LISA LANDIS- It’s been two weeks since my return home from an amazing trip with Friends In Action International (FIA) to Nicaragua. FIA is located in Middletown, PA. FIA is a team of people with diverse gifts and abilities who serve indigenous people groups and missionaries in remote parts of the world with humanitarian aid & relief projects while establishing the church.
Here is an example of how FIA is working in a remote part of the world. This video features several highlights from my visit to the small island Rama Cay, a half-hour boat ride from Bluefields, Nicaragua, on the Caribbean coastline. Approximately 883 people live on this tiny isalnd, which is the size of two city blocks. The island is overcrowded and FIA is helping to establish a village on the nearby mainland so there will be an environmentally stable and self-supporting community as the community continues to grow.
FIA is looking for people to come along side them as volunteers, work teams, and financial supporters so they can continue to bring the hope of Jesus Christ to the Rama people. Visit FIAintl.org for information on how you can help.
LISA LANDIS- Jars of Clay is currently on The Shelter Tour stopping off at Grace Fellowship Church in Shrewsbury, PA, Saturday night for a SOLD OUT Show. The Shelter Tour features Jars of Clay, Matt Maher, Derek Webb, and Audrey Assad. They play Eastern University Sunday, April 17th in St. Davids, PA. Click here for ticket information.
We catch up with Matt Odmark of Jars of Clay 9:30 today at The 9 o’clock Coffee Break.
Enjoy this FUN Beatles cover that Jars of Clay made with Mercy Me, Matt Maher, Thousand Foot Krutch, The Afters & Lecrae on their last tour.
LISA LANDIS-I’m slowly easing back into the work week after an exciting time with Friends in Action Intl. reporting live from their work projects in Nicaragua.
We had some free time in Bluefields before we flew to Managua on Saturday. Here are a few of the pictures from our time in Bluefields. These are some of the places the Bluefields work teams get to experience, including trips to the market, the boat docks, & the town:
And here are some of the sites from our visit Sunday to Masaya, Nicaragua including “the lookout” over Lake Masaya:
Listeners can join Friends in Action work teams going to Nicaragua to build homes in May and June. Those interested can get more information or an application by calling the office at (717) 546-0208 or emailing FIA-USA@FIAintl.org.
LISA LANDIS- After our visit to the Rama Island we got back in the boat and traveled not far across the bay to the Rama Mainland. This is where FIA is working to build a village for the Rama people. A man named William is letting Friends in Action use some of his land to construct houses, teach the people agriculture, and generate wind power. This is where Karlita Bravo and her little brother and mom and dad live. They are the national missionaries with Central American missions who are partnering with the work of Friends in Action.
Here are some pictures from our Friday visit. The couple pictured is William and his cousin, the boats are their fishing boats and the cabin is one of the new cabins FIA is building to house works teams. The other house is the Bravo house and the base where Tim and other workers stay. I had a sweet siesta on their hammock. Nothing like being lulled to sleep by the sounds of the jungle. The church is also pictured below. The shot across the water is looking at the Rama Island from the Mainland.
As you see we left to go back to Bluefields as the sun was going down. Next I will post videos of our Friday visit. I hope to post those as we wait in the airport Monday.
LISA LANDIS-Greetings from Bluefields, Nicaragua. Yesterday morning we left the hotel and walked to a house along the water where the family owns many boats and rents them to groups like Friends in Action. Here are pictures of our journey waiting for the boat, traveling across the Bay in the boat, followed by a visit to the Rama village which is the size of just two city blocks. In a future blog I will post pictures of our journey across the water to the mainland where Friends in Action is building houses, construction cabins for work teams, experimenting with wind power, and much more to creative a sustainable village. Here are some of the sights that we witnessed yesterday of the Rama village. There is a great need here and FIA is doing amazing things to bring hope to the future of the Rama people of Nicaragua.
I have many more pictures to share, but that’s all the time I have for now. We are getting ready to leave the hotel today (Saturday). Our flight to Managua leaves at 4pm.
Here are some pictures from Thursday when we traveled with Friends in Action Intl. from Puerto Cabezas down to Managua then over to Bluefields.
The Hotel sign is where we are staying and the street scene is the street outside our hotel.
Yesterday (Friday) we traveled by boat to the Rama village and then the mainland where FIA is building them a village. I will post another blogs with those pictures.
LISA LANDIS-Here is a look at the Friends In Action Intl. crew building a house in the village of Boom Sirpi, Nicaragua. FIA supplies the materials, while the people receiving the house supply the labor and work teams from the states visit too! Find out you can be a part of an FIA work team at FIAintl.org.
When I saw this boy I thought, “he could be someone’s sponsored child”. A typical chore for little boys-pumping water at the well then carrying the water home.
Greetings again from Puerto Cabezas. Early Wednesday Pablo drove us to the village of Boom Sirpi-home to the Miskito people. It took about 30 minutes thanks to the newly grated road. Friends in Action is working in Boom Sirpi to help the people rebuild after Hurricane Felix, which hit the Mosquito Coast in 2007. FIA is supplying materials & a block press to help the people build sturdy homes to withstand any storms which might the coast in the future. Here are some pictures from our visit to the village. I hope the pictures will give you a better idea of how the people live as well as their beautiful spirit.
So these are just a few pictures from the village. The last picture is my breakfast-this is for you Radio Friend Phil-and that picture before that was the view from the balcony as I Skyped last night with Radio Friend Phil. The country cries out to be photographed with its bright, vibrant primary colors, endless sunshine and fabulous cloud formations!
Whenever I visit a third world country I get an overwhelming sense of urgency. I say to myself, I need to help, but what can I do as one person? This is an opportunity to come alongside a Christian organization that is working to be Jesus to the people in their great time of need. And what a joy these people are. A beautiful spirit, with so little, yet so much joy and the believers have such a great passion for God. That is something I hope to never forget. FIA can really use your help to compete these projects.
Just visit them here for more information. FIAintl.org
Greetings from Puerto Cabezas! I am staying at the Hotel Monter-upstairs from a grocery store and across the street from the baseball stadium. The town is made of up English, Spanish, Miskito and Sumo speaking people. The majority of the people from the city are Spanish speaking; however, almost all people from the province speak the Miskito language.
This town is popular for its Miskito Market and seafood restaurants which serve up fresh daily catches to customers. The Miskito Market is one of the best places to go for fresh vegetables. Tim is taking us there in the morning.
Today I had the chance to walk through the village of Boom Sirpi where Friends in Action International is helping the Miskito rebuild after Hurricane Felix. Here are a few pictures from our visit. Tomorrow I will spend 4-5 hours there interviewing the people, shooting video and pictures and calling in live reports to WJTL.
One of my favorite snapshots from the day was watching a young village boy pump water from the well and then carry the water back to his family. I thought, “this boy could be someone’s sponsored child!”. I will upload the video to WJTL.COM as soon as I get a faster connection so you can experience it too!
It’s been a long day with a slow internet connection! I will talk to you in the morning.
