Trip to the Northeast

This past Friday we began our trip, as we do every month that we can, to do the clinic in Rio Blanco. This is a town that is about 3 1/2 to 4 hours from Managua. It is the last town on paved road as you are heading east towards one of the major ports. This month was a bit different because we couldn't stay the entire day on Saturday to help out. We had to leave by early afternoon because we had a long and unknown trek ahead of us. We enjoyed our time at the clinic so much, we love going to help!

Saturday afternoon we got a bit of a later start heading to Las Brenas. We were going to spend some time with a pastor and his family. Roger has gone up to this area to work a few times now, but had only traveled by plane. This was to be our first time driving all the way to this community. Before we even left Rio Blanco we hit the dirt road, or better yet the rock road. I can handle a dirt road just fine, but these were rocks bigger than your fist and not smooth at all. There was a constant banging around that I don't think a chiropractor can even fix. It was a bit different getting used to such a drive. We managed to hit one patch of pavement that lasted about 2 mi. and then thankfully we hit another patch of road that they are working on that lasted about 10+ mi. (it may have not been all pavement but at least it was a smooth dirt road.) It was dark before we were even halfway there, which made it a bit more challenging for Roger to drive on a road that he didn't know.

We finally arrived at Las Brenas around 1am, and exhausted! The family woke up to greet us, but we were ready to hit the sack. But not until a quick bathroom break about a block behind the house in the outhouse. (Thank God for flashlights!) We were able to gather our strengths after a good nights rest, Roger had to preach the next day at the pastor's congregation.

Las Brenas is a community right on the main 'highway' but there is no electric lines (they ended 4 hours up the road) and there is no running water. I wondered how the kids would do without all those ammenities that we take for granted. Don't get me wrong we have had a fair share of electricity going out and no water at times, but you never know how your own kids will react. I will have to say that I was truly amazed. By the time the trip was over they didn't want to leave. I guess they wanted to experience the farming life. Josiah woke up Monday morning ready to milk the cows. Rachel helped clean the beans that they had grown. We made all kinds of food from food that they had grown (they are a fairly self sustaining family). I learned how to make cheese from fresh cows milk. It was such a great experience for us all. But most of all, the time with this family was amazing. The pastor's name is Luis and his wife Glendy. They have 6 children; Amir, Kenia, Javier, Julissa, Melissa and Benny ranging from the ages of 17 to 6.

There is truly not enough space to tell of all the fun and new experiences that we had. It is definately a 'sit down with a cup of coffee on a comfy couch' type of stories. I have one last funny thing I will share with you before I leave you with some photos for our trip. Each day when it came time to take a shower you had to learn to be very vulnerable. Their shower room was off to the corner of the kitchen with a large bucket inside in order to use the bowls to bathe. It was closed in of course, but you could hear and see most of who was there at the table (they couldn't see you), but that wasn't the hard part. The other two walls of the shower room were outside walls with gaps between each board at least 1 in wide or more, perfect viewing space both from the inside and the outside. Thank goodness we were in the campo (rural)!!

By Tuesday we were heading back home. It was a wonderful drive back, bumpy road and all. Of course, somewhere along the way we lost our rear license plate. There's no telling where it is now. We made it back home in 13 hours, wasn't half bad!! It was really great to see that much of Nicaragua. What a great trip!!

Here are some pics from our trip, but to see more they are at:

http://picasaweb.google.com/rreuceda/TripToRioBlancoAndLasBrenas#

Here is a video of Josiah's first time milking a cow. He was so proud!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxqbYSPjNog

typical house in the northeast



bringing water back from the well or river



Roger ministering at Luis's congregation



Kenia teaching me how to make cheese

Julissa and Rachel getting the beans out of their shell

our bathroom accomodations (a nice hike from the house)

Josiah milking a cow with Amir

Benny and Josiah enjoying a coconut

Julissa, Melissa, Rachel and Kenia playing on the hammock

Javier getting the cows ready to be milked

Amir teaching Josiah how to milk a cow

our drive back home....lovely sunset!!

New Arrival

Just wanted to send a quick pic of our newest addition to the communities. The mom has been coming for several months to the clinic to get vitamins and other things. This month she showed up with her 15 day old baby. What a cutie she is! It was nice that we weren't overly busy this clinic (just over 50 patients) so I could hold her a bit. Reminds me of my own at that age. These are the really wonderful things about having the clinics....hold all the new beautiful babies.

"Along the Way" Moments

We woke up this morning and got ready as usual to go to service in Managua. If we have a free Sunday we like to go to Verbo to fellowship with the body of Christ. It is a spanish speaking church but we also have a few good 'gringo' friends that go there as well, and our kids so love going to children's church there.

After service was over we chatted with a few friends and was getting ready to head out the door then a lady stopped me and was asking for some $$ for a doctor's treatment she needed. She proceeded to have me feel her breast (they are very open people here and would have been offended if I didn't), so beyond all my inhibitions I did so. She had a huge mass in her right breast that was the size of a lime. I was surprised. I explained I didn't have any $$ on me and I needed to talk with Roger. He didn't feel like we were to give her $$ but he knew we needed to pray with her. Roger then prayed with her and by the time they were done the mass went down to about the size of a chick pea. God is so amazing!!! She then went on about how she had been running from God. Wow, God sure has a way to bring His children back home!

We then went to get a few things at the grocery stores in Managua, that we can't find in our little town, and headed home. We were home for a while then Lisette, the doctor we use at our clinic, called about a woman that needed some medicine. She hardly ever does this unless it is needed. So we asked what she needed and headed over to her house to meet her and the lady.

Once we arrived we were greeted by Lisette, her 2 boys and Maria. Maria is quite a woman. She lives several kilometers from Jinotepe but goes there everyday to sell tortillas. She is 80 years old. Unbelievable. Her daughters tried to tell her to stay home and they would send money, but this is a woman that has lived her 80 years working extremely hard. She needed the medicine for her heart, but mostly for some serious varicose veins that put anything I have ever seen before to shame. A couple of them looked like bouncy balls sticking out of her legs and the rest were like a mountainous road map. But they still never slowed her up much. We really had a great time talking with her and hearing her stories. She has lived a hard life. She gave birth to 14 children and only 5 lived past the age of 5. Even through all her stories, of which one would be enough to live through for a lifetime, she had a love for life and hopeful courage.

There is only so much that one can plan and schedule and God does amazing things through that, but the "along the way" moments are truly amazing. God has all things in His place and timing. We should always be aware that no matter how our day is going or what things we had planned, it could be changed at any moment....for an "along the way" moment.

Valentine's Day!!

The best part of any Valentine's Day (now that I am a mom) is the handmade sentiments. They just can't be beat!!

(above is from Rachel and below is from Josiah....my two little artists!)

Also my wonderful husband came home yesterday with a beautiful display of flowers. And we are even going out tonight for dinner....no kids. Wow, I will definately be cherishing the moment. A real date (so few and far between)!!

Much love to all and hope each and every one is having a great day with the ones they love!!

Schools Almost Here!

Ok, so I am so far behind right now. I need to tell you about our trip to Rivas and our trip to Rio Blanco and so much. The only thing I need right now is time!!! I can't believe it is already the end of the month. Where does the time go??

This past week, after returning from Rio Blanco, we have been gearing up for the Nicaraguan school year to start. This will be our 3rd year with the honor to be able to provide school supplies for 5 rural schools outside of Jinotepe. For those that keep up, these schools are in the same area where we hold the medical clinics every month and also where we have begun to have movie nights. School begins here next Tuesday. I can't believe it snuck up on me this year. We are getting all the final data so that we know exactly how many students there will be in all the schools. This year I have been told it will be around 340.

This past year we were told that it was a very good year for attendance. The teachers and principal have noticed that the children and their parents have taken more responsibility to attend classes and also to stay in school (there is a high drop out rate after 2nd grade). It has really been a blessing to help these families and give them hope. Both through the school supplies and the clinics but most importantly through the tangible love of God.

It amazes me to see how many children aren't able to attend classes because they can't afford a pencil or notebook. Their whole school supplies for a year are around $10 per student. They don't worry about the new pair of shoes, or who has the cool new clothes, or their nice new backpack. The students are supposed to wear uniforms to the public schools, but for the rural schools they wave that so that they can attend. Most kids are happy that they have flip flops to wear, some have no shoes. And from what I have seen, less than half even have backpacks. All these things are the least of their worries. I remember last year Josiah asked if the boys would get upset if they got one of the kitty cat notebooks. I just smiled and asked him to watch as they opened their packs. The boys were just as happy with the kitty notebooks as the girls were with the car ones. They didn't care, it was still paper.

So once again, we are on our quest to get supplies. It is always a tiring week or so but so worth it. Even the teachers get supplies. The govt. only gives out very little, like paper and chalk. And with only making a little over $100 a month, they can't afford to supply it themselves.

Anyway I will quit rambling on about this, I just love to see how God touches these lives with the littlest of things that mean so much. And beyond that, how God reminds me how to be grateful for the little things in my life. Our lives are truly blessed through all the lives that have crossed our path and those who remain.

Thanks to all who have helped and who continue to help....there aren't enough words to express our extreme gratitude, so I will just say Thank You!!

Much Love!!

Movie Night in Dolores

Wednesday night we had another movie night. It was such a blessing to be able to go and be a support for a dear family that have become such good friends of ours. Francisco and Erika with there 2 boys live in a small community outside of Dolores, about 15 min. from us. They have recently started working with the children in their community. Many of these children have complicated family lives, clothes that are either 2 sizes too big or too small. Quite a few don't even have flip-flops to wear. But yet when they arrived to Francisco's home they were so glad to be there and slowly began to show their beautiful smiles. Francisco and Erika have such a heart for these children. They have started having meetings at their home telling Bible stories, praying with them and visiting their homes when they can't make it. And yet all is done with a Bible and a small book with some Bible stories. I am so excited for the work that the Lord is beginning!

Francisco had asked if we could come and show Bible movies or shows for the kids....and of course we wouldn't want to do anything else!! We were so excited to see all the kids that came. They slowly walked in, many carrying their own chair, waiting for the show to start. As Francisco began to speak to the kids more and more showed up. By the time the video was in full swing there were well over 60 in their front yard. Then after about 1 hour, all laughing and enjoying our time together, we all prayed together and when the time arrived for them all to return to their homes they filed out of Francisco's yard carrying chairs above their heads.

It was such a great night!!! The kids were so happy and Francisco and Erika were even happier. It was such a blessing for us to be able to be a support for them, to encourage them. Their hearts are amazing and truly filled with so much love for these kids. I am looking forward to all the God will do through them and all the lives that will be forever touched.

Much Needed Family Time

After a busy month in December and an equally busy first week in January we needed a day getaway. We decided to surprise the kids and take them to the volcano. There are several around but the closest one is in Masaya (40 min. away). And it also happens to be one that is still semi-active. Lots of smoking and at night you can see the lava in the crater.

Once we arrived the kiddos were so happy. We had no where else we had to be at a certain time. We could spend all day there or just an hour, whatever we wanted to do. It was so nice not to have anything else on the schedule for that day. When we first arrived they tell you to park facing downhil....hummmm, I was hoping the volcano would behave today. Once it threw big rock out of the volcano and it landed on a tourists car. Kind of funny but I am sure it wasn't for that guy. After we parked it was just a short stroll to see the largest and smoking crater. It was a pretty big drop. At the bottom you could see the opening where the smoke was coming out. Next we walked up a bunch of steps to the top to be able to see the other crater that is next to the smoking one. And as we turned around there was a pretty great view of Nicaragua looking onto the lake as well. This country is pretty stinkin' beautiful!!!

When we came back down from there we realized there was another crater a little ways away. We asked the kids if there were up to taking the hike and they were game. About half way up they had second thoughts, so we stopped for a bit to enjoy the view and for them to get their second wind. We finally made it to the top and it was quite pretty as well. This crater was filled with all kinds of trees and plants, much different than the other two. The others didn't have a single thing growing do to the sulfur, but the rock was beautiful.

Once we were done looking at the volcano and climbing the huge volcanic rocks we headed back down to play in the playground they had. The kids love them some playground!! We had a great time there.

After we left we were a bit on the hungry side so we zipped up to Managua to eat some lunch. Kid's choice of course...family day! Then they, of course, just had to look around at a close by toy store to do some dreaming....as if they need more toys. :) It was so great just to spend the day together. Nothing planned. To do just whatever the day brought. In a strange way, it was quite a restful day. I think we are going to have to make family days a bit more frequent than once every few months. We gotta get out there and really see all of Nicaragua we can before God has us move to the next place.

God bless and enjoy your family and the days God allows us to spend with them!!