Each girl is allowed one cold bucket shower and two flushes of the toilet each day. Their showers are manual and they must fill the backs of their toilets in order to flush them. The buckets get filled when the city turns on the water for a mere few hours daily. There is no bath tub. There is no hot water. Clothes are washed by hand. When it rains, the water that pours through the substandard roof and walls is used to mop the floors.
     There are extensive electrical needs, to put it mildly, and practically no light in the home at night, making it difficult to perform basic functions.
     The neighborhood is dangerous. Perverted, disgusting men often bang on the front door trying to get to the pre-teen and teenage girls.
     This place is called Casa Havilah, in Nicaragua, and girls are desperate to live there. It is a rescue home for young girls who are searching for an environment in which they can live a life free from abuse and negative influences and who will be encouraged by caring individuals.
     Lauren Seelye, a 21-year-old college student from Shavertown, is one such extraordinary individual. She spent the entire month of July with these courageous girls, volunteering, sharing the Word of God, and showing His unconditional love.
     “Even though some people would say that I put my safety, security, and health at risk by being in Nicaragua because of the high crime rates and dangerous living situations, I tried not to dwell on that,” she said. “I know that God is always with me. He guides, protects, and directs my path.”
     Indeed, God was with her as she traveled 12 hours from the Back Mountain to Casa Havilah, a large home located in the city of Managua that houses nearly 20 girls and a house mother, and while there, contracted what could have been a potentially serious illness.
     Although she made the trek by herself, Seeyle met her friend, Anna Haas, there, and the two spent the first week together. They were given three meals a day, primarily consisting of rice and beans with a main course. With a mango tree in the backyard, the girls enjoyed eating fresh fruit.
     “They are provided with much more food than what they had before they came to live at Casa Havilah,” said Seelye.
     In all, there are four bedrooms in the home. The house mother uses one and the 17 girls, ages 4-16, occupy the other three. The younger girls have to share the beds with others, but most of the older girls sleep alone.
     “In America, I don’t think the house would pass any cleaning inspections. The girls have chores and they try to keep it as clean as possible, but, when people are limited with water and cleaning supplies, there comes a point when they do what they can and that has to be sufficient,” said Seelye.
     “Casa Havilah is an extraordinary ministry and I am blessed beyond measure to have had the experience to volunteer and live in the home with such beautiful, fun, and loving girls who desire to make a difference in their lives,” she added.
     Two lovely girls with whom Seelye lived and ministered to were Katherine and Karen, sisters who were living in a dangerous situation and were at risk. Rescued from an alcoholic mother and step-father and a drug-addicted uncle who fancied sniffing glue, the girls were quickly removed from the volatile situation.
     During their precious times together, Katherine recounted her past with Seelye.
     “Katherine shared heart-wrenching stories about being introduced into prostitution. She is only 12 years old and is probably the strongest person I have ever met,” said Seelye. “Both of the girls are still transitioning out of a ‘survival mode’ but are making great progress and are getting along wonderfully with the other girls. It is very encouraging to see that God has provided room in the home and safety for them through Casa Havilah.”
     According to Seelye, in order for a girl to be accepted into Casa Havilah, she must go through an interview process that includes conversations with the interested child and her guardian(s), both individually and together. This allows the director to determine if a situation truly is abusive and if the child desires to make such a change in her life. After a girl is accepted, the parents/guardians waive their rights for their child and she is placed with the directors of Casa Havilah. Some of the girls have never met their parents, while others have lived with them in dangerous situations in La Chureca, the city garbage dump.
     “I was blessed to see God move in Nicaragua in a great way while I was in there. On one of my last few nights, a few of us ladies led a prayer night for the girls. It was the most amazing part of my entire trip,” said Seelye. “The girls opened up so much, shared about their past traumas, and were willing for God to come and heal their brokenness. It was amazing to watch God heal and restore the girls emotionally and spiritually. I was blessed to see the major differences in the girls’ attitudes, personalities, and entire countenance after that night.”
     Education is highly emphasized at Casa Havilah. In addition to being taught the normal subjects of math, science, social studies, Spanish, etc., they also have Bible class. This is yet another area in which Seelye excels.
     An Elementary Education major who will graduate from King’s College in May 2010, her future plans include securing a full-time teaching job in our area, while spending her summers volunteering in schools in third-world countries. Her ultimate goal is to receive a master’s degree in Community Development and cultivate schools in third-world countries.
     “The girls are in great need of spiral notebooks at their school,” said Seelye. “Other needs include socks, clothes for the younger girls (ages 9 and below), shoes, and flip flops. They really appreciate the donations, support, and prayers from Americans.”
     Prayers from family, friends, and co-workers helped Seelye herself when she had taken ill at the end of her trip. Ultimately she was diagnosed with food poisoning, but in a far off land with inadequate health care resources and away from her mother, father, and four siblings, even a mild ailment can be extremely scary.
     One might ask why someone would go to such great efforts- raising funds, traveling 12 hours alone, leaving family and a comfortable home- to live in utter poverty. Seelye responded humbly, “Please pray for God to continue to pour his love and blessings into the girls’ lives at Casa Havilah and provide them with a hope and a future.”

If you would like to donate to Casa Havilah, the address for its corresponding American church is:
2285 Bannerman Rd.
Tallahassee, Florida 32312
Your check can be made out to: Trinity Reformed Church, Memo: Open Hearts

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