They say it your birthday/graduation/last day here.... We're gonna have a good time!

It has been quite the week here in my little corner of Nicaragua! Either I arrived in the height of the party season, or there really are parties ALL THE TIME here. I'm starting to think it's the latter. In my two weeks at Tesoros de Dios, we have had 5 parties and six pinatas. This past week, a group of physical therapy students finished the practicum they had been doing at Tesoros, and they had a party with three pinatas for the kids and the moms (pics to follow). Wednesday was a fun day because all the special education students got to make cookies (recipe to follow). Then on Thursday, a missions team from a Texas church came down. We had about 10min warning of their arrival, and it was amazing how quickly the Tesoros staff came up with stuff for them to do for the morning! Before they left, the team gave blankets to each mom (apparently, it does get cold in Nicaragua) and prayed over them through an interpreter. It was a blessing =) Friday was a another party at work for the birthday of Michelle, our director. Later that night my family went to a graduation service, which was a very fancy affair at a big hotel in Managua. Then, last night we went to a quincinera up at the church in Crucero. A quincinera is a celebration for a girl's 15th birthday, and it is a big deal in Latin American countries. This was the first I'd been to, and it was great (again, pics to follow).

All the partying is fun -- and really necessary with the hard life many Nicaraguans lead -- but it by far the best part is the people! The staff of eight ladies at Tesoros have been so welcoming! I feel as though I belong there. They love to tease and tease to love, so our days are full of laughing =) I also went with Papa and Ruben, my host brother, to youth worship last night; it was one of the biggest blessings of my time here! After the quincinera, we sat in a circle outside under the stars, and sang and prayed together. Even though I didn't understand all that was happening, and my oh-so-white skin shone in the starlight, it was obvious that we were coming before the same God as broken but hopeful members of His body -- how humbling is the unity of believers! And then there is my family here in Nicaragua, who have all but adopted me. I don't know how I'll leave them. But! In Christ, goodbye is never forever.

Prayer Requests:
Nana's ankle -- Nana, who lives with the family and takes care of them, fell a while back and broke her leg in three places. She is out of both the cast and brace, but her ankle is constantly swollen because she stands all day long. Please prayer for relief and healing for her.
Youth at church -- there is a strong youth presence and participation at the family's church. Please prayer that these young people would continue to realize Christ's work in every part of their lives. Especially pray for the men, as they struggle to live differently than the machista (macho) culture they've grown up in, which is cowardly and objectifies women.
Perseverance -- that I would continue the hard work of speaking Spanish, and would continue to live joyfully through the Spirit.