Christmas and Sunny Days

Although at first it seems strange to celebrate Christmas without the weather turning cold, I have begun to appreciate some of the activities we do here to celebrate. This year I have felt so blessed with many opportunities to share and experience God's love in multiple ways. I won't actually be here for Christmas Day, but December has already been filled with lots of activities in and outside of school.

Our students presented a Christmas program to the parents one evening. We had everything from a bell choir to puppets to a donkey on wheels. The chapel area was so packed that people were standing out on the sidewalk. Good thing the chapel doesn't have walls, this allowed for us to expand beyond the roof covering.

Like I said Christmas and sunny days. Students make various crafts at this time of year to take home as gifts for their parents. Here some fourth graders are showing off some kites they made in Spanish class. Also to end the year before Christmas holidays the elementary classes participated in Christmas Around the World. They traveled to different countries (classrooms) to find out how that country celebrates Christmas.

This was another Christmas celebration with the children at the Nutrition Center. We spent some time one Saturday morning singing Christmas carols, sharing the Christmas story, drawing Christmas pictures, and decorating and eating Christmas cookies. A small gesture that brought out big smiles.

Then there was the annual cookie making extravaganza. We started baking cookies at about 1:00 and finished by 5:00. We battled ants and humidity to accomplish this display. By about 6:00 we departed with plates of Christmas cookies in hand and presented them to missionary families as we caroled at each ones' house.

Now I just have one more day in Nicaragua before heading back north to what I hear will be a snow covered Christmas. Blessings to all!

Special Visits

In the past couple of weeks, I have been blessed abundantly with visits to various homes of Nicaraguan friends. In each case, the family seemed very worried about making food that the 'gringas' would like. They were soon able to relax once they saw that we were content. They also wanted to present their best and so table cloths came out and their best clothing. In some cases I think the family bought new silverware for the occassion.

This is at Carmen's (she works at Nicaragua Christian Academy)house. She lives 1 hour out of the city and leaves her house at 3:50 to get to NCA by 6:30. She has done this for the past 5 years. Not only that, but she has 8 children to care for as well. She is one of the most humble people I have ever met. Her home is very small, but her children are healthy and happy.

Here Joy (my roommate) and Andrea (my student teacher) and I were at the home of Ana and Hector, both of whom work at Nicaragua Christian Academy. They treated us like princesses and we had a wonderful visit with their family. Their Spanish is very hard to understand but between Joy and I we were able to make it at least seem like we understood.
On Saturday I went to the home of Martha and Luis. Martha also works at Nicaragua Christian Academy. They too have a humble home but prepared an excellent Nicaraguan meal. Martha has a true heart for God. Inspite of the difficulties she has had in life, she has clearly seen God provide for her and her family through it all.

It's always fun to see the familiar face of someone from Canada; especially when you didn't expect them. I was in a Spanish service one Sunday and Rev. Postuma, former pastor of York CRC in Ontario, sat down beside me. Later that week we shared coffee together with the other pastors he came down with.

This visitor was a real surprise as well. I spotted her face at the Thanksgiving Program at my school. I recognized the face as someone I knew in my past. It was Mrs. Bok a former teacher from my highschool (Hamilton District Christian Highschool).