The Past Few Months

It has been a long time since I last wrote! Here are some glimpses of my life from the past few months.

Learning Arroz Aguado.
In the beginning of April I visited Yelba´s home (the psychologist at Hogar Belen). I had once commented to her that I really enjoyed a rice dish that she had brought for lunch. This led to an invitation to her home to learn how to make it. Her and her mother decided that I would make it for them, which turned out to mean I watched them do all the work and they let me dump it into the pot. :)
Yelba and her mother "letting me cook :)"

Physical Therapy Students.
We now have 6 physical therapy students from a university in Managua completing an 8 week practicum at Hogar Belen. 3 of them come on Monday and Tuesday mornings, and the other 3 come on Wednesday and Thursday mornings. They rotate, 2 working with Grethel in the physical therapy room, and the other one with me in the sensory room. It has been nice to work with more people my age. They have new ideas and energy, and it has been great for the kids. They finish their time in just a couple of weeks and will be missed!


3 of the PT students at Hogar Belen



Transportation Strike in Nicaragua.
For around 2 weeks durning the month of May there was a nation-wide strike on the part of transportation complanies in Nicaragua. The transportation companies here were complaining that the gas prices in Nicaragua were higher than any other Central American country, and that thier current president, Daniel Ortega, was willing to purchase gas at this price only to maintain relations with Venezuela.
Outside of some of the routes in the capital, there was no public transportation available during this time. The markets were unable to recieve food and goods, which caused prices to rise even higher. Most were unable to make it to work, or had to take drastic measures to do so. For example, one of the security guards at Hogar Belen rode his bike 1 1/2 hours (one way!) to complete his shift during these two weeks.
It was an awful situation that affected all. I was a part of many conversations at Hogar Belen in which my co-workers were discussing what they were and were not able to provide for their family that week. It opened my eyes to the vast implications of the strike.
In the end an agreement was reached in which the government offered public transportation subsidies of $1.30/gallon. The economy took a real hit, but buses are again roaring down the streets.

Rain.
On May 10th I smelled rain for the first time in five months. There was a breeze a few drops, and that wonderful smell (It is a very distinct memory :) I am awakened to the beauty of a refreshing rain after hot, dry sun for 5 months!
The rain began by coming in this way, a few drops here and there. Then we began to feel some of the affects of tropical storm Alma with incredibly strong wind and rains. We are offically in winter- the rainy season. Positive sides of the rain: It has cooled down a bit, we no longer have to fill barrels at my house at night because now we have water, and I just love that sound on the tin roof:) Negatives sides of the rain: laundry that never ever drys, more mosquitos, and the river that takes over my road when it rains for too long!

Trip to Bromedero.
May 18th I was able to visit the rural community of Bromedero with a group from MCC. We attended a church service, and were given lunch by the members of the community there. Afterwords we were able to visit a couple of projects there- a small farm, and a weaving center where young people make and sell woven items. As always, it was nice to get outside of the city. The people were very friendly and hospitibal, and it was a peaceful day :)

Some of the woven items

Ruth.
This month I have difficult news to share. There was an accident the last Monday in April in which Ruth, a 13 year old child that lived with us at Hogar Belen, injested a cleaning acid (she mistook for water) at school in the morning. She had just one swallow, and was taken immediately to the hospital. She appeared to be healing well for a few weeks, but her body was unable to handle the burns to her stomach. She passed away in the hospital May 22nd.

Ruth was one of the higher functioning children at Hogar Belen. She had a mild form of down syndrome and was very communicative. When I came to work in the mornings, she would spot me from across the home before I even entered the gate and shout "EM-MA!"announcing to all my arrival:) Ruth loved to sing, dance, laugh, and talk. She lived with incredibly high spirits and brought life and laughter to Hogar Belen. It has been a pretty difficult time and adjustment for everyone this past month.

I could post many more photos of Ruth, because she always seemed to manage to get in front of my camara.. Here are just a coupe:)

Dia de Madre.
May 30th is mother´s day here, and is celebrated quite significantly by most families. For many it is only a half-day of work for the holiday. I went to Hogar Belen for the morning, and at my house celebrated with a family gathering for the afternoon. I treasure these family get-togethers! :)

The three mothers of the family cutting their cake

Vacation.

The first week of June, a good friend of mine from college, Natasha Diener, was here for a week long visit. It came at a time when I was needing some sort of break, and was a refreashing week of both rest and traveling. We visited Mombacho, a large volcano in Granada, with Ruth and Issela (my host sisters), spent 2 days on the coast of the Pacific Ocean near Nicaragua´s oldest city, and spent a day at a crater lake with the MCC team. There was also time for relaxing with my family, a morning to spend with the kids and my co-workers at Hogar Belen, an evening to learn how to make empanadas (a food more common to Bolivia where Angela, the MCC country rep. is originally from), a lot of laughter, and a very satisfying amount of "American" foods like pizza, sandwiches, and my most favorite- a box of cinnamin life ceareal :)






The 4 of us at mombacho (L-R Issela, me, Tasha, Ruth)




Tasha and Juan Jose at Hogar Belen



Below: I love the ocean!!!












Currently..
I have only 4 weeks left here in Nicaragua, which hardly seems real. Time is winding down so fast! Right now at Hogar Belen, we have two more volunteers from the study/service program from Goshen College in Indiana. They will be here until after I leave for home. At home, I am trying to spend much time with my family before I leave. My host sister, Ruth, just found a job (a huge and long awaited blessing!!), but it means that I see her quite a bit less which is unfortunate. I have some weekend trips planned for the next couple of weeks before I leave as well.
Many of you have been asking what I will be doing when I get back, but I just don´t know yet :) I have been working on applications and hope to find a teaching position at some point. My main possiblities seem to be in Indianapolis (where my sister and brother-in-law live), so I may become a Hoosher...but so far I have no concrete plans.
I hope to do one more blog, but it will likely be when I get home in July.
Thank you all so much for your prayers and support throughout this past year.
Until next time...!