Adventures in the SJLR

San Jose de Los Remates.  A local sister invited us to visit her son there.  He and his wife, from Honduras, are serving there in a small congregation.  The congregation has 30ish publishers.  But because their territory is so huge, they are split up into three groups of ten, each functioning like its own congregation.  We went during the last week of the Memorial campaign 2013 to help the group finish their territory.  All loaded into the very apropo pick-up truck, off we go on our journey.  6 chicas: Myself, the local sister, a sister from Canada, and three Danish sisters.  We knew it would be an adventure...but HAH at whoever could have
imagined it...






Teresa, our most experienced driver, took the wheel and drove us up into the RURAL north country.  The drive was nice enough.  Roads nice and paved.  Enjoyed the scenery...huge dry patches of earth, shanty towns, humongous watermelons, big vultures eating a horse I think...and parching heat as we traveled into unknown territory.  We took a few wrong turns along the way, but leg one of our journey completed safely.

Holman y Pati

Lasagna!!!

When we arrived, the brother and sister had lunch prepared! Lasagna in a pizza dish!  Awesome stuff really.  They support themselves by selling pizzas in their town and the next.  They work a day and a half a week, make 25 pizzas, and have what they need to live and serve in this town.

After lunch, they wanted to show us the sights.  We had two options: 1) an hour hike to a beautiful waterfall but with no swimming or 2) drive to a mini waterfall with swimming hole.  Swimming hole won.

It took us about 20 minutes to drive there, just back down the mountain a little then off the beaten path into the mountain side.  While we were entering, we saw a line of 6 reporter cars coming out.  That was a good sign!  We figured they went to get footage of the awesome water spot we were traveling to!  Well, apparently one of those trucks saw our international posse and decided to follow us.  When we reached our destination and started piling out of the truck, a blue truck pulls up behind us and out pops a reporter with microphone and his cameraman behind him!  He was a reporter from Canal 8 (Channel 8) and was doing a tourism plug about this location, el Pozo de La Concha, for Semana Santa (Holy Week, like a religious Spring Break).  The cameraman was rolling right away as we unpacked and headed down to the river.  The reporter asked us why we were there, where we were from, and if we would be willing to say a few things about Nicaragua and the waterfall.  I got volunteered for an interview in Spanish, and another sister interviewed in English.  We couldn't believe it.  IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE...and we get our 1 minute of fame haha.  Check out the clip here: VIDEO We come on at about the 2:20 mark.

The Nicaraguans have a saying, "Despues de un gustazo, hay un fracazo."  "After an enjoyable moment, there's a disaster."

On the way home, about 10 minutes out from the town, the battery light in our truck comes on!  The driver, Nicoline this time, said that there was also a problem with the power steering! OH BOY...We get home safe enough, but the radiator is steaming.  We let it cool down then open the hood...and find that the alternator/battery belt is shredded!  Nicoline and I start checking it out trying to figure out what to do.  Next thing we know 4 guys appear around the truck, more than eager to assist.  Hahaha.  Girl Power.  They were part of a big church group that was heading back home into the mountains.  They stopped to see if we needed help.  They removed the shredded belt and told us that we would need a new one.  Unfortunately, in the middle of nowhere, there ARE NO Checkers/O'reilly Auto Parts near by...

One of the guys that stopped to help was the driver for the church group and owner of the local truck stop.  He said he could fix it but the only place to get a belt would be in the next town Esquipulas, almost 3 hour bus ride away.  So we devised a plan.  His father drove the bus between the two towns.  Holman met him before he left on the route at 530am, gave him some $ and asked him to get the belt.  When the bus made its return route, we would get the truck repaired.  While we waited, we went preaching in the town.  We were supposed to take the truck out to unpreached territory but that had to wait.  We had a nice time preaching.  Even though the town is strong Catholics, they were very interested in talking to the "foreigners."  We were invited in at several locations and Sacha and I even got a Coca-Cola!

 By noontime, the truck was raring to go!  Whoopee!!!  So we had lunch then headed out to literally the "unknown" by 1pm.  The group had never preached in these areas.  To walk, it would take them 5 hours to get there.  We drove for about 2 hours before we reached the territory.  The brothers had to keep asking the neighbors where to go since none of them had been!  They had only heard that there were some small communities out there.  The further we got, the drier and more inhospitable the terrain became.  I kept thinking to myself...How do people survive out here?!?

The nice part of the drive

Parched earth...literally

these are the voyagers...

The neighbors instructions were to drive until we see a big gate on the right side.  The "big" gate was about 5 feet wide, so we missed it the first time we passed.  We walk through the gate and  after about 20 minutes of walking, we saw a house!  Sacha and I went to talk to the hesitant woman.  She was probably wondering why on earth there was suddenly a big group of people passing through!  She was somewhat confused when we talked with her.  She thought we were part of the non-profit group that was building a well.  We told her we were Jehovah's Witnesses, and she was like, "Uh-huh. Well if you keep walking, you'll find the well about two kilometers down."  Never heard of us before.  The woman could not read so I shared with her the "Listen to God" simplified version.  She readily accepted it.  I read some scriptures to her and thanked her for her time.  We were only there about 10 minutes...but could probably have stayed an hour!  But we did not want to get too far from the group.


By this time the group had come across a little neighborhood, a cluster of about 10 homes.  The homes there were made of sticks and mud with a thatched roof and dirt floor.  As we approached the cluster, we could see kids playing baseball; with a stick and rocks.  We went to one home and the entire family was just relaxing out front.  They invited us to sit down, right in the middle of them, about 10 people.  I started to share with them some scriptures about God's purpose for the earth.  They listened
attentively and asked questions.  You could tell that while they believed in God and the Bible, they had never really reasoned on the scriptures or had someone explain it to them.  It was a remarkable experience.  Everyone was paying attention.  The woman that we first preached to had followed us.  She joined in and asked some questions.  She even brought her brochure, I think to share with her family.  I felt like I could have talked with them for hours, give them the Adam to Revelation, and they would have listened!  Unfortunately after 15 minutes, we had to keep moving...It was about 4pm now and we wanted to make it home before sundown.



On the way out, we preached to the houses along the way.  Someone would jump out of the truck with a Bible and magazines and quickly talk to the householders.  Every single house accepted literature graciously and begged us to stay.  One woman ran inside and grabbed her one chair and a stool and asked us to sit.  "Please just sit with us for a moment."  It was heartbreaking...I so wish we could have had more time to be with those people.  Next time...rent a better truck :)

Eleazar and his dad

 It was so cute getting to know the brothers and sisters in the group.  One of the little boys, Eleazar, took off school that day to go with us.  He was chipper and eager all day, not one complaint.  Only he asked us to stop feeding him junk food (Oreos, doritos, sweet rolls) haha.  While we were riding home in the back of the truck, he hits the side of the truck and says, "You know what, this truck is chatarra (piece of junk).  When I get older I'm going to buy a Hilux."  Toyota Hilux, the premier pickup truck in Nicaland.  I asked him why, "Because I'm going to be a pioneer and I'll need it to drive out here so we can preach."  He's 8 years old.

We made it home safely.  Thankful to Jehovah for the wonderful and unforgettable experience.  The brothers and sisters got their things from the house and went home.  We were tired, dirty and dusty, but so content.  I had a hard time sleeping that night though.  Tossing and turning, not just because we had not electricity nor water when we came home...but thinking when will those people ever learn more about Jehovah?!?  How are they going to get their chance to get an effective witness and hear the truth?!?  I hope to go out again later this year and spend a little more time helping.  Also! Take Eleazar's advice: Spend the $$$ and rent a Hilux!  Let me know if you want to come along.  It will be as always, an adventure.

I speekee Eeengleesh

Prospective English Territory ~ 12 mile radius

San Marcos is home to an American university called Ave Maria.  At this university, all the students, teachers, and most of the staff speak English.  When I was here in 2011, sometimes I would go preach around the entrances of the university, talking to whoever came in / out asking if they spoke English and would be interested in reading our literature.  Never had a bad response.  Many students would eagerly look through my stack of magazines and choose several to read.

So the idea was...why not have an English group here in San Marcos? Well Carazo for that matter!  There are a ton of foreigners here and locals who speak English.  Other foreigners serving here also noticed the potential and agreed with the idea.  At the end of December 2012, we were able to talk with the English Circuit Overseer (Click Here to read more about what a CO means) about starting official preaching to English to our area.  He told us to talk with our elders about getting a table going and to be alert to English speaking ones in the territory.

We, my cousin Stacey and I, were not sure what would come of the suggestion.  We did what we could preaching at the entrances of the university and in the territory.  We were able to find several English speaking persons and started cultivating interest.  Mid February 2013 rolls around...and we get an email from a brother from Chinandega English Congregation (about 4 hours north) stating that he and his wife, and some other couples were assigned by the CO to do census / search work in our area!  SCREAM!!!  I jumped and ran up and down the hallway, terrifying my roommates.  But they soon joined in my excitement once they heard the news.  This was on a Monday.  The next day Tuesday, he writes back saying, "Oh, on Saturday after the search work we're also going to hold a public meeting and watchtower study (description here)." More screaming and running up and down ensued.  Tears welled in my eyes (and still do) at the thought of hearing a meeting, singing, and being able to comment in my own language at my Kingdom Hall here in San Marcos.

So the work commenced.:
- Maps and invitations needed to be created.  We were able to get maps from the Sign Language Congregation (Their territory of deaf people is all over Carazo as well)  No real way to get enough of the official English meeting invitations in time, we made them!  Copied right from the original, complete with map on the back :)
- Accommodations for our visitors needed to be made. Four couples from up north were coming down for a few days.
- English hotspots needed to be identified.  We contacted lots of our international friends in the various towns and asked for leads.
- And I needed to remember how to preach in English!!!  I didn't even bring and English Bible Teach book with me!  Thankfully we were able to make a trip to Managua English and I scalped a stash of literature :)

 

Finally, March 1 arrives.  Historical official first day ever doing English census in Carazo.  Here is a picture of our group that morning on the bus to Jinotepe.  We worked 5 or 6 blocks...and were astounded by the results.  We averaged 2 English speakers per block!!!

 

 Things only got better from there.  More joined us in the afternoon.  Here is our 2:30pm group.  Quite the international convention.  People from the USA (New York, Wisconsin, Hawaii, California), Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Nicaragua!  During the week before the census and that day, we handed out over 200 invitations.  By the end of the first day, we had close to 60 names from about 15 blocks...We knew the potential was there...but had not anticipated the scope of the work at hand.  Completely thrilled and awestruck, we turned in for the night and rested for the 2nd day of activity.

March 2, 2013 - The BIG day!  We worked in morning, preaching a few more blocks and in public areas trying to invite as many as we could to the meeting that afternoon.  We printed out copies of the Watchtower articles and songs in anticipation of our visitors.  We were hoping for at least one person from the territory to come.  That would be significant reason to start a group and care for that persons spiritual needs.  The brother said, if we get more than that, if we get five, that would be amazing.

Meeting starts right on time at 4:00 pm.  By that time...we already had four in attendance.  (One man had not even received the invitation personally!  Some sisters spoke to his family in Spanish that morning and asked them to pass the invitation on to him.  He came, was one of the first ones there, gave a comment in his own words, and eagerly asked when the next meeting was.  The other attendees were a Bible student and an inactive brother and his friend.)  I was on the verge of tears.  During the public talk, one more came in.  (He had received the invitation the night before.  He also participated during the Watchtower study and read a scripture.)  During the song, I had to stop myself from grinning because my face was hurting.  We had our five.  We had reached amazing.  But wait...before the song ends...3 more come in...A couple return visits and a friend from the Atlantic coast.  Commence chicken skin.  I could barely sing the concluding song...

The Watchtower study for that day was so fitting, "Be Courageous - Jehovah is with You!"  It truly embodied the spirit and sentiments we would need to propel us forward. (Article Here)  From what I've been told, starting a language group is not easy.  There will be ups and downs, joys and sorrows, and LOTS and LOTS of hard work.  That much we know already.  But we have felt Jehovah's direction and blessing on all our work so far and we know it will only continue.  It has been such a thrill and privilege to be part of this experience...inception of a English group...in a Spanish speaking country...in Nicaragua!!!  Since its all for Jehovah's praise and advancing Kingdom interests, we know whatever is to come, it will all be worth it!

Malachi 3:10 ~ "Test me out please...whether I shall...actually empty out upon you a blessing 

until there is no more want."

So a grand summary:  51 meeting attendance.  About 15 local Spanish speakers came to support, the 8 from the territory, and the rest English speaking need greaters from all over the world.  Two towns worked, San Marcos and Jinotepe.  In a day and a half, we worked 24 blocks, 12 in each town.  We found 103 names of English speaking persons, 44 of which we actually spoke to.  The remaining 59 we must go back and determine if they know enough English to study the Bible.  There were too many amazing experiences...You'll just have to come and see it for yourself.

*** Someone made an interesting comment, that from the large crowd in the picture, it looks like we do not need any support! COMO NO! Everyone in this picture already has an assignment, the majority Spanish/Sign Language, and a few couples in other English congregation.  For this new endeavor, we only have FOUR confirmed onboard so far...Hence the text quoted below. ***

Matthew 9:37,38 "Yes, the harvest is great, but the workers are few.  

Therefore, beg the Master of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.”

They call me...MISTAH PIG!!!

Actually, its a girl! A Misses pig :)  Casilda be her name.  I didn't name her, the family that's caring for her did.  I figured I better not get too attached...

So some of you may have heard that I had a crazy idea. (I know, completely out of character for me right?)  Actually my dear Ate Stace helped plant the idea of us getting a pig!  Why? So we could participate in the recycling cycle! The piggy would eat all our desperdicios - pig-edible food throwaways.  So the hunt began mid-December.  I searched far and wide, up and down for a piggy.  For some reason, pigs were oddly expensive at that time, more than $50 for a small 2 month pig.  I told everyone I knew that I wanted a pig and they went asking around looking for prices.  The price was never right, so I almost started to give up...

But then!!!  We were preaching in one of our rural territories on our Rural Wednesday.  While my partner was preaching, I was being distracted by this horrible squealing.  I tried to be a good partner and follow along, but my ears and eyes were trying to find the source of this sound.  About three houses down, I saw a burly man holding a piggy by its ears!!!  No wonder it was screaming so bad :(  After we finished preaching to the young girl (it was an excellent call by the way.  The girl used to get magazines from a Witnesses classmate in high school.  She said she loved the magazines, asked for all the latest copies we had, ripped them out of the sisters hands, and clutched them :) I asked the sister if we could go see the pigs...

The man was from a town about 10 miles away.  He had a cart with about 10 pigs of all different sizes and colors.  He even had RICE SACKS tied to the card with PIGS INSIDE.  Poor things.  The family he was visiting was going to buy a couple pigs from him.  Apparently they have bought pigs from this same guy for many years so that was a good sign.  I was all ready to buy a piggy and just walk it home.  The price was right but,  no $$$ haha.  So I asked the guy when he would be back in our area.  He said next Sunday he would be in a rural spot closer to my home.  Which was perfect because it was the same neighborhood were I would be keeping the pig.  So I made arrangements with him to meet me at the sister's house.

THE FOLLOWING SUNDAY - Feb 10, 2013 - P-Day

The Choncho Cart - yes there are pigs in those bags :(

I told the sister that the pig man aka Chonchero was coming and asked her to call me when he arrived.  When he got there, he again was loaded to the nines with piggies!  Big, small, cute, boars, and pigs in bags. 













Who knew choosing a pig could be so hard!  It took me about an hour to examine the piglets.  They were so cute!  But of course I had to keep objective in mind.  This was project pig, not pet pig ;)

I narrowed it down to these two: the white and the brown.  The white was good sized and healthy looking.  The brown because it was so cute! And reminds me of my Rhodesian Ridgeback Nala.  See the resemblance?

But I decided the white pig would better serve the purpose of this project.  Her objective is one of two: 1) sell and use the profits to pay for our congregations bus to our district assembly in October, or 2) congregation luau :)  Everyone seems pretty keen on option two.  So if you're hungry for a hunk of fat and juicy meat...come for a visit in August :)

More Casilda footage:  Here

Cerro Negro

 According to vianica.com, "The Cerro Negro volcano is a young and unique volcano." VOLCANO? Yes, volcano. What was I doing at a volcano?  Vianica.com continues "The steep slopes of this black volcano lack any vegetation.  It is not like any other volcano in Nicaragua. The volcano is only about 500 meters (1650 feet) high, but the ascent is steep and tough. There is no paved trail; just a merely natural path along a rim that leads to the top." No paved trail, who knows where we're going? Naturally this is something I would be attracted to right?

 




 But wait theres more..."The ascent takes about one hour to the top, and although it requires some effort the superb views are certainly rewarding. The absence of trees provides fantastic scenery, and upon reaching the top visitors have a 360 degree view of the area."

 So that was it right? All that work for a good view? 

Hahaha..."One of the volcano’s slopes is too steep to climb – but consequently great for a fast descent! Instead of large rocks this side only has volcanic sand, providing a great surface for running (or sliding) downhill. This thrilling experience takes less than ten minutes before reaching the bottom...Cerro Negro provides a unique and intense experience that can be enjoyed by anybody in fair shape."

 And yup, there you have it.  The Cerro Negro volcano hiking/sliding/tobogganing experience.  Look insane? Much less than the pictures indicate.  You don't go THAT fast down the hill.  I think I slid faster on a cardboard box at Kakaako.  The most intense part of the adventure was the vicious wind on our ascent, whipping volcanic ash and debris at our legs and in our eyes and hair.

So if you come to Nicaragua, add Cerro Negro to your list of "To Do's."  Tons of fun, plus, Who gets to slide down a VOLCANO???  And invite me :)

I'd love to do it again!

Some videos for your viewing pleasure:   My Washing Machine      WEEEENNNNDDDDDD

FWN

Stace, Narci, Marcela, Elizabet, Noemi, Me, Teresa

Tonight for family worship, I invited some of the young sisters from my hall to watch the video for this week, "Our Whole Association of Brothers."

These girls encourage me greatly so I just wanted to share a bit about them with you all.
Narci is fairly new in the truth, she has been baptized for less than 2 years.  Super zealous and always very encouraging.  Marcela is 13, has been a new unbaptized publisher* for about three weeks.  Her aunt, Elizabet, became a publisher at the same time.  They qualified as publishers on a Sunday, and that Tuesday they were out preaching...and they were out every day for the rest of the week.  Actually, they have been out almost every day since!  Marcela is still in regular school, the other two are taking vocational classes.  Since they are on vacation until mid February, they said they want to take advantage of their time to preach as much as possible.  They also asked me about how they can arrange their schedules to preach in the afternoons and evenings when they get off school.  Super zealous, and very eager to learn.  Noemi just got approved last week.  I had the privilege of working with her on her first day out.  Even though she asked me to preach at the first door, she was not shy to do the next one.  When a householder invited us in and I was able to start a Bible study, she was taking notes!  Haha I told her, "No need take notes from me.  I just follow the instructions the organization gives us!"  And at the end, she asked me, "I'm doing good to start right?"  I love working with them!
     I have my first talk since I've been back on Thursday; the theme is "What are some outstanding Bible prophecies that have yet to be fulfilled?"  It is with Marcela and she did such a great job on our first practice today.  Very composed and has a good speaking voice.  She will do so well!  I'll let you know how it goes.

 *Unbaptized publisher - a person who has fulfilled scriptural requirements to share in the preaching work as one of Jehovah's Witnesses*
    

Contact Info

If you would like to contact me, here are your options:

Email: ktanjoco@gmail.com

Text: 914-670-9000 (this is a USA based # so standard text messaging fees apply. So you will be charged the same as texting anyone else in the states)

Calling:  You could call my local Nica numbers, but at international rates.  If you want to talk over the phone, best way is to text me and then I can call you.  I have a neat free way to call the states :)  I could teach you, but I'd have to charge...

Instagram: hica808

Skype: hica808

Saludos!

Tortillas!

Where does time go?  Tomorrow will mark the beginning of my 8th week here in Nica.  Funny, the other day, my cousin thought I'd been here for over 3 months already!  Well, considering everything we've done since I've been here, it feels like at least 3 months!


So since my last blog, I've been getting back into the swing of things.  The sights, smells, sounds of daily Nica living.  And all the WALKING! Its pretty easy to average +5 miles a day walking: to and from field service, return visits, doing errands, bus trips, ect.

But of course, the best part about being here is the ministry!  My first day out, I was feeling a little timid.  I said to myself, I don't want to talk too much today, just let my partner do it so I can warm up.  Hah!  Jehovah knows all and has a wonderful sense of humor.  I got paired up with my roommate Anne who is from Denmark and speaks very little Spanish. (o_O)  Our field service captain was probably wondering why I was cracking up and shaking my head when he assigned us!  So guess who got to do most of the talking?  Your's truly lol.  But it was exactly what I needed!  (Matthew 6:8 - "Your Father knows what things you are needing before ever you ask him") We preached in the center of town and found many people home.  The first door, I started off with a simple presentation, sharing a small tract about "Who Really Rules the World?"  with the woman who came to the door.  She listened attentively and we had a nice conversation.  I was starting to end the conversation when she interrupted me and asked "Do you have the latest Watchtower and Awake magazines?  I love reading them!"  Haha I was so pleasantly surprised.  Then she continued to tell us that her husband is undergoing treatment for prostate cancer and so they travel to and from Managua every 15 days for treatment.  I gave her all the latest issues me and Anne had.  She thanked us and also told us when she would be back in San Marcos.  She said, "Please come by when we come back!  I'd love to talk with you more about the Bible.  We could have a little Bible study."  Too easy right?  I've since gone back but have yet to find her home.  I hope to continue our discussion soon!

There have been many other wonderful experiences.  A sister who is transferring to the Nicaraguan Sign Language congregation asked me to take over a new Bible study for her.  This girl, Jaime about 22 years old, lives way inside one of the far barrios (neighborhood).  To walk from my house to the entrance of the barrio, Los Campos, takes about 20 minutes.  Then inside another 20 minutes.  So I was paying keen attention to the study to see whether or not she really appreciated it and if itwould be worth the time/effort to visit.  At the end of our discussion, she said to me, "I really want to thank you for coming to our country to teach us the Bible.  And for walking all the way in here to study with me.  I really appreciate it!"  Doubts incinerated.  A different day, I met her Grandmother, 94 year old Anna.  Jaime and I were talking outside and Abuelita waved at us from the window.  After a few moments she shouted to her granddaughter, "Why are you still outside?  Invite them in already!"  When she shook my hand, I flinched from her strength!  They don't make 'em like that any more...I shouted in her good ear a verse from Isaiah 35:5 "the very ears of the deaf ones will be unstopped."  She laughed heartily and thanked us for the visit, saying we are welcome anytime. Additionally we preached that barrio in the following weeks so I've been able to find other people interested in studying the Bible too.  Now I have a nice full afternoon visit out to Los Campos.  Plus some much needed cardio :)

One of the fun aspects about living in a small town is everyone knows you!  Especially us as foreigners, we stick out like a sore thumb.  For example, many times when I get on transport around the town, like tricycles or moto taxis, they know exactly where to take me!  Sometimes when I'm walking, the motos will shout at me, "Fatima?", asking if I want to go the the territory Fatima where I used to preach frequently last year.  I went to the laundry mat and the woman said, "Tanjoco right?"  Lol I was shocked.
   Another example...this one makes me crack up every time I think about it.  I was leaving Fatima territory, a barrio about 2.5 miles outside San Marcos.  As I'm walking out to the main road, still about half mile away, a tricycle spots me and waves asking whether or not I want a ride.  I indicate that I do and he comes down to get me.  As we're riding out, we start chatting a bit about the tricycle business.  As we get closer to the exit he says, "I just want to let you know...You're very popular around here.  And even though this is my first time to give you a ride, it is my pleasure." LOL, ROFL, HAHAHA!  I almost fell out of the tricycle cracking up.  But I had to hold my composure because he was completely SERIOUS!  I gave him his $0.25 thanked him for the ride, crossed the street and waited for a bus to take me back to town.  While I was waiting, I opened my umbrella and shielded my face so I could snort and guffaw.  LOL

I could write about checking out different territories that have need, needs and experiences of the congregation, the revolving door of visitors, climbing and sliding down a volcano, foods, mini vacations, fiestas...There is an endless amount of things I could blog about.  Please post suggestions in the comment box ok? 

And if you're wondering why this post is called "Tortillas" and I haven't mentioned anything about it yet...Its because around 6PM every night, a woman goes around on a tricycle yelling "TOR-TIIII-LLLLLAAAAAAAS! TOR-TIIIIIIII-LLLLLLAAAAAASSSSS!"  Man her voice carries throughout the town.

So that's all for now amigos...Entonces, hasta luego y les quiero un monton!