Rebuilding in Nagarote

Last week I wrote about a response to the current drought crisis.  Another problem that Nicaragua struggles with is the seismic activity of the region.  The most destructive earthquake hit Managua in 1972, which was what led MCC to come to the country. Other, smaller earthquakes have continued to be destructive.  As the second-poorest country in the Western hemisphere, the finances and engineering isn't always present in construction as it should be.

Last year, in April, a 6.1 level earthquake hit the town of Nagarote, where the Brethren in Christ have two congregations.  The three Anabaptist conferences in Nicaragua (Brethren in Christ, Convention Mennonite, and Fraternity Mennonite) have worked together to run the Anabaptist Emergency Commission (CAE). In response to the earthquake, along with MCC, the CAE built 8 new homes for people who had lost their homes in the earthquake. 

After a year and a half of planning and building, I was lucky enough to be able to step in at the finish line to celebrate the completion of this work with them.  On Friday I went to Nagarote, where we traveled around the communities there to do the symbolic hand-off of the homes from the CAE and to the new home owners.  Here are some pictures.

 Germán and Mario share a laugh with new home owner Odelma and her children.

 This was the only house that is not yet complete. Like the practice of Habitat for Humanity, the deal with beneficiaries included some "sweat equity." The future owner of this house is a welder who wanted to do his own roof.  Unfortuantely, he's behind schedule.

 Arriving at the new home for Kenia.

Passing over the keys.

This home has a nice view of Momotombo, an active volcano that is also tapped as a source for geothermal electric.

 After our home visits, we gathered at one of the churches for a service of singing, a devotional, and words from people involved in the project. 

 The three presidents of the Mennonite conferences shared reflections and words of blessing (Gerardo, Fraternity Mennonite; Mario, Convetion Mennonite; Pedro Luis, president of the CAE; Germán, Brethren in Christ). Important themes included the value of working together as different conferences on a common project and our call to actively follow Jesus, responding to needs of people around us.