A group led by Gaylon Sieler recently returned from a trip to Nicaragua.

The group spent their time with their friends and the families they support at El Convento, taking them to the market, the doctor, and even for a fun day at the beach. There was also a food distribution, done through the church at a special blessing service, which included the basics: beans, rice, oil, corn flour, and sugar.

Some time was spent with the farm committee discussing the issues facing the farm, and the progress it is making so far. A great-looking tomato crop is growing, though the farm is at the tail-end of the rainy season and facing some challenges with the pump used to provide water for irrigation.

Read more about the trip on the 2008 Trips page.

Tropical storm Alma is currently lashing at Nicaragua and parts of Central America. NRN-ND has one group in Nicaragua right now, in Leon. There will be another group leaving the last part of June.

Since it is the season for such storms, perhaps you might remember the groups and our Nicaraguan friends in prayer.

You can read more about Alma via Google News.

If you have signed up for the trip in February 2009, please do not request time off from work, or make any travel plans just yet. We are looking into adjusting the dates slightly so that people will not miss as many days from work. We may possibly push it back a few days so that two weekends are covered by the trip rather than missing two full weeks of work. However, this hasn’t be locked in yet. As soon as we know more, those who have signed up will be notified of all details, and this site will be updated accordingly.

Stay tuned to this page for complete updates.

NOTE: The dates have been set for January 29 - February 9, 2009.

The dates have been set for a trip in February of 2009: Feb. 2 - 13.

Details on cost and plans for the trip are not available yet, but if you are interested, you should get your name on the list (email Julie). The group will be limited to about 16 participants.

As always, stay updated by subscribing to our update list, and visit our “Upcoming Trips” page for the latest news on specific trips.

Those who are interested in knowing what is going on in Nicaragua may want to read this news story. It is centered on the Leon area, which is where NRN-ND travels to. Further news articles can be found here, here and here.

UPDATE: Here’s an interesting article on the resolution of the strike.

NRN-ND now has a group on Facebook!

So many former and active group members, as well as Nicaraguan friends, have Facebook accounts that a group was the next logical step. Discussion, photo, and video sharing will be possible, as well as easy communication with those who are members of the group. It’s a handy way to keep in touch!

You can join our group on Facebook by clicking here. You’ll be directed to sign up for a Facebook account if you don’t already have one. Once you sign up, feel free to leave messages, upload a favorite photo, or link to things that you would like to share with the rest of the group.

Finca March 2008

We have photos from the recent group visit to Nicaragua which show you the changes and progress happening at the farm! Visit our online photo album to see images of the irrigation system up close, as well as what the water tower looks like.

The farm committee has a lot of enthusiasm, and are working very hard, group members said. The plants grew noticeably just from the time the group arrived in Nicaragua to the time they left.

We have some news from Nicaragua!

Currently, four North Dakota team members are in Nicaragua, and have provided an update on the farm project as detailed below.

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The farm committee is doing well. The water tower is up (Rommel has done an excellent job welding, we’re told!) and filled, and all is working fine. One-third of the field is planted, with both squash and cucumbers. The cucumbers are just starting out, but the squash is coming along at a fast rate and will soon be ready in about a month.

Members of the team and committee went to Managua to pick up pipe for the irrigation system. Currently, they are watering the plants using channels that they are filling with water twice a day. They are using this method because they did not have the hose with holes previously. The men at the farm have worked very hard and are very proud of the work they have accomplished. Most of the committee can be found at the farm every morning, and there are always two members there 24 hours a day.

If you’d like to keep up with what’s new and happening in El Convento, be sure to check out the photos that are sent back by various group members who are there. It’s a great way to see what’s happening on the farm and in the lives of our Nicaraguan friends, even when we can’t be there ourselves.

Photos: Nicaragua Updates

We have a few photos of the farm project online for you to view! Thanks to Travis Rohrer, who is in Nicaragua, we are able to see what’s happening despite the distance from our friends at El Convento.

Photos:

• Field work
• Construction of new building