Introductions: Guissel

In this picture of the Cohort of Missioners in Nicaragua (or Caminantes en la Misión, as we call ourselves in Spanish), Guissel is the Central American. Probably self-evident. She is Nicaraguan, but moved to Costa Rica with her mom several years ago. She was involved in a community of intentional living in San José, with Jim and Ruth Padilla-DeBorst. Then she decided to come to Nicaragua to be part of our pilot Cohort program. She started in September, and she just celebrated 6 months in León.

Guissel and I get along well. We like to walk around the city together, drink milkshakes, and sit by the main Cathedral. She only speaks Spanish, so it's good to practice joking around and talking about deeper things with her. Since we're friends, I don't feel scared to express my opinions. She is very open to hearing about other perspectives.

Guissel and I like to joke around and make fun of Mark together. She is reserved in some situations, but I have never felt uncomfortable with her. She is very capable of doing the work with ETU (community development program) and feels comfortable with the community leaders. Guissel's experiences in Costa Rica enrich our experience in Nicaragua. 

 Guissel studied nursing in Costa Rica, but she is in the middle of her studies still. This past month she was basically out of the picture because she was studying for the entrance exam to UNAN, the national university in Nicaragua. She wanted to have the option to study there next year, but now the plans are quite undefined. I didn't have the chance to get to know her in our ETU work, but we relaxed together. When she went to Costa Rica for a week to deal with stuff for her residency card, I missed being able to text her or walk around with her!

 Guissel is a local guide for me. She didn't grow up in León, but she grew up in Nicaragua. When I feel uncertain about what I'm wearing or whether or not to tell someone that I saw a mouse in their kitchen, I ask her. I trust her judgment, but she also assures me. Guissel is very laid-back and not overly concerned about what people think. Because of these characteristics, she encourages me to be myself even though I'm in a foreign culture. She also knows how to shop for favorable prices, how to work a pinata (as pictured above), and how to look for everyday things like laundry soap or chocolate-covered-frozen-bananas = CHOCOBANANO. We like a lot of the same things, so it's fun to go out with her.

Meet Guissel, my fellow Cohort and friend. She helps me learn about God and the world in different ways, and she is guided by love for Christ and others.