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Amigos for Christ: Caputo’s mission trip to Nicaragua
BY KINSEY DANZIS
Stajt Wium
Saaifidng a month of summer
to dig trendies and lay concrete
in a hot, unsanitary third-world
country would not appeal to many
students.
For sophomore Nick Caputo,
long-stick midfielder on the men's
lacrosse team at Guilford College,
it was not a sacrifice.
It was a golden opportunity.
Caputo spent last June in
Nicaragua on a mission trip as
part of the nonprofit organization.
Amigos for Christ. The month
long trip was a result of a similar
week long excursion during
summer 2012.
"I went down for a week and
fell in love with the work and
people," said Caputo. "The head
of the organization said he would
love for me to come back next year
for a month."
With Amigos for Christ he
worked as a short-term servant
leader, mainly on the Water
and Sanitation Project around
Chinandega, Nicaragua.
An average week for Caputo
began with climbing one of two
volcanoes, one of which was
active, as a team-building exerdse.
Most of his time was spent digging
trenches, laying pipe and pouring
concrete.
Given the exhausting work, the
down time was a plus for Caputo.
The "mission trippers" spent
their free time playing baseball
and soccer with the native
workers.
They also visited handicapped
children at Angel's Orphanage in
downtown Chinadega, as well as
hanging out at Casa de Abuelos
("grandparents' home") with the
residents there.
"He (Nick) doesn't complain
and is very humble," nurse for
Amigos for Christ and current
resident of Nicaragua Annie
Bland said in an email interview.
"I always noticed he was doing
something, and never just sitting
around.
"He works to make people feel
comfortable and loved."
Caputo admitted that there
was no shortage of nerves before
the trip, but the excitement
outweighed the anxiety.
"I was excited, because I
love doing missionary work
and servant stewardship," said
Caputo.
His parents felt apprehensive as
well.
"Up to the day he left, as parents,
we were nervous for him," said
Don Caputo, his father. "But
Nick could only see the good of
his adventure and could not wait
to be a part of the organization's
mission of caring."
"The thought of it was scary.
but at the same time we felt such
pride for his devotion for this kind
of work," said his mother Cathyjo
Caputo.
That optimism shined on the
playing field just as it did for
Amigos for Christ.
"He's the kind of person that
always has a smile on his face,"
said senior and midfielder Chase
Clausen. "You don't really see
him down on himself or his
teammates."
Men's lacrosse coach Tom
Carmean agreed that Caputo's
choice to go to Nicaragua suits
his character and is a decision that
many other Guilford athletes have
made.
"Our athletes are doing more
than what we see them doing on
the playing field," said Carmean.
Caputo's memories of
Nicaragua, especially those of the
water inauguration in the village
of Miguel Cristiano, will stay with
him forever.
"Every single moment I was
there was touching," said Caputo.
"You think (seeing the Miguel
Cristiano villagers get drenched in
clean water for the first time) is the
best thing that's ever happened,
until a villager comes up to you,
grabs your hand, and says, 'It's
your turn now.'"
Sophomore lacrosse player
Nick Caputo spent a
month in Nicaragua building
wells for villages with
unsanitary >Amter sources.
(Above) After completing the
well in the village of Miguel
Cristiano, Caputo was pulled
by a villager into the water
to share the special moment
(Left) An elderly villager tried
to teach Caputo how to do
a dance step. In addition to
working on the wells, Caputo
also climbed two volcanoes,
played sports with the locals
and visited an orphanage and
home for the elderly.
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