La Vie Secrèt de Tubzey

So obviously ( well maybe not ) I did not have a computer to use.
I just came back from Nicaragua mission at midnight. It was bittersweet, for I always find it hard to leave the land God’s wonders lay marvelously there. I won’t miss the polluted air there, but everything else I will. Praying for the land over and over was worth the fight. So many times I would feel discouraged because of my own selfishness, greediness, lack of persistence and motivation. I give all thanks and glory to God for bringing me back up. I was humbled so much, definitely. I still need to keep on going though!

Here is a picture of 2 of our 3 translators. May I mention ever so slightly that my Spanish picked up quick! I had such a wonderful time with everyone (not all times).

We went to El Paraiso, San Benito. Those two places have always had a spot in my heart since the first time I went to Nicaragua for missions. The place has changed so much! Not only did they build a grand church that also serves as a school, but they also have a semi-outdoor kitchen/bakery to bake goods to sell and feed children with. It is so amazing how much growth there has been since my last mission there.

The roads are still gunky, mucky when it rains–we had to evacuate as soon as possible when it started to shower down on us, otherwise our bus transportation could not get out. That is how thick the mud was. Manuel & his father, Joseph are wonderful drivers in this heaping mess of dangerous liquid dirt!

We stayed at Quinta Primavera for the first couple of days. It was nice, and beautiful excluding the uninvited march of the ants that were crunchy and juicy between my finger pads. There was another mission team staying there that were from Indiana & Ohio. Here is a candid photo of Josh with a model-like presence.

On Sunday, we went to a Korean church called: 행복을 넘치는 교홰. Did I not mention I met Josh Jun & Elise Jun? Emily was in NYC interning I think, so it was nice to meet all of them again including Pastor Matthew Jun & Jennifer Jun.

Claudia is our beautiful, talented translator with a chill breeze under her feet. She worked hard along with us all! She even got to hang out with us on our break day.

After church, we went to Laguna de Masaya. There was a retreat center by that lake where we relaxed. Josh Jun, Joshie, Serin(a) and I swam for a while. Josh Jun and I swam ALL the way to the floating raft that was out in the middle of la laguna more than 200 feet away. I did panic a bit as I was getting closer to the raft, because I was getting tired. I felt the fear of drowning all the sudden. Josh Jun had saw me struggling as I was 3/4 the way to the raft, and he dove back in to retrieve my sinking self! I learned that Joshie & Serin(a) were not swimmers/did not really know how to swim! Well, luckily the lady of the site gave us floaty donuts.

I will upload our mission photos later. I am so exhausted at this moment…

The day before we left for home. We went to Volcano Masaya where we hiked up the side of a crater filled with luscious forestation since they did not allow anyone to go up to the cross on the volcano hill because it erupted last year. All of the adults except Eric’s mother came with Josh, Claudia, Sharon and I to the crater. It was worth the hike & huffing and puffing. I mean it was filled with butterflies, lizards & breath-taking beauty.

Afterwards we went to Granada, and man… talk about change in atmosphere. It was more modern than Managua (where we stayed). We ate lunch there in Chocolate Café which was a part of a really nice hotel in which we did not know was a hotel… but oh well. The food was cheap and super delicioso! Fresca is my all time favorite drink. Très leche being my favorite 3 milk layer cake. Then we went to Masaya where there was a boat ride. We sailed towards monkey island & the boat man brought down a flower from the tree in the shape of a banana except WAY skinnier. I thought we were going to feed the monkeys on monkey island! I was SUPER excited, like… you have no idea unless you saw me. Then he peeled it open… It was a beautiful flower! He gave it to me, and I still have it… wilted in my journal.

This was our whole team:

and with this (for now) – I conclude Dios te bendiga & Dios te ama tanto!
God, I give you the glory. You take my breath away always… What a strange, new world filled with wonders. Good Night, Land of the butterflies…

(Jenny’s)