Beet juice in the morning!

This morning I drank beet juice for breakfast and it wasn´t half bad! I attribute that to all the sugar that is put in it by my host mom. Not being one for much sugar, it is at times challenging to drink something so sweet so early in the morning. But.... you know, somebody has to do it! :)

This past week with my tutor Gretel and her friend Linda, I went to the Canopy Tiscapa. As we were walking up, we got stopped by the guards so they could charge me, and only me, 20 córdoba ($1) to go into the park. The don´t charge locals.... only foreigners. At any rate...it is beautiful! You can take 3 different zip-lines over the area of water, but I didn´t have time to do that.... another time I´m sure. I got some amazing pictures of the views of Nicaragua.

(In the center is the name Tiscapa, which lights up at night)

(A silhouette of Sandino at the top of Tiscapa- an important political figure in Nicaragua)

(Lake Managua and in the distance some beautiful mountains and volcanoes)

Well, it seems that I am getting into a routine. This is a good thing... well, at least for the next week. Then, as my life seems to continually do, my schedule will change again.

This past week I had a meeting with Christian Medical Action(AMC), which is the local non-governmental organization (NGO) that I will be working for over the next three years. I met my bosses, Belinda and her husband...whom I can´t remember his name right now because I met over 30 people at that meeting. :) I will know by the next post!

The location is beautiful, has a great view of the city and is quite big compared to other facilities I have seen. AMC is one of the top 10 NGO´s in Nicaragua. I am considering it quite an honor that they chose me to work with them.

The employees seem quite excited that I will be here for three years. They tell me that volunteers that they typically get are there for around a year. So, they all get huge smiles on their faces when I say that I am staying for three years. I will get some pictures of the office within the next few weeks, as I will begin there full time on March 1st.

Also among the changes over the next few weeks, I will be moving to a different part of the city. So pray that I learn the bus routes quickly and that I am safe, as I travel with my computer to and from work. The city is really wonderful. I had never really though of Nicaragua as a place to vacation, but with my tutor I have been able to travel around the city and bit and am convinced that all of you should come visit this wonderful country!

Oh yeah, Valentine´s Day here in Nicaragua is more of a day for both frienship and love. I spend the evening hanging out with my friends that I met three years ago when I first came: Omar, Aura, Claudia, and the two girls had their boyfriends with too. It was a great time of hanging out. I was a little lost, as my Spanish is still developing. Omar can speak some English, so that was very helpful. I felt loved and cared for!

So, let´s see... what has been on my mind this last week?

I really have been thinking about how over the last few months I have had the opportunity to take things one day at a time. This may be a familiar concept to some of you. :) For me, I tend to be a planner! God, in his infiniate grace and mercy has been leading me down this unknown path. Oddly enough, previously I had subconciously thought that "I knew my path". I would say that I have always gone with the flow of what God has known would come in my path... but, I had a pretty good idea of where I wanted to go and what I wanted to do.

Some of you may now know, but the idea of living in Nicaragua had been in my mind for a few years. Now, MY plan was to take a leave of absense from the GR YMCA , live in Nicaragua for a few months volunteering and learning the language, then return to the Y. Such a great idea huh! :)

God`s was better! (Of course.) Obviously, I will be in Nicaragua for 3 years and not three months... doesn´t God promise abundance! :)

So since leaving the YMCA, God has taught me to eagerly anticipate what ever it is that he has in store for THAT day! So, as I said before, this may be a familiar concept for most of you, but it is something that God is teaching me and I am actually learning.

After speaking with many of you either over the phone, e-mail or facebook, I know many are facing changes in your lives. Know that I am praying for you and that God´s great purpose is in what you are going through and that it is making you more of the person you are suppose to be!

Bendiciones, besos y abrasos.
Beth Ann