My Journey (So Far) in Pictures

Well, sorry to use a worn out saying, but a picture is worth a thousand words. Instead of simply writing about all that has been going on, I want to show you what I've been up to with these photos... and captions of course!

When we took off in Miami, the sun was just starting to set, and we chased it for awhile. I'm not sure what islands these are, but we passed over them within an hour off take-off on our way to Managua. How beautiful is God's work!

At the airport in Managua, I was met by Michelle Adams, the director of Tesoros, my host mom, Ivania, and my host brother, Gabriel. It was a very warm welcome, and I was glad to receive it after so much alone time in airports and on planes. It was dark when I arrived (the sun sets around 6 or 6:30 year-round), so I wasn't able to see a whole lot a Managua, though the airport is on the opposite of the city from our house. Here is what our house looks like in the daylight. It might not look like it in the picture, but it's really a pretty big house!

This picture was taken from the porch. You can see the new gate the family is putting up. It still needs a light on either side. This gate was built after floods last year that filled the street and ran right into the house. Nicaragua is the safest country in Central America, but this gate does also give a greater sense of security.

Here is the main communal space in the house, just inside the front doors. There's also a dining room table just outside the photo to the right. You can't see it well in this picture, but near the window is a jug of purified water. This is for all the gringos or gringas. New-comers get sick if they drink local water, but it doesn't bother those who have grown up here.

This is my first bedroom. I was only here for six days. It is at the front of the house, just off the living room. I had my own bathroom and everything! As in many non-Western countries, the Nicaraguan sewage system can't handle toilet paper -- don't ask me why. I'm still having trouble remembering to throw the toilet paper in the trash instead of the toilet!

When I arrived, I wasn't the only gringrita in the house. Ayla, a nurse from Texas, had been living with the family for four months and was working to start a medical program in conjunction with four Christian schools in the area. It was really great to have her here when I arrived. She was able to tell me how things generally go about the house, and in Nicaragua in general. We even took a taxi to the mall together on Monday, which was quite an adventure!

Here is the rest of the family -- well almost all of them! Papa (Guadalupe Gomez) was working somewhere in the countryside around Managua. He is a lawyer and a pastor, so he is very busy! Mama (Ivania Matamoros), is in the center. She works as the Business Manager at Nicaraguan Christian Academy, where the boys go to school. She is also very involved at church. My big little brother is Ruben. He is quiet, at least at home, but very kind -- always willing help or explain something to me (both boys speak English). My other hermanito (little brother) is Gabriel. Gabriel is super energetic and loving -- and fun to play with! We're missing Wendy, my big sister, and one of my friends from Dordt. She is working at Dordt this summer, so she's won't be home at all while I am here. Finally, Nana is missing. Nana is our nana. She takes care of everything in the house, including us! Her food is amazing! All of the family have been very hospitable and I truly feel at home here! (P.S. Mama's and Papa's last names are different, not because they're not married, but because that's just the way they do it here.)

Oops! I can't forget the dog! Blackie is a good dog, except when he jumps. I've already gotten paw prints all over my clothes!

Here is the view from our house out to the street. You can see the little building -- I don't think that it's a house, but it's not much different from most of the houses here, including those on our street. People here don't have much, but what they have, they take care of. Today, a neighbor came over while Michelle was visiting to so he could "interview" with her for the position of night guard at Tesoros. Later his wife brought over a dirty piece of paper that had begun to rip at the folds. It was a letter of recommendation from his previous boss. They had no way to copy the letter, so any time he went for an interview, they would have to give the original and return to get it later. This occurrence really made me realize the vast differences my life at home and the lives of the people here.

Here is another picture of our house. You can see the coconut tree on the right side. Unfortunately, the coconuts won't be done until after I leave. Still, the mango tree and the lime tree are producing well! You can see some clothes hanging on the porch, out of the way of the rain. There is a washing machine in our house (a new addition), but no dryer.

Here is my beautiful new room! After Ayla left early this morning, Nana moved my things into her room. Actually, it's Wendy's room. Here in the back of the house it is quieter and cooler than where I was in the front.

Tesoros de Dios! Here is the school where I work. Inside there are places for the kids to do physical therapy and special education. There's also a kitchen. The kids who come to this school only come once or twice a week for three hours at at time. There are too many kids for them to come more than that. Tesoros accepts children ages 2-18 with any kind of disability -- mental or physical -- unless they are violent or better served somewhere else. Every time a child comes to Tesoros, one of their parents or caregivers has to come with them. This way, the mothers are involved with their children's education and therapy, and can support each other. Really, this is one of the coolest aspects of Tesoros -- the way the mothers are given authority in their children's lives, and the joy the mothers have in helping their kids.

At Tesoros, I pretty much do whatever someone tells me to do, although sometimes I have to find things for myself to do. To date, I have done everything from brushing a little girl's teeth, to helping a high schooler with long division, to hauling sand and scooping it into the stable. Here pictured are the benefactors of my hard work -- the horses used in the equestrian therapy at Tesoros.

This is what I've been up to the past week, and a small tasting of my experience here. I am so glad to be in Nicaragua, and getting to know the people here! The language is still hard -- but I am getting better at understanding as my ears become accustomed to the sound and patterns of speech. This post has already been very long, so I will try to tell you some of what I'm learning in the next one, maybe with a story or two =) Thank you for your prayers! Vaya con Dios!