If you look closely at the picture of the toilet to the right, you’ll see a date carved into the floor,
12-11-2019.
December 11.
December 11 is special day for Yaritza and her family.
December 11, 2019, was the day that they laid the foundation for their life-transforming Modern Bathroom.
Yaritza is 21 years old and has lived in the community of La Danta for her entire life. She recounts memories from growing up in La Danta, and she opens her heart as she describes the hardships that she and her family faced before partnering with Amigos for Christ.
She explains that growing up, her mother’s well was one of the only wells in the community that didn’t completely dry up during the sweltering, 6-month dry season. She recalls her family sharing their well as friends and neighbors from the community lined up to gather just a bit of water to drink, cook, bathe, and wash clothes.
She remembers the entire community battling consistent sickness from drinking the contaminated well water.
She remembers not having a dignified place to use the bathroom and bathe.
Now, Yaritza serves her community as a representative on the water leadership committee. She smiles and says,
“Seeing how far my community has come is incredible. This is my home, and I want to give my best and help in whatever way that I can. I am young and capable, and I can work hard. I want my daughter and the younger generation to see what it means to dream and take advantage of opportunities.”
One day, as we were working on another Modern Bathroom in La Danta, I asked Yaritza if I could borrow her completed bathroom, and she proudly agreed. As I was leaving, I’m not exactly sure why, but seeing the date cemented forever into the bathroom floor stopped me in my tracks.
We, the Amigos Family, get to be a part of grand milestones in people’s lives. Days worthy of imprinting dates, handprints, and names on their cement and on their hearts. Days that completely change the future health and lives of their families. We get to witness that. We get to be a part of that. We have the privilege of working alongside families digging septic tanks, mixing concrete, and sharing lunches. What an honor.
At Amigos, we share with visiting mission trip groups that when they come to work alongside Nicaraguan families, whether it’s on their Modern Bathroom, a water line, or cualquier cosa, that these families will never forget them. I know that to be true. I’ve seen it over and over again.
Seeing that date carved in the cement solidified that truth to a new level. We get to share with families and be a part of days worthy of remembering forever. Days that are carved into their cement and hearts…. and ours too. How special.
