I really enjoy sharing the interesting events of my day with you. Sometimes I come across things that I just shake my head and think, “Wait until I share this with my friends”.
Today was “Tipica” meaning typical here in Granada. After staying up past midnight, I was awoken at 6 AM to the sound of explosions. This really should not surprise me, but these seemed to be closer than the local Catholic church calling people to Mass. This was followed by a message over a loud speaker (in Spanish of course). I did not understand the words, but I understood the message. Someone had died and this is the way they let people know of the death and impending funeral. They don’t embalm here, so bodies need to be in the ground within 48 hours. More firecrackers were set off as the message was shared throughout town.
At 9 AM I had a hair appointment. I arrived at 9 as a timely American would. I was asked to come back at 3 PM, so change of plans. I am glad I grabbed the shopping list before I left home. Hailing a taxi, I headed to La Colonia ( the nice grocery store); I needed to buy things for our Thanksgiving celebration.
Bacon (English Pea Salad): I found some with the brand name of Fud. This reminded me of a Far Side cartoon where a cat was enticing a dog into a trap by writing “Fud” and arrows pointing in the direction of the trap. I was wondering if I was falling into a trap by bying this product… I found out this afternoon that I was!
Chicken Bar: When I buy chicken here I tell Stephen to look away. He can’t quite handle that raw chicken is in an open freezer case, and you can take out whatever parts you want. This meat looks better than most of the other meat wrapped up or in the butcher case. So far so good and other ex-pats do this, too!
Cranberry Sauce: I was asked if I would bring a “congealed salad” to the celebration tomorrow. It took me a minute, but I realized that was Jello with stuff in it. Of course for the Thanksgiving table this usually entails cranberries. I came across a can of whole cranberries in sauce. I was very excited! It was over $3 for a small can, but hey this is Thanksgiving!
Tomorrow we will be together with about 35 other missionaries to celebrate Thanksgiving. We are so thankful just for this opportunity to get together. It means a lot to celebrate American holidays with other Americans.
We are thankful that Stephen’s surgery is behind us, that we have a nice place to live, that God is revealing some ministry options to us, and that He has graciously sacrificed Himself for us so that we can go out and care for others.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Love, Natalie
My Experiences In Nicaragua