As I sat in my Spanish Linguistics class on the morning of Friday, April 4th, I couldn't even listen to the professor.  For the past six months we had been preparing for this day to come.  Hundreds of emails, hours on the phone, and lots of inexperience shining through had all led up to this point.

Brad, Tiago, Reinaldo, and Paul had gotten into Wilmington the night before and were ready to plug in and play loud for a screaming crowd at Kenan Auditorium on the campus of UNCW.  As concerts usually do, this one got started kind of late but I think it helped in building the anticipation and it also gave us a little more time to fill some of the remaining seats.  As the show got started I sat in the front row and wondered how I am lucky enough to be part of something so amazing.  I couldn't help but smile.  Kids started filing to the front by the stage because the music and the atmosphere were just too much for them to stay seated.  

After enjoying Braddigan's music for an hour or so and being introduced to all the band members, Brad asked everyone to be seated to watch a slide show from Dia de Luz in La Chureca.  Everyone found their seats and sat back not knowing the freight train of emotion that would shortly plow through their hearts.  We heard Brad sing "Ileana" as her picture was burned into our memories with that smile that outshines the sun.  We were reminded that wealth is not green paper or coins, but rather it is smiles, love, and laughter.  Wealth is following your heart and filling your life with the people that build you up and love you unconditionally.  What a great message, and it is one that all too often slips through the cracks.  There is no doubt that people were moved by the slide show and the video trailer that followed.  If nothing else, we gained perspective on the way life should be lived and I am ever grateful to Brad for bringing us that perspective.

As the night drew to a close, we had heard all of Braddigan's greatest songs and had been called to action in our daily lives to simply enjoy the blessings of life and to love with all we have.  When all was said and done, over 500 people heard the story of La Chureca and the plight faced by these beautiful people everyday.  Also noteworthy, we raised over $3,000 through ticket sales and personal gifts that we plan to allocate to our Manna Project programs locally and abroad and we also plan to make a generous gift to Love, Light, and Melody which is Braddigan's nonprofit centered in La Chureca.  

To all of the campus chapters, don't be afraid to think big.  Everything works out when there are good hearts behind it.  Nothing is impossible.  And to everyone else, live happy and love often because we only get one try at this game called life.  Make yours count.

Josh Eddings
President, MPI-W
 

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MAY 17th -  Summer Volunteers arrive this Saturday to Quito and Managua!

 

MAY 23th -  Students from Professor Marshall Eakin's VISAGE program arrive in Nicaragua for four weeks of service and learning with Manna Project.