I guess I should have posted about NIcaragua before actually posting a picture of me making tortillas on the last post....oh well. Okay so I am officially here in Nicaragua. I am living with a family from the church. (I have posted some pictures on facebook, and i apologize if you don't have access to facebook but it's tough to post everywhere). My host family has a son in grade nine, Byron, and Keyla is in University studying to be an architect. They have been so welcoming and my host dad has really taken time during the evening to teach me Spanish (he speaks no English) and I feel like I'm being treated like royalty, but hopefully as I start to get settled I'll be able to contribute more to their daily tasks and chores. The last few days have been really busy. We have toured Managua, gone to a traditional dance at the theater, and just yesterday we got back from Matagalpa. It's about 1 1/2 hrs outside of Managua and absolutely beautiful. I had the chance to ride in the box of the truck which ensures the best view ;) Anyways, we went to take one of team members out there as she will be working in the compo (country) with another family working with MCC. They are providing education and sustainable agricultural work, installing latrines, nutrition workshops etc. with the families out there. Honestly the views in the country are breathtaking as you drive through the 'mountains' and the weather was a little cooler which was also refreshing.

Hmm, what else. Ah, I will finally have my first Spanish lesson today. Which will be really nice, because although I can usually figure out what people are asking me, in group discussions, conversation is predominantly Spanish, which can lead to missing out on things. And plus it's a bit frustrating not being able to actually get to know some of the other team members. But I'm praying it will come, and I know it will with a little work.

The next few weeks will primarily be focusing on learning Spanish and by mid-September I will move out of my current home to a new place more in the country as it will be closer to Hogar Belen. The orphanage that I will be working at probably by October. So lots of transitioning going on but overall I am really enjoying my time....and missing you all!!

Talk to you soon

amanda

Orientation....then Nicaragua

I was kindly reminded that I should update this seeing how my world has turned around within the past week. I am currently in Akron, Pennsylvania at the MCC headquarters. We flew in on Saturday August 8th and have been attending sessions, eating great food and meeting amazing people for the past week.

It has been such a blessing to meet so many people from around the world who all have the desire to serve no matter how scary it might be. There are a group of us called S.A.L.T volunteers who are from the U.S and Canada going internationally. Then there is a group called I.V.E.P which has people from around the world volunteer for a year in North America, and finally there are people who live abroad and are going someplace else around the world. So pretty much we have had our own little United Nations in a small town in the Beautiful state of Pennsylvania. Honestly there are people from Cambodia, Laos, Germany, Lesotho, Zambia, Ethiopia, Colombia, Brazil, Nicaragua, Vietnam etc.

This week has definitely been a mixture of emotions. The sessions have all been really good. Different sessions have included communicating across cultures, living with a host family, cultural traditions, taking care of yourself while living abroad, the international work of MCC (which is unreal by the way, really neat organization), living under oppression, and culture shock. They are definitely preparing us to hit the full spectrum of emotions. According to the chart....I should hit a bit of a depression around week 12 which places us around the beginning of November (so maybe keep that one in mind ;) Pretty much everyone here has either recently graduated from University or they are in the middle of there program. But it really is encouraging and inspirational to have met so many people who want to serve, it has definitely challenged me to change my perspective from "this is a year to learn spanish, help some children and gain experience"...to "this is a year to ask God to use me where He's working." It's not about my tools and skills, it's about seeking God and asking Him to use me. And I've also been reminded to lower my expectations. I have all these expectations....mostly my own, but I need to be gracious with myself. In learning about the culture, learning SPanish, and really just focusing on the moment. On the here and now.

So that is such a summary but a little idea of the past week. I am leaving Akron and flying out of Philly tomorrow morning at 1100am, then down to Miami and final destination Managua!! It is crazy and it still hasn't set in that I will be going down there. So hopefully that ends soon, and I start to settle in. I am both excited and anxious about the unexpected however my sister kindly reminded me that the past year of 2008 was full of changes, lessons, and many periods of being anxious....and wouldn't you know it, it's 2009 and I survived!!

I will be going down with two other girls. One of whom will be in Managua with me, and both speak Spanish so that will be helpful at first!! And other than that I have no idea about my in-country orientation or my host family.

Well I am off to a fiesta in our house "The Manor" so I will try to update soon and post some pictures.

love you all

amanda