Church

Church . . . it is simultaneously one of the most enriching and frustrating parts of our time here. It is like a cacophony of melodies (I'm speaking literally and figuratively) that can give one a splitting headache, but every once in awhile you catch part of one that is new and beautiful, so you can't just tune it all out. Our understanding of both music and the Holy Spirit and how they work is stretching to new limits. Why is the music SO loud and unintelligible? Why are there no printed words to any songs? Why do people go to church every night of the week? Why are people shaking and falling down? Why doesn't anyone invite us to anything? (see the spring newsletter for more on that) Why are they so hostile to Catholics (and even other churches in their own denomination)? Why aren't they more concerned about being involved in service to the community? Why are there so few men? Why are we so critical, anyway? Can't we just participate and learn?

But then, in the midst of the noise and questions, we have a lovely conversation with someone from church and feel God's presence. The Spanish words to a song hit us in a new and powerful way. Someone prays for us, not with shouting or shaking, but with gentleness and blessings. We participate in a conversation about a passage of Scripture that is refreshing. We watch how people care for one another, visiting those who are sick or providing food. We see generations interacting together in touching ways.

The question "What is the Church?" is not going anywhere. We'll keep asking it of ourselves and those around us. In the mean time, we'll keep trying to pick out a few new words and melodies each time.

In the picture are some of our friends from church, with Lindsy Glick (volunteer from Goshen) in the middle and Sarah and Erin at right.

Comings and Goings

We've had lots of people coming through this summer. My brother Andrew Claassen visited at the end of June. Around the same time, we received a short-term volunteer from Goshen College, Lindsy Glick. At the beginning of July, Don and Deo (from MCC Canada) came for a visit to see MCC Nicaragua programs that receive funding through the Canadian government. Keith Zehr, fellow Kansan, also arrived in July to be with MCC for about 6 weeks. July 21st, we said our very fond farewells to the SALTers (1 year volunteers) Erin Wilson and Sarah Klassen (pictured). But we hardly had time to breathe before the group from California came and went (see post below).

This morning we took the first IVEPer, Cecibel (in the center of the left-hand photo below), to the airport to head to the States for a year of service and learning. The other IVEPer, David (shown below), leaves for Canada next Saturday. Then we will just wait at the airport for our new group of 4 SALTers. Though sometimes sad and sometimes tiring to have so many people coming and going, it is invigorating to be in the midst of so many connections between people and the Church all over the world.

Nagarote Adventure

Just wanted to give you a little window into my (Beth's) past couple weeks.

Ingredients:
-4 Californians from Youth for Christ
-4 Nicaraguans from the Santa Rosa Brethren in Christ church in Managua
-1 Connecting Peoples Coordinator/translator/cheerleader/etc.
-2 Nicaraguan drivers
-1 microbus with lots of character
-1 volcano
-a few monkeys
-9 generous host families in Nagarote
-a bunch of songs in English and Spanish
-18 delicious filetes a la plancha
-around 300 kids
-3 colors of paint
-insect repellent (used liberally)
















We spent the first couple days in Managua--getting to know each other, planning for the week, learning/teaching about Nicaragua, and trying to figure out how to communicate when each group knew only a little of the other's language. Then we headed about 70 kilometers up the coast to Nagarote, where we were warmly embraced by our host families. We spent a few days working with the kids on music, art, and drama. We also painted and did some work on part of the roof. The Holy Spirit worked in us. We listened to each other and worked together, and beautiful relationships emerged. I like my job.

What? Coca Cola is good for you?

So apparently Coca Cola in Nicaragua is trying to market itself as a healthy drink. Here's a label that I cut off a bottle of Coke the other day. Here's the translation on the left-hand side:

'Wellbeing Movement - Commited drop to drop'

And now the four drops on the right (left to right):

- only (!) 100 calories, or 5% of your daily diet

- contains thousands of smiles

- a good source of hydration

- a drink low in sodium

And across the bottome, in black letters:

'Walking 30 minutes every day and smiling is part of your wellbeing.'

So go ahead! Drink Coke! It's healthy! Never mind that your smiles will be toothless.

For a truer picture of the effects of soda on a person's body (and fast food in general), we recommend the movie "Supersize Me". I'm not sure where Coca Cola gets its statistics, but this marketing campaign seems like a stretch and would never fly in the U.S.