A few of my favorite moments in Nicaragua:
Learning 2 choreographed dances with the youth in Bethel.. the practicing was hilarious, and I felt like a superstar performing.. in fact Joel and I did the “superstar” jump at the end of one of them. God knows I need awkward outlets. (View of the volcano behind our house)
Isela with a cashew.. yes there is only one nut grown on each fruit.. no wonder the are muy $$$
The first day I was in Bethel a little girl named Isela picked my wedgie for me..If that wasn’t awkward enough the first time, she did it again a second time. All I can say is, that’s a true friend. She ended up being one of my favorites, that is to say if I have favorites, which i don’t.
Squishy- one of the cutest raisin like old ladies I have ever met. Her name is Heidi, and she introduced me to Trocante. She lost 3 sons, 1 daughter, and eventually her husband as well to sickness caused by the sugar cane fields. We sat and ate trocante together and watched kids play marbles..
Unripe Mango’s with chili and Lime at Connie’s house. Connie is one of the most vibrant, funny, loco ladies we have met. She initiated us all into her Nicaraguan Mafia. Legit. All the girls from Wreckonciled, and Rooted had a sleepover in her house and watched Step Up 3…bad american acting in a foreign country with 9 other girls to dub over what the are really saying= awesome.
Visiting one of the best beaches I have ever been to, Poneloya, Leon.
People I love:
Thelma, the wonderful lady who did our laundry and helped keep the living area clean. She is such a prayer warrior, and loves the Lord furiously. i loved praying with her, chatting over laundry, and having her at Tiffany’s baptism. She cannon ball launched into the pool, and when we got home skipped around laughing with the dinner bell. I miss her!
Estella Y Antonia- Two adorable sisters who were our cooks. They fed us well. Antonia made the best pancakes I have ever seen. Every one was perfectly golden circle. They were so concerned if I didn’t show up for a meal, and greeted me everyday with Raquelita! I miss doing dishes and cleaning up with them.. I didn’t understand a lot of what they said, but they loved me well.
Mario- Our contact while Ron was away. He had a huge smile on his face all the time, and such a servants heart.
Frauna.. for her story go to my sister erin’s blog: http://eringretz.theworldrace.org/?filename=meet-frana
Juana, Frana, Jennifer and Juan Carlos- 4 kids we met who worked at the dump. Pray for them and their families. Franais 4 years old, and has a pick thats just her size to dig through the trash. It was one of the saddest things I have ever seen. I got the chance to bring Juana colored pencils and draw with her, and Jennifer, and encourage Juan Carlos to draw too. he kept telling me he couldn’t, and was so serious about everything, he is only 6 yrs old. He works harder going through the trash than i have seen most adults- finally before we left he let me spin him around and i got to hear him giggle and see him smile. Pray they know their worth as children of God, pray they get the chance to be children, and to be taken care of and Loved. Jennifer, Juan Carlos, Frana (on my lap) and Juana
Juan Carlos!
Carelli- my little wild child.. so smiley, bouncing all over the place, full of joy, and she would try and kiss all over my face and I would do the same to her. Megan- so quiet and gentle, and when she would run down the street both her arms stayed straight, made me laugh every time to see her little feet going a hundred miles an hour and arms staying still. Socorro- Isela’s mom- a woman of abundant abundant faith. Katarine- eddies’s wife. She gave me a mani and pedi and we got some quality girl hang out time. YaYa and Jasmina- Lead a lot of the youth at church. Yaya immediately dubbed me her english teacher, and Jasmina is definitely listening to God’s leading and more sensitive to where he is at work around her. Please keep them all in your prayers!! Just the community of Bethel as a whole.
There is so much more that will have to be specific blogs later, but thats a small window into who I got to love and be loved by in Nicaragua.
Me and Carelli
Me, Katie, Joy and Hailey..at the doctors where we were told several people in our group had “Herpes” come to find out.. it was heat rash. no Big.. oh the World race
(Hammocks in Connie’s Living room for girls night)
(I love all the little piggies! my future pet)
Traveling sisters: Erin and Hailey and Rosita! Denise y Jeremias and Lamar and Joe Bugg below~
Jeremias our third new squad leader.. solo barone
My Big sis Linds. One of our mama squad leaders. Love her to death! Pray for her in Cali~
(One of three of our new squad leaders: Tiff Johnson & Little Megan)
(to the right—-> me and nessa, our other lovely squad leader)
Hailey, Erin y Yo
(The end of a long night Partying for Jesus...)
