Church of San Francisco is part of the convent of San Francisco, one of the oldest in Nicaragua, founded in 1639 by Friar Pedro de Zúñiga. In the interior remain two good examples of plateresque altars. However, its main attraction is the outstanding courtyard. Built in pure, Leonese colonial style, this is a grassy expanse with an ashlar fountain at the center from which four radiating walkways, flanked by manicured lemon trees, lead to the surrounding porticoes where some of the columns are covered in red bougainvilleas. Towards the south, a line of Royal palms shade the roof and complete the peaceful ensemble(Wikipedia).
When I walked into the church on a Monday at 3pm, it was empty. There was only a man cleaning and he pointed me to the back where I found an older woman. I introduced myself and expressed my interest in working with the church. She informed me of the current meals they are providing four days a week with two meals a day. She advised me that these people are in a high demand of counseling. They never had anyone come into the church to work with them-similar to my Mahogany Heights population-no one cared enough to spend time identifying their problems and how to help.
This woman was a bit reserved and it was clear from her energy and presence that something was wrong.
Immediately after this thought, I asked
asked her about when I could meet the Pastor. She told me I could come tomorrow in the morning before they come for food. I agreed and she walked me to the front. She shared with me that the Pastor is her brother and that she is there to take care of him.
He had a stroke six months ago and he was still recovering. The doctors said that he would not live, but the church, their family, and the community prayed. They prayed and prayed and prayed until his health was mildly restored enough to just get by. It was his sister that stepped forward to care for him. He has a highly restrictive diet, difficulty sleeping, extremely low energy levels, migraines, and his sermons have stopped. He is slowly making improvement overtime, but being his private nurse is taking a strain on her life. She shared that she has to drive over 60 miles away for work and then come back to take care of him. She has to buy all fresh ingredients from the market and many meals she makes he doesn't like. She is running out of ways to be creative with food and she is unable to be there whenever he needs her. She has two jobs and children to care for as well.
This lovely woman confessed. The tears came down her face and all I could do is listen and support her. She confessed some things that were also selfish, but that's what confession is about-to release the truth.
I praised her for all her work and told her how lucky her brother is to have her. I rubbed her on her back and just let her have that moment. It was her moment to breakdown to someone who she could confide in- a stranger, but a familiar spirit present.
When I walked into the church on a Monday at 3pm, it was empty. There was only a man cleaning and he pointed me to the back where I found an older woman. I introduced myself and expressed my interest in working with the church. She informed me of the current meals they are providing four days a week with two meals a day. She advised me that these people are in a high demand of counseling. They never had anyone come into the church to work with them-similar to my Mahogany Heights population-no one cared enough to spend time identifying their problems and how to help.
This woman was a bit reserved and it was clear from her energy and presence that something was wrong.
Immediately after this thought, I asked
asked her about when I could meet the Pastor. She told me I could come tomorrow in the morning before they come for food. I agreed and she walked me to the front. She shared with me that the Pastor is her brother and that she is there to take care of him.
He had a stroke six months ago and he was still recovering. The doctors said that he would not live, but the church, their family, and the community prayed. They prayed and prayed and prayed until his health was mildly restored enough to just get by. It was his sister that stepped forward to care for him. He has a highly restrictive diet, difficulty sleeping, extremely low energy levels, migraines, and his sermons have stopped. He is slowly making improvement overtime, but being his private nurse is taking a strain on her life. She shared that she has to drive over 60 miles away for work and then come back to take care of him. She has to buy all fresh ingredients from the market and many meals she makes he doesn't like. She is running out of ways to be creative with food and she is unable to be there whenever he needs her. She has two jobs and children to care for as well.
This lovely woman confessed. The tears came down her face and all I could do is listen and support her. She confessed some things that were also selfish, but that's what confession is about-to release the truth.
I praised her for all her work and told her how lucky her brother is to have her. I rubbed her on her back and just let her have that moment. It was her moment to breakdown to someone who she could confide in- a stranger, but a familiar spirit present.
God bless this woman for her love and commitment to her brother. May the Pastor return to his health and return to church. His loving community needs him.
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