Boo Hoo Hoo For Me

Ok, I realize I am a Murphy but "Murphy's Law" (Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.)  has truly been following me here in the area of health.  At home, I get a cold  once a year, if that.  I've been here for four months now and I've been sick almost every week!  Colds, stomach flu, throat infection etc--every other week!  On the weeks I'm not sick, I suffer from extreme fatigue and exhaustion.  I finally realized I have to get really agressive with my health or else I won't be here much longer.  I spoke with the friends here about the severity of my health problems (unfortunately I'm not always open about not feeling well so no one really knew how bad it was :-( )  They have kicked into high gear my requests for tons of fruits, veggies and eliminating alot of the white bread and other things I was eating.  It's been about a week and a half and I can really feel the difference, whew!  Unfortunately, in my quest to try and get more energy a few weeks ago before I changed my diet, I went to the gym.  I got a little over zealous with the weights, thinking I was She-Ra or somebody.  I picked up a weight that was too heavy to do dead lifts in bad form and as I was doing them, I knew something was very wrong.  Did I stop?  Of course not.  Hey don't judge!  I've said I'm working on modesty and knowing my limits!  Anywho, I pulled a muscle in my back.  Again, I said nothing as I was still able to get around.  I thought it was feeling a little better until I wore heels two days ago.  I guess that made my back tighten more and good googly moogly did I regret that!  Later that night, I was totally unable to move and thought for sure my next post would be about the Nicaraguan ER!  Fortunately, I got some ice on it which has gotten me back moving although apparently not very well.   As I walked through the market today thinking I was doing a good job of seeming ok, a lady at a booth called out to me, "Hey you! Yeah you, American!  You need medicine?  I got lots of medicine!  You NEED some medicine!!"  I couldn't help but laugh.  I'm going to keep on with the ice and heat also to see if that eventually helps.  If not, I guess I'll try a massage or accupuncture like some people here are recommending.  Any suggestions on what to do for a pulled back muscle??   So now to the point of this post!  As I was laying in bed incapacitated yesterday feeling sorry for myself *smile* I decided to try to find other need greater blogs to encourage myself.  I found a really cute video called "Bad Day" that made me feel better.  Thanks Zach at Gravy Train for letting me post it!  Here is the link:  http://gravytrain5.com/movies/bad_day.html  I hope everyone at home is well!

I feel weird not putting at least one picture on this post so here is a random picture I took today.  (See mom and dad-- I'm ok, really!!!!)

We preached in Hell today!

A few days ago, I preached in an area called Inferno (Hell).  Although this is cool season in Granada (high 80s low 90s), it was quiet toasty in Inferno.  We met at 7:15AM  and stayed until about 4:30PM.  The area is located on Volcano Mombacho.  Besides our literature, we packed breakfast, lunch, snacks and, plenty of liquids which all became quite heavy but I was glad I had it.  Although we only stayed for the day, Inferno is part of one of the many areas in Nicaragua where brothers and sisters do giras.  A gira is typically a three day preaching tour over grueling, hard to reach areas.  Everyone packs 3 days worth of supplies, sleeping gear etc and sleeps at predesignated areas (usually by a river) with brothers taking turn keeping watch every night.  My health did not allow me to go on the last gira I heard about (more about that later) so I figured I'd try it for one day.  One could take a motorcycle or bicycle part of the way in but, eventually the terrian becomes too rocky or sandy to do anything besides hike.  For this reason, there are currently no bible studies conducted here, but a group does visit monthly.  I came home all dusty but I had a great time and definitely plan to do it again!

Let's go!

Brother trying to find the way.  There are no maps or set trails.

'Ok, I KNOW the trail is around here!'

Maybe over there?

Here it is!

A brother making sure we stay together.

Taking a break

 The surrounding area.

I can't walk any more!! 

Lunch time!

We had been humming the Kingdom Melodies as we walked but didn't know some of the words so this sister whipped out her book at lunch!

Ok, back to walking!  We walked so much that the trail ran out....

 So, we had to climb down to the next level of the volcano.  None of us visitors knew to expect this.  As we approached, all of our faces dropped one by one and each one laughed at the next!  Fortunately we got the translation not to step in the middle of that plank or it would snap!

 One by one we climbed down...

 Older ones....

And younger ones

In all that walking, we would find a house every 1/2 mile or so.  We would be so excited we'd race each other to the door!  Anybody home?

 

Monkey Mania

Anyone that knows me well knows that I really, really like monkeys.  Why?  I can't really tell you but I just do.  Anywho, I was upset that I didn't get to see any monkeys last year in Costa Rica so I'm glad that I get to see them often in the ministry here!

It kind of looks like I gave him a cigarette but I swear it was only bread!

Now before you go feeling all sorry for the chained monkey, check this out.  His owner owns the pulperia (corner store) in the background.  So everyone who buys a snack wants to feed the cute monkey.  I happened to have some pico bread which is a sweet pastry which he happily gobbled down.  Then, a brother behind me handed him some plain white roll they were eating.  He sniffed it then threw it on the ground.  Puzzled, the brother gave him another piece.  This time he sniffed it, threw it down then picked up a coconut shell and threw it at all of us!  Apparently he only likes sweets.  So the brother handed him a lolly pop (below) and all was forgiven.

Let's go to the lagoon!

Last week, several of the friends got together at an area about 10 minutes from where I live called Laguna de Apoyo.  The lagoon was created by a volcano so the water is always warm.  Since we are all on a tight budget, we were elated that the area was free as long as some people bought food.  It was nice to hang out with friends who are serving in other parts of the country and to relax for the day.



You're serving what for dinner??

In a previous post, I showed a woman curing beef on our clothes line.  Now I understand why.  It was for a dish called Baho.  The problem is, when it's pronounced here, it sounds like "bowel."  I couldn't understand why everyone was so excited to have "bowel" for dinner.  The grandma in our house was proud to say that no one can duplicate her method.  Below are two pictures of her before it cooked for three hours on our woodburning stove out back.  I must say, it was one of the best dishes I've had since I've been here!

This picture is from another day.  Violeta is determined to get me dinner at 6PM no matter what.  On this particular day, we had a citywide power outage.  She went and put on a "miners lamp" and kept right on cooking.  It was pitch black in the kitchen when I took this.  My flash just made it look like the lights were on!  (Eliam is also shining his flashlight to help.)

Diamante

I've commited to helping out in a city called Diamante every Friday since there are very few publishers to help there.  There is only one bus that goes there every morning at 7AM and one bus that comes back at 12:30PM.  This week is the CO visit which has been very encouraging.

 Setting up for the meeting for service.  The sister in front is splashing water on the ground to make hundreds of white mothlike bugs "wake up" and fly away.

Although we are working on a lake and not the ocean, it's been very windy, hence the waves.

I've got my Spanish presentation written in case I draw a blank!

 Go to where the people are!  This morning many are washing clothes in the lake.

 

Waiting for mommy to finish washing.

Boys playing at the lake.

Are you sure there are houses up here?!

Smile! 

 

This young sister was very shy and quiet as she is a new publisher but, her partner made her feel at ease !

 New BFFs! 

Taking a break

 Becky and the COs wife.  She is a missionary from Germany.

Here comes the bus!

 The CO advised us to put a sign in the front of the bus adverstising the special talk on Saturday morning.

  

 Here is a better picture of the sign.  It's the one on the right.  The one on the left is advertising a party Saturday night.  Hey!  Ladies half price! lol Sidebar: Getting slightly off subject, I don't think I ever mentioned the party bus in Granada.  I was out one evening when all of a sudden one of the city buses drove by.  The city buses are run down old school buses.  This bus, however was a party bus.  There was music blasting, disco lights flashing and people dancing in the aisle!