Ana's Birthday Blog

My 14th birthday will be a birthday I will never forget. 

In the morning, as we were lounging in the kitchen, I noticed that Peter was missing, as usual. He was downstairs showing off to Reyna, his girlfriend.  At around 7:00 he came back up with a plate full of pancakes. As soon as we had finished the plate Reyna came in with ANOTHER plate of pancakes. We had plenty of pancakes and it was a great birthday breakfast.

We were invited to Adrian and Bernardeth's home for lunch. As we walked into their house, all the Tabitha girls were there and they started singing happy birthday and other songs with Adrian playing his guitar. They sang 5 or 6 songs. For lunch we had rice and beans, Swiss steak, plantains, carrots and broccoli, and pop. All of the food was cooked in coconut milk. It was delicious. After lunch, we played freeze tag, tag, and red light, green light. 

The next surprise was as I approached Miss Sylvia's house. Jose grabbed the birthday cake from my hands and Heidy and Maricela rushed me into Digna's bedroom. I was befuddled when I saw a purple, lacy, sleeveless, prom dress laying on the bed that fit me perfectly. Digna motioned for me to put the dress on and then put a little makeup on me. After finding sliver high-heeled shoes that also fit close-to-perfect, she led me upstairs. I still was confused until we walked out onto the balcony patio. I saw tables covered with flowers, lights and ribbon covering the railing and lights spelling out "Feliz Cumpleaños Ana." Miss Sylvia and her family were up there along with a couple of other friends. Londi, Maricela, and Heidy ran up to me, gave me a huge hug, and handed me their presents. They started bring up pans of food: corn, mac and cheese, meat, yucca, rice and beans, potato salad, bananas covered with marmalade, and lobster. Soon, more and more people started coming bringing gifts with them. Soon about 50 people were there! When I sat down to eat, Digna handed me a plate of food with mac and cheese, rice and beans, yucca (my favorite food), and meat. The food was absolutely delicious! After we ate they put on music and some people started to dance. Jack found a little girl who always wanted to dance with him or Peter. I loved dancing with Maricela, Londi, and Reyna. A beautiful full, orange moon came out and silhouetted against the water. It was so beautiful. This will definitely be a birthday I will never, ever forget. 

Heidy, Londi, me, and Maricela

Miss. Sylvia

Dancing

All the food!! (plus another table)

Many people who came brought gifts: bracelets, earrings, and purses.

The next day we had birthday cake and ice cream at the comedor with the boys and girls from the Tabitha's homes. The cake and cookies and cream ice cream were delicious. The pastor led the singing and Miss Amy (Dad calls her big mama) said a very special prayer.  

Kids singing Happy Birthday

Miss. Amy (big mama) and the Pastor

It's Beginning to Look alot Like Christmas 12/10/14

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas sign on a front door.

 Christmas stars are put on a light bulb and shine brightly in the dark

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
People are getting into the Christmas spirit in Bluefields, Nicaragua.   Christmas stars and Christmas signs are the most popular.

 Some people have trees and/or lights on their homes. Miss Sylvia, where we live, has the most decorated house in Bluefields and workers have been working on it for the past 3 weeks.

Christmas products on sale

Miss Sylvia's house

 Her 2 little granddaughters, Marisela and Londi, who we play with daily, asked Ana to write a letter to Santa Claus for them- in Spanish.   Hopefully Santa Claus will be able to read what they want!!!




The interesting thing is when we go to the Tabitha Homes - the children there don't really know if they will receive anything for Christmas.  If they have parents, they are not sure if they will see them that day.  Such a contrast to what we experience! I'm sure Bernardeth will make sure they have 1 present for Christmas - but oh so different than our homes piled up with presents under a tree.


The churches are decorated with Advent wreathes, red bows, and a Christmas Tree. Here is a picture of our Advent Wreath this year!

Give A Gift - to the Comedor

      I know this is a busy time of the year.  We would love to challenge you - to give the gift of food to a child at the Comedor.  The Comedor feeds approximately 80 kids a day.  Would you please help us and make one of your gifts this Christmas to a child at the Comedor?
     For $25 - you can feed one child for two months.  We would love to have each child provided for by your  donation.  Thank you and be blessed as we have been blessed serving in Nicaragua!

Reformed Church in America Link to Donate:  Feed One

Jack's Blog....12/3/14

A Blog from Jack.......

Sunday School at Old Bank Chapel

Jack serving food at the Comedor

What do I like about Bluefields? I like the TV and the air-conditioning. I like the TV, but I can't forget why I came because God sent me here to work at the Comedor and help the Tabitha Boys' Home. I also like the air-conditioning but God didn't send me to use the the air-conditioning he sent me to play with the kids and teach them tricks, songs, and games. What I like about Nicaragua is that it's always summer!  When I wake up on any day I always think what God is calling me to do.  I always think that I can be loving, kind, or helpful to someone.  I like being in Nicaragua but some days, wish I was home. God sent me here to do good things not bad things.

Jack soaking his head in the rain at the Comedor.

The Best and the Worst..... 12/2/14

Remember the favorite song by Julie Andrews.....' These are a few of my Favorite Things'. Well we have a list of some of our favorite things............


T.V. - Jack's -  even though it is in Spanish. They have cable and 70 channels to choose from.  About 5 are in English, but they have watched Toy Story and Frozen and Home Alone in Spanish.

Anyone want to watch Frozen in Spanish?

Daniella - the cook at the Comedor. She speaks Spanish and English and Dave likes to joke around with her. 

Rice and chicken with a slice of Banana is on the lunch menu for the children at the Comedor

The Children - The kids are wonderful and love to play with our children.  They always ask.. Are you coming to my house today?

Ana painting nails with Yuveisi

Church... Worshiping our Lord

At church with the Girl Tabitha House

Playing a game with the girls after church

Walking on the streets and taking in the sights...oh so different than Holland, Michigan - but it is beginning to look familiar.

Aberdeen's - Ana and Dave's favorite American coffee shop.








Taxi's - Peter so he doesn't have to walk to the Comedor.

Notice every corner of the taxi is dented!

We Love the view!

Our View -    The view of the water, the barges filled with goods coming from Managua to Bluefields, fishing boats  going out for the day, the view is beautiful - when it is NOT raining!!













 

Making Empanadas with Reina

Learning to cook new food!















The Comedor! - Pastor Gonzalez is so good with the children . He gets 90 kids attention, does a bible lesson, sings fun songs and know everyone of them by name.  He leads good devotions.  His wife lost her leg (due to cancer) so he is responsible for all of the housework and making an income as a pastor.

Satana no Podra Vencer!  No, no, no.   A favorite song of the kids

Going to school - When Peter went to school he loved it.  You all know how much Peter can talk, well he hasn't stopped.  Even though he can't speak Spanish - it hasn't stopped him from trying to communicate. He gestures, he talks Spanglish, he loves being with people and communicating.  He knows how to play UNO in Spanish and telling kids to "draw 2".  He made up this tune in Spanish "I win" - all the girls and boys sing the tune as well.  Ana is quiet but loves to spend individual time with each person.  Jack - is still quite shy, but loves working.  Peter hasn't dried a dish yet!!

Peter at school.   The school is now on a 3 month vacation, December - March.

 

So what are difficult things........

The Shower and water - there is no hot water.  I have washed dishes and clothes all with cold or tepid water that comes from a big water tank on the roof of our apartment.  Taking a shower is difficult since there is no hot water.  Peter sings while he is in the shower so he doesn't have to think about the cold water.  Jack just jumps in and out (who knows if he uses soap or not) - he will need to be disinfected when we come home with a long hot bath, bubbles and bath toys.  We take showers at night.  After a hot day, the water feels refreshing, but it is still cold.  The hotels in Bluefields have hot water.  We can't wait to get back to a Managua hotel and take a hot shower. 

Dogs - They are everywhere!  There are tons of strays everywhere, tipping over trash barrels looking for food. They are all pretty skinny.  Dogs come into the Comedor in search of some rice on the floor, the kids shoo them away.  Some bark at Dave and I while we run. I just turn around and yell at them in English. Here is our favorite that hangs out at our house.. Pink dog we call her.

Blessings to everyone!!!
Love,
The DeKruyter

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