Grocery Shopping

     One thing I can't wait upon my return is Meijer's, one stop shopping place.  Today we needed some food.  First stop - Schnieder Supermercado, a very small grocery store.   You can pay with a credit card and they have American looking food (cans and boxes of food).  We purchase Cornflakes, spaghetti sauce, BBQ sauce, chicken, butter, pop, toilet paper, cookies (cremas and bon o bons' are our favorite), etc.
Then I need to find fruit and vegetables - which is sold at every corner.  But not all fruit is at every corner, so I need to search and ask around. Then meat - the butcher is a few blocks away to buy ground beef or a whole chunk of beef. They weigh it and put it into a small plastic bag to carry.  Then I want dry white cheese - but nobody has it except the meat/seafood market.  Jack almost faints, due to the smell, as parts of whole cows are hanging up to sell.  There I find my white cheese. Ana walks past another store and remembers it has her favorite bon o bons. So into another store.
This is my American grocery shopping - of what looks familiar and what I think I can prepare.  Next day, I go with Reina to purchase food for her to teach me how to make rice/beans and Empanadas de Maiseca.  I only have 200 cordobas ($8.00).  We walk up the road and buy  1 lb. of rice, beans and 2 lbs of flour out of giant bags.  I remember I want onions, limes, bananas etc.  She picks up some rice for herself as well.  I walk home with .30 left over in my pocket.
Later that day I walk past my imported American grocery store, Gladys', and purchase  32oz. Welch's grape Jam for $5.00. - to go with the 3 jars of peanut butter I brought down with us.

Here are some food prices:

Toilet Paper 6 rolls - $3.25
 Spaghetti 1 lb   -  $1.75
 Powdered milk 12 oz -  $4.00 - milk in boxes is even more expensive.
 Coffee  14 oz --    $4.25
 Corn Flakes 22oz - $4.50
 Apples - $1.50 per apple
 bananas $0.05 per small banana
 Pineapple, small and sweet - $1.00
 Watermelon - $4.00
 Ground beef - $2.20 a lb.
 Crema cookies  $0.90 a package.
 Oatmeal 1/2 lb  -$0.90
 Small container of banana boat sunscreen - $12    
 Spaghetti sauce - $2.00 a jar.
 Can of veggies or fruit - $1.50 small can.
 Box of cake mix for Ana's birthday - $3.00 for the mix and $3.00 for the can of frosting.
 Rice - $0.30 a Lb
 Beans - $0.30 a lb
 Flour  - $0.40 a lb
 Eggs - 30 of them for $5.00

Most of the time when I shop - I don't care how much it costs - I just buy what looks familiar and what I can make.  We could eat rice/beans and tortillas every morning for breakfast a lot cheaper than Corn Flakes - but I would have some very unhappy children.

Jack and Ana like the daily Comedor Food.  Usually rice and beans and a piece of meat in a sauce (chicken or beef).  We all like the Comedor food since we are all starving by 1:30pm after all the children have eaten and we have cleaned up.
     

First Sunday of Advent - Church in Bluefields 11/30/14

     It is a beautiful day today. No rain, sunny with a nice breeze - but hot!  As we walk 1/4 mile to the main road, we decide to take a taxi to church (1mile away) since we are all sweating buckets and we are all afraid of getting burned even with sunblock on.
It costs $.50 a person to take a taxi anywhere in Bluefields, but if a child sits on your lap - they are free -  so usually we pay $2.00 for a taxi ride. Today there was an adult in the front passenger seat but the taxi driver stopped to take us anyway. We said we have 5 people, he said "you only pay for 3"!  So we all crammed into the back seat of the taxi.

Old Bank's Chapel

Sunday School is in the AM and Church service is in the PM.  We attend Old Bank Chapel for Sunday School.  Last week they asked if I would 'give the word' during the service. So with 1 minute preparation - I gave a short message.  What do you think about that Pastor Steven!!!!  She asked if we would give a short message today as well. So I prepared something about Advent - which I can easily do since it is my favorite church season of the year.  I brought my advent candles (thanks Anne Brower) and did a short message on the prophet candle.

Amy gave the message at Old Banks Chapel (twice)

At Sunday School, which is in English, we sing acapella hymns - all verses (usually 4-5 verses).  They are all familiar hymns. They read different verses from the Bible.  It is suppose to start at 9:30am, but usually it doesn't start until 9:50am. (NHRC - you would like that, more time to talk!) And people walk in at all different times, even at 10:00am they are walking in.  Offering is taken by the young people.  Today they had an attendance of 34  little children and 50  adolescence/adults.  The offering total was 480 cordobas. ($19.00).  Last week offering was 350 cordobas ( $14.00).

Children's Sunday school

My reflection - I could get really bored and complain about going to church (5 verses of hymns, etc), which I would probably do in MI since our focus is "What am I getting out of the service".  "How am I liking my songs, my preacher, etc"  But here - I need to focus on glorifying God and praising God during my worship time with my fellow believers.  I actually really enjoy the service.  Now I know this is only for 5 Sundays - so I can get through anything that doesn't fit my culture.  But it is a refreshing way to worship - glorifying God instead of focusing on my enjoyment of the service.

After church we went downtown to go out for lunch. We decide to eat local and go to Comedor Sarita.  $2.20 for a huge plate of food (rice/beans with fried chicken or meatballs or beef with vegetable). Dave and I thought it was delicious and plan to return - the kids - they may need PB&J when we get home.  We have also been to a few restaurants with mixed reviews. 

Ana's favorite place is an American coffee shop called Aberdeen's. (not pictured)

Let's try this place for lunch!

Restaurant inside

Thanksgiving Day - Nicaragua style 11.28.14

Happy Belated Thanksgiving Day!  We did not have turkey - but we had a full day of activities with the special people of our lives in Bluefields.

We started by going to the Moravian Church where Dr. Bernardeth was having a conference with 25 midwives from many different villages along the river.  Adrian had taken a medical river trip last weekend - 7 hours up river - and as he came back, picked up midwives/medical person of their village.  They all spoke Miskito - one of the indigenous languages in Nicaragua.  Bernardeth asked if I would lead them with devotions and Adrian would translate.  I was blessed was a beautiful experience of sharing God's word with believers in a different language.  They were all so attentive, shaking their heads in agreement.  I told them that we would pray for them with all of the medical difficulties that happen with little or no medicine and none of them are trained professionals.  I asked if they would pray for us and our church in Michigan and they all responded enthusiastically - Yes. 

leading devotions with Adrian

The midwives

 After devotions, we went to the Comedor where we had our Thanksgiving Dinner - rice, beans, beef, bananas

After we served lunch and cleaned up at the Comedor, we were invited to attend a 9th grade graduation of 2 children who live at the Tabitha's House.  Kenan and Jolexyi.

Kenan and Jolexyi

This girl asked Peter and Jack if her mom could take a picture of them with her!

Ana and Shayan at graduation

Typical shoes of women in Bluefields, dressed up for graduation.

Friday - November 28th - We went to the Central Park in Bluefields this morning.  actually it is the only park in Bluefields. There were swings, slides and playground equipment.  They were getting ready for Christmas and the ice cream man was selling ice cream in the shape of a Christmas tree!

 Since it barely rained today - everyone was doing wash and hanging it out to dry.  Can you image drying 10 pairs of jeans on the line? and white t-shirts?

 We also took the bus today.  It was a good experience. The red buses head downtown.

Our street is almost dry with little mud since we have had 2 days with only a little bit of rain

Tabitha Homes

     Every day we go and help at the Comedor from 11:00am - 2:00pm.  We also spend time with the children from the Tabitha Homes, either before or after the Comedor.  The children from the Tabitha Homes are children that either are orphans or have been in abusive situations.  Bluefield's Children Social Services asks the Moravian Church (Bernardeth and Adrian) if they can take a child into the home.  There are currently 5 boys in the Boy's Home. and 7 girls in the Girl's Home.  We help them with homework, do crafts, play games and just love on them.  Ana and Peter really like playing with the children from these homes and could spend hours with them everyday. Some of the children speak some English. Most speak Spanish.  Each home has a house mother that takes care of the children.
Miss Mary is at the Boy's home. Miss Bernice is at the girl's home. The children go to school everyday.  The homes have no running water, but do have an outside well where they get their water. The children pull up many buckets of water everyday to shower, cook, wash clothes, shoes and flush toilets.  Each bathroom has a big pail of water - with a smaller bowl in the water to either scoop water to flush a toilet or to pour over your head to shower.  This is the case for 95% of the homes in Bluefields.  Our apartment has a tank on the roof - so we do have running water and showers - slow gravity brings the water through the pipes.  The children have multiple chores everyday - clean, sweep and mop floors (so much dust, mud and dirt daily on all tiles floors), wash and hang up to dry their own clothes, help in the kitchen, clean bathrooms, etc. 

The Girl's Homes - 2 story on a steep hill

Ana making Rainbow Loom bracelets with Yuveisi, Eva and Shayan

Jack and Ebi

Peter and Alcira

The Boy's Home - 1 story small home

Peter, Miss Mary, Kenan, Jack, Melburn, Darriel and Ebi

Miss Mary, the house mother, helping Darriel with homework

Chelsea washes her shoes everyday

Peter helping Melburn with math. Math is a universal language!

Making Rainbow Loom bracelets with the boys - they loved it!

Running in Bluefields 11/25/14

We finally have internet today.  We have been without for a few days - so that is why all the posts.

Running in Bluefields.

Before coming to Bluefields, I knew that not many people run. I was even hesitant to bring my running clothes, not knowing the city and safety.  Dave and I brought them anyway.
Running is hard; it is 80 degrees and 100% humidity in the morning.   Bluefields is hilly, the streets are always wet and slippery b/c of the daily rain, and taxis and people on the street.  So we run from 5:45am - 6:30am. If we run earlier, I am scared b/c there are not enough people outside and there are enough men just hanging around that make me nervous (they whistle at you).   If we run later, we'll be run over by a taxi or too many people on the sidewalk.
Yesterday, as I was running, I met someone else running and he said he was running around the block.  He said there were many people running around the Central Park.  I went there, and sure enough, there were people jogging around the park, around and around. There were also a few men practicing their boxing. So, we have learned that some people do jog, but around Central Park, not necessarily on the streets. I also saw a lady, in pants and a hat, jogging around a small soccer/basketball court  1/4 mile from our apartment.

1/3 of a mile walk/run to the main road

The wet and slippery streets of Bluefields

Up and down, hill after hill after hill

Bowls and Spoons for the Comedor 11/25/14

Bernardeth and Adrian asked if we would bring 60 bowls and 4 dozen spoons for the comedor.  The students at South Olive Christian School collected money to purchase new bowls and spoons because there were many cracked bowls  and plastic spoons the comedor was using. They were so happy that we brought new bowls and spoons.  Now they have enough good bowls and spoons for everyone.
The comedor says " Thank You" to the children at South Olive Christian School.
Thanks everyone!!!!!!!!

Bowls purchased by SOCS!  Thank you!

Jack's job every day at Comedor - rinsing bowls.

My Little Missionary 11/25/2014

Peter enjoys being in Bluefields. He enjoys school.  He enjoys playing with the boys and girls at the comedor and Tabitha Homes.  He asks consistently to go to their homes and play.  He enjoys trying to talk in Spanish/English with the kids.  He isn't afraid to use sign language to try and speak (instead of waiting to ask me).  He enjoys buying a Coke along the street as we walk. He enjoys watching a high-school girls basketball game.
As we walked to the main road this morning for him to take a taxi to school, I told him maybe he would be a missionary some day.

The one who protested the most to come to Nicaragua, is enjoying it the most.