Nicaragua

“Is it not to share your food with the hungry

and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—

when you see the naked to clothe the him,

and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?”

Isaiah 58:7

Nicaragua

• Nicaragua is the largest of the central American republics
• The illiteracy rate in Nicaragua is 23.3%
• GDP per capita is $1,028, which is 2% of the U.S.
• The mortality rate for children under the age of 5 is 38 per 1000
• 43% of people in Nicaragua live in a rural area, 2 of those 3 people survive on less than $1 a day
• 46% live in poverty, 15.1% live in extreme poverty
• Children living in regions in crisis about 40% are undernourished 
• 97% of Nicaraguans are Christian

This is what breaks my heart.

These people have so little, yet so many people are willing to give everything they have up to a stranger to help them out. 

The people of Chacocente are living on the trash.  Eating the trash.  Wearing the trash.  And offering up what they have.

I am so blessed to have everything I do, but even more than that I am blessed to get to go down there and spend time with those people.  Love those people.  Help those people.  And I cannot wait.  

Love,

Katie

Time

First I am going to apologize for the length of this post but I received an email today with this poem in it.  It was written by a girl who has 6 months left to live and just wants to see how many people will see her poem.  I don't know her name or anything about her so I can't give her credit but oh how I would love to meet her.  She seems as though she has way more wisdom that I could ever wish for.

SLOW DANCE

Have you ever 

watched 

kids

On a merry-go-round?

Or listened to 

the 

rain

Slapping on the ground?

Ever followed a 

butterfly's erratic flight?

Or gazed at the sun into the 

fading 

night?

You better slow down.

Don't 

dance so 

fast.

Time is short.

The music 

won't 

last.

Do you run through each day

On 

the 

fly?

When you ask How are you?

Do you hear 

the 

reply?

When the day is done

Do you lie 

in your 

bed

With the next hundred chores 

Running through 

your head?

You'd better 

slow down

Don't dance so 

fast.

Time is 

short.

The music won't 

last.

Ever told your 

child, 

We'll do it 

tomorrow?

And in your 

haste,

Not see 

his

sorrow?

Ever lost 

touch,

Let a good 

friendship die 

Cause you 

never had time 

To call 

and say,'Hi'

You'd 

better slow down.

Don't dance 

so fast.

Time 

is short.

The music won't 

last..

When you run 

so fast to get somewhere

You 

miss half the fun of getting 

there.

When you worry and hurry 

through your 

day,

It is like an unopened 

gift....

Thrown 

away.

Life is not a 

race.

Do take it 

slower

Hear the 

music

Before the song is 

over.

We all rush through life, I'm guilty of it.  


I make to-do lists constantly because when I get to highlight something off of it I feel so accomplished.  But is that what I really want to be remembered for?  Finishing my life to-do list?


I want people to look at my life and say wow God changed her life and consumed her.  


I don't want to leave anything left on the track.  Give it everything I have and leave with nothing.  


Stop and smell the flowers.


Stop and call your best friend right now.


Stop and Listen to God.


Just stop.


Love,
Katie