La Misa

Wow…

Its only been 3 days here in Nic, unbelievable. I expected to be spending all my time alone, but so far Ive really only had a couple hours solomente. Looking forward to some quiet afternoons during the school week. Speaking of the week, we (as in Jennie and I, oh Jennie is a Canadian friend and most importantly, a great source of Christian fellowship…) found a place called Calita Feliz. Its a school for the poor children in this community. I cant explain how great the place is. When I was there on Friday I wanted to call home and just tell everyone I know to send money. They are really doing some great things there. I am going to teach english, and futbol y beisbol. Soccer and baseball.

Juan (our Nicaraguan friend/ translator) is pretty freakin crazy. He lives to party, and he insists on taking us to local places and tries to get me drunk. Juan, Sarah (another Canadian friend), Jennie, and I went to a local place last night and tried to learn a little salsa y merengua. The chicas here all dance and want to teach you how, but when Enrique Iglesias (thats my spanish name here) stepped onto the floor, I became the teacher. Not really, Im actually unbelievably bad at dancing. The Nicaraguan people are a lot of fun though. Today we went to Misa (mass) with Juans mother, and I will tell you about that in a minute. But after church we went to this Lagoon called Laguna Apollo or something like that. It has to be the most perfect “chill” place on earth. We sat under grass huts and drank lemonada until we couldnt drink nada mas. I hope we go back.

But this morning, we went to mass with Juans mother. It was one of the coolest feelings that I have experienced. I dont understand much spanish yet, but language is no barrier for the Lord. I felt the same encouragement from the holy spirit in the church here as I do any sunday at home. It almost caught me off guard. But the spirit lives in the hearts of the people here. I couldnt stop thinking about the verse in Revelations 9 that says “and there I saw a great multitude of people from every nation, tribe and tongue, standing before the throne of the Lamb…” and I dont remember the next part, but they are all worshipping God as One. I felt a little taste of that today. I didnt quite pick up the songs that we were singing, but we did join hands in one of the easy songs and sing “gloria al padre” or something. If you want to hear more about this stuff ask me but I dont want to drag on and on.

Jennie brought 250 lbs of cosas, things, for the needy here in Granada. Her husband is coming the last week we are here also and bringing more. She has been able to give some of the clothing to a lady that works in the homestay family she is staying with (Juans family). I got to go with her to the ladys house, which is a project about the size of the bird house that you and I built dad (ok, I know I built most of it, but you DID help). its probably 3 times the size of it, but not the same quality. there are three families staying in this project. her family is large, too. the outer walls were made of plywood, the inner walls of cardboard, and the cieling was a staggered (?) tin roof. dirt floors. absent of the normal furniture im used to, only a bed in their room that im sure the entire family squeezes into every night. Jennie gave them two blankets, and some clothes, it was humbling to see the gratefulness that this family expressed to her knowing that I have so much more and I am so much less grateful. there are many people here with beautiful hearts.

tomorrow i start classes at 8 in the morning until 12. im really looking forward to four solid weeks of studying. and i need some quiet afternoons. thats really the reason that i decided to come here, if you did not already know.

bish if youre reading this… Granada is almost identical to Antigua bro its got the church on the same side of the central square as antigua, and the banco is on the same side, the hotels and everything. its crazy. thought you should know.

ill post some pictures on here once i get them from jennie

forrest