I know that I am blogging more than usual, but I continue to be involved in interesting things that I need to tell you about.
I am terming yesterday my Nica Day. It was filled with known and unknown things that I have learned to identify with Nicaragua.
I woke up anticipating a full day: breakfast, devotions, skype, grocery shopping, Bible study with friend, cooking for dinner guests, teaching an English class, 30 people over for dinner, clean up and back to bed.
I got up, Stephen made breakfast while I tried to get some emails and Duolingo out of the way; then we ate and did devotions. We Skyped with Stephen’s mom at 9 AM, and I planned to pick up a friend at 10:30 for a trip to the grocery store. She called and hung up, which meant that she did not have minutes on her phone and I needed to call her. We had to postpone the time 30 minutes , but I figured that timing would okay for me to meet for my Bible Study at 12:30-recalculating.
I picked up Fatima for shopping, and we headed to the local grocery store where we picked up the ingredients for jalapeno chicken for 30 people. Unfortunately they did not have chicken at the store so on to the “gringo” store where we spend more on chicken than we did on the rest of the ingredients, drinks and supplies-recalculating.
I dropped Fatima off, knowing that she will be coming to my house at 2 to help me cook the dinner (actually I was helping her). I got home and unloaded the groceries knowing that any minute I would hear from Kelsey about our Bible study. She called; she had had a good but challenging week and needs to cancel- recalculating. Now I had some more time for the usual things- house, food, correspondence, etc. I also was home to find out that Daysi (our cleaning lady) had a birthday the day before, so I pulled banana bread out of the freezer for an impromptu celebration.
At 2 Fatima showed up, and we got right to making a Nicaraguan feast. I now know how to make a great jalapeno sauce, delicious sauce for chicken, and tostones (plantains) using a wine bottle. I was hot and sweaty, but had enjoyed good time of conversation, making a great meal, and learning new things.
At 3:30 I was expecting to have my first English lesson with a neighbor woman. She did not show up- recalculating. Actually, I was secretly happy because it took every minute from 2-6 PM to be ready for dinner.
As people arrived I ran upstairs to take a quick shower. In a country where it is hard to look put together because of the heat and humidity, I did the best I could, and then joined the guests downstairs. Our guests were the men is Stephen’s Bible study and their families. It was great to see them enjoy the time together, the meal, and share what they have learned over the past eight weeks. We also got to celebrate an overwhelmed, young mother’s birthday, honoring her in the Nica birthday sing-along.
At the end some left on bikes, but most piled into the pick-up we have been borrowing, and Stephen played taxi driver and drove them home. One couple stayed and helped me clean up and keep me company-recalculating. If they only knew that as an introvert, I was very ready to be alone. I am sure though that for people who live in small homes with multi-generations it is strange to be home alone in a large house.
This is a country where plans change all the time, nothing really starts on time, there is no guarantee that you will get what you are looking for, but the people are thankful, considerate, and gracious. I have a few things to learn from them.
July 11, 2014
I just finished listening to Natalie Grant’s version of “In Christ Alone”. I played it as loud as my computer would let me and I sang along. I guess this might be annoying to my neighbors since our house shares the same walls and is designed with a big hole in it! I feel okay though because there is so much noise that I probably only added to the other sounds. I needed to hear that; I needed to be reminded that, in Christ alone I stand, that all other ground is sinking sand. That Christ is not surprised by that. That He stands in victory and that sin has lost its curse on me. I am His and He is mine, and in that power I stand.
Almost a month ago Stephen sent in his passport to get his visa. Since everything we do surrounds around how we can spend the least money, this was the best option so he could be legal in this country. Two weeks later we had not heard from them, so he went in to the office to find that the passport is being help in Managua because the letter we have connecting us with our non-profit is dated 2013 not 2014.
We have to go in and get it, with a new letter, with a translation of this letter, with a translator, and the gracious use of a friend’s truck. Today was the day! We headed out early, the line for extranjeros (foreigners) was extremely short, but the woman at the desk would not give Stephen the visa because the letter was not translated by a lawyer. This letter has already worked for us twice. Very reluctantly she gave Stephen his passport back, and a stamp good for five days ; time to figure out what to do. Our least expensive plan is now heading in the direction of what it would have cost for a trip to Costa Rica, but we still do not have the visa. In the power of Christ I stand.
The second stop was getting the truck we are borrowing in to the shop to be looked at. Abraham was not there so we were asked to come back later. We drove the 15 miles home and then in about 30 minutes we got the call that he was in. Stephen and Roger (our dear friend and translator), went back and just returned home at 7PM. The good news: It cost $24. In the power of Christ I stand.
A discouraging e-mail, a disagreement with Stephen, worry about stuff in the future, and worry about money, ministry, and other people. In the power of Christ I stand
July 8, 2014
Last night I had the opportunity to attend an anniversary party of a one of the families that we meet with on a regular basis. They were celebrating their 7th Anniversary. The starting time was 5:00 PM and we showed up around 5:40. A few guests were there, but I would say that we were early. Everyone was dressed in their best, and bringing gifts to the couple. Of course we felt a little conspicuous since we arrived with cake, but no gift. This is a family that made a special chocolate drink to celebrate our anniversary the day before. All the gifts were in gift bags that were taped closed.
Spanish love songs were being played on a radio at a very loud volume in the living room, on a radio that was about 2 feet by 3 feet, and a volume knob that is about 3 inches in diameter. All of these details are just to say that it is “the bigger and louder the better” when it comes to sound systems in this country.
This couple is a semi-wealthy couple for the very poor part of town in which they live. Their house is one of the few with a solid foundation, cinderblock and painted walls, and a steel and tin roof. They have an indoor kitchen and three finished rooms. Their “wealth” is evidenced as well by a refrigerator, TV, a large number of plastic chairs that line the walls, and the tablet that he got her for their anniversary.
Most of her family arrived about 6:20, which confirmed why we never start anywhere near to on time in our weekly Bible study.
We have found this couple to be generous, helpful, friendly, and others-centered. Their party was no exception. All during the party, they were the ones who were serving. They brought out plastic cups of Coca-cola, using the lid to a pot as a tray. They brought mounds of vigoron, boiled yucca, seasoned pork and cabbage salad, to us on small plastic plates. Later they sliced into the cakes we brought and served up cake on napkins. It was simple, and good.
At about 7:15 the lights flickered, went out for a few minutes and then came back on. The Nicaraguans knew better than us, though. In our part of town the lights usually come back on and stay on, for them, this means that they have a few minutes before the lights go out for the night. Everyone scattered, the goodbyes were quick and the party was over. Nicaragua, at night, when the lights go out is really dark. Then we drove home to our lights and fans.