Happy Thanksgiving! Today my thoughts are pretty scattered. I feel like I should write a blog since it has been a while, but it is harder and harder to keep connected to things back home, even as the time to go home comes closer and closer. I understand mentally that today is Thanksgiving, but I don't really feel like I'm missing it because I'm in León, the sun is shining, and I ate a salmon salad at the café for lunch. I'm very thankful, and very glad to be here although part of me is a bit sad not to be spending the day with my family for the first time I can remember...

We had our own celebration (not for Thanksgiving, but for Evan's birthday) last week Sunday. I asked Roberto if we could have a piñata at his house because I thought it would be less complicated than rearranging one of our houses in the city, and he has a big yard area (compared to other Nicaraguans). He said yes, and Hannah Ponstein and I went shopping for food and such on Saturday after learning how to make tacos with her mamá. Sunday, after a "culto unido" of Apostolic Free churches with my family, I went to Roberto's house and helped get stuff ready. Then, Roberto's neighbors, all family, came over to watch our group of students hit a piñata and have an American/Nicaraguan party. We ate chocolate cake and fruit, and a good time was had by all.

Tacos at Hannah's house. I LOVE TACOS HERE!!!

Roberto preparing to decimate the piñata - he broke their clothesline instead...

The birthday boy, 22-year-old Evan, with his cake

Roberto's in-laws, gathered around. We made them hit the piñata too - and we were all laughing a lot. The woman in the front row with the sky blue shirt is Gricelda, Roberto's wife.

This week at work, I finished the data for León and Chinandega Congresos (a big project that I had been working on since the beginning of my time at the Nehemiah Center), and started on a new project. The Nehemiah Center is starting to work in a new area, Estelí, and I am entering the participants' names and questionnaire answers into the computer. However, today I am in León, working on final projects and relaxing, and tomorrow and Saturday I am going on a bicycle trip with a bunch of people from the Nehemiah Center. I am a bit nervous because of the ride and my lack of in-shape-ness, but I am looking forward to hanging out with the people, spending the night near the beach, and seeing turtles! Roberto is going, and so is Alex from Dordt, plus various other people I know.

I can hardly believe that we only have two weeks left in León. The time is going by faster and faster. I feel strangely not ready to leave. Although I haven't had any banners in the sky from God regarding the future, I haven't seen any closed doors either. I think I could do this. The people at the Nehemiah Center say they would welcome me back, and I said that I am waiting for an opportunity, listening for God's voice. I can hardly believe how fast I'm growing up! Pray for wisdom, time to listen, and strength as I, and the rest of the group, go through a lot of changes and contradictory emotions over the next little while...