Buenas!

Hello Everybody!! It is my 4th day here in Nicaragua, and I think I could write a book about everything that I've experienced/seen/thought. But I will start with what you need to know. I'm staying with the Gomez family, and I am the 25th person that they have hosted. Lupe and Ivania are the parents, with two younger boys living here, Ruben and Gabriel (Gabrielito), as well as Nana, who lives with the family as well. They also have a daughter Wendy, who I know from school.

Friday night I got to the house and started to settle in, and I felt very comfortable right away. I think that visiting here last October helped me to prepare and know what to expect. Also, the entire family was very welcoming, and they are making me feel at home. The food is absolutely delicious... It was one of the things I worried about because I'm a picky eater, but everything has been wonderful, which has made transitioning into life here a little easier.

Saturday I continued to get settled in, and I played with Gabriel. Gabriel has a lot of energy :) That night, we went to El Crucero (about 15 km away) to church, where Lupe is pastor. They have a service for the younger people that night, where they have a worship service, and then afterward play games. I met some people before the service, but during I got called up to the front and had to talk about myself. Quite intimidating if you don't really speak spanish. Thankfully Ruben translated for me. After singing and the service, we played some games, and I got to participate. It was actually really fun, and I had had a really good time. I got to talk to more people afterwards, some in English, and a few in Spanish. I really would like to talk to the people there more; its just really difficult having a lot of things to ask them, but no words to use.

Sunday I went to the ICF (International Christian Fellowship) in the morning, which is a church made up mostly of missionaries and other foreigners living in Nicaragua. I talked to a few people there, and its really interesting to hear why people are here and what they're doing and how long they have been here. I'm kind of stunned by how people have made this their home, leaving everything that they really have known, and starting up here. I'm humbled by their sense of calling and their ability to start a new life in a new country, knowing only that they trust that God has led them and has a purpose for them here. They forsake the comfortable and easy life, giving it up in order to fulfill God's purpose for their lives. Quite something.

Sunday afternoon I played ultimate frisbee with some foreigners. Ruben usually goes every Sunday, so he invited me a long, and I really enjoyed it. That night we went to church in El Crucero, where again I was introduced to the congregation, but I didn't have to speak in front of them :) Going to church is quite the experience, simply because it is loud, and I don't understand much of what is said. They do have a songbook, so I was able to sing a long, which was great. I knew most of the songs (in English) and I was able to sing them in spanish and know what I was actually saying.

TODAY! Today was my first day at Tesoros de Dios, and it was quite the day. There are about 10 or 11 ladies that work there, some as teachers, and others as therapists. We had devotions in the morning, and then the first group of kids came. 2 groups come each day, one from 830 -1130, and another from 130- 430. The kids that come all have some sort of developmental disability. Their mothers stay at Tesoros with them, and help with therapy and class. I guess the first thing that I thought was that this place is incredible. The services that they offer and how they not only help the children but also the mothers is such a blessing to this community. It really does aim to help the children and family reach their fullest social, physical, spiritual, and intellectual potential. I can't really describe it, but I know that it is sincerely a gift from God for these children and their mothers. Working with these children is quite a new experience for me. I've never really worked with kids with these kinds of disabilities, so it is really going to test me. I did therapy with a few of them today, and it was great to get right in there and help out. A lot of the time I don't really know what to do, or how to help, simply because I don't really understand what the therapists are explaining to me, and I can't communicate well with the mothers. But somehow, we get our points across to each other, and we understand. I can't really say what I feel about everything right now, as it was only my first day. But I am thankful to be a part of this. I'll write more about Tesoros later after I've had time to process more of my thoughts.

Tomorrow I start my tutoring in Spanish. Right now I feel like each day is one long spanish lesson. I'm thankful for how I've been able to communicate and understand what people are saying, but at the end of the day, I'm exhausted just from trying to understand what people are saying. I really want to learn so that I'll be able to talk more with my family, as well as the ladies from Tesoros. They are very helpful with my Spanish though and willing to help me learn. If I am able to understand Nana by the time I leave, I will be happy :) (I never know what she's saying ;))

THANK YOU, Thank you, Thank you for you prayers! I cannot tell you that enough, but God is truly carrying me through this, and your support means so much.

Buenos Noches, Derek