It’s hard to believe that tomorrow it’ll be one month that we’ve been living in Nicaragua. I apologize – I’ve been woefully negligent with the blogging. Quite frankly, getting moved in, setting up house, getting back to home schooling, and learning to grocery shop and cook here has taken a lot of my time. Not all of it, though. I’ve also been working with the Missions Team to plan the 2010 Ginger Creek trips to Nicaragua, meeting with local pastors and American missionaries down here, visiting La Chureca, and developing relationships with the people here on Pochocuape where I live.
I have to say, I LOVE it here.
I’m learning the culture (the good, the bad, and the ugly), I’m working on my Spanish – it’s coming along, but it’s still not good, and I’m realizing that constantly having dirty feet isn’t the worst thing in the world. Not even close, actually.
Today was a momentous day. This morning in church, three people accepted Christ as their personal Savior! A man and his two teenage daughters. I joined in with the rest of the church as we formed a line to hug these three new members of Christ’s family. “Bienvenidos, mi hermano/hermana,” was about all the Spanish I could choke out. “Welcome my brother/sister.” It was a real thrill and God gets all the glory!
This afternoon I drove for the first time since I left the U.S. – that was fun, interesting, and exhilarating! Not many Nicaraguan women have their driver’s license, so I got all sorts of thumbs’ up signs as I drove along the mountain. My friend who was with me said, “Nicaraguan men are watching because they think women drive too poorly to have their licenses.” I told her that in the U.S., a lot of men feel the same way about women. 
Right now, my kids are in the other room watching the Super Bowl via Skype! Kevin dialed our computer via Skype and then pointed it at our TV at home in Wheaton. It’s quite a sight – all five of them are watching the 19″ laptop set on the kitchen counter! I got pizzas for them – a real treat here, and ice cream for dessert. Not your typical Super Bowl fare, but nothing is typical about our lives these days. Hearing Queen Latifah sing “God Bless America” and Carrie Underwood sing “The Star Spangled Banner” while here in Nicaragua gave me a new appreciation for our country.
Life here is good, but it’s hard. Nothing is as convenient or easy as it is in the U.S. For instance, this morning we found out from the water department that there will be no water for three days. THREE DAYS?!? In a country where one is constantly dirty? No showers, no washing dishes or clothes, no flushing the toilet? Oh my. This could be my first real test of my physical resolve. Since I’ve been here, I’ve had: spiritual tests (combatting unbiblical behavior with the love and grace of Christ), emotional tests (I really miss Kevin and our church), testing from my kids (they are smarter than me, you know – just ask them, especially when it comes to the question of using a machete), and even a little bit of a physical test (I had only two warm showers within my first three weeks of being here).
But at least I had people I could call or e-mail to pray, I could video Skype Kevin and friends, and I had water to shower. Now there’s no water. For three days. Funny how your perspective changes. Don’t worry, I’m sure we’ll be fine.
I just keep saying to myself, “Bienvenidos a Nicaragua!”
The other, more important, thing that Paul said to all of us so long ago is, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7
Lest we ever get a big head. Or believe our own press.
May I rely on him for all the grace I need to run this race and show His power.
