Late but Sure (Tarde pero Seguro)

I am very bad at this communication thing lately, and I apologize. I noticed that although I write excellent blogs in my head on the bus to or from a meeting or activity, I never seem to get it down on my computer once I get home. However, it's high time for at least a skimming update of life in the last few months. Maybe I'll actually get some of those wonderful blogs published too. Be prepared for a flood of outdated information.

Julie and me getting to know each other again

Most of my blogs lately have to do with IMPACT because that's been a major part of my focus in the last few months. I had the extraordinary opportunity to go to Europe for a vacation at the beginning of July. With a week of holidays left in addition to mid-year office shut-down, I had time. It has been two years since I lived in the Netherlands with my Dutch brother and his family, and I have a Dutch niece who is growing up without knowing me. So I bought a ticket and went for a visit. The time was spent getting reacquainted with the family, wooing a Terrible Two Year Old who doesn't understand me, popping around museums and cycling around the royal city of The Hague. I also spent a few days in Germany with our German exchange student and his family, mostly trotting along behind him at a construction site where his is the project manager and architect, and eating really good food. Then I went for a few days to Romania to spend some time with the original IMPACT people, understand the culture of that country more, and spend time with people I usually just email. It was a very beneficial trip and gave me a better idea of the possibilities we can consider for IMPACT in Nicaragua. When I returned to the Netherlands, I got to spend a lot of time with my Dutch family and even celebrate my birthday with them.

Birthday brunch at the beach with my Dutch family

Returning to Nicaragua, I welcomed my first visitor! My friend and former college roommate, Angelina, came to visit for a week. We have been talking about her coming to visit since I first came to Nicaragua, and it finally worked out! While she was here I had less work than I anticipated so we got to spend time doing tourist activities. I really appreciated being able to show someone my life in Nicaragua and see the wonder in her eyes when she ate new foods, rode on public transportation, or climbed a volcano. The visit also helped me transition back into work after the jet lag wore off, so it was perfect timing.

Angelina and me climbing a volcano - but really just enjoying being together

After Angelina left, it was nose to the grindstone. I worked on IMPACT plans and budgets. I made my first multi-plan budget with the help of some friends at the Nehemiah Center, and I feel quite proud of that four-sheet document with different projections of plans and costs for the upcoming year. We had regional leaders meetings - the first of their kind in Nicaragua! Romania involved some Latin American countries in a grant request for the European Union, so I participated with feedback and filling out some paperwork (we'll see if our project is approved!). Just this week, the first IMPACT project was carried out in Chinandega - a work of mercy from a group of young people to some needy families in the community, and I had the honor of accompanying them.

An interactive activity at an IMPACT training

We were also very busy with the strategic plan at the Nehemiah Center. For the past year, I have been involved in meetings to discuss the future of the Nehemiah Center. We went through outside evaluations, conversations with champions, workshops, and soul-searching. After four different versions of a new vision and mission, we finally have a document to present to the General Assembly. Think the equivalent of a Parent-Teacher Assembly for a school or the Congregational Meeting at a church - the voting body that approves or disapproves of future plans and budgets of the institution. That vote happens tomorrow, so we will see what happens, but I am happy that after all the long hours, going to Managua twice a week, and taking a book's worth of notes, we have something to show for our efforts, and all of us on the committee feel good about it.

I'm with a team in this picture, but our committee spent a lot of time in this room of the NC

Another major aspect of life lately has been SPIN students; that is, university students on a study abroad program from Dordt College. I was a SPIN student 5 years ago, and now my housemate is the director of the program. I am the Spanish linguistics instructor as well as the facilitator for their service-learning class. I have been finding places around León for students to volunteer and arranging with them and their placements an agreement for their three weeks of volunteering in November. There are 8 students this year, and despite the fact that they take over my house for Spanish classes every day, they are a pretty cool bunch. I wasn't so thrilled with the full house last week when I got sick, but I feel much better now, and therefore much more hospitable.

Lirio de los Valles, one of the schools where students will be serving in classrooms

In other news, this week it has been raining in Nicaragua! It is supposed to be the middle of the rainy season right now, with heavy rains every day from now until October. However, it has been a very dry year for those of us in the Western region of Nicaragua. Thankfully, we have been receiving showers several days a week over the last couple of weeks, and the temperatures are much more pleasant. That's a good thing because my housemates and I have decided to participate in a two-day course for massage with a friend of mine. Last week Sunday we sweat enough during the course to water a small garden, but hopefully this Sunday it will be much nicer weather for us to practice our healing touch.

One of my housemates, Kelsey, and I - wouldn't you want a massage from us?

That's most of the news lately. September brings some partnership developments, more IMPACT consolidation, and tying up details for SPIN student placements. More specific details and thoughts will follow... maybe. ;)