Last Post in Nicaragua . .

We still have over a week left but we want to have pictures to show you when we get back plus the fact that loading pictures for this blog takes FOREVER!

This is a little Rosie! :) She is very skinny as people dont feed their cats as they want them to catch the mice and whatever else comes in their houses. This is in a the Bro and Sis house who killed the goat. When we popped in to pick up our bikes after ministry she let us try some. . .it was delicous!! The brothers also played a prank on Darren telling him a chilli wasnt hot. . .Darren must just have a face that needs pranked!

On the ministry we came a across a whole community out digging .. they were digging a trench so that they could try and lay pipes and get a water supply in their houses . .at the moment they use wells outside. I thought we would leave witnessing to them as they were busy but as we walked past they all started talking and taking time out to speak to us. Darren also spent ages running up an down this really long trench trying to catch a baby chick that had fallen in . .much to the mens amusement.

This is a picture at our last meeting. . even though it was taken a couple of weeks before we leave, as we have a couple of trips planned this was our last meeting. To make it more interesting their was no sound. Singing the songs was interesting but I think it actually sounded better as you really had to think about the tune! The Kingdom Hall is one of the nicest buildings in the area and the brothers take pride in looking after it.

A small group of us out preaching on a Sunday afternoon . .

A couple of pictures of us out on the ministry. There is a lot of walking out on the ministry . .as it is the dry season at the moment often we are walking through what would normally be a river. How the people that live in these little communities cope getting food etc is unbelievable. Nothing is quick and easy out here . .simple things in Britain just take ages out here! But these people still take time and sit down to discuss the bible no matter what you interupt them doing.

Recognise this man Matthew?! Mathew gave us a few letters to give to his old bible studies. This is Jose who is now married! He was very happy to get a letter :)

Josua and Tabitha had all the young ones and single ones around to prepare the wt and watch the new  dvds from the convention. There was about 15 of us altogether. It was really frustrating not being able to join in when they all sang Listen, Obey and Be Blessed . .I tried in English but the little girl beside me was going no no spanish!!

Some of you may have seen on the news about a volcano erupting in Nicaragua .. we decided to go and see what the fuss was about! Well we had actually already planned to go and see friends in Chinandega and no one seemed to be worried about the volcano here so we felt it was safe enough. We took this picture on the bus .. When we got to Chinandega everyone was walking around wearing masks and the air was thick with ash. We started to wonder if we had made the right decision!

Whilst sitting in a  cafe we saw loads of fire engines go past  .. and we started to panic! But they were just washing down all the streets and cars and anyone that got in their way!  As time went on in the ash slowly became less and less and we got our hands on some facemasks . .cleansing my face at night was not fun!

On friday we went on the ministry in the rurals. I went on studies all morning which was really nice. We also went to a brother and sisters house which was full of brothers and sisters working hard. The brothers here need work done to their Kingdom Hall and to raise funds for it they are harvesting a field of hibiscus flowers. It sounds simple but it is really hard work. They are hoping to raise $1000. Considering the fact that this brother and sis(who have used their land to grow the plants) live in a house with corrugated iron walls and roof and a mud floor their generosity really touched us! Unfortunatly we only have pictures on our phones so cant upload them. This picture looks like a happy one.. however as we were out in such a rural place(we had argued with a taxi driver to take us there)we had no means of getting back  . .we walked for 2 miles at midday until we saw a caponera outside someones house. We shouted until the man came out and told us he wasnt working.  .we begged him(and offered more money than normal) to take us what would have been another 2-3miles. .so this is us so relieved to be on a caponera!!The poor guy was shattered at the end!

That evening we went to an English meeting! yay! It was really nice to be able to answer freely! Traditon after the meeting is pupusas . .it is like dough with either chicken, chicken and cheese or meat and cheese inside and then cooked . .they were really nice and cheap!I love Darrens face in this picture! We really enjoyed chatting in English!

Saturday we went to the beach! But forgot our camera! It was beautiful. The waves here however are so  dangerous. We were really careful not to go out our depths but the waves just sent you tumbling! It was great fun though! Nothing better than sitting in a hammock, watching the waves roll in with a tona in your hand. . . with that happy thought I will finish.

We have lots more photos and cant wait to see you all when we get back!

Lots of love Darren and Ems x

Another week in Nicaragua

 

Well a lot has happended since our last update!! We will try and remember everything!

 

 

This is me being a stand in householder! Our meetings are on a  friday evening now and this particular night was a celebration here for the conception of Jesus .. . basically loads and loads of fireworks( except they just make noise and have no colours). So during the talk there was a lot of noise!

This is a picture of Darren gettign a huge mango from the tree in our back garden . . .it was so sweet and juicy! Definately a perk of being here is the fruit and veg! Although you cant get strawberries or mushroom as it is too hot.

This gives you a little idea of what our territory is like. This is quite a  rural area that has hardly been worked. A lot of the territory has never been worked as you need a car to get to it and no one here has a car. You will probably notice there is 3 of us on the door . .here it is quite common if there is an odd number for 3 to go to the door as the people dont seem to mind and most times you are invited in and the whole family is there so having 3 people can be handy(although I am not much use!) The  ministry is very relaxed here. . for example I was doing a door and the 2 sisters with me just stood chatting behind me! Or 1 sister was doing her presentation and the other sister starts shaking a tree in the persons garden to get the fruit off it and then proceeds to eat it(and spit the skin on the ground)! It has taken a bit of getting used to! The people are just yearning for the truth here and have so many questions and such a respect for the bible!

I wish this was a happy little story about a man who took the magazines . . however Darren took this picture as the man told him that the next day he was going to kill his dog . .. by dropping a sink on it! He said his dog was sick however he was running around like crazy and looked fine! Animals are treated very differently here . . ..

This is also an animal that is now dead(and eaten). A family in the hall had this got called rosa . .and saved it for a big party they had for their daughter graduating school . .apparently it tasted really good!

 

 

 

 

Now a happy story!! We went to Leon for a few days holiday. Whilst we were there they released hundreds of baby turtles. . everyone got to release one an this is my little one . . It was a big project to save the turtles as a lot of locals poach the eggs so charities try and get to the eggs before them and once they have hatched release them . .was an amazing sight!!

Paradise  . . .

Unfortunatly our night at the beach meant we got eaten alive by sandflies. . .We have never experienced anything like it! Was sooo itchy . .it meant we cut our trip to the beach short and stayed in Leon instead . .

Leon was a really nice city. Felt safe and had nice restaurants and coffee shops .. it also has about 20 cathedrals! This is one of the most famous(it is on the front of our guidebook)

As we were wandering we stumbled upon brothers. . in the English congregation. It was really nice to chat to them and hear their experiences. The couple in the picture are from Canada and they took us for Coffee. . they were trying to persuade us to join the English congregation. Being out here has really made us appreciate Jehovah's organisation . .the fact that you can meet complete strangers and be friends instantly with so much in common and trust each other straight away is something we will never take for granted.

This is again a happy picture from Darren. This is the womens dear cat .. stuffed!

 

This weekend was the convention in Estelli . .There was nearly 2000 in the baseball stadium.

 

 

The seating was just concrete rows and the elderly got plastic chairs . .

Health and Safety just doesnt exist here. This brother climbed right up on to the roof to get some wiring down. His name is Wilmer . .some of you may have met him and his wife Astrid at Matt and Stephs wedding.

This is on the congregation bus! Same rules apply as public buses . .there is no max capacity!!! It was blasting kingdom melodies and felt like a long 45min ride! we got to know our brothers better however!

Anyway that was a very quick summary of a busy week!! We will probably think of more to add to it . . .Hope you are all ok!

Love Darren and Ems x

2nd Week in Nicaragua

It is nearly 2 weeks since we arrived and time is flying past . .We have done a lot of min and a couple of trips so here are some of the more interesting pictures . . .ooh and just looked at forecast for Glasgow . .-1 sorry!

 

 

Darren said I had to include this. . this is our "food hole" and its full of toads . .lovely . .

This is Darren on Dawns girly pink bike. . heading off on ministry with Joshua . .sorry I still can't figure out how to turn pics around!

On our way to field service group . .the mountains are stunning here . .

Darren did a door and explained he didn't know much Spanish, the guy listened and took the tract and then said if you are from Scotland let me show you a cock fight . . .

This poor sister(Carla) has been put with me 4 days in a row and must be fed up of my simplistic Spanish but she is lovely. This therefore has been my mode of transport . .Darren has been very jealous! On one door I went to with her, she was having a long chat but I was able to follow and joined in a couple of times . .that afternoon I went on a study with her and she said to her study that my spanish was fine . .and then asked me to open in prayer! So I did. . in English! I think she over-estimated my spanish .  .

A little train that takes the kids around the village.

Monday we went to Sebaco and saw the markets! Very colourful . .they always try to sell us apples as they are the most expensive thing.

A guy taking a nap at the side of the road in Sebaco.

 

After Sebaco a brother had said Darren could borrow his bike whilst we are here but he would just need to get it fixed . .turns out the chain was totally jammed so the back wheel wouldnt move at all . .hence Darren having to do this all the way home. . a good 25min walk. He needed a beer after!

Today we went to Estelli to see a place where there is a waterfall and you can swim . .it was supposed to be 1.5hour walk but a pick up offered us a lift up . .it was fast and bumpy but fun!




A short walk after the bumpy ride ..

                                                         This is what greeted us! :)

A lovely cold swim under a waterfall . .perfect way to cool down.


Tomorrow is ministry as is thursday, friday, sat and sun but we will try and take some mroe pics! Adios for now!

 

Nicaragua

After a very long journey we stayed one night in the best western opposite the airport . .getting across the motorway felt like a game of chicken! The next morning we enjoyed a brilliant breakfast followed by sunbathing and for lunch refried beans(locals eat it every day) and plantain and of course dos cervezas!!

 

After lunch a local brother Tonio picked us up . .I went to the toilet whilst we were waiting and Darren nearly had us going in a cab with 2 random guys, fortunately Tonio then walked in carrying a watchtower! It took nearly 2 hours from Managua to San Isidro and we realised just how little Spanish we knew! This was our house when we arrived . .the sister who stays in it is working a lot the next month and so wasn't there when we arrived. It was what we expected in our heads but the reality was a little difficult! After making the bed and rebuilding the wardrobe which had collapsed it felt a bit more homely. The first night was difficult as we felt a bit lost, didn't speak Spanish, the house was really dark and the noises were so strange plus seeing a cockroach in the bathroom was not reassuring!:-/

 

The next day the group was in our house! 8:15am! The brothers and sisters slowly arrived and seemed disappointed we didn't speak Spanish because as they kept telling us Matthew spoke Spanish! Fortunately for us there is a Swiss sister(Tabitha) who moved in last week and speaks English fluently!yay! She is married to Mexican Joshua who is an elder and speaks a little English. At the group I was put with Tabitha and then a brother called Immanuel said he wanted to work with Darren . .turns out he lived in Miami for 2 years and his English is pretty good!

 

 

The next day(Saturday) ministry was in La Trinidad a little village about ten minutes from San Isidro. We crammed 5 in to each taxi as even the local brothers said the buses were too full and the more people in a taxi the cheaper the price(12 Cordoba each about 30p) I worked with Lucie and it really tested my Spanish! I had a little presentation and then she would jump in and save me when I had no more to say! The ministry is brilliant here! Everyone listens, most people have you in . .the local brothers are just not very good at following up interest and conducting regular bible studies so the c.o in his visit last week had stressed to them all to work on this.

 

Sunday was our first meeting! The brother doing the public talk was late so we had the watchtower first! The brothers and Sisters all speak so fast but we followed roughly along. The brothers and sisters are good because they are really pushing us to learn Spanish quickly!

 

 

 

Cramming the bus full!

 

 

                                                                      The bin lorry!

 

                                                Darren, Me, Tabitha and Joshua

                                                                            Tonio

Monday there is no field service group and as Tabitha and Joshua are new here as well, Tonio took us for a trip to Estelli shopping. Its about 45mins on bus . .and it has a proper supermarket!! It wasn't quite how I would expect a city to look but it was amazing to see what you can get here. There are loads of clothes and shoe shops which sell second hand stuff of good quality and at good prices!(Heather would love it!) and you can get a washing machine! We all bought a big shop as meat and a few other bits are hard to get in San Isidro. Tonio has been a life-saver .. he lives just 2 doors along and showed us where everything is and insisted walking with us the first couple of days. In San Isidro he said(Tabitha translated or we would of never known!) there was a man who wanted to rob you following us but i killed him with my eyes. . thanks Tonio! In general we feel pretty safe around here . .we struggle to get into our house with all the locks! And during the day there are so many people about that we feel safe enough.

Anyway that's us for now! Time for family study in Espagnol! :)