Day of the Revolution

Today, July 19, is a big holiday in Nicaragua, celebrating the 1979 revolution that overthrew the Somoza dictatorship. We are using this day off to update our blog (thus the blitz of posts) and saying goodbye to our one-year SALT volunteers. In the background as we write this, there are lots of fireworks, loud medleys of revolutionary music, and honking as the buses all make their way to the central plaza for a celebration (led by President Daniel Ortega, Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, and a few representatives from Cuba).

There are lots of ways to view this situation, and this year it is being used heavily for political purposes; that is, gaining support for the policies of the current FSLN-controlled (Sandinista Front for National Liberation) government. These are a couple examples of murals depicting aspects of the revolution.

This is one depiction of the revolutionary ideal. The partial-statue is what was left of the statue of Somoza when the Sandinista revolutionaries tore it down. The masks of hypocrisy are set aside, and the children play with their Nicaraguan flag kite in the land of lakes and volcanoes.

Fruits and Vegetables

Several times people have asked us the very good question, “What kinds of fruits and vegetables do you have there?” Nicaragua, while exporting primarily coffee and tourism, is home to fertile, volcanic soil that produces a variety of food for export and domestic consumption. The most commonly eaten vegetables are onions and peppers (used in most dishes). Second tier are carrots, beets, tomatoes, and cabbage. Squashes are also commonly used (a pumpkin-like one called ayote, chayote, and pipian). Some of our favorite fruits in season now are mangos, mamones (like large grapes with peels and big pits), and pitahaya (dragon fruit). There are also all kinds of citrus fruits, bananas, and plantains. Alan and Peter (Beth’s brother--here with us for the summer), have been making delicious fruit smoothies every morning with papaya, banana, and orange.

Dancing and painting and stuff

I love this picture because it expresses how I often feel here. Everyone around me is dancing. I like it, and I want to be involved, but I know I don't quite fit in and sometimes I'm a little unsure. So I smile and join in the best I can. As Andy is doing in this picture. :)

This is the group of young people from various cities in Nicaragua together with youth from the New Guilford Brethren in Christ church in Pennsylvania. We learned (dancing, new languages, how to make tortillas, Nicaraguan history/culture, new ways of worship, etc.) and worked (painting and fixing roofs) together. We saw beautiful ways that the churches here are reaching out in their communities, and were inspired to follow this example. For more photos, click here.

Updated MCC Team photo

Here is our relatively new, expanded MCC team. Of course, it will change again soon when three of our SALTers leave tomorrow (:(). Front Row (L-R): David Mercado, Social Commission Coordinator; Angela Opimi, MCC Nicaragua/Costa Rica Representative (big boss); Alan Claassen Thrush, Peace and Conflict Transformation Professor; Kayon Watson, CEPAD Nehemias Connecting Peoples; Paul Manickam, PE teacher at the Christian School for the Deaf. Standing (L-R): Yolanda Cruz, Office Assistant; Emma Richer, Special Education Coordinator at Hogar Belen; Issela Medina, Connecting Peoples/Office Assistant; Beth Claassen Thrush, Connecting Peoples/Office Assistant; Rebecca Janzen, Project Assistant at the Batahola Cultural Center; Sarah and Seth Hays, Agricultural/Health Accompaniment Workers; Steve and Colleen Forry, Agricultural Accompaniment Workers.