This trip has been amazing so far! Over the past 2 days, we have been working on the front entrance at JHC. Before we started, the entrance was very bumpy and had many holes. All of the work trucks that come in and out of here had a difficult time driving through the entrance because the bottom of the trucks would hit the ground. After much tedious labor, the entrance is pretty smooth (like butter!) – let me tell you, we are SUPER proud of that entrance! There is still plenty of work to be done, though! We are now in the process of making the bricks that will be used for the entrance. This process is pretty stressful, but we get it done because we’re all about some teamwork! Plus we have Jordan, who just happens to be a BEAST at brickmaking!! 
Yesterday, we have had the opportunity to talk with members of the co-op here. They told us their stories and about the situation with Coker. (For those of you don’t know, 2 years ago, the co-op took out a loan to get machinery from Coker. Coker received the money, so they sent the co-op a bunch of pieces of machinery. The co-op members were very excited because they thought they would FINALLY get to begin the work they set out to do. However, the machinery was not the same equipment that Coker agreed to send them. The women from the co-op told us that all of the pieces put together would not even make one machine. The pieces were broken and rusted, and the people here were very disappointed. They are now in the process of trying to get all of their money back or to get the right machinery from Coker.) Anyways, we got to hear about how they got involved here, their families, what they do, etc. One thing that stood out to our group was their faith. After everything they have been through, they still have hope and faith that God will get them through this trial. It was such a blessing to all of us.
Yesterday we also visited the local dump, where over 100 families live. It was heartbreaking to see so many people living in such poverty, having to eat whatever they can find (which often is literally trash). We got to play with some of the kids from Los Quinchos (a children’s center in the dump). Some people from our group colored with the kids and played different games. And some of us played in a small pool with about 2 inches of water, in which they wanted us to slide them across the floor to the other side. They absolutely loved it, and we all had a lot of fun! Andrew brought a rubber chicken to the center (don’t ask why, the only answer is that…it’s Andrew and he’s crazy!) and the kids thought it was hilarious! They actually fought over the chicken; I think it was their favorite part of our visit. They used it as a sort of water gun against us in the pool…it was awesome! It was kind of sad to see that these kids got so excited over that rubber chicken when most kids in the United States sit inside all day playing video games and get mad if they can’t do that. The people here are definitely thankful for what they have and I think we need to stop taking things for granted…like clean water and paved roads.
Today, we continued making bricks and doing other yard work- we got a lot done today! Also, some of our group went to a local orphanage and handed out dresses and dolls that were provided by churches. We also heard from the people that are apart of the CDCA and how it all got started. It has definitely been a great day! Thank you to everyone who has supported us, and to all who are praying for us!!
God Bless! Angel and Leslie 
ANGEL: I want to say Happy Birthday to my mom! Sorry I am missing it, but I love you!!
Leslie- This trip has been very eye-opening and heartbreaking. The first day we arrived, it took a lot for me to not cry when I saw the families and children that lived in Nueva Vida. We hear about people like this and see them on tv, but it’s SO much different having to actually experience it. These people have close to nothing, but they are probably the happiest people I have ever met. This trip has made me look at my life and made me want to change, big time. I get 3 meals a day, I have internet, heat & a/c, a roof over my head, and so much more. A lot of people here don’t have any of that, yet they always have a smile on their faces and they have so much faith in God. They inspire me so much and have made me realize that anything really is possible with God, we just have to have faith. And quite honestly, I don’t think I’ve had a lot of that this past year. I’m so glad that I decided to come on this trip and I will never forget the people here and what I have learned here. I’m going to leave you with 2 quotes that I found on the bus that we ride everyday (all the groups that come here sign their names on the inside of the bus.) “I hope that God breaks my heart so completely that the whole world falls in.” -Mother Teresa and “A smile is understood in every language. One smile can change the world!”. So remember to ALWAYS have a smile on your face because that quote is so true Thanks to everyone that’s supporting and praying for us!
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Last semester, I was invited to participate in a protest against Coker International. I had never been to Nica, however, I’ve had many friends that had gone before me and helped to build walls and floors at the Gensis Co-op (a spinning co-op that has given Coker 150,000 for equipment that they’ve never received, to be to the point), so though I’d never met anyone in the project or seen it up close, I decided that participating was the only right thing to do. A great injustice had occurred and participating in the protests, I thought, was a good way to show support and turn up the heat. While we’ve been in Nica, we’ve had the opportunity to meet these amazing men and women. They come everyday to work and don’t receive pay. They still do not have the proper machines to do the work that they want to be doing. Just in case you didn’t catch it the first time, they work and don’t get paid. Not a cent. We had a session with them and though they were angry at Coker and tired of waiting, the feeling you got most from the co-op members was hope, love, faith, and gratefulness. One by one they continued to thank us for being apart of the protest and supporting them. They told us about the support, or lack there of, from their families as they work without pay everyday. And still, throughout the whole conversation, they weren’t cursing Americans, or gringos. They weren’t saying woe is me. They did tell us of their troubles, but the followed it up with telling us that they are still hopeful for the future of the co-op, as they follow other leads to machines. These women have touched my heart deeply. I think that besides the dump, I have been most effected by these people and their great hearts. I was so fortunate today to be able to work beside one of the women, Maria, as we leveled a walkway to prepare it for a sidewalk. I speak very little spanish. My conjugations are awful, however, Maria and I were able to communicate all day. I have told many of the other students that I was at the best site today. She had music playing on her phone and we danced and talked and worked. She has two sons and one wants to be a doctor. I admire these women greatly, and I have been blessed in getting to know and meet them all.
