Marvin Knoot's Report from Nicaragua: Fourth in the Series
August 19, Esteli, Nicaragua – Alvin (15-year old nephew of Greg’s native Nicaraguan partner, Raphael) accompanies us on an early afternoon visit to a family-operated coffee business, about 3 blocks down a side street that is definitely the “Road Less Traveled”. The patriarch is Abraham, a name he shares with his son who seems to actually be supervising the work of 20 men, women and children as they sort, weigh and bag roasted coffee beans and ground coffee. The elder Abraham shows us young coffee plants, ripe fruit, green berries and old, less-than-productive coffee trees. We learn about growing and roasting, then Greg and I purchase ground coffee for $1 per pound and beans in burlap bags for $2 per pound respectively. Alvin is quick to volunteer to carry the eleven pound bar. Truly an “El Ayudante” (the helper).
Abraham and his wife, long-time proprietors of Café CentroAmerica
Greg, Abraham and Marvin visit a family-operated coffee
As we walk back home, we stop at Alvin’s home. The living area has concrete walls and floor, a metal roof, a table that serves as a fresh fruit market, a hammock, four plastic chairs, a large empty table and a small table holding a 13” color TV. The 12’ high walls bear pictures and Bible verses. Alvin lives with his grandmother, Rosario, his cousin, Nidia, who teaches at the Catholic school, and another 16-year-old cousin and her 4-week-old baby boy. Nidia brings us Coca-Colas while Greg listens attentively to the teacher and her grandmother for well over an hour. Between the occasional banana customer and the thunder of rain on the tin roof, we agree that Rosario and Alvin will meet us at the hospital at 5 to distribute the bars of soap and toilet paper Greg purchased earlier today (these items are not provided in the free health care system), along with cookies, stuffed animals, Gospel of Matthew tracts and Bibles.
Visiting is permitted only from 5 to 6, and Rosario is determined to make the most of it. Alvin and I briefly lose track of Greg and Rosario in the rushing crowd of people when the gate is opened for visiting. When we catch up, Rosario marches into the pediatric critical care ward where a four-year-old girl lies in the first bed, her hand held by her daddy. Next to her is a two or three-year-old with her mother and grandmother. On her left a young mother and father are bent over their young child. Rosario announces that we are here in the name of Jesus Christ, that she herself was healed of her cancer by the power and grace of God, and that we are going to pray if that is OK with everyone. The adults stand as she leads us in prayer, then the goods are distributed including the plush bluebird, kangaroo and pure white lamb. That little lamb causes me to think about the symbolism of the lamb throughout God’s word.
Can you read in Spanish? See if you can translate the department names at this hospital in Greg and Vickie’s Nicaraguan city of Esteli!
As we walk to another children’s ward and two men’s wards, Alvin and I talk more about his plans to become a doctor while Rosario places a tract or a Bible in the hands of everyone she passes. Each person responds, “gracias,” and the remaining 5 tracts and one last Bible go to the guards at the gate and the food vendor just outside that gate. Alvin and I “bang & explode” fists, the true greeting of “Los Ayudantes Excelente”, and we board separate buses as we exchange blessings, then waves.
Back at headquarters, Rafael, Greg and Vickie volley a vigorous discussion about how the attorney they paid has not come through with the not-for-profit organization license, and how best to proceed. Greg and I go to dinner, then he walks me to the hotel before catching a cab for home. Tomorrow is water project day. Our travels begin at 6 a.m.