and Julian strap on a 1 legged stool to their backside to sit on as they hand milk about 20 cows. Milking is a learned skill as any visitor who attempts it will soon discover. The calves continue to nurse the cows on these small farms and Marturis allows one calf to enter the milking pen at a time. Juan lets the calf nurse for a couple minutes and then ties it to the mother’s leg as he gets his share of the milk, which this time of year is less than a gallon per cow. During the rainy season when grass is tall and plentiful, milk production will double. After Juan finishes, he unties the calf so he can finish nursing. The milk gets transferred to 2 stainless steel containers which are strapped on a horse for the 2 kilometer trip to the dairy truck stop.
Juan and Janeth did not know each as kids but their dad’s had some business together and the rest is history. They have lived on several small farms before their current home. It is located in a small sheltered valley, surrounded by open pasture and dense rain forest. The forest brings them beautiful visitors. In addition to the Congos, another monkey called Mono passes through occasionally. This morning brought a sloth and in the evening a brightly colored toucan perched nearby.
When milking was completed, Janeth who had already swept and watered down her dirt floors, had breakfast ready. Their diet was simple with rice, beans, and corn tortillas at every meal. Fruit and vegetables harvested on their farm along with eggs from their flock of chickens are a part of many meals. Meat is a luxury they enjoy maybe 4 times a month. It is always chicken because the hogs are to be sold and they do not own any cows. There is no alcohol, candy, or any junk food in their home.
The next chore today was to spray an insecticide on the cows. Each one was lassoed and held while it was sprayed and given a shot. Today was a little more entertaining than normal because the same rookie who tried to milk a cow now tried to lasso one. Everyone got several good laughs out of that. Marturis spent the morning helping her dad outside maybe because she finally had someone she could out milk, ride, lasso, and laugh the whole time.
Janeth was equally busy around the house where she hand makes corn tortillas and cuajada, a mozzarella like cheese curd. Made from their cow’s milk, cuajada is an everyday task. Cooking for the family is an all-day event with a pot of beans on their wood-fire stove most times. There are no days off in the dairy business.
After lunch Juan and his guest saddle a couple horses and head across the pasture to visit a neighbor. On the way Juan spots a cow down and goes to investigate. It had given birth to a calf in the last day or so and the calf was nowhere to be seen. A search ensued which covered both pasture and dense forest. It was hilly country, but after an hour and a half Juan’s persistence paid off and the calf plus another new mama and her calf were found. All returned safe and sound to the farm yard. Tomorrow they would have 2 more cows to milk. The neighbor visit would have to wait for another day.
As I am sure you know, I was their guest, not only that day but for several more. Juan and Janeth bent over backwards to make me feel welcome. Their one plastic chair was always available for me, I was always served first, and Marturis slept with her parents so I would have a bed. They were warm and friendly. I enjoy bird watching and had brought binoculars hoping to add a few new birds to my list. It became Juan and Marturis’s goal to help me see every bird this beautiful place had to offer. Every free moment was spent looking for birds or other wildlife, and they seemed to take great pride in pointing out the natural wonders of their home.
In the evenings after the work was done, we played cards, shared the photos we had on our phones, and even did an English lesson or two. All of this provided great fun and laughter especially when you throw my comical Spanish into the mix. Around 5:30 it gets dark and when dinner is served around 6, it is by flashlight. Tonight’s meal included chicken which I am sure would not have been on the menu if they did not have a guest.
Juan and Janeth had a great interest in my life and all things to do with the USA. A lot of their questions were about jobs, pay, and quality of life issues. Since I had spent several months living in a shelter for undocumented immigrants I could share with them the realities of the dangerous journey and the difficulties once an undocumented person arrives in the USA. They also had a lot of questions about farming and milking cows in Shelby County. I think some of my answers were difficult to believe. We talked late into the evening in my broken Spanish about why I was in Riito and what parish twinning is all about. Occasionally, because of my poor language skills we did not reach a satisfactory conclusion on a topic, but I think we did fairly well, all things considered.
After 3 days together it feels like we are old friends. Damn, it’s 8:00 already; time for bed. - Tim
Update January, 2015
A Day in the Life of Juan, Yaneth, and Marturis
Roosters really don’t know what time it is, but Congos (local slow moving monkeys) on the other hand, keep very accurate time. It had to be 3:00 am when the farm rooster first crowed, and even it sounded sleepy. The Congos started their low, rumbling song at 5:00 am sharp. The Congo’s singing and the dim appearance of first light was the signal to Juan it was time to roll out of bed and get ready to milk cows on this little farm in Riito, Chontales Nicaragua. Janeth and their 10 year old daughter, Marturis would soon follow.
Both 34 year old Juan and his 28 year old wife, Janeth grew up on small farms in Chontales. Juan is an easy to like, soft spoken guy. Janeth is also a quiet person, but with a fire in her eyes that suggests she is not always quiet. Add in their daughter and you will find a friendly, generous, hardworking family that enjoys laughing together.
This is cattle and dairy country. Hundreds of small homesteads dot the country side. Many are an hour walk to the nearest road, 3 or more hours walk to the nearest town, and a 60 kilometer drive to the nearest hospital. A few families own their land and cattle but most work for a large land owner. The average wage for guys like Juan is $4.00 a day, a house to live in, space to have a garden or harvest what grows wild, and maybe have a few pigs of your own. Juan and Yaneth’s house has rough wood walls, a tin roof, dirt floors, no electricity, and no indoor plumbing. Water is gravity-fed from a concrete enclosed spring about half a kilometer up the hill in the forest. The water feeds into a concrete bunker located at the milking yard where cows drink and the family uses for drinking, bathing, and cooking. They do have a pvc pipe that runs water to the kitchen and water is stored in pails for cooking and washing dishes. In spite of dirt floors and difficult water access, Janeth keeps the house amazingly clean.
On this day, Juan’s helper, Julian has the cattle in the milking pen by 5:30 am. Juan and Julian strap on a 1 legged stool to their backside to sit on as they hand milk about 20 cows. Milking is a learned skill as any visitor who attempts it will soon discover. The calves continue to nurse the cows on these small farms and Marturis allows one calf to enter the milking pen at a time. Juan lets the calf nurse for a couple minutes and then ties it to the mother’s leg as he gets his share of the milk, which this time of year is less than a gallon per cow. During the rainy season when grass is tall and plentiful, milk production will double. After Juan finishes, he unties the calf so he can finish nursing. The milk gets transferred to 2 stainless steel containers which are strapped on a horse for the 2 kilometer trip to the dairy truck stop.
Juan and Janeth did not know each as kids but their dad’s had some business together and the rest is history. They have lived on several small farms before their current home. It is located in a small sheltered valley, surrounded by open pasture and dense rain forest. The forest brings them beautiful visitors. In addition to the Congos, another monkey called Mono passes through occasionally. This morning brought a sloth and in the evening a brightly colored toucan perched nearby.
When milking was completed, Janeth who had already swept and watered down her dirt floors, had breakfast ready. Their diet was simple with rice, beans, and corn tortillas at every meal. Fruit and vegetables harvested on their farm along with eggs from their flock of chickens are a part of many meals. Meat is a luxury they enjoy maybe 4 times a month. It is always chicken because the hogs are to be sold and they do not own any cows. There is no alcohol, candy, or any junk food in their home.
The next chore today was to spray an insecticide on the cows. Each one was lassoed and held while it was sprayed and given a shot. Today was a little more entertaining than normal because the same rookie who tried to milk a cow now tried to lasso one. Everyone got several good laughs out of that. Marturis spent the morning helping her dad outside maybe because she finally had someone she could out milk, ride, lasso, and laugh the whole time.
Janeth was equally busy around the house where she hand makes corn tortillas and cuajada, a mozzarella like cheese curd. Made from their cow’s milk, cuajada is an everyday task. Cooking for the family is an all-day event with a pot of beans on their wood-fire stove most times. There are no days off in the dairy business.
After lunch Juan and his guest saddle a couple horses and head across the pasture to visit a neighbor. On the way Juan spots a cow down and goes to investigate. It had given birth to a calf in the last day or so and the calf was nowhere to be seen. A search ensued which covered both pasture and dense forest. It was hilly country, but after an hour and a half Juan’s persistence paid off and the calf plus another new mama and her calf were found. All returned safe and sound to the farm yard. Tomorrow they would have 2 more cows to milk. The neighbor visit would have to wait for another day.
As I am sure you know, I was their guest, not only that day but for several more. Juan and Janeth bent over backwards to make me feel welcome. Their one plastic chair was always available for me, I was always served first, and Marturis slept with her parents so I would have a bed. They were warm and friendly. I enjoy bird watching and had brought binoculars hoping to add a few new birds to my list. It became Juan and Marturis’s goal to help me see every bird this beautiful place had to offer. Every free moment was spent looking for birds or other wildlife, and they seemed to take great pride in pointing out the natural wonders of their home.
In the evenings after the work was done, we played cards, shared the photos we had on our phones, and even did an English lesson or two. All of this provided great fun and laughter especially when you throw my comical Spanish into the mix. Around 5:30 it gets dark and when dinner is served around 6, it is by flashlight. Tonight’s meal included chicken which I am sure would not have been on the menu if they did not have a guest.
Juan and Janeth had a great interest in my life and all things to do with the USA. A lot of their questions were about jobs, pay, and quality of life issues. Since I had spent several months living in a shelter for undocumented immigrants I could share with them the realities of the dangerous journey and the difficulties once an undocumented person arrives in the USA. They also had a lot of questions about farming and milking cows in Shelby County. I think some of my answers were difficult to believe. We talked late into the evening in my broken Spanish about why I was in Riito and what parish twinning is all about. Occasionally, because of my poor language skills we did not reach a satisfactory conclusion on a topic, but I think we did fairly well, all things considered.
After 3 days together it feels like we are old friends. Damn, it’s 8:00 already; time for bed. - Tim
