It´s Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas...

(Mil disculpas, pero esta vez, no hay una versión en español. Les voy a hacer una versión en español pronto especialmente por mis amigos latinos. Besos y abrazos. Feliz Navidad y Bendiciones.)

So, this is what they scene looks like in the Galleria´s mall... starting in like September here in Nicaragua. It´s strange because they don´t actually do much here for the Holiday apart from Decorations. My friend Liz and I were out for a ladies afternoon when we came across this Christmas tree that matched my outfit. :) So, although we don´t have snow here in Nicaragua (still have temperatures in the low 90´s during the day), we do get to see beautiful Christmas decorations and lights.

Any ways, here are the things I have been up to over the last two months since my last post.

I traveled to the Atlantic (Caribbean) Coast of Nicaragua with two Nicaraguan volunteers. We traveled by airplane and then by panga, a small 12 person boat that is seen in the picture below. We landed in Bluefields at the end of the flight and then were whisked off to the dock to take the panga to Pearl Lagoon.

We met up with two Norwegian volunteers that had been there a little less than a week. Here we are at the office of Acción Médica Cristiana (AMC) in Pearl Lagoon.

When I got back from that trip, I had the opportunity to go to the Rubin Darío Theatre to see a Beatles rendition concert. Below is a model of what the theatre looks like. The concert was really fun and it was great to hear some well-known music in English.


I went to the concert with Belinda, her two daughters, her niece, one of her best friends and her daughter and her boyfriend. I had a great time singing Hey Jude, Yesterday and many other Beatles classics.

As of late, I have been able to spend some time with my roomies and some good friends. This has included yummy gourmet foods and great conversations.

I was also blessed to be given a spin bike by some friends who moved back to the states. It has been a real sanctuary for me to just jump on and exercise while listening to Mars Hill sermons on podcast. In the photo I´m wearing some new workout cloths that my parents sent down for me.


In November I attended the Global Leadership Summit conference that is put on by Willow Creek Church. It was previously taped and then translated into Spanish and was a really great conference. Some of the examples and jokes didn´t always translate well, but we got the general idea.


At the beginning of November I was blessed to host a construction team from Medical teams International. The photo below is of a truck that was in front of us on the way up North to Matagalpa, Nicaragua. Look safe to you?


Here is the MTI team as they were sifting sand to get it ready to make cement. Yeah... we don´t have to do that in the states! :)


Here is a black and white photo of the road leading up to the AMC office in the Santa Luz coffee plantation in near El Tuma, Nicaragua.


A couple other updates for you all:

• Master´s Class Progress: I just finished my second Master´s class and received another "A", which I am super pumped about. I am 4 weeks into my third class and I think I am doing pretty well. I have a project that is due on the 10th that I will be working on (haven´t started yet) that focuses on the organization that I work for. So, be keeping that in your prayers.
• Knee Problems: I was recently diagnosed with Chondromalacia in my right knee, which is basically the wearing and inflammation of the cartilage in that knee. I have been resting, icing and doing some strengthening exercises for it and it seems to be doing better, but I still appreciate prayers for continued and complete healing.

The next biggest thing is that I am looking forward to spending Christmas with family. In SIX DAYS my family will be meeting me at the airport in Chicago. I´m so excited to meet my 4 month old nephew and see all my friends and family. It has been a whole year since the last time I was able to hug them. I so can´t wait!

Deep Thoughts by Beth Jerdon....

Where to begin?!?! Lots has been going on in my life. Between work, personal relationships and the Master´s program, this last 6 months has been both really difficult, yet a time of great growth and stretching. One thing that stood out out to me especially this last month is the community that I have with my friends who are willing to walk with me through thick and thin.

One friend in particular has been fasting and praying for me about the things going on in my life.... for me! I love that about her. I want to be like her. :) Maybe it sounds weird, but really often do you have someone choose to not eat food and to seek the Lord for you in your life. Maybe it has happened a lot... or maybe people have done it for me and I haven´t ever known it. But, this is the first time to my knowledge that a friend has walked this closely alongside me during a time where I really needed additional spiritual support. How amazing is God, that He would place it on my friends heart to walk in spiritual solidarity with me. What an example of God´s love and His community... the church.

So, my challenge for each of you is to keep your hearts open to hear the leading of the Lord... maybe there is someone close to you that needs someone to walk beside them through what ever it is they are going through. I pray that you are willing to do that. I know that this friend of mine has been a great support and a great example. Friend, "I thank God upon every remembrance of you." :)

Blessed Christmas to you all,
Beth

P.S. I will be seeing lots of you in just a few days. I SOOOO CANNOT WAIT! :)