Back in Nicaragua after Pioneer School and Leah's Wedding

Pioneer School 2009!!!

In Aug. we went back to the U.S. for pioneer school. It was so great. Our instructors were excellent teachers, “the gold standard,” as some might say (imagine with Bro. Velucci's voice) and our classmates really set the bar high for good preparation and comments. Being in class with Shane was great. We're going on 6 years of marriage and pioneering together, so we had a lot of experiences to look back on. During the school we made some fantastic new friends and spent the two weeks with the Salley's. We couldn't have made pioneer school any more wonderful. But, looks like now we get to try it again!! Can you believe it? We got home and they have invited us to attend here starting the class in October. Shane told our C.O. that we'd just attended in Virginia, but he said if it wasn't with the Spanish book, we could go again. We are so excited. The material will really be tailored for our territory here and with the ink barely dry in our new books, we may just get something out of it when we study it all again in Spanish.

Leahs Wedding.

Leah, my sis, got married. She was a beautiful bride. I've never seen her so happy. And Sam Moorefield, her husband, is a brother-in-law to be proud of. He was in Bethel 12 years, Chinese territory for 7, and won Leah's heart. He's so considerate too. So we could spend more time with them before we left, he arranged kayaks and took us to a bio-luminescent bay. We were more than honored that they wanted to spend time with us on their honeymoon. It was sad to leave them and Puerto Rico. But we have hopes to see them over here in Nicaragua some time.

Isaac and Elizabeth.

When we came home Monday, we had some guests practically waiting at our door. Isaac and Elizabeth are special pioneers 5 hours from here. They travel all this way to come to 'town' one time a month to do their shopping. Anyway, it was nice to have them here when we got home. It lessened that, “we're so lonely, missing everybody” feeling. (We do still miss everyone by the way.) They used to stay with our special pioneer couple, Luis and Maribel, but they have been assigned to the traveling work in another area, so Isaac and Elizabeth will stay with us each month. They are a very encouraging. And Shane is pleased because Isaac is spiritual and still likes video games. By the way, at this point, they are not sending a special pioneer brother to replace the one that just left. So we are left with two elders for 80 publishers. But we're still better off than the other cong. that only has one elder. Plus, Shane appreciates the extra work in the meantime. He likes to be busy.

I had to add this pictures of us from Virginia. We went down the Hardware River. Only Shawn Cumella was able to go with us...We wonder if everyone else might have already known the water was too low. Oh well, but as you can see we had a good time, especially Shane at that moment.

And these are pictures of some really really odd fruit out now. The smaller alien-being looking one is called a Mamon Chino. It has a grape like center and inside that is a giant seed that you have to spit back out. It's soury sweet and we like them. The cost 5 cents a piece.

And the lovely pink artichoke is called a Pitaya
and its sweet and like jelly with seeds you dont have to spit out inside. One goes about learning what to eat and what to spit out by practice here...its not always obvious. Costs 75 cents. OOOhhh PRICEY!!!

Here is our lovely new little home. we rent two rooms on either side of the brown wood door and the kitchen is behind that. Three rooms, but its very comfy. Room for guests, you know! And you all know which of you I'm talking too. Yes, all you who've said you are going to come visit....!

And just when we started feeling lonely and homesick. We got two invitations to eat with friends today. (Today, Monday, was a national holiday, Central American independance day. There are parades and everything, so every one had it off. Here, I have to add a story, Shane takes an interest in a man with some sort of disablility, named Roger. Today we met him on the street. He told Shane that for today, he wanted nothing to do with the Bible, because he was going out to watch the girls who march in the parade with their little short skirts and go-go boots. Poor Roger. He has his good days and bad days, sometimes he comes to the Kingdom Hall on Sunday and stays for all the meetings; ours, the other congregation and he hangs around for the sign language too.) So, back to our meals with friends today. One was a full English brunch. And the other for a full Nicaraguan lunch. We are so spoiled. The first picture is the brunch it was great. The last picture is of the sister who made us lunch. She and her 12 yr old daughter wash all their clothes and dishes outside the back door on this concrete washboard and sink.
They always impress me.

Bye all! Thanks for reading. Did I mention come visit? :)

written by

Shane Perry on September 14, 2009 from Jinotega, Nicaragua

from the travel blog: Shane and Vanessa's Nicaraguan Adventure

tagged LeahSWedding

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had to laugh when I saw the Kayak part...Dana was so disappointed that he didn't get to go, but glad you guys were able to use them... did you end up carrying them more than riding them???

I've managed to flip everytime I've went down the Hardware River...(yes I know that truly takes talent :) )

Glad to hear you are back safe and sound and have so many cool things to look forward to.

written by Amanda Noyes on September 16, 2009

The new place looks nice. I am trying to talk Tori into the whole motorcycle in the living room look. Or motorcycle in the garage look. Or just motorcycle. Its not going so well. Do you have a garden started here? Can you grow your own alien fruit? Hope the school goes well thats great that you get to go twice back to back.

written by Shawn on September 19, 2009

Amanda - Thanks a ton for letting us use the kayaks. Like always we have a blast. And the river was the lowest Id seen it. We spent about a quarter of the time moving them along with our hands or feet. Oh and I managed to import some chiggers down here to Central America from this trip, hope their cousins down here like vistors!

Shawn - Well there isnt much that I can say for you. Perhaps it would involve dinner invitations and chocalates. But I dont get to have a sweet FJ40 sitting at my work. well, it doesnt run, but man its gonna be sweet! ... If you get it running... Oh yeah!

written by Shane :) on September 19, 2009

An actual Shane Perry response, I am flattered. I thought you gave blogging up? Are you missing Best Buy yet? FJ might be sold, stinking ADHD. I am really trying to keep a hobby for at least a year. At least I still have a kayak and a broken paddle.

written by Shawn on September 19, 2009

Hi Nessey & Shane,
I finally met the infamous Shawn & Tori at a homeschooler sports day that we went to. We played kickball and other random things. It was interesting having two Tori's and a Corey :-) but we managed.

As always thanks for sharing the photos- I love the pic of the Velluchi's. We had them last week and it was incredible. Sadly, David told us we only have 1 visit left. :-( Not Cool!

I will send you our picture as soon as I remember to transfer it to my computer.

by the way attendance at Lucky's after the Thursday night meeting hasn't been as high since you guys left. However, when Grant Burditt came to visit we had a pretty good crowd.

Love you bunches & bunches! Thinking of you always-Tori Terrell

written by Tori Terrell on September 21, 2009

Hey Shane and Nessy, miss you guys so much. i think it's funny the minon chin is called a rambutan and the red fruit with seeds is called dragon fruit here in hawaii. Well who knows maybe I'll be seeing you guys but in the mean time I'll wait for my email someone promised me, hehe. Lots of love, Livy

written by Olivia on October 7, 2009

No photos of the worm? ~

written by Jason on November 6, 2009

My wife and I have just returned from two months of pioneering in Costa Rica. Had a wonderful time. Have plans to liquidate assets in Canada and make a move. Just havent made a decision exactly where. I am curious about the area in or around Granada. We may try out Nicaragua before setting down roots in Costa Rica. Any input from any brothers/sisters in Nicaragua would be appreciated. we only have elementary spanish but hoping to continue to learn over the next year so as to work in a spanish congregation. Look forward to any suggestions or comments about the witnessing in your area.
Sam (Canada)

written by Sam on February 23, 2014

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