Cool Presentations

This weekend I was with a team that is looking into how they can be involved in Nicaragua in the future, and I made a presentation on Prezi, a format I have never tried before, to explain the work of Christian Reformed World Missions in León. It turned out really well! Since I am so proud of it, I wanted to share it with you about the kinds of things I am involved with. Perhaps it lacks some explanation for you, but you can still get an idea.

CRWM in León

The rest of the weekend went really well. After an explanation of everything on Saturday morning, we ate lunch together (team and guides). Then we went to a neighborhood where the community development program is going strong, and we watched women learn how to make cushions while talking with them about their microenterprise. The team got to ask the ETU leaders questions about their community initiatives. Then they bought a bunch of handicrafts from the girls who were learning needlework crafts as well.

After the ETU community, we visited a business owner at her stall in the main park. She makes and sells preserves. In the morning she goes to the market and buys seasonal fruit, and then she transforms it into jellies, preserves, and spreads. Her daughter takes pictures and puts them on facebook, and people can order the wares that day. They deliver same day via motorcycle or send it with a bus if the people live outside of León. This business woman believes in using natural ingredients even though she is a chemist and knows how to mix the preservatives. From raw material to consumer takes one day, which is pretty cool.

Then we went and talked to Lourdes and Alejandro, a pastoral couple who have seen their marriage, family, and church turn around because of God, recognizing their worth in his eyes, and some Nehemiah Center programs. Pretty cool testimonies, and I happen to like them a lot as a couple.

After a delicious supper with some mint lemonade slushies and rich ice cream, we went to my house for a debriefing time. The team left just as it began to pour, and I had a good night's sleep. Sunday morning was sunny for our stroll around downtown León before church. We saw the cathedral, the public university, the church where Mary is the patron, and murals celebrating the Nicaraguan revolution. We worked up a good sweat in the León heat and humidity before going to church at 10 am at Promesa, my church home here. After singing some good songs and hearing a message about trusting God's promises in the midst of our difficult situations, we went to the beach for a swim and fish for lunch. Then they were gone.

Wow! A whirlwind, but a good taste of what goes on in León, and a reason that I'm quite satisfied with my weekend even though I spent it working very hard. We'll see what God does next!