What I have chosen....

Let´s see. This last week was Semana Santa (Holy Week). I spent the first few days just spending time with the Lord and relaxing. The time to rest was much more needed than I thought. It was good timing, too. I have now been here in Nicaragua for almost two and half months. I can´t believe it. My time here in Nicaragua is going to fly by!

This last week I spent time with Mir’s family in Barrio Villa Libertad (her neighborhood). I also spent time with Rosario, Omar, Staci and the rest of their family as they were somewhat reunited with their older brother after a time of 4 years separation. I was a great time to just relax and eat “chicharon”- which is fried pig skin. :) Yep, for those of you at the YMCA that are reading this, yes... I ate it! Salty!

Photo 1:
Stacy, Rosario and Alberto's granddaughter (can´t remember her name)

Mir´s church had another fast that I participated in and we had a feast at the end. I really love and appreciate the people in this church. It reminds me a lot of Servant´s Community Church in GR. They love people where they are at and allow God’s love to be revealed through real life and a supportive community. After the feast there was a celebration. I danced with the children and it was so much fun, as always!

Photo 2:
Part of the fast at Mir's church/house.

Photo 3:
Me dancing with the niños.

The Monday and Tuesday after Resurrection Sunday I had meetings with the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Nicaragua workers. The first day was an all day meeting, but the second day was a fun day! We went to Volcano Mombacho and decided to do a 4 hour hike in 2 1/2 hours. Yep... I have´t worked out in almost three months. My calves are still sore! Besides the fact that it felt like I was running a marathon that I didn´t train for, it was really beautiful.

Photo 4:
A view from the top of Volcan Mombacho.

Photo 5:
Seth, Sarah, Matt, Me and Greta at the top of Volcan Mombacho.

Oh, another comment for the YMCA folks... I may not have technically worked out in three months, but let me tell you that I get a great workout trying to hang on while riding the buses. I also have a decent hill that I climb every day on my way to work. I actually get plenty of walking in around here. Oddly enough, even without working out I have lost almost 15 pounds since being here. Losing muscle mass and getting intestinal bacteria works great... but, I would no recommend it! Also, Acción Medica Crisitana (AMC) has asked me to start teaching an exercise class, so in May I am offering my first session of “clases aerobicas” for 6 weeks. Let me know if you want to sign up! :)

The other thing that I did this week was go to a concert in Malecón, which is where the old center of Managua was before the earthquake in 1973. Miriam, my host mom, treated myself, Enrique (her grandson) and Araseli (her youngest daughter) to the music of the amazing, Latin artist that sang beautiful Christian music: Jesus Adrián Romero.

Photo 6:
The concert of Jesús Adrián Romero

Photo 7:
Miriam and I at the concert.

I have had some many opportunities since being here. I AM SO VERY BLESSED!

I can´t begin to tell you all the thoughts that go through my mind daily here in Nicaragua. I am constantly learning, observing, making mistakes, praying and thinking about the differences between the the two cultures which I am now merging into my life. I come from a first world country! We have all heard the term “first world”, but what does it mean? And how is it different than a “third world” country? These questions are the basis for other more detailed questions that go through my mind almost on a moment to moment basis. It’s no wonder that I am tired at the end of each day. My mind is constantly going: learning a new language, culture, trying to figure out how my last 30 years of life in the USA fits into this new season of life.

I´m not telling you because this is too challenging or that I am struggling with it, but to give you a glimpse of what moving to another country is like. I always thought I lived a pretty simple life, that I focused a lot on relationships and that I came from relatively humble beginning and family. Being here in Nicaragua is allowing me to appreciate these things and learn how to integrate them into my new life here.

What does this all mean for the call God has placed on my life? Well, here is the answer:

“Is this not the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Then your light will break forth like that dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call , and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help and he will say: Here am I.” - Isaiah 58:6-9

Who am I in this passage?
....the poor wanderer who easily get caught up in the first world desires...
...the hungry who is desiring more of the Lord...
....the oppressed who has allowed my own paradigm to think I was living a simple life...
...the naked, as I chose to lay myself fully before the Lord, hiding nothing....
...justice because I have chosen to STRIVE for something greater; a kingdom that Christ says is possible, even more that it is present even now...
...the light because Christ is in me and I in Him!

THIS is the fast that I have chosen!

So... who are you and what do you chose?

Bendiciones y mucho amor.

Beth Ann

.......Here´s a shout out to you Rushalicious!

A bus ride across town to fast!

And NO, I do not mean "too fast", as in "the bus went too fast". I mean "to fast", as in to not eat food. :)

So, I had the most incredible time this last weekend! I decided to go stay at Dra. Mirtila´s (Mir´s) house, which is about an hour bus ride to the other side of town. I have been there before, but typically I am picked up somewhere between my house and theirs. I WAS BRAVE this time and decided to take a bus to a place I had no idea which stop to get off at! Mir told me the stop and then my host mom, Miriam, told me just to ask the bus driver to give me a heads up when we got close. And off I went with my bag of cloths for the weekend. Praise God, I was able to sit right in the front seat, which happened to be right next to the wife or the driver. It was a good thing I asked for guidance, because I seriously would have gotten off the bus at least 2 miles too early! I would have been lost. When they got me to the correct stop I knew exactly where I was. Whew!

To some, this may seem like a boring story... sorry, but these are the little things that entertain me. Put yourself in my shoes: You know only some of the language, but the accent and quickness of speach here doesn´t allow for much understanding when you aren´t really sure what you are listening for, the streets don´t really have names and you (a white person) are stared at EVERYWHERE you go. I think you too would feel victorious after an adventure such as this!

Anyways, :) I stopped by Manos Que Curan, which is the pharmacy that Omar works at and Mir runs (maybe it´s Mir´s daughter Aura that runs it, I will find that out). Omar knows more English than I know of Spanish, so we actually make for a good team when it comes to learning each others language. That evening I went to church at Mir´s house. The next morning at 6:30 a.m. we started a fast- "ayuno" in Spanish. We had church activities from 6:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. when we broke the fast.

I feel like any words I try to put to the experience will not do it justice. It was beautiful! I have been doing so much prayer by myself that I forgot how refreshing and marvelous praying with others can be. The passion of those that prayed was more than I have seen in the months that I have been in Nicaragua (and there are A LOT of passionate people in Nicaragua). The Spirit of the Lord was present. I found myself caught between listening to the beauty of the language and resting in the peace of the Lord. Even though it was an early morning, the time passed quickly and I felt refreshed. I was blessed to be a part of it.

Onto another topic...

Here is an odd thing that I have been analyzing lately about myself and my response to the culture and language. I am more comfortable with people that are older than me than those my age. I feel they have a bit more grace for me when I make mistakes. Also, it is weird to feel self-conscious around people my age, it is like I have a small fear that they won´t "like me" if I can´t communicate well. (Back to the days of junior high... yuck!) For those of you who know me best, this is very odd, because I feel comfortable in just about any situation. It´s not that I don´t still communicate, but I´m a bit more sheepish than I would normally be.

And yet, another complete change of topic...

Man, for this blog you guys are really getting a briefing of some of the things that go on in my mind here in Nicaragua. This one is something that I actually would like you to consider taking some action on:

The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act (The "DREAM Act")
The DREAM Act "would create a pathway to lawful permanent residence and eventual earned citizenship for thousands of upstanding high school graduates who were brought to the United States as children years ago. These young people have grown up in our communities and include honor roll students, star athletes, talented artists, and aspiring teachers, doctors, and entrepreneurs."
(Quoted from the "MCC Action Alert: Urge Your Legislators to Cosponsor the DREAM Act")

Please read this story from the New York Times to get a glimpse of at least one of the faces, that has the of name Benita Veliz, who is one of the many that are affected by this policy. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/28/opinion/28sat4.html

I have many friends like this that live in the United States. I do understand the need for border control when it comes to the issues of drug trafficking and the illegal trafficking of children. These are things that need to be monitored and controlled, but what happened to the principles of which our country was founded upon! What happened to people being welcomed at Ellis Island. Did you know that over 40% of American´s can trace their ancestry through Ellis Island...over 12 million people!

Maybe this is something you are not passionate about, but then again, maybe it is. Please contact your local Senator to ask them to support the DREAM Act. Call the Capital switchboard operator at 1-202-224-3121 and ask to be transferred to your Senator and Representative. CLICK HERE to find out the name of your local Senator.

Also, for another US/Mexico border related story, please check out the MCC Washington Post Blog

I know, no pictures this time and such serious topics. People, this is what it´s about! This is part of the reason I am in Nicaragua. It´s not just about facilitating volunteer groups to help the Nicaraguan people. It is about educating those who are still in the US that can make an impact with votes or even just making a simple phone call to a Senator.

For those of you who read this far... thanks for pushing through this one. I appreciate you taking the time to read... even when there are not any pictures.

Besos y arbasos mis hermanos y hermanas.

Que Dios les bendiga.

Beth Ann