Ana Bean The University of Maine

This is an article that made the website of The University of Maine.  Where Ana Bean (The Navigators) goes to school.


http://www.umaine.edu/volunteer/Newsletter_files/Page665.htm


Thanks Ana!

When you think of the term “Spring Break,” a few things might come to mind. Some thoughts might include: Florida, the beach, partying, getting caught up on schoolwork (which none of us ever end up actually doing), getting caught up on sleep, working as many hours as possible to make extra money, etc. However for some, the word “service” comes to mind. Every year The Navigators, a Christian student organization here at UMaine, looks for a place to go and serve during Spring Break. In the past they have gone to New Orleans to help with hurricane relief and to Washington, DC to work with inner-city missions. This year they decided to take their service internationally to the Central American country of Nicaragua. A handful of students from UMaine, along with students from Maine Maritime Academy, University College of Bangor, and Chop Point Christian School traveled down to Rivas, Nicaragua to work at Campo Alegria (“Camp Happiness”) for a week. Campo Alegria is owned and operated by Chop Point Christian School in Woolwich, Maine and serves Nicaraguan children around the ages of 7-13 years old.


For the first part of the week that they were there they did numerous work projects around the camp. They helped build a fence to keep farm animals out of camp, lay the foundation to where a new tool shed is going to be, install sinks and new toilet seats, build shelving units for supplies, and various other project. They spent the rest of the week doing kids camp. They had 30 children come from Managua, the nation’s capital. While at the campo, the children participated in activities like crafts, sports, English class, science class, chapel, music, movie nights, and swimming in Lake Nicaragua. The group also built a water slide and did piñatas with the kids. At the end of camp each child was given a picture of himself in a homemade picture frame, a homemade science kit, a Bible, a t-shirt, and a pair of shoes to take home.
The group also had some time to get out and experience the culture in Nicaragua. They spent a day in San Juan Del Sur where they went on a zip line, went swimming in the Pacific Ocean, and played soccer on the beach. They also had a chance to go to a church and the market in Rivas. On the last day before they flew back to the U.S. they visited La Chureca, the Managua city dump where the children that came to campo live. The children’s parents work in the dump separating and burning trash. The government allows them to live there so they build their houses out of what they can find in the dump. Most children who live there do not go to school because they work in the dump along with their parents but the few lucky ones that get to go, go to a small school operated by American missionaries located in the dump. The group had the chance to visit the school as well.


The group returned to the U.S. on March 6th. Two members stayed behind to continue working at the camp for three more weeks. Overall the group members had a great experience and will be thinking about Nicaragua for a long time. Some are already making plans to go back this summer and throughout the coming year.

Community

At Campo Alegria I am forced to live with other people 95 percent of the time. This is new to me! In college I never lived in the dorms. I lived in an apartment with my roommate I knew all my life. When I was in the world of sports I lived alone, so as a non-believer back then I did not have any community in my life nor did I ever think about it. But here I am now, called by the Lord to live in community, to live the right way. Going into this adventure I didn't know how I was going to respond to living with others but this camp environment has brought so many things to light for me. I have learned to be patient, how to be kind, how to put others before myself and how to adjust to different settings I use to think that I could adapt well to anything, but I must confess adapting like this is different than anything back in the states. The Chop Point kids and I are doing devotions each morning on “Authentic Living” and GOD is starting to revel his plan for me more and more each day. I am so thankful for community, for Ridge Church introducing me to community groups and now I am able to share with others just how important community living is! The bible says: Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Philippians 2:3 It seems so easy now that I am developing community here in Nicaragua.

Where exactly are you?

Someone asked me today via Facebook “where exactly are you?” My first thought was, I know I wrote everyone either on FB or a letter. People know where I am.... then I thought... some people I don't even know are following the Campo Blog on Facebook. After a moment to process, I just told them I am sitting on Lake Nicaragua. But then I started thinking about the question more. “Where exactly are you?” Spiritually, physically, emotionally? I didn't really know what she was talking about. I found out later that she meant location. So I wanted everyone to know that I am on Lake Nicaragua in the middle of the sugarcane fields. Life is nothing like the states! I wake up everyday looking at the breathtaking volcano with the sun rising in the back. The closest town to me that has a restaurant is Rivas and its about 20 minutes from Campo. There are not any fast food places until you get Managua which is about 2 hours from here. So if I am lucky I may get McDonald's when I make an airport trip with the teams! We also take teams to San Juan Del Sur located on the Pacific Ocean or Granada for their tourism day. However, I would like you to know that sure life is good here no doubt, God has blessed me in countless ways. But its still very difficult! Its hot all the time, my sleeping conditions are never the same, privacy is rare and I do not treat this like a vacation. I assure you all that I am working more hours than I ever did while in professional sports, and that's a lot of hours! So here I am, exactly, at Campo Alegria!

The Navigators March 2010

I want to start off by thanking The Navigators! They were an amazing first team for me to host in so many ways. They were always willing to lend a helping hand, never complaint (until the sunburn), worked hard and had lots of FUN! They arrived late on Saturday night so we headed straight to campo. I knew it was going to be a great group of people when 4 of the team members volunteered to ride 2 hours on top of our luggage truck.... we made it home safe and lights out! Sunday morning we woke up and went to a local church in Rivas. It was an amazing experience, it reminded me of my church “Ridge Church” back home. They had a band with two guitars, electric piano and drums. For the first time things seemed normal and I saw GOD working here in Rivas in a new way, and it felt great. Monday the team started some of our major and ongoing work projects. We dug holes for fence post, we cleaned the camp, painted, and cleaned some more. After our long day of work we needed to relax with some fun in the sun! Tuesday we headed to San Juan Del Sur were we ate lunch on the beach, played soccer, zip-lined, and had dinner while watching the sunset. The kids arrived from La Chureca on Wednesday and the team was very nervous. I was surprised that they were nervous and anxious but within a hour everyone had a task and started to fall in love with the kids as I knew they would. It was a small group of campers so things went well. Friday afternoon the kids headed home and I took the team to the market in Rivas. I was excited to see some familiar faces at the market from locals I met on past visits. We left the market and headed back to campo for the last group activity. Bonfire on the beach! Life is good! Thank you GOD and thanks to The Navigators. I hope to keep in contact with each of you and I hope you will come back next year!

-Zach

Navigators at the Flying Frog in San Juan Del Sur

The Navigators have arrived. They got in on Saturday Night and things have been non stop. I LOVE IT! The team proved they are brave yesterday as all of them did the zip-line! Yesterday was our team tourism day and we went to the Flying Frog Zip Line in San Juan Del Sur. As you can see I had so much fun. The zip-line was over 1000 feet high and there were over 15 of them. The whole experience takes about an hour. During the zips I felt like I was flying, we were in the trees with monkeys and the view of the Atlantic Ocean was so beautiful. That night we had a great dinner and watched GODS work with an amazing sunset. Today our first group of kids arrive from La Chureca and I am so excited to see what GOD has planned for us.