Ruben Dario, Leon, and Presentations

Monday's pictures! We had our first presentationso on Monday at the church in Ruben Dario. This was an extremely nice church for this country. Below, the room where I gave my presentation.

Our bathrooms. They don't look like much, but trust me, I've seen worse!

The elementary group in the main sanctuary

Two of our translators after a grueling day. Little Luis on the left and Big Luis, my translator, on the right.

The stray dogs around here are pitiful. Just pitiful. This one actually doesn't look as bad as some of the others I've seen.

Three of us went to the private school where the conference will be on Thursday and Friday. Lamar spoke with the superintendent of the Leon schools, Sonia, through our interpreter, Nadia.

Leon cathedral

Leon cathedral

Children from the orphanage came Monday night to help us make signs for our big conference.

And I even helped.

Lamar Caffe (Brown) and Juan Carlos, the pastor of the church in the barrio. He looks EXACTLY like one of my students from my Hispanic posse last year.

More pictures to come later today from Tuesday. Hope you're enjoying them. If you are, leave me a comment!

Thoughts

Yikes. A gecko just ran across the wall near my bunk.

Yikes. A gecko just ran out from behind the white board when I wrote on it.

Yes. No squatty potties.

Oops. No toilet paper.

Uhh. An American guy who looks very much like a fugitive hiding out.

Wow. I don't have to hide my real reason for being here.

Nice. I don't need/want ice after all.

Wow. It's hot.

Hmm. Is it me, or is this mosquito repellent starting to smell rather nice?

Wow. I'm understanding more Spanish than I thought I would.

Oops. Venerdi is NOT the word for Friday. Well, it is, just not in Spanish. No wonder the man looked confused.

Yuck. Burning garbage smells the same no matter where in the world you are.

Wow. That guy on the corner with no teeth loves me. He even said so in English.

Ummm...are those volcanoes ashing?

Sunday's pics: Going into Leon

The church we attended on Sunday.
Sunday morning soccer game. The man in the pink hat is the ref. This is not the norm. Most games we saw being played were baseball.

Picture of a school in the Ruben Dario neighborhood.

Escuela de Barrio Ruben Dario. Yes, this is a real school. Kids attend here. Presently.

Wow. These signs aren't indigenous to only the U.S.

Street with a volcano in the background

Cathedral at the Central Plaza

The Central Plaza

Our chariot

El Ayudante

Just wanted to share some pics with you of the compound where I'm staying. I'll write more later. We had a great first day, and tomorrow starts the first presentations to teachers. Please pray for us, the teachers, and the translators. I can't wait to share more with you!

Road to the compound, El Ayudante

Volcano Mommo Tambo in the background

Sleeping Quarters

Veranda with rocking chairs where we have our meetings

The barrio through the garden

Eating location

Close-up of the veranda

Nicaragua

Interesting facts that I didn't know but just found out:

Did you know...

• Nicaragua's Lake Nicaragua is the largest freshwater lake in Central America?
• Lake Nicaragua is home to the only freshwater shark in the world -- the Nicaraguan shark?
• Nicaragua is the second poorest country in the western hemisphere?
• 28% of the population lives in poverty?
• a relatively high proportion of Nicaraguan homes have women at the head of the household?
• it is both the largest state in Central America and also the least densely populated?
• the largest denomination, and traditionally the religion of the majority, is Roman Catholic?
• baseball, not soccer, is the most popular sport in Nicaragua?
• boxing is the second most popular sport?
• that I'm leaving for Nicaragua in 48 hours?!

Ok, so the last one I didn't just find out. But perhaps you did.

I'm leaving on Saturday for Managua, Nicaragua. Once there, we will travel by automobile to Leòn near the Pacific Ocean. I am traveling with a team from Ringgold, and we are going to do educational missions. If this is a different term to you, you're not the only one! It's new to me, too. Basically, we will be presenting at a Nicaraguan Teachers Conference. We are there to tour schools, conduct sessions on instructional best practices, and take school supplies while reflecting the love of Christ. All those going on the team with me are educators. We will be staying at missions compound called El Ayudante while we are there. Feel free to write me emails; I'll be able to get them!

I have a few specific prayer requests for all of my prayer warriors out there!

• Traveling safety: You all KNOW how I am about flying! We leave around 5:00 PM Saturday the 10th and return about 9 AM on Saturday the 17th.
• Educators we come in contact with: that their hearts would be open to seeing more than just the experience we bring, but the love of Christ as well.
• The conference: on Thursday and Friday of next week that our organization and planning goes well and that we are flexible to any changes that need to be made
• The team: that we would constantly be reminded that it is God through us, not us, that is making any impact
• Our health: that we would be sickness-free both there and when we return
• El Ayudante: that we would learn from the full-time missionaries who live and work at the compound where we are staying

Thank you in advance for praying for me, the team, and our trip! I'm leaving you with a couple of pics I found online of Leòn and the surrounding area until I am there to take some of my own!

Facts are from Wikipedia