DeKruyters' in Nicaragua: Bluefields 101

It has been an interesting several days as we begin to get a feel for the area and meet some of the people connected with where we are staying and with the feeding program.
We took a walk on a few of the "streets" in the neighborhood, exploring and looking for what was making such a loud noise in the evening. A man named Fransisco raises buffalo and owns property by the bay. Buffalo make a sickly loud grunting noise. He has several people working for him and they work on the farm and on fixing boats - like a small shipyard. When he found out where we were staying and that we were 'friends of Sylvia' (the lady who we are renting the apartment from) he welcomed us and gave us 2 frozen fish and 10 lobster tails. "If you are friends of Silva, then you are friends of mine." he said.

Fish and lobster were excellent!

Silva and her husband David have a son living here and daughters (Dina and Rena) and 2 grandchildren. They are very friendly and say their home is open to us anytime as well. They live below us and we are on the 2nd story of a very large home.

We live in the top level. Left-right: kitchen, bedroom, kitchen, kids' bedroom

Large balcony facing Bluefields Bay, door leads into kitchen

Different angle of the home with the road

Anyway, after a helper was filleting one of the fish, he cut his finger. No one was very eager to do the 2nd fish so I said I would. I also butterflied the lobster tail. Dina, Sylvia's daughter who is married, has been very involved in helping us cook. She prepared the fish, shared pineapple, tamales, and some other breakfast food that was like french toast. She has 2 adopted girls, 8 and 4. Rena is 16 yrs old. They love the activity and want to come and see Ana and maybe Peter and Jack.

Rena, Londe, Ana, and Marisela making bracelets

As a family, we have gone to the comedor (dining hall for the children) the last few days helping fill the bowls with the food, serving the children, and playing with the kids before and after the lunch. (I do not think we would do something like this if Amy did not speak Spanish) Knowing the language makes an immediate connection with everyone and helps so much with communicating). Another activity we were involved with was when Adrian Kelly brought us with him to the private intermediate school of the Moravian Church. We went into 3 classrooms with him and sang some songs with the kids, then he did a short Bible lesson on loving the Lord with all your heart, soul and mind. We finished with a song and prayer.

Girls with the Gideon Bible

The running will be difficult but I will get it in. The area is very hilly, rough roads and not very easy to run because of the conditions. It is very hot when the sun comes out so we hope for clouds. I ran to the comedor this morning to see how far it was - 12:30 sec so about a 1 1/2 miles. The first 1/4 mile is flat dirt road, then 1/4 mi downhill, followed by 1/4 mi flat then 3/4 mi climb. (5k round trip) The cook at lunch told me not to run there because I may get kidnapped, it would be safer to run to the city center. I will talk to some people about this soon.... Mornings begin at 5:15 with the family (Jack and Peter) and the bright sky. Rain has been common in the late afternoon along with losing power.

In the dining hall (comedor) playing dodge ball before lunch

Children singing songs and prayer before lunch

We have helped Daniella prepare the bowls of food and serve them

Ana, Peter and Jack are doing well. Ana went to school Friday with Abayomi (Adrian and Bernardeth's daughter). She said it went well but a little awkward. Ana got her hair done by Dina because she went to a quincenero party Saturday night with Abayomi. Peter has played catch with the kids at the feeding program, Jack has helped with putting tortilla's in the bowl and they all have played tag, dodge ball and other games.