Day 5 in Nicaragua

Today Team 547 packed up right after breakfast and headed to Vida Nueva Orphanage. Vida Nueva is run by Tim and Chris Bagwell. The Bagwell’s gave up their lives in South Carolina to make a life for malnourished children in Nicaragua. Currently there are 30 children in the orphanage, ranging in age from 2 months to 6 years old. Team members delivered boxes of clothing, diapers, formula, and toys. We spent our time there weeding, raking, pruning flowers, cleaning walls, moving stuff to storage and most important, loving on the kids. Since September, the donations that Vida Nueva receives has decreased by 50%. This equals $5000 per month. They have had to cut staffing by 25% and food by 20%. Because of the decrease in staffing, it leaves little time for anything but caring for the children. When the team was ready to depart Vida Nueva, they gathered around Tim, laid hands on him and prayed for his financial situation.

After a bit of free time, we ate dinner, had a debriefing and then gathered at the playground for the long awaited dedication and ribbon cutting. The girls have had to see the playground since Saturday, but have not been allowed to play on it. Tonight was long anticipated and exciting. Gloria’s family joined us for the dedication, as the playground was dedicated to her father, who passed away in November. As Wilbert said, God decided that it was time for her father to be home. Rick told the girls that as in life, they would experience pain, joy and happiness on the playground. The girls and team members played with all their hearts. Screams of laughter and joy could be heard throughout the Villa.

Heather and Trevor help with feeding time at the orphanage.


The girls getting ready to break in the playground.


Julie cleaning up the backyard at the orphanage.