We’ve begun working our rural territory as a congregation more often. We pile on the bus, or sometimes in a brother’s truck and head out for a whole day of preaching. We are on foot most of the day. It is great. The young brothers and sisters really show up to support and 50-60yr old sisters come too. We all meet together for a picnic lunch and a bit of a rest and then we take off again to visit more people. The last rural we did we were on foot the whole time. Something that happened has become one of my favorite moments here by far. Shane didn’t make it, he was sick. I’m so sad he missed it. There were about 25 of us out. We split into two groups after lunch. One group of 10 went uphill the other group of 15 went downhill. Our group went up hill. We followed a dirt road with houses on both sides preaching the whole way. Our goal was to reach the new paved highway called the Guayacan and then preach our way back down the highway. As we kept working, the houses along the way became fewer and fewer. The dirt road became narrower and steeper until it was finally just a foot path that ended at someone’s front door. We needed to go further up the steep hill, but on both sides of the house were deep gullies carved by rain and clogged with brush. Our captain knocked on the door, and all ten of us stood below and waited to see where we would go. He asked the smiling lady of the house “Which way to the Guayacan?” After seeing our group, she smiled even wider, stepped to the side and pointed toward her living room. “It’s this way,” she said. She was inviting all ten of us to pass through her living room, dining room and kitchen (complete with Grandma slapping down some tortillas over the stove) and out the back door to continue our climb on the other side. One of the young sisters in our group recognized the woman’s daughter as a school mate and got to explain what we were doing. Josh and Miguel were the tail end of our crew and gave a polite thanks and a brochure to the family. I am still laughing about this as I write it. Nicaraguans are very obliging people.

Stalking Sloths:

We hear there are sloths in the park in town. Some have told us that they were killed off a long time ago by some nasty kids with rocks. But today a man who works at an office in the park said as of last week they were still there. He has seen them. Four of them. They come down out of the trees around 5pm. But we know from the recent Watchtower article that they only come down once a week. We really really want to see them. So, I want to start taking our dinner to the park to watch for them. If we can possibly see them and catch a picture, we’ll pass it along. Not as if once you spot them it is so hard to take a picture. The problem is seeing them in the first place. The magazine article said they look like hanging moss and move just about as slow. We’ve gotta see this!

We got to host the C.O. and the D.O.

We had our circuit overseer, Ruben Aguado, visit last week. And the district overseer, Arnoldo Garcia, was here too. Their visit was right after our circuit assembly so I thought we’d be really worn out, not to mention how tired they would be. But they were so encouraging and the visit just built energy for you. We even got to host them for dinner. We ate with them last time they were here, but we could hardly understand them, or express ourselves. One of our earlier posts had a picture of them and mentioned that Bro. Garcia was just loaded with jokes and stories that only Nicaraguan’s could understand. But that’s not true! We can understand him too now. They are all very funny. He made fun of Bro. Aguado who is from Mexico saying he’s not really Mexican because he doesn’t eat chili peppers or listen to Ranchero music. Ranchero music is a Mexican type of bar music. Or so said Bro. Aguado to justify his dislike of it, I think. And to update our last post about his health, Brother Garcia has now had malaria 6 times. But he said his last time was better because a sister told him about one medication that does what two used to. One used to clean your blood and the other cleaned your liver. Now one med does it all. He said, with the medication, the symptoms don’t reoccur, unless of course you happen to get bitten again. They also all really encouraged us saying our Spanish had really improved. It makes one shudder to think of how bad it was. But we are so glad we stuck it out, because now we can really know how wonderful our brothers and sisters really are down here.

Our first stay at a Missionary Home

I think I mentioned the circuit assembly already. But we had a huge privilege this time. Duane and Kim Lindala invited us to stay with them at the missionary home. Another couple had already been invited too, and the rest of the couples there had to approve it. Thanks to all of them, they let us stay. We had a great time. Kim and Kati (the other invited sister) and I made earrings one night and I wore them the next day at the assembly. They made us fresh passion fruit juice and pitaya juice. (I can’t even describe that fruit except that it is red and spiny outside like an artichoke and makes purplish pink juice)  Kim even helped us make our lunches and loaned me clothes. They made us feel just like family. We were so excited to be invited.

So, all the pictures are from the missionary home. And up at the top I included one of our garden in the little courtyard at the Kingdom Hall. It is thriving now that it’s the rainy season.

Plus, I have to answer a comment posted on our last blog. Shawn and Fam; Yes Shane wears his helmet constantly. Funny, as I was rereading your comment Shane walked in the internet place helmet and all. Guess that answers the question. At least he´ll be safer that way. :)

written by  Shane Perry on July 17, 2009 from Jinotega, Nicaragua
from the travel blog: Shane and Vanessa's Nicaraguan Adventure
Send a Compliment

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Glad to hear the good experiences are still happening. We were starting to worry about you guys since it had been a while since you posted. Just so you know we as a family all put on motorcycle helmets before we read you blogs just to make it special, you know, for the kids.

written by  Cumella Family on July 18, 2009

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Hey, did Shane still want me to send his moon boots?

written by  Jason on July 31, 2009

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Have either of you picked up any new hobbies from down there? Any blacksmithing down there? How many hours are you guys out in service per month? Have you learned any new favorite recipes? Homesick yet? Keep up the good work.

written by  Shawn on August 5, 2009

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I hope you BOTH wear helmets and other protective gear.
Drive extra safely while riding together on the bike.

written by  Jason on August 8, 2009

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