Upon arrival at the Cultural Center of Batahola Norte, we were treated to an orientation to the community and to the Center itself by CCBN staffer Amanda Otero and Friends of Batahola volunteer Amanda Kraybill. Our tour included a detailed description of the many colorful murals that adorn the walls of the Center.
After settling in, our driver Roberto took our whole group to La Catedral Nueva de Managua, where we spent time visiting and in prayer. We arrived just as the community gathered there was beginning to pray the Rosary, and some joined in the prayer that was taking place in the side chapels also. Many members of our group spoke later that night of they inspiration they experienced in witnessing the devotion of so many that had carved time out of their day to pray in the cathedral.
Then, after a delightful lunch in small groups with our very gracious host families on Thursday, we assisted several dozen children in creating tortugitas from plastic bottles. Our efforts to paint the faces of the children that followed drew many takers. The children asked for butterflies, ladybugs, spiders, sharks, spiderman and batman designs, as well as dinosaurs and a variety of scary faces.
Our first full day was packed with activity and would be a foreshadowing of the days ahead. We close with our evening reflection around a very long dinner table back at Casa San Juan, considering the people in whom we had encountered the face of Christ throughout the day.
No comments:
Post a Comment