A VISIT TO THE WORKSHOP

Today was another big day in Nicaragua.  I woke up asking God to make this day exciting, and he answered beyond measure.  He showed me some of the mysteries of metallurgy as well as giving me more potential opportunities for ministry.  Isn’t it just like our God to teach us in ways that are so foreign to us and in ways we are unaccustomed to thinking. 

It all started with the idea of bringing home a few souvenirs to give to our family. Unlike many, I am not interested in souvenirs, unless they have special meaning and/or a story behind them; then I am very interested.    I am especially interested in pieces of art or crafts, if I know the artist.  And I love making a purchase if I believe it will benefit a ministry or student in advancing his career.  I certainly was not let down by this visit, because it gave me enough stories to last for several days.  And not only were there many stories, but also as the visit drew to an end, it resulted in several potential ministry ideas for our friends here in the Managua area 

This particular visit was to the workshop of the Nehemiah Center.  Here there are at least three areas of vocation for Nicaraguan students; forging, carpentry and mechanics.  We had taken our Pastor friend Jorge, and his wife Monica, and two teens from their Church Isamar and Marjorie, through this shop a couple of days ago, and we noticed the interest that Monica had in the vocational aspect.  Isamar also asked questions about how she could get training in this school. There was no one there to give us information in depth about how all this would work, but we were told to come back later when the director was in.  So today he was in.  We decided to pay him a visit and pick up a few trinkets to take home.  But this visit led to a day of education for us.  He ended up giving us examples of forged products, of high quality steel, along with other products they had made there, and told us we could give them away, or sell them for ministry projects.  The focus of the school is to teach children and especially higher level students how to be trainers in the industry of forgery, carpentry and auto mechanics, painting etc.  It is our dream to try to figure a way to get students that are so inclined to attend this special vocational training.  My immediate thoughts went to Isamar and Maria’s son Jose Ismael and possibilities of how they could get involved in these classes.  They have both shown interest in these areas of training, although Ismael would have to finish up his high school education. 

 The forged products are made of the hardest steel, The workers take large coil springs from wrecked autos, and cut them into strips of two to four inches, and then forge them into knives key chains, candle holders and other products. 

We have been praying for some time that God would show us a way to help the Nationals help themselves.  We believe by teaching them a skill, they in turn could become artisans and teachers of other youngsters.   The director of the school said that after a very short training period, if a student is interested and the least bit gifted, He could probably earn his way to a higher education by selling products he or she has made.  This certainly is one way to teach young students a profitable trade.  Pray with us to that end.