Welcome to Managua

~~ some friends we made in Leon ~~

After two months of living in Leon studying Spanish and exploring the culture we now find ourselves in Managua. I remember thinking that spending two months on our own in an unfamiliar city would take forever, not thinking it would ever end. However, the time has moved fast; we have said goodbye to our adopted family in Leon and are back in the capital city.

I would be lying to say that we feel we have mastered enough of the Spanish language to leave the school in Leon, but our time has come to start working and learning together. We will just need more self discipline as we teach ourselves with the literature given to us by the school and seek out opportunities to use and grow our speaking and listening abilities. Kinda scary to think that we won't have our teachers anymore though. They were the ones that gave us time to talk slowly, listened to our broken Spanish with a big smile and told us we were doing really good. Now we see blank stares, hear incredibly fast Spanish out on the streets and in the stores. Still really hoping for a few Nica's to come along and help tutor us here, I think that would be an awesome way to learn - Coffee and Conversation. Now it isn't that we can't say anything in fact today we went with a guy, who is working at Nicaragua Christian Academy, and did some translating for him at a local hard ware store and while we were out for lunch! That is right WE did the translating!

For the next three weeks we will be staying at Pastor Ricardo's house (the 2007 Faith CRC Nica. Team should remember this place). It is a beautiful home, family, property and we could not have asked for more. In addition to this awesome home we have been able to enjoy some great conversation with Darryl, a former Missionary with CRWRC who is here teaching a development course. He seems to be the guru on Community development and a founding father of the Nehemiah Centre - a great resource and a wealth of knowledge to which we are taking full advantage of.

Work will be kicking into full swing for both April and I come Monday morning. Early Monday morning I along with Dave S. (CRWM missionary) will be doing a dry run of the sea to sea bike race in a pick up truck in order to map out possible problems, accommodation spots, and other points of interest. It should be an adventurous time! April will be in the office for the first week of work, prepping for her trip with a service and learning team up to Chinendaga.

The weather here remains the same, hot and beginning to be quite dusty. I can't wait for the cool 30 degree weather that December is supposed to bring!!! It's a little odd to think that it is the middle of November. It has been quite different seeing Christmas trees and decorations being sold in 36 degree weather. Some people have been saying that Christmas is beautiful here in Nicaragua, and that I don't doubt, not at all. What I do doubt is that it will be able to replace my memories of the time of year. Last week for some reason I was listening to a Third Day Christmas song, within a few moments I was picturing myself at home wearing a sweater with a hot chocolate in hand staring at the snow fall in the street light...this year I guess it will be my Speedo I am wearing with an ice cold Fanta in hand, watching blue skies.