Friday, November 28, 2008

Thanksgiving & gift exchange

This is the last week of classes for the 2008 academic year at the Baptist Seminary. Yesterday we had a special year-end celebration, a kind of Thanksgiving service and secret Santa all in one. We shared reasons for being thankful - good health was mine. Then we passed out gifts for the secret Santa exchange. The event was topped off with a delicious pot-luck "Thanksgiving" lunch. We ate several dishes from Nicaragua's atlantic coast: rondón, a soup of beef, yucca, platanos, and quiquisque (kind of like sweet potato) in a coconut milk broth, and patí, an indigenous empanada-type pastry filled with ground beef. We also at chicken, beans, tortillas, rice, bread, and chocolate chip cookies (baked by me). The cookies were a big hit - they were gone in about 5 minutes. Here are some photos from the event.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Acción de Gracias/Thanksgiving

We´ve now been here in Nicaragua for more than 2 years, and I think it´s about time to make a list of some things we have been thankful for here:

-delicious fruit and fruit juices
-neighbors who look out for us and invite us into their families
-2 jobs that we really enjoy
-hammock chairs and rocking chairs
-that satisfied feeling after doing a bunch of laundry
-energetic young people
-other volunteers (MCC team members, Food for the Hungry, AKF, etc.)
-our patio where we can have a little garden, see the planes fly over, and watch the sun set
-breezes or rain that give the occasional respite from the heat
-pigs and other funny animals
-good books and the people who send or bring them to us
-visiting different churches and hearing from God
-playing piano and singing at the conservatory next to the seminary where Alan works
-fried cheese and plantain chips
-visits from family
-Bolivian food (carne, sopa de mani, etc.)-kind and/or interesting taxi drivers
-excellent care in the hospital
-when someone tells a really funny joke or story that we understand
-lunches at the MCC office
-kids who are really excited that they have learned to read
-beaches-mountains
-learning about prayer
-fans
-feeling the baby move around

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

US Elections - a Nicaraguan perspective

Many of you have probably already read/heard about the international reaction to Barak Obama's victory in the US presidential elections of last week. We witnessed similar interest here in Nicaragua. Lots of people were curious about our votes - who we voted for, how we sent in our ballots, etc. Many Nicaraguans have family members living in the US, so we also heard lots of comments like, "My cousin really likes Obama," or "My aunt is nervous about the elections because she doesn't like either candidates' policies on immigration."
The day after the elections we received congratulations from colleagues, neighbors, and friends on our new president. The two primary Nicaraguan newspapers were also congratulatory, with Obama making front-page headlines. La Prensa says, "President Obama: Historic Elections Conclude in the US" while El Nuevo Diario announces, "Obama Makes History".
For more election commentary and opinion, send us a personal email or a facebook note. :-)

Thursday, November 06, 2008

Las elecciones

"¿Van a votar dos?" "Are you going to vote two?" This was the question of the day yesterday from our neighbor kids. The Nicaraguan elections are on Sunday, and last night (Wednesday) was the last day of campaigning before the three days of "silence" that always precede elections here. We explained to the kids that we can't vote in Nicaragua because we aren't citizens. (And we don't give opinions because we try to stay out of local politics as much as possible in countries where we are not citizens). It is perplexing to them to talk to an adult who is not voting because voter turn-out in Nicaragua is among the highest in democracies in the world.

These elections, which will take place all over Nicaragua, are municipal. However, they feel like national elections because they reflect strongly on the balance of power of the political parties in the country generally. "Vote 2" is a common phrase here in Managua and it refers to voting for the FSLN (Sandinista party--those currently in power) mayoral candidate. The other candidate in Managua is from the Liberal party.

We see and hear much more about "voting 2" because of the very heavy campaign efforts by the current government. For the last number of months, they have been paying people to stand at all major intersections in the city all day, waving party flags and wearing shirts that say "Love is stronger than hate." The large posters read "prayer against hate." The party's traditional revolutionary colors of red and black intermingle with their new peaceful colors of pink and yellow. The photo above is from today's newspaper (La Prensa), which is criticizing the continued use of government vehicles, property, and money to campaign. This political cartoon (we love following political cartoons here--Nicaraguans are brilliant with word play and satire) from today depicts two men in "Love is stronger than hate" t-shirts silencing the opposition. There has been some violence on the part of both sides leading up to these elections, but the irony is more clear when the perpetrators are wearing pink and yellow shirts with this message.

Monday, November 03, 2008

WCC dignitary

Yesterday afternoon we attended a forum hosted by the UPOLI (where Alan works) in honor of a visit by the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, Dr. Samuel Kobia. Five panelists spoke about various Central American projects to overcome violence. Dr. Kobia then shared reflections and observations about the work of the WCC and how these Central American projects fit within its goals and mission. The event was attended by evangelical/protestant leaders from across Nicaragua and Central America. In the photo, Dr. Kobia is in the center.

Costa Rica Vacation

In late October Beth and I traveled to Costa Rica for several days of vacation. We needed to use up our remaining vacation time for the year, plus we wanted a final getaway before Baby Claassen Thrush comes. Our plans were a bit postponed by my appendicitis recovery, but we readjusted our plans and headed south.

Our hotel was between Playa Conchal and Playa Brasilito on the Guanacaste Peninsula. We spent our time relaxing and reading on the beaches, hanging out by the pool, and reapplying sunblock. Here are a few pictures from our trip. If you want to see more, click here.