Here are two kids who study dance and music at the Center.

Cute

Here are students in the basic literacy class. Once they have completed this level they can begin primary school (by studying at night at the Center.)

Literacy

In the Bible there is a phrase (I think) that talks about speaking the truth in love. I would err on the side of truth, Nicaraguans on the side of love. Sometimes here I find myself frustrated by questions that are ignored, comments unacknowledged and general communication problems, despite my purported language prowess. Still, a few days ago, Nicaraguan communication, for a fleeting, beautiful, moment, made complete sense to me. I began to understand that everything takes time. While Nicaragua is not rural Pakistan/Afghanistan, Three Cups of Tea is not a bad analogy for communication here. First, you need to chit-chat, getting to know the other person, and peripherally understanding the context of the problem. In future conversations, in circular, and then hopefully more direct ways, the issue at hand can be addressed. But it's all about timing. If it isn't the right moment, there hasn't been adequate preparation, ni quiera Dios. Don't even try. It's just a little dance, is all. Too bad Mennonite don't believe in teaching that...

While it is probably not the best idea to criticize one's host country, I will do that right now. Nicaragua has leadership problems. I think that some leaders are corrupt on purpose because they want money and power, but on a more day-to-day level, many leaders just don't live up to my expectations. I think because people have so little influence on their own lives, or believe that this is true, any little thing they have, they exploit. Cultural hierarchical beliefs also play into this, so it is most often men who use the power they obtian to maintain the status quo. If thye wan tto change things, they will stay in charge. Unfortunately, women who want social change maintain the hierarchy, only it is a women telling people what to do, without really letting the less powerful people in the situation have their say.

Another attitude I find destructive and instructive is similing through suffering. I know many people don't want to share the intimate details of their life with someone they barely know, but too often I find people asking me why I am sad. Really, I'm not. Maybe I'm tired and stressed. Surely you have experienced stress of tiredness, I think to myself. Why must you always smile? Why is the appearance of happiness so desireable? Why can't you acknowledge that you, or others are suffering? Or, have you gone on like this for so long that it's no use anymore?

This brings me to my next thoughts. MCC's HIV/AIDS programme is called generations at Risk. I think Nicaragua's generations are all at risk (not necessarily from aids). I think many people would benefit from a supportive group of friends and family, or having a person to turn to for advice.

Given society's structure, men can find this in political gatherings, but for women it is extremely difficult. They have so much work to do that I doubt many could make a big time commitment to a group. Sometimes their husbands or fathers don't like them going out. But I think this would be the best way to turn society around. Give every person access to a group to just hang out with. The Center I work at began with the founders just talking with groups of women and together deciding how to improve their community. Today, these women are strong women, role models and often in leadership psitions at the Center. Knowing they are bringing God's kingdom to earth, they are also happy from the inside, out.

I have started a new project. A few weeks ago I obtianed some games from a Nicaraguan popular education institution/NGO called CANTERA. One of them is about Law 287, the child and adolescent code. It is safe to say that all children experience a violation of their rights in Nicaragua and in other places. This question and answer dynamic board game helps kids learn about their rights. One day, I was supposed to lead a workshop, and only one kid showed up, so I invited some other kids to play.

One of the other kids, a 12 year old girl named Josseling became a bit obsessed with the game so I gently cajoled her into planning an afternoon of games for kids. She wants to give kids some time to just be kids. The first meeting was last Friday, and while I saw it as a disorganized and slightly crazy afternoon, she saw it as beautiful, precious and fun.

According to some theorists, playing games is an important tool for social and societal development. Apparently playing games uses creativity, something sorely lacking in Nicaraguan and other developing countries' educational systems.

Josseling and her friend Ana want this fun afternoon into a children's club. I hope that it can happen.

The Nicaraguan popular mass was written in the 70s or 80s as a way to bring revolutionary Catholicism to the people. It sings about familiar places and puts Jesus into everyday situations (lining up to pay, selling things, a carpenter, etc.) There is a song for each part of the normal mass (Gloria, Kyrie, etc.), just with different words.

The gloria, whose purpose, I imagine, is to glorify God, mentions many different Nicaraguan towns. It says
"Glory to God in Siuna, Jalapa y Cosigüina,
in Solentiname, Diriomo y Ticuantepe,
glory to God in Tisma, Guaslala and Yalagüina,
in Totogalpa, Moyogalpa and Santa Cruz."
Now if God were glorified in these places Nicaragua would probably not be worse off.

But what I really wanted to say was that on Wednesday, I went to one of these places! While I was somewhat trapped in a small town called El Viejo (because of a transit strike...still going on actually, more to come on that front), the friend I was staying with was going to Cosiguina, so invited me along. Cosiguina is in the campo, about 60 km away from El Viejo, or 1.5 hours, at a fast clip. Said friend and a group of young people, together with a nun, were going to do a series of activities with children from the community of Cosiguina.

I couldn't help noticing the parallels with "mission" or "service" trips. The youth naturally felt bad for the kids, whose life is much harder than theirs, and wanted to make them happy for a few hours. The two leaders, young women from the community, seemed shy and reluctant to participate in the games. So, the more outgoing, more city-like young people took the lead. (Granted, if I were them, and 3 young men and 2 young women, more educated than me, came from the city, or larger town, and told me what we were going to do, I too would find it hard to participate and lead activities.)

After the activity (an hour or so of games of low organization), drinking coke and eating tortillas, the youth talked about how violent the kids were with one another. It can only be a reflection of what they see an experience in the home. These kids need love, they need someone to show them how to live in a etter way. They need someone to work with them every single day. The community has a beautiful building, now it just needs motivation to use it and a vision for the future.

A few weeks ago I went to a birthday party of my friend Carla (right) and her daughter (little kid). The other girl is another friend, Siliva.

Here I am with Claudia and Carla.