Larchmont Church Dollars Refurbish Nicaraguan School

by Susan McLaren

(December 15, 20060 “Feliz Navidad!” exclaims 4-year old Alex Huang to the video camera; “Prospero Ano,” beams Staci Heep, a long-time Larchmont Avenue Church member; “I’ll see you in February,” adds 16-year old Caroline Irving. Last Sunday, the Larchmont Avenue Church made a videotape full of good wishes for the people of Ticuantepe, Nicaragua. The congregation also made holiday cards and gifts to accompany the videotape as part of an ongoing relationship they have with the villagers.

Larchmont Avenue Church children prepare holiday greetings and gifts for Nicaraguan friends.

Both groups have much to be excited about. In January, through the benevolence of Larchmont Avenue Church, Ticuantepe, Nicaragua will have a newly refurbished two-room schoolhouse just in time for their new school year. LAC’s gift of $5,000 has paid for the renovation as well as for all school supplies, school uniforms, backpacks, and even teachers’ salaries for a year. “The sponsorship will help not only materially, but will also motivate long-term change,” said Marlena Lopez Martinez, one of the teachers from the renovated school.

Children in Ticuantepe, Nicaragua will make use of their new school house.

Rev. Jed Koball, LAC’s interim associate pastor and previously the country coordinator for Bridges to Community in Nicaragua, has spearheaded this project. “The generosity of Larchmont is making a tremendous difference in the lives of children and families in the town of Ticuantepe,” he said. “As we continue to develop a relationship with the people of Ticuantepe, we find that their spirit is making a tremendous difference in our lives as well.” Adds thirteen-year-old Kirsty McGill, “I feel really good, because I can help more people get a better education because of our donation.”

Nicaraguan boys are curious about changes at the Ticuantepe school house.

This effort is part of LAC’s ongoing commitment to the work of Bridges to Community in Nicaragua. LAC has been involved with Bridges for over five years. During his three years as country coordinator for Bridges in Nicaragua, Rev. Koball maintained his role of parish associate for mission at LAC, where he had previously been an associate pastor.

In February, a group of fifteen LAC members, high school students and adults, will travel to Ticuantepe, Nicaragua to build a home there and to help with other community projects, as part of the ongoing development work that Bridges to Community is orchestrating in that town. This will be the fifth time that a group from LAC has worked in Nicaragua. (See: Local Students Build Rooms and “Bridges” in Nicaragua.)

For more information about the church and its relationship with Nicaragua, please contact Jed Koball at jkoball@lacny.org, or for further Bridges to Community information, see its website at bridgestocommunity.org.

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