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I may have mentioned this before... the first time that I came to Nicaragua, I was so excited about the prospect of having 15 bible studies that that became my main goal. Get as many studies as possible. It was fun, and I did have plenty of studies... but I also felt like I was so busy with these people but sometimes they didn't appreciate what I'd go through to have a study with them. First I'd have to study in English, then in Spanish, then I'd make notes on special points that I'd want to bring up and figure out how to say it in spanish, then I'd go to the study, often a lot of walking, or at least bus fare, just to find that they're not there... they had something to do, or whatever. So I'd reschedule the appointment, and to keep everything fresh in my head, I'd do it all over again the night before the next study. So much work!!
Well, this time I decided a different approach. When I went to visit Guatemala, I remember meeting a special pioneer sister. I asked her how many studies she had, and her answer was...
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I've been SOOOO crazy busy here. There's a brother named Lars (from Canada) who will soon be moving to El Crucero. He found a house for rent before I arrived and signed the contract on it.... But the problem turned up when he was accepted for a surgery that he had applied for in Canada. He's supposed to be leaving for Canada the same week (this week) that he was supposed to move in the new house. So, since I still don't have my own place yet, he called me and asked if I would like to live in his house, take care of it while I'm gone, and that will buy me some extra time to keep searching for my own house and in the meantime I can enjoy his excellent furniture.....
While Ashley and Kelly were here, we definately had some interesting things happen. They got a good taste of crazy Nica life. The adventurous
shake-your-head-because-there's-simply-nothing-else-you-can-do life. On Thursday we decided to go to the beach... We'd been pretty busy with preaching and studing all week... and then it was time to relax! Everything started out normal enough until... *click*, we walked out the front door and closed it behind us. Ashley turned the key in the lock and it completely jammed.
It wouldn't turn, it wouldn't come out. It was completely and totally stuck....
I DID IT!!!
I can´t believe it... haha. I´m here, I made it. Back in Nicaragua! I arrived Wednesday and got picked up from the airport and brought right to El Crucero. Doorstop service. I can´t really explain all the things that were going through my head as I was heading up the long winding road to El Crucero. How alone I was about to be.... Maybe I could get a dog? or a piglet? Pao and I wanted a baby chick before, but she wanted to eat it after it grew up, and I wasn´t down with that. I think a chicken would be safe now....
Well, I'm sitting here at the Charlotte Airport. Huddled in the corner soaking up the last tidbit of broadband that I can. Withdrawl starts in 30 minutes.
The airport is relatively empty at this time in the morning. The roads were also very clear. Who gets up at 3:30 in the morning to get to the airport? Perhaps a crazy person.... so then what do you call someone who didn't go to sleep at all??
That's right, I stayed up all night. And now I sit here, looking at my airplane, contemplating the level of sanity that I posess, and the very uncertian and quite intimidating turn my life is about to take.....
El Crucero. We arrived on a school bus stuffed full of witnesses who were all riding back from the convention together. The town of El Crucero is about 30 minutes away from the outskirts of Managua. It's far enough away so we feel safe here. The town is quite small. I think there are technically a lot of people who live in the town, but there really isn't much of anything available here as far as stores, resteraunts, etc... There are 2 little tiendas (stores) the size of a small bedroom that are basically are INSIDE the owner's house and they just sell chips, sodas, deoderant, toothpaste, and chicklets.
There is a small "hotel" if you would call it that....
Wow, After all this time. All this planning, i can't believe we actually accomplished this! It's really pretty amazing! We arrived safely into San Jose, Costa Rica and our friend Dan arranged for us to have a place to stay with some friends in the english congregation down there. The past week getting ready to leave had been very exhausting so we just spent a day trying to relax and recover and it was welcome! Costa Rica is so beautful! Around 12:30 we decided to walk to a nearby mall to get some lunch. It was a bit of a walk (and our first day completely without transportation
so we started out just going for a relaxing little stroll. About halfway there, a big fat drop of water splashed on my forehead. I looked up and instantly I remembered! "Paola! What time is it???" "1:10, why?" "It's after 1! It's going to rain!" Costa Rica is so cool... it's like clockwork, everyday after 1pm it rains.....
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The time has come to say goodbye to John and Jeanna. Wahhh! We had such a great time with them. They really changed the dynamics of this trip. I hope they enjoyed coming as much as we enjoyed having them......
Getting ready for this trip has been fun.... very stressful... but exciting. Who leaves for a month long trip with only 6 days notice?? hehe.. But that's quite alright. At least I'm going. It's sad too because I feel like I have to say goodbye to everyone... even though I know I'll be back in just 30 days. But I know that everyone wants to see us and wish us a nice trip before we take off, so it's been nice......
in Cancun... and getting hotter.  |
Now, that's good for YOU because that means you still have a free place to stay for a whole nother YEAR to get your un-tanned american butts down here to Cancun for some good fun in the sun, beach, and service! But unless you just want 100% beach time, it's too hot to just sit at home in an un-air-conditioned house. ::sweating:: Start making plans to head down sometime during September '06 - April '07. |
My love to everyone... I miss you all! Today I went to the Spanish Assembly: "Put On the New Personality" (or something to that effect) I haven't had it in English yet, so I don't really know exactly what it was all about.... but it SEEMED really good. hee hee
I went for the 2nd half of yesterday's session and the 2nd half of today's session too. It has been really hard for me to learn Spanish, but I am determined to do it. I just hope that my subconcious mind is learning more than my concious part is aware of.... because it really doesn't feel like I'm learning much. But today I was able to piece together what they were talking about a few times which I was really excited about!
So I'd hear words like "Hermano", "Cuidado", "Diablo", "Romantico", "Con Escuela y Trabajao", "Jehova".... and then I'm like "Oh hey! They're talking about be careful of relationships with people from school or work who don't worship Jehovah!" So, I'm not really getting some great encouraging session, but I am able to put together what they're talking about..... sometimes. Anyway there were 3,600+ people there today which was really cool....and a lot more than I would have thought. And it was outside in the blistering hot sun! WHEW! But that's alright because we had umbrellas and a nice cool breeze... and speaking of breeze.. some of them were huge gusts of wind and my umbrella snapped!!! WHOOPS. hehe
So I listened to a lot of Spanish .... but eventually I got tired of listening and not understanding. I counted the umbrellas. 312. That's more than last time. Then after the assembly a small group of us went and saw a movie.... Ice Age 2! Sweet! Except... it was in Spanish. OW... my brain hurts today! It was really cute but I've gotta see it in English to understand! Ok, so I've got lots to do tomorrow so I'm going to say goodbye. Miss you all!
It's 19*f outside, the wind is blowing and you don't have a coat on. It's wintertime and you're late for an appointment so you jump out of the shower, throw your clothes on, and run out the door with wet hair. You go snowboarding and you spend most of your time butt-boarding, your clothes are soaked, you're cold, and the lounge is out of hot chocolate.
What do all of these things have in common?
You're about to get sick because it's COLD out.
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BURRRRR!!! |
So late yesterday afternoon I started feeling it coming on. At first my scratchy throat, I was attributing it to all the mold and the dust that has been stirred up by the very windy last 2 days we've had. But then things started to get worse and worse. Not to mention there was a party last night that I just HAD to go to. I wanted to see my pal Ashley from Cozumel and hang out. Well, I went, and of course they played music... and swing music! So there was no other choice but to dance! Needless to say, I'm stuck in bed all day on a Saturday... and probably Sunday too. So, hit me up with a message or comment or something, I'm bored!
It's just not right to be sick in Mexico. Colds are called 'cold' for a reason. Ugh! It's like 80 degrees down here!
