This might be a different blog for an update. I have been living here for three months. But living in Nicaragua has change my prospective about things. I come from a rich Mennonite heritage that has been passed down to me. I have had family members die for their faith in Jesus Christ. They lived with the bare necessities for life.
Since moving to Nicaragua, I realize that I do not have to have the latest and greatest for everything. If something is flexible, then get it fix. If the things keeps breaking down on you. Maybe you need to look into getting another one. Do we Mennonites need to have the latest and greatest of everything? WE claim to live a simple life. But do we really live a simple life. At times, I think we need to step back and reevaluate living a simple life. Do we need build big fancy houses? Do we need to build big barns for our animals?
Are we truly following Jesus? Or are we like the rich young man? The rich young man asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus told him to sell all he had and give to the poor. Ok…. I understand God had richly bless some people with money. But what do we do all our money?
November Update
The first Friday night for youth, we were all asked to bring some money. After all the money was collected. It was divided between four groups that were made. We were told we need to use the money to bless people within the community. My group bought some enchiladas and gave them to those lived on the streets near Central Park. Also, Philip know a young man that was in the hospital. We bought some food and he was able to get into the hospital and give the food to the young man. Later, we had great supper prepared by Joel and Jody. After supper, we discussed what each group did. It was interesting to hear what each group did.
The following Monday the youth girls went to the beach to celebrate Alisha and my birthdays. There was a point I ran down the beach and ran into the water. I put my hands into the water. I felt something around my leg. I touch it with my hands. I screamed and jumped out the water. Later, there was a bird eating something. Some of the girls chased the bird away. We looked at thing. One of the girls said it snake type fish. Later, I look on the internet. It was an eel.
We were getting ready to leave when some of the girls discovered the truck had been broken into. Some people looked in the truck to see if anything was stolen. There were four cell phones, two wallets, clothing, and three sets of keys. We tried to think how they got into the truck. Alisha thought the truck was left unlocked. We asked several people if they saw anyone walk away anything. They said they did not. But earlier there was a suspension looking young man walking around.
Alisha tried to call both Jasons but she did not get ahold of them. She got a hold of Nathan. At this time, we thought the papers for the truck were stolen.
We prayed and thanked God for His protection. After this I wanted to get something in the truck. I tried to get in through the passenger door. I was not able to get the key into the door. If I would have had my head on straight, I would have thought they got in the truck through this door. They had forced their way into the truck by forcing the lock.
We arrived in Leon where Nate gave us papers for the truck. We got changed. The personal workers from Leon went to Malpaisillo where we had tacos, banana splits, and cake with the youth, Philip, and Jason A for supper.
This is where we really discovered that the locked with messed with. I think Alisha went to unlock the passenger side door. She had a hard time getting the key in the door. Gary took a look at it. He said this is how the person got into the truck with another key.
On November 11, Gary invited some people over for lunch. Darlin and I helped Gary make pizza.
On November 16, we had youth night. We headed out to Malpaisillo. We played a few games. The first game was trying to keep a ping pong on the table by blowing the ball. Also, we played the game of couch. They way this game is played. You sit man/woman. The aim of the game is to get four men or women onto the couch/chairs. Men are known to be good at this game. We had a nice snack of frozen fruit slush and popcorn.
On November 18, Gary had the youth over to his house again. This time two of the youth made a Nicaraguan dish. It was delicious. Later, we head out to a park for fellowship dinner. We got to the park but we were not allowed entrance. We then head to park really close to the church. We played a couple rounds of volleyball. After we played volleyball, we had chicken burgers. It was really good.
The following day some of us went to Managua to pick up Joel and Jody from the bus station. I live two hours away from the city.
The last Thursday of this month we celebrated the American thanksgiving. Ken and Brenda had invited the staff over for lunch. We had some traditional thanksgiving food. There are some foods that we cannot get down. As far I know, there are no cranberries down here. I realize it does not matter what day we celebrate Thanksgiving. We are to be thankful each day. It is good to have a day to remember to be thankful for what we have.
Friday night we had some youth for supper. We had gallo pinto with sour milk on top. I can say it was not the most tasteful thing I have had. After we had finished washing the dishes, we played corn hole.
On the last Saturday, Darlin and I went fridge shopping with Nate. Our fridge had been freezing liquids and other things in the fridge part when it was on the lowest temperature. Earlier we got it fixed because there was leak in the lines that hold the coolant. It is way above my head for sure. I realized how those that are getting married feel. It was just looking at a fridge. Thankfully, we did not look for a stove and chest freezer.
The last Tuesday night we had our last children/youth night for two months. Darlin and I went to get our children we bring to class. We were returning from getting our regular children. A boy with his sister joined our group. The girl was about 1-2 years of age. The boy handed off his little sister to Hannah. As we near the church, I told Hannah I could take her because she had class. I just had to help supervise my class. As we got to the big door Ken gave a look that the girl was a little young. I said to him, “It looks like a babysitting job.” Ken said they had a problem with too young of children coming to class about a year ago. Children have to be four in order to start coming to class. Class that night went really well. But at the start of class, we had one of regular girls join with two other girls. The one girl had a fever. I tried to get the girl to set on my lap. But that did not work.
We finished children class. But all the while I was thinking. A brother wanting to come to children class but had to bring his sister so he could come. A girl having to play the role of mom at such at a young age. My heart ached for these children. Where are the parents? My mind went to the song “Prayer of the Children”.
Prayer of the Children-Kurt Bester
Can you hear the prayer of the children?
On bended knee, in the shadow of an unknown room
Empty eyes with no more tears to cry
Turning heavenward toward the light
Crying Jesus, help me
To see the morning light-of one more day
But if I should die before I wake,
I pray my soul to take
Can you feel the hearts of the children?
Aching for home, for something of their very own
Reaching hands, with nothing to hold on to,
But hope for a better day a better day
Crying Jesus, help me
To feel the love again in my own land
But if unknown roads lead away from home,
Give me loving arms, away from harm
Can you hear the voice of the children?
Softly pleading for silence in a shattered world?
Angry guns preach a gospel full of hate,
Blood of the innocent on their hands
Crying Jesus, help me
To feel the sun again upon my face,
For when darkness clears I know you’re near,
Bringing peace again
Dali cujete sve djecje molitive?
(Croatian translation:
‘Can you hear all the children’s prayers?’)
Can you hear the prayer of the children?
These children are crying for love. Crying for someone to care for them. Crying for one of their parents to be at home with them. Crying for a dad to play games with them. Crying for a mom to comfort them when they cry. My heart cried for these children. I know I can’t give them everything they need. But I can show them the love of Jesus. My prayer is they would see Jesus through each one of us staff.
As I wrote about this experience in my journal this verse was in it. It really spoke to me. “For God who said, ‘Light shall shine out of darkness,’ is the One who had shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of the God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves.” 2Corinthains 4:6-7 NASB
So my school has end for a nice long Christmas Holidays. Nate and Angie are going to the States for furlough December. So, we celebrated our last day of school by finishing up tests, going out for ice cream, and going to the park. Also, we celebrate their birthdays as well.
Thank you all for your prayers.
Also, may you have a wonderful Christmas season!
A Northern Girl Called South 