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From:  Valerie Sutton
Date:  Sun May 27, 2001  9:20 pm
Subject:  Greetings from Nicaragua!! (from Katie Kramer)


From: Katie Kramer"
Subject: Greetings from Nicaragua!!
Date: Sun, 27 May 2001

> > Hello everyone....It is Katie Kramer and I am emailing from Managua,
> > Nicaragua. For some of you who do not know I am doing a mission trip
> > here at a school for the Deaf. I did some research on doing a mission
> > trip but with a Deaf organization. Luckily, I found one in
> > Nicaragua. Well, it turned out that my parents did a mission trip
> > last year near the same place here in Manauga. They, and my aunt,
> > joined me in coming to the school for the Deaf. We were going to
> > spend some time there and then journey to the village that they helped
> > build houses that were distroyed by Hurricane Mitch called Casa
> > Blanca. I will explain more about that experience later. We painted
> > the school, redid some screens and cleaned up the school a bit. My
> > aunt gave a little teacher's workshop for the teachers at the school
> > for the Deaf. The teachers speak Spanish, so we had, the lady I
> > contacted to go down there help interpret. She turned out to be from
> > Indiana too. She is hearing and her husband is Deaf. They are Matt
> > and Eva. They helped establish and founded this school for the Deaf.
> > All the teachers there are hearing. Well, at the school for the Deaf,
> > they use Nicaraguan Sign Language. For those of you that know, I use
> > American Sign Language, which is different from Nicaraguan Sign
> > Langauge. So we are picked up at the airport by this couple. We
> > journey to the School for the Deaf...it is a residential school.
> > Meaning...the kids sleep overnight and go home on the weekends. We
> > arrive at night and don't get to meet the kids just yet. We are
> > sleeping in an extra room at the school. Remember we are in a very
> > poor country. There is no Air conditioning and it is aobut 100
> > degrees in Managua. The school seemed to be pretty nice...considering
> > what we had already seen on the way to the school. I can't even
> > describe what poverty is like here. People live in one room
> > sheds...if that is even how to describe it...No running water...no
> > floors...nothing... so the next day we meet the kids...I had a hard
> > time at first, but caught on to their signs...some sings are the same,
> > but most of them are very different. Matt, the Deaf man, helped me
> > learn some of them. I absoluely love the children. I can't even
> > describe to you how amazing they are. There are about 37. They are
> > each so loving and so helpful to me...they are so curious as to why I
> > would come there. I told them I wanted to help out in anyway that I
> > could. There are a few students who have disabilities there that I
> > noticed very quickly. One boy, I refer to as Zorro, likes to climb
> > trees...He is great. I have been assigned to tuturing these
> > students. I pull some students aside and teach them what they are
> > behind in. Well, I am assigned to work with Zorro the first day. He
> > is up a tree and will not come down. So, Katie, in the 100 degree
> > weather, with long pants on, we are not allowed to wear shorts here,
> > climbs the tree to get Zorro down. It was a struggle at first but now
> > Zorro and I are best friends. He is the best...I will show you
> > pictures of him and you will, too, fall in love with him. He likes to
> > pretend that he is Zorro, doing all the fighting motions. Each
> > student is unique in their own way. I have also been assigned to be
> > in charge of the Exercise class. So we warm up and do some
> > exercises. Then we are to run 2 miles in this blasting heat. I can't
> > even describe to you how hot it is. I will never ever complain of
> > heat again. I did pretty good keeping up...I actually outran the
> > boys...they were impressed. When we are lucky we have running water
> > at the school. WEll after my run, I find out we have no runnign
> > water. It shuts off. Here, they go 6 months without rain. It was
> > their dry season at this time. A few days ago it did start raining
> > though...everyone was so extatic. So I sit in my yucky sweaty
> > clothes. I will never ever complain of a cold shower again...there is
> > no such thing as hot water down here...and the pressure, there is no
> > pressure, it is drops of water. It is a great experience though. I
> > do love it love it love it. It is the weekend and the kids are home
> > now...I am at Matt and Eva's house emailing. I feel like I am being
> > treated like a queen using a computer. Well, before my parents and
> > aunt leave we journey to the village of Casa Blanca. Let's just say
> > that Managua is heaven. We had cold water and sometimes water to
> > bathe in. We arrive at Casa Blanca and the people there are so moved
> > and emotional to think that we would come back, not to work, but just
> > to visit. They had never had anyone do this before. I can't describe
> > to you the emotions I went through when we pulled up to their
> > village. We got out of the car and their whole village had been
> > waiting for our arrival.We had an interpreter along, he was absolutely
> > great...Wonderful guy. He is amazing. Love him. Anyways, we get out
> > of the car and people run to my parents yelling Tomas y Susi in
> > Spanish. They were crying, we were crying...the whole town was
> > there...it was like we were queens. My parents had described these
> > people to me, but when I met them, oh my gosh. The kids were simply
> > amazing. I know what it is like to be famous now. They would not
> > leave our side at once. They litteraly trampled us to hold our
> > hands. It was sometimes frightening. When we were leaving they were
> > all fighting for our addresses....I know now what it is like to give
> > out autographs to each child standing in line...there were over 60
> > kids. We played games with these children, brought crayons, beads,
> > paints, everything...they had never seen anything like this before.
> > They loved it. We would wake up in the morning like at 5:00, that is
> > what time I get up every morning. They were waiting outside for us.
> > Then we are fed at this family's house. Let's just say, I am always
> > hungry, but I did loose my appetite. We had ox tail soup, just what
> > it sounds like. I was not hungry that day. We have rice adn beans
> > breakfast lunch and dinner. To see how they prepare our food, wow.
> > Not so clean, let's just say. But they tried so hard for us adn
> > treated us like kings and queens. Then we would affend them if we
> > didn't eat. It was hard. I did feed my food to the dogs one night.
> > This plan didn't work out too well. I tried to sneak the food the
> > dog, then the other dog saw it and they started fighting over it,
> > which made a huge seen. The animals here are so deathly skinny. The
> > showers here are quite different...they are black trash bags hung to
> > logs. You then put water in somewhat of a clean bucket and use a
> > bowl to throw water on you....Let's just say I didn't feel too clean.
> > THe night before we left they had a ceremony for us. Wow, it was
> > emotinal. The people came together and expressed how much it meant
> > for us to come visit. I met so many kids that I will remember forever
> > and the adults too. Wow. The people here are so poverty stricken,
> > but yet they are so happy. They live very simple lives. Things are
> > not important to them. They are so happy. They have taught me so
> > much...you wouldn't believe. THey are so thankful for what they have
> > and trust in God. We came here with so much to give and we are going
> > home with nothing...It is so nice to know people are appreciative of
> > what we are sharing with them. I know I have forgotten lots, but will
> > catch up with you all later. Email me any questions you have...but I
> > don't know when I will get to check this again. Take care and I love
> > you all,

Katie Kramer
>

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