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!