“Hope Reigns, Light Wins,” this is the motto of the “Beauty for Ashes” Project in La Chureca Dump, near Managua.Gran Pacifica Resort was invited by Kara Westermann, Project Founder, to attend a Christmas celebration there.
Holly Wilson, Corporate Social Responsibility Volunteer at Gran Pacifica Resort, met with Kara, who said, “the children did not believe that Santa Claus would come to the dump, so we are showing up with goodies. And yes, he does come to the dump!” Gran Pacifica CEO Mike Cobb, and Kara, have been friends for many years.
A group of American and Canadians, doing Christian work in Nicaragua, gave out many presents to the 100 families based in the community on the edge of the dump. Presents included clothing, food and toys. The visitors had brought in 11 suitcases with them.
Holly and Ruth Vado, a Gran Pacifica employee and local Managuan Rotarian, helped serve 2 delicious cakes that Ruth had brought from Gran Pacifica as a contribution. The cakes were eagerly eaten by all the children and families. The cake was placed on the hood of a car, as there was no other place. Boys and girls got on top of the cars for fun. Presents were handed out with suitcases on top of the cars, and several stops were made at individual houses.
Jordan, a musician from Colorado, sang and played “Nothing is impossible,” while the group sang along, held hands, and prayed together.
Kara founded Beauty for Ashes in 2012, after being called to service to alleviate physical and emotional poverty, for Christ’s beauty. La Chureca is smoky, with methane gas produced after garbage burns and breaks down.
People pick through the garbage to get the plastic material to re-cycle and anything else they can. Animals wander around, to see if there is something to eat. The mission of Beauty for Ashes is to serve the impoverished communities and children of Nicaragua. Gabriella Lopez was the Coordinator for this event, and she did a great job.
There were smiles on the faces, and children looking for hugs.
It was a beautiful and moving gathering.
To learn more about this program, go to: their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/thebeautyforashesproject .
