Sooo I wrote this before my vacation but never had a chance to get it up...so here it is :-D

Oct. 7, 2008

Wow,

So I haven’t written on here in a while, figured it was time to catch you all up on what has been going on :-). Two weeks ago I took a three day trip to Matagalpa, which is about four hours from where I live. It’s up in the mountains in the northern central part of Nicaragua. We visited and stayed in a town that was actually still an hour north of the actual city of Matagalpa. It was a pretty poor area. Most houses didn’t have running water or electricity…there were a lot of latrines (fancy as some of them might have been…latrines all the same). While we were there we helped this community build a community center. They had the walls and roof done so we helped them lay cement for the floor. Wheelbarrows, 5 gallon buckets, shovels (no gloves), and old fashioned cement smoothing tools…whatever you call those :-p We helped mix the cement on the ground in front of the building and then we helped them cart it in with wheelbarrows and buckets. Man, those people really know how to work! We took breaks on and off through out the day because of the heat, the altitude difference and the not being used to physical labor like this but the people from the town worked for 6-8 hours straight with only a half hour for lunch. It was quite the sight let me tell you.

The first day we were there we got luck and were rescued at lunch time. Instead of working some more we got a tour of the town. We got to visit some of the houses and meet a couple of the families. There is this organization there teaching people how to properly grow food; we got to see the methods they were using and how it was working for the people. My group (we split up into two) got an extra bargain. After visiting the last family we got to hike up this stream filled with cool water and pretty rocks and surrounded by beautiful greenery. We walked all the way up to this beautiful waterfall. I’ll see if I can figure out how to get pics up on here for you all to see :-D. One of our guides was this 60 year old woman. I think she might have been stronger than all the rest of us together. She was walking in these rubber sandals over slippery rocks and uneven ground, climbing up ahead of us and then reaching back to help us get up. And let me tell you…the hike up out of the river and back to the road was almost straight up….not kidding…..but away she went like it was nothing. What a woman!

We worked with these people for a day and a half. At the end of the second day we all stood around and said some final words and then we prayed together. These people were soooo wonderful. Though we were there a short time and had to take more breaks than them, they appreciated our work so much and were thrilled to have had us there. They said that they could see our big hearts and love for the culture and people we were working with. They were thrilled when they saw us show up ready to work…rubber boots and all lol. The words they said really touched my heart. The interesting thing that I realized, after being told that before us these people had two other teams that had visited, was that these people weren’t just building a community center, they were building community. So many hands have gone into that building, the people from the town working together and all the people who have come to help and give a piece of their time and their hearts. I don’t know, it’s just what this building stands for and how it was put together. I thought it was pretty cool.

After this trip it was back to class, homework, and the heat (the mountains were a lot cooler and fresher). Classes are still going fine….Monday’s in Managua for classes at the Nehemiah Center (in English)….then Tuesdays and Thursdays here in León for grammar and literature (in Spanish). Friday’s we have a culture class at 10 (in English). Every day we are done with class by noon…which is really really nice. My free time was spent hanging out with Leah and Sonya…going to the gym…taking a dance class….yes I started a dance class…learning a little of Salsa…Meringue…and something called Palo de Mayo. I felt like a giant in those classes. Our teacher was this short little petite Nicaraguan who has been in dance since she was like 10. Let’s just say that I don’t think my body was made to move like that lol but it was definitely a fun cultural experience.

This past weekend I had the privelege of attending something called Misa Campesina. It’s this Catholic church service put on in this small part of Managua. It was started because people wanted to bring religion to everyone, make it available to all. Not everyone has the chance to make it to the big beautiful Catholic cathedrals, so these people meet in a beautifully made and set up community center. This center offers all sorts of classes on everything from English lessons to artesian classes. There are beautiful murals on the walls done by students from the center. Murals that depict the history of Nicaragua and the struggles these people have been through.

Each and every week here is something new and exciting. I visited the house where Ruben Dario spent some of his years; he’s burried here in the Cathedral….have girl’s nights with Leah and Sonya….spend time with my family….oooh and I don’t think I’ve mentioned this yet…but I learned public transportation!!! Hahaha I can actually get to and from Central Park. That was a great day I was so excited when I actually made it home and didn’t get lost lol. I bought my first pair of high heels, experienced my first Nicaraguan baby shower, and got to see my grandparents house. This coming week is our mid semester break and we have some pretty fun plans. I’ll have to let you all know how it goes……and JON is coming to visit!!!!!! I can’t wait.

I hope that life is finding you all safe and sound. I would love to hear about what has been going on!!! Please keep all of us here in your prayers….for continued safety (it will soon be voting time here and political parties are acting up)….saftey in travels and just to be blessed and be a blessing while we are here :-)

I miss you all!

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