Un Dia en la Vida

Hi there!

People have been asking me what a typical day for us is like. So yesterday, we documented a normal day in the ministry in Ojo de Agua, from morning til night. It was definitely a productive day, so fasten your seatbelts. It's gonna be a long and crazy ride.

6:15 AM - Good morning! Simon makes the coffee (the day WILL NOT succeed without it), and I cook the eggs.

6:30 AM - We consider the day's text, and then watch an episode of whatever TV show we're currently watching on Simon's laptop hard drive.

7:15 AM - Shower and get ready for service.

7:45 AM - On our way to pick up the motorcycle from a local garage, we usually place a tract with somebody on the streets, and the people are receptive as usual. They love having things to read.

8:00 AM - Simon gets his motorcycle (on days that we are unable to take the motorcycle, we ride our bicycles out to the territory), and being the manly man that I am, I ride passenger...

8:15 AM - We arrive for the field service group. I lead the group on Wednesdays at Esperanzita's house. For a while, it looked like nobody else was gonna show up, but three sisters - Esperanzita, Paula, and Esperanza - soon arrived!

8:30 AM - We start working territory on the main road in Ojo. And we receive a very pleasant surprise - a brother in our hall named Jorge shows up! He has been sick and inactive for the past few months. However, he has been coming back to meetings the past few weeks. We usually stop in to chat with him on Wednesdays, but today, he surprises us by coming out in service with his wife! It was really encouraging.

9:30 AM - The morning is going well. I've placed three Listen to God brochures, and started another study! Simon is working with Jorge, having some nice discussions as well.

10:00 AM - Water break. We always make sure we have bottles of water with us. I wouldn't survive the brutal heat without it! Then it's back to preaching.

10:30 AM - Time to start heading back to Esperanzita's house. On the way back, I stop by José and Fatima's house. They're a couple that I study with, and I'm just confirming that we'll be studying this afternoon. The study is still on!

11:30 AM - Now we head back to Chinandega for lunch. Some days, we'll bring a lunch with us out to Ojo, but today, we'll have lunch in Chinandega.

11:45 AM - Once we get back to Chinandega, we place more tracts with people on the street. We then go back to our house and drop dead of exhaustion.

12:00 PM - Lunchtime. I usually head to one of the local coffee shops in town, Casa del Café. They've got decent coffee, air conditioning, and free WiFi - pure bliss.

1:00 PM - We prepare for the Bible studies we're gonna have in the afternoon. Conducting a Bible study in Spanish isn't easy, but it certainly is exciting!

1:30 PM - Time to head back out to Ojo. There currently isn't an official afternoon group on Wednesdays, so we usually say a prayer for ourselves and head to straight to our studies.

2:00 PM - We arrive in Ojo only to find that two of Simon's studies aren't able to have their study today. My study with José and Fatima isn't until 4:00, so in the meantime, we decide to go see another one of Simon's studies, Ariel. He lives pretty far away from the Kingdom Hall, so we usually take the motorcycle out there. However, he lives right next to a recently-harvested sugarcane field. Because of the recent harvest, the road is WAY too dusty to drive the bike through. So what do we do? We park the bike at the hall and walk! I'm not too good at guessing distances, but I'm pretty sure that this is at least a five-mile walk. Make sure you have water - this is a HOT time of the day.

2:45 PM - We finally make it to Ariel's house, only to find that he can't have his study today (???!!!). However, his brother, Anjel (Ahn-hel) is home. He loves to talk (a lot), and can't read, so we have to be very patient with him. Surprisingly, we have a really good discussion with him. Simon places the Listen to God brochure with him and starts a study! The long walk in the heat was worth it!

3:30 PM - Time to head back to the hall and onto the next study. The amount of dust and dirt on the road is unbelievable! At least the views out by the sugarcane field aren't bad to look at.

4:00 PM - After retrieving the motorcycle and taking another water break, it's time for José and Fatima's study. We're studying the second half of chapter two of the Bible Teach book, talking about the prophecy of Babylon's destruction. I'm a little nervous about how this is gonna go, because it can be a bit complicated, but it's going really well! They're understanding things very well, and they wanna come to the meeting this Sunday!

5:00 PM - We finish the study and head back to Chinandega. This is the outside of our apartment. We live on the second floor. (I have no idea whose car that is.)

5:15 PM - I am in DESPERATE need of a shower!

Before...                                                 ...After!

5:30 PM - Simon's turn to cook dinner. While he's prepping things, I'm preparing for my Bible Highlights at the meeting for Thursday. 

6:00 PM - Dinner, along with an episode of one of our favorite 90's sitcoms. :)

6:30 PM - Meeting preparation and other personal study.

8:00 PM - Some form of socialization!

10:00 PM - Sit in our rocking chairs like the old men that we are and chat about what happened throughout the day. Then it's time for bed!

I'm exhausted just from writing about all of that. Of course, not every day happens just like this, but this is definitely a typical day for us. It's certainly productive, and it's exciting to be busy in the ministry here! Needless to say, we'll be spending our day off at the beach. ;) 

Thanks for staying in touch, everyone! Talk to you all soon.

Take care,

Sam

Bienvenidos a San Juan del Sur

Hey everyone,

Last week, Simon and I paid a visit to one of the most beautiful places in Nicaragua: San Juan del Sur!

You can probably already guess from the pictures that San Juan is a major tourist attraction, mainly because of the nice beach scene. I'd say that it is more touristy than Granada. San Juan is actually a really small town compared to other cities in Nica; its population is only 18,000. It is the only place in the country where the foreigners seem to outnumber the locals! 

Life in San Juan seems to be more relaxed. It's definitely because of the surfer mentality, which I'm afraid seems to be rubbing off on Simon...

One thing we were happy about was the fact that there was a breeze! There were some windy days! "Wind" and "breeze" are two words you never hear in Chinandega. Another major difference is that there is only one congregation in San Juan, compared to the 27 in Chinandega.

Besides being there for a mini vacation, we were also there to check out the recently-formed English group. It has been up and running for a couple of months now. They currently have one elder, Zac Higgs (who moved here with his wife and three daughters from the States), and a few servants. Zac and his family are currently back in the States for a few months, so one brother Pete (here with his wife Hayley from Australia) and another servant have been taking care of things in the meantime. Because it is just a group, they currently conduct the Congregation Bible Study in English in the second school, and then join the Spanish congregation for the remainder of the Thursday night meeting. On Saturdays, they have their own meeting for the Public Talk and Watchtower Study. Most of the group also supports the Spanish meeting on Sunday, which is great because the combination allows everyone to improve their Spanish as well.

Squishing into the second school for the Jeremiah study!

The English Circuit Overseer, Todd Schleper, advised our friends Andy and Paije (originally from Australia, and yes, her name is pronounced like "Paige") to relocate from Chinandega to San Juan del Sur because it currently has the biggest need out of all the English territory in Nicaragua. They're a great couple, and were kind enough to let us stay in their house - which is air-conditioned! - for the week. The group has a big need for public speakers at the moment, so I gave the public talk the first Saturday we were there, and Simon gave it the next week.

There are quite a few studies attending the meetings, including some foreigners!

We also took advantage of opportunities to go witnessing with the English group. It was exciting to be there during the formation of everything! Right now, they're in the process of censusing everywhere and making maps for the territory. A couple of days, we piled into Pete's car and went to a nearby town called Rivas to search for English-speaking people, with awesome results - they've found about 40 people who speak English in that town alone, and many are very interested in learning about the Bible. I had one guy approach me in a restaurant and asked what we were all doing in Rivas. I told him we were Witnesses, and gave him a Truth tract. He was very interested, and gave me his address & phone number to pass onto the group so that someone can call on him!

Pete, the brother in the middle, fearlessly leading us through Rivas. (The brother on the right is Andy, and the sister is his wife, Paije.)

One day, we went with the Spanish congregation to preach out in the rural territory, which made me feel right at home in Ojo de Agua again. It made me realize how much I'm really loving being in Spanish! 

The rural territory has some beautiful views!

And of course, we had to spend a couple of days at some of San Juan's awesome beaches. 

San Juan is also home to some of the best sunsets in Nicaragua! (I took the background photo for this blog the last time I was in San Juan del Sur, about a year ago.)

Simon

Me

Although I'm pretty content in Chinandega, San Juan del Sur is a great place to be. There's a nice variety of people - families (one with a two-year-old baby from the States!), couples, and a lot of young single people. However, as said before, the group needs a lot of help. Many of the people who are there right now are not there longterm. So if you'd like to help out in the English field, San Juan is the place that needs the most help. Plus, a nice little town on the beach? Can't beat that!

Hope you all are well. I heard that it reached -10 degrees in Maine the other day - for those of you who use Celsius, that is equivalent to -23.3 degrees-Celsius! You may say that I have it good here, but trust me, I don't spend all my days at the beach. I'm on the other end of the spectrum, and it's not much better - currently 93 degrees, and this is the cold time of year! Oh well. Stay...warm? Cold? Whatever suits you.

Take care,

Sam

Ten Tips

Hi there!

A couple of my friends asked me if I could write a post with ten tips for anybody who wants to serve where the need is greater. Although I've only been here for five months (seven months total, counting the times I've come before), I figured I'd give it a try. (Disclaimer: These are tips pertaining to Nicaragua, particularly Chinandega. They probably don't apply to many other countries. :) So here they are: ten tips/words of advice, in no particular order (Simon helped too!), along with some random pictures that I've wanted to post but never got the chance to. 

• Be adaptable. Coming to a place like this is going to be a huge shock at first. It is an entirely different culture from what anybody is used to back home. Even the way the brothers go about doing things may be a little different than what you're used to. Not only is the culture something to adjust to, but also the weather, particularly Chinandega! Your body is going to need to adjust to such a radical change of climate. However, be willing to adapt to different situations. Try new things and embrace the change!

This is where we stayed when we first came here. Different sleeping conditions for sure!

• Learn the language. The language barrier is a major challenge that many people grow frustrated with, including yours truly. I highly recommend learning as much Spanish as you can before coming here. Even if you plan to go into the English field, it will still help you a lot even to just take a basic conversational class. I've been able to learn quite a bit while I've been here, but even so, some of the most frustrating moments I've experienced have been when the brothers and sisters tried to converse with me upon my arrival, and I just couldn't carry on a simple conversation! At the very least, learn the basics, and always try to progress with it - even if you're in an English congregation. (Also, one of the best ways to learn Spanish, as I've seen, is to just join a Spanish congregation!)

Giving my first Spanish demonstration, back in October.

• Be patient with yourself. Living here is definitely a humbling experience, no matter how old you are. Expecting too much of yourself will only lead to disappointment. Of course you're not going to adjust to everything in the first week, but each day gets easier. Many people will tell you that things will get easier, and that may not seem true, but it is. Be realistic with what you expect of yourself. Don't compare yourself to others if you feel you aren't doing well. Just know that Jehovah sees the effort you are putting forth, and he will bless you for it! Keep that in mind, and before you know it, everything will fall into place.
• Calculate the expense. On top of everything else, the last thing you'll want to deal with is financial trouble. Set a budget for each month (or week) and stick to it. Be sure to set aside a little extra to spend on leisure activities as well, which leads me to my next point...
• Take time to relax! Monday appears to be the "day off" for all the need-greaters in this country, and for good reason. Preaching here, although fruitful, is exhausting! It can be exciting going on study after study or preaching from dawn until dusk, but don't burn yourself out. Jehovah wants you to see good for your hard work. Try to find something constant, something you can always rely on or run away to - a nice restaurant, a relaxing beach, an instrument you play - whatever recharges your batteries so that you can carry on.

Sit back and enjoy a good sunset once in a while!

• Take care of yourself. Drinking plenty of water is a must, preferably bottled water only. Make sure you don't skip any meals throughout the day. Don't eat anything that doesn't look thoroughly cooked. Wash every vegetable you buy! All of these things will keep you healthy and parasite-free. Oh, and don't buy eggs from La Colonia. Just don't.
• Develop relationships. Get to know your congregation. Even if there is a language barrier, the Spanish brothers and sisters will be so happy that you at least make the effort. Also, get to know other need-greaters in the area! You'll be amazed by how much you have in common with them. After all, they're facing the same challenges that you're facing! It can be difficult because so many people come and go at different times, but don't let that stop you. We just had an emotional farewell with two very dear friends of ours from Australia, Steve and Elkie. Although it was sad, I'm so glad to have gotten to them, and I'm sure we'll see them again. Getting to know brothers from all over the world is a huge blessing!

Me with Steve & Elkie.

• Bring practical clothing. Don't bring the suit you wore on your wedding day. Bring good service shoes and supplies - a sturdy umbrella for rain and sun, a good water bottle, and a shady hat! It gets very dusty in Nicaragua, so be prepared. Linen clothing is highly recommended. However, don't dress so "practical" that you look like a slob. There is still a standard that needs to be maintained, so always try to look sharp!
• Cherish every moment. When you first get here, the first seven days are going to feel like seven creative days. But you'll soon find that time flies by no matter how long you are here for. Don't constantly think about what you're gonna do when you go home. When you're here, be here! Before you know it, time will have gone past in the blink of an eye. Soak it all in, and realize how awesome of a privilege it is to be here!
• Rely on Jehovah. I cannot emphasize that point enough. Pray every day for help, and be specific in your prayers - if you need to save up a specific amount of money, pray for the means to do that! Continue to feed yourself spiritually. You'll find so many different ways to apply scriptures while living here. Stick close to Jehovah by means of your study and ministry. You'll feel a lot closer to Him!

A group of us in Matagalpa this past October.

Well, that's the best I could do. I definitely don't know all there is to know, but I hope it helps whoever wants to come here to be prepared for challenges you may face. I know all of this may make things seem kind of daunting. But no matter what, just remember that the good definitely outweighs the bad! I've definitely found that to be true in my case. So give it a try! Even if you're only able to come for a couple of weeks, it's still an unforgettable experience. 

Oh yeah, and having a good ministry partner certainly makes a big difference!

Hope everyone is well.

Sam

La Florida

Hey everyone,

Here we are: 2013! It's crazy how fast time flies. I'll be back in the States in just a little over three months! But in the meantime, things have been very productive here, especially today.

It was announced last week that some brothers from a neighboring congregation, La Florida ("Flor-ee-da"), were coming to Ojo de Agua today to assist us with our territory. Apparently about seventeen of them came out last week and helped us cover an area of our territroy that we don't get to very often (I wasn't out that day. I missed out!) So we were looking forward to them coming out in the territory again.

Simon and I showed up to the group today and saw that we had four visitors in addition to the four of us that were out already. Yeah, it wasn't as much as I had expected, but hey, it was something. 

Suddenly, we heard a huge engine pulling into the Kingdom Hall driveway. We looked outside to find this...

...a truck full of more brothers and sisters from La Florida - about 40 of them!! We were shocked. The truck belongs to a Bible study who volunteered to bring everybody out to our territory - how generous is that?!

Stephan had quite a task on his hands conducting this group. Usually, we only have about four or five people out on a normal day!

After everybody was paired up, we all piled into the truck. Some stayed near the hall to preach to people around the Kingdom Hall. The rest of us took the truck out to the main road of our territory and worked some of the houses there. I had a pretty good call with a woman and placed a Listen to God brochure. That brochure is such a blessing in this territory!

Micah, my partner for the morning. Even though I'm like a foot taller, he's the same age as me!

Can anyone see Simon having the time of his life?

Once we worked a section of the main road, we all piled back into the truck and headed out to El Crucero, a four-way intersection containing roads that lead way out into the boonies, boardering Realejo's territory. We split into smaller groups to work these roads. I was assigned to nagivate a group through a road that we rarely work, a very rough road that eventually leads back to the Kingdom Hall. I knew that preaching itself would go well. I was just hoping I could get everyone back there alive!

We stopped by to check out San Cristobal. It erupted last week, but has thankfully calmed down a little bit. We've had to wear masks for the past few days, but the worst is over!

To my relief, my group succesfully made it back to the Kingdom Hall. We met up with the rest of the group and exchanged experiences. Simon found a man who used to study, has all the study publications, and wants to come to the meeting Thursday!

It was so encouraging to have such a big group. The brothers and sisters from La Florida all said they love our territory, and it was great getting to know some of them better. It's just a small sample of the love that the brotherhood gives us! Maybe they'll wanna come again??

Oh, and I couldn't resist taking this picture of a hard-working security guard...

Hope you all are well. Take care!

Sam