Spin Cycle

Hello all!

It's been a long week (for me it has, Charley didn't seem to think so) of not being connected to the internet. Last Tuesday we went and signed up for a permanent connection, but I didn't realize it was going to take a whole week for it to be set up! So, since I kept thinking that "manana" we'll have internet, I didn't bother buying an hour. 

Today the technician came and when he called to say he was on his way I turned the computer and modem on, and what do you know, we had internet! So when he got here I felt like we'd wasted his time!! But he said he saw another fellow employee leaving when he arrived, and that he'd done something here in the area to fix the internet lines, so he just got online to confirm that it was all set up and off he went! He seemed glad that his job only took 2 minutes and he got a nice cold glass of water out of it!

So, productivity after he left went rapidly downhill. Mondays are our housework and shopping day. The internet has caused a bit of a stir at home, and it's now 5pm and we're just now finishing the housework (which we had all done by 2pm last week!), and we haven't gone grocery shopping yet! But we were able to listen to NPR's Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me online while we worked so that was a nice treat!

It's been a good week in the ministry. Charley has 3 studies now that I started for him in the territory. Now it's time to find some for myself! I do have one with the niece of a brother in the congregation. She started coming to the meetings, and he had her sit with me. She's about 11 and a very serious little girl, but a very good student I discovered on Saturday when we had her first study. Apparently, she had a double-yoke egg at home that her chicken laid that she was saving for us. Her uncle told us that she got home Saturday to discover that her mother had eaten it. She cried and cried and cried about it because she was saving it for us! She has very intense emotions it seems!

Our landlord's niece also finally arrived to her dad's house two doors down so we'll be getting her study going again tomorrow. She came for it today but since she hadn't prepared, and we hadn't finished housework, we rescheduled it for tomorrow afternoon. So it'll be nice to have her study again. She's the one that I studied with here last time, then in the States because she came for a few months, and now we're back here together again!

We've spent some longer days out in the ministry, taking our lunch with us so that we don't have to drive back and forth since it's quite a distance and gas is over $4 a gallon. It's been a challenge coming up with lunches to take with us though. We don't have a cooler yet (something else to search for down here) so we had to think of something non-perishable. We thought maybe we could leave our food in someone's fridge, but people down here live very simply and many of them don't have a fridge. Some don't own a stove either. Things we take for granted as basic necessities are just out of people's reach financially down here. And obviously if they don't have those things, they don't have a microwave either, so we've eaten cold rice and beans, tortillas, and boiled eggs as our lunch! 

On Saturday we were invited to eat lunch at someone's house, so we had our lunch that we had taken for dinner later in the day. We have discovered that frozen bottles of water in a plastic bag, tied up, and put in another bag works well as a fridge in the truck!

Now to the title of the blog - Spin Cycle. I was thinking yesterday how most people in the developed world probably do appreciate their washing machine. And when it breaks you appreciate it even more because you have to go wash it somewhere else. But I don't think I'd ever appreciated the spin cycle of a washing machine, until I started washing towels by hand.  It took a whole day just to dry the towels on the line, because they were so full of water when I hung them up. Even though I squeezed and twisted until my hands cramped up, I still couldn't seem to get the water out of them! Very few people down here have washing machines. Just another "necessity" that perhaps isn't as essential as we always think.

On Sunday we worked in the invitation campaign in the morning, and then went to do some calls. One of them was one of the studies I started for Charley. He's studied before, and Sunday they were going to have their first formal bible study. Well, he lives one block behind the Kingdom Hall. Sounds easy enough. I mean, we've already been about three times, it takes less than 5 minutes to walk there from the Hall. 25 minutes after we left the Kingdom Hall we arrived at his house to find out that he'd been waiting for us but he had to go out. We were already going to arrive about 20 minutes later than we'd told him because I got delayed on a study with someone, and then we got so lost and went in the wrong direction about three times that we were super late! However, his niece was there, and we had a great chat with her, and I'm going to start a study with her the weekend after the District Convention, so it was a blessing in disguise!

So, this week we'll be in the ministry tomorrow and Wednesday, and maybe Thursday too. And then Friday the District Convention begins. It's so exciting to get to go for the third time! I'll make sure I take the camera and take lots of pictures. Sorry that I don't have any pictures for this blog, but I just haven't taken any! I guess since it's our third time down here things don't seem quite so foreign, but I must get better about carrying the camera around and using it!

Well, I think that's the latest from our end. Time to reheat the yummy soup I made yesterday and then go grocery shopping since the last of everything went into the soup! 

Hope you're all doing well. See you later!

Teaspoon or tablespoon?!

Hello all!

It’s been a busy week and I just haven’t had the chance to write anything. I hope I can remember some of things that I thought I’d blog about! I would have written them down, but I kept thinking all week that I’d blog, and never did!

Anyway, we’ve had a lovely week out in service with our new congregation. They meet every morning except Monday so we’ve been out every day but one. Monday we went to the market and bought some more things for the house. The market is in Managua, and it’s a bunch of stalls, but it’s all covered. They sell just about everything in there, except what you’re looking for!! Some things are just hard to find around here, which is why we brought some stuff from the US, but then you always think of something else. And some things you can’t bring, like food. We were surprised and disappointed to discover that it’s just about impossible to find rolled oats here, you can only get the instant ones, even at the places that sell it by the pound. We did get some, but a tiny bag that was more than we should have paid!

I decided while in that market, sweat rolling down my neck, back, front, shoulders, legs – you get the idea – that I’d never buy meat there. I can’t imagine what happens to meat when it’s been inside a market for who knows how long, in 90+ temperatures. Yuck!! And the smell – wow, words cannot describe! But after we spent a while wandering around getting what we needed, and getting completely and utterly lost, we finally found our way out. It’s like a maze in there. Maybe I’ll get the nerve to take some pictures of it one day! I argue that I don’t take pictures because I don’t want to look like a tourist – and then Charley reminds me that I’m white, with blond hair and blue eyes, and measure at least 8 inches taller than everyone else – I guess it’s not the camera that makes me look like a tourist eh?!

So, like I said, we spent our mornings out in service. We don’t have many return visits just yet, or any studies, so we don’t have much to do after the group finishes, but we’re getting established. We’ve been lost in Masaya more than once. Charley is usually really good at directions, but Masaya turns him completely around for some reason. At least twice I’m the one that has got us back on the right track, which is very unusual indeed!

We’ve had some nice calls this week. People are mostly willing to listen, sometimes too busy, but for the most part they listen to you. We met a young man this week who was really interested, and his mam wants him to study the Bible with us, with anyone she said! We got him home again today but he was on his way out to college, so we answered the question he asked us last time, and made plans for Tuesday. I think he’ll turn into a regular study. And another young man that we talked to was home again. He already has the Bible Teach book and accepted a study, probably a brief doorstep one, but you have to start somewhere. And today we went back to visit someone I talked to last Sunday and made plans to start a study with him. He’s studied before but seems to want to start up again. So far, I’ve started three studies for Charley and none for me!! But we have some other calls to go back on during the next week so we’ll see what becomes of those conversations.

Charley did the part on the service meeting from the Benefit book this week, and I did the demo, so that was fun to get to participate. Today we had the WT first and then one of the local elders gave the talk. They wanted Charley to, but he didn’t have any outlines with him, and our house is so far away from the hall, so he escaped this time! It rained so hard for the last 10 minutes that we had to lip-read the talk! It was hard for me concentrate without thinking about my lovely dry clothes hanging on the line at home. They did finally get dry today though after a whole night of heavy rain. It feel cooler today though so that was a relief.

We started the invitation campaign for the District Convention today which starts in two weeks. It doesn’t take long to cover the territory here, and we used up all our invitations already this morning, so hopefully they’ll let us have more invitations! We’re looking forward to going to the convention for the third time. And glad we don’t have to wait until October like many do. I’m dying to be able to talk to them about it freely, and make use of the new tools!

One thing that surprised me this week is that I’ve learned not just to endure, but to actually enjoy the cold showers! If you want to read more about my thoughts on cold showers click here to read the blog post from last time we were down here, about the third paragraph down. Anyway, a couple of times this week I’ve enjoyed the cold shower so much that I have lingered!!! That’s very exciting to me - means I’m adjusting.

The heat has been pretty intense these last few days, which may be why the cold showers are getting better! Some days I take three showers during the day, just to cool down. Usually within 10 minutes I’m sweating again, but those 10 minutes of relief are wonderful!

I’ve decided that baking will be my hobby while we’re down here. I’ve made just over 2 dozen banana bread muffins, and I think about 4 banana breads in the last week or so! A lot of it we have shared, but if we start to look chubbier in pictures you’ll know why. I’ve also made a couple of quiches, using a quick recipe I found online last time I was down here. I made one yesterday, and my teaspoon was dirty, so I just decided to use the half teaspoon twice to put a teaspoon of salt in the mixture. I remember thinking at the time that a ½ teaspoon of salt is a lot more than I thought it was. I thought, no wonder when I boil pasta it always needs more salt, I don’t put near enough salt in it. I also chuckled to myself thinking about the story of when my sister-in-law put tablespoons of salt in the lasagna instead of teaspoons and nobody could eat it.

About an hour later, I sat down to eat a piece of quiche, and I thought, man this is salty. Then I started to visualize the moment that I put the salt in, and the thoughts I’d had. Yes, I think you’ve guessed the rest. But we’ve been sweating so much it’s probably good for us to have a little extra salt intake. And I have to mention that Charley has now made two wonderful loaves of bread. Yum. The bread down here isn’t that great, so we’re making our own – well, Charley is!

I talked to my mam and dad today which reminded me that I hadn’t said anything about the earthquake in Costa Rica yet. We were sitting on a sister’s porch getting ready to start the meeting for field service on Wednesday morning when we all suddenly started feeling dizzy. We were feeling a tremor. It lasted for almost a minute. It was a strange feeling, not shaking, just like rocking. It was like being on a boat for a minute, made your head spin a little. So we used that subject out in service a lot this week.

I also heard that a volcano erupted about 90 miles from here. We haven’t felt any effects of it as far as I can tell though. Someone said Managua had tremors yesterday, which is the capital about half an hour from us, but we didn’t feel anything. Constant reminders of the fact that we’re living in the last days.

Well, here are a few pictures to finish up another incredibly long blog post!

Dinner with Pavon family at house of brothers in Nindiri

Yuca chips that I made - delish!!

My invention for my earrings. That's the bag the tablecloth came in!

And my invention for my necklaces. That's tape to keep them from all falling together!

Charley's bread ready to go in the oven.

My banana bread muffins that came out - they didn't last long!

And Charley's loaf after baking. It was yummy!

It doesn't take long!

Hello everyone! Here we are a new month, and a new service year. How time flies.

It’s been a rather exciting couple of days for us. Our heads are full of names and faces that we can’t seem to match up, but poco a poco as they say!

So, I last blogged on Thursday I think. Friday we went out in service in the morning for a while with a nice big group at Piedra Quemada. Then after lunch at home, we decided to get the GPS out and see if it could take us to the new Kingdom Hall that we’ve been assigned to. It worked well, again, although after the main streets then it ran out of names like the other day and just said “Turn left on street”, but the map shows you where it means so all is good. We found the hall, and were about to drive on, when I noticed someone in the grounds. So, we got out and went to say Hello. There was a brother from our new congregation, San Sebastian, there doing work on the apartment at the back of the Kingdom Hall.

The apartment was inhabited by the Balladares, the CO who assigned us to San Sebastian, and now the new couple has moved in. Felipe & Elizabeth Olivares, that’s the new Circuit Overseer and his wife. They’re from Mexico but have served in Nicaragua for 9 years now. She has a sister in Indiana, but somewhere up north. I don't know what the name of the place was but it begins with Sh! (Note to the Lovett side of the family – I know you’re laughing your heads off at that statement!) Anyway, so we had a nice little chat with them. On the way home Charley got a $1.25 haircut! I would have too, well, mine is more expensive - $1. 50, but we ran out of time.

Friday night we went to our 2^nd and last meeting at Piedra Quemada. They are all sorry to see us go to a different congregation this time, but glad to have us closer than when we’re in the States! I hope things don’t get so busy and that we will still have time to visit them now and then.

So, Saturday we stayed home and chilled, prepared our WT, got a really bad internet connection and got rather mad at it (well, I did, not Charley!), then got ready for our first meeting at San Sebastian!

The meeting at the sauna, I mean, Kingdom Hall, started at 4pm. I’ve never felt so suffocated in a hall before! There were fans, but I wasn’t sure I could feel the benefit of them. I think the difference with this hall is that since it’s in the city it’s right in between other buildings. There aren’t trees and open space to allow air flow through the windows like there is at Piedra Quemada’s hall. So, that will be something to get used to.

But the congregation was even warmer than the hall itself!! I think every single member of the congregation came and introduced themselves. It was lovely. They made us feel EXTREMELY welcome. There are two other Raquel’s in the congregation, so I’m going to try going by Rachel, see how that works out. At the end of the meeting, the Watchtower Study conductor announced us as being part of the congregation, and we got a very hearty applause.

They also invited us to a going away party. One of their elders has just moved to the sister congregation that meets in the same hall. This was our third invitation for Saturday night, so we had to decline. We also declined an invitation to a congregation get together at Piedra Quemada, because another family had already invited us over for dinner. Invitations are like the buses in England – none, and then three all at once. Seems to always be how it goes! But we enjoyed a lovely dinner and got to hear experiences from the pioneer route (like unassigned territory) that two of the girls went on so that was a treat. I have no pictures from the evening because my batteries died and I didn't have any more with me. But here are some from the meeting.

Inside Sen Sebastian Kingdom Hall

Nicolas sitting down, the 11 year old regular pioneer in the middle, and Francisco 

Today, we met for field service with the group that meets at the hall since that’s the only place we know how to get to at the minute! We had a nice morning getting to know our new family, and our new territory. It’s all city territory, different to what we’d experienced before, but it was good. Not everyone listened, but it’s like that wherever you go. For the most part people were pleasant. We also ran in to another religious group going door to door. We overlapped each other a bit, which meant we had to skip a house here and there. That was interesting. Never experienced that before. They said that was something new in the area.

After a couple of hours in service, there was an elder’s meeting, which Charley went to! Like I said in the title – it doesn’t take long! So I hung out at the hall and finished studying my new Teach book. We were there almost 2 hours, but it went by quickly. I wish I’d thought to take a picture of the three of them. They’re the youngest body of elders I’ve seen. I’m not sure how old the other two are, but I doubt either of them is any older than Charley. Walter was just appointed in January, and Juan Carlos, I’m not sure how long he’s been an elder, but he’s been in San Sebastian for 18 months now.

They also gave Charley a set of keys to the Kingdom Hall, and a part on the service meeting this coming Thursday. Oh, and Sunday Charley had the privilege of saying the concluding prayer since the speaker didn’t stay! So, he’s been put to use already, which is nice. That’s why we’re here and it’s nice to feel that we are needed. We’ve been told by a couple of people that we are a blessing from Jehovah and just what the congregation needed, so we hope we can live up to that and be of assistance in whatever small way we can. On Sunday a couple of brothers already started talking about how close they get to those who come to serve, and then they leave and it’s so hard to say Goodbye. I think our first day is a bit too soon to worry about that though!

Saturday night at dinner, some friends from Nindiri congregation came over, and ended up inviting us to a cook out at their house this evening, so that’s the plan for later today. Last time we came we didn’t really meet too many from neighboring congregations, or do a lot socially outside of the house, so it’s fun to be getting to meet so many new people so early on in our stay. Maybe someone is planning on us staying longer, and making sure we get thoroughly attached to as many people as possible!!

Well, I’ve written this offline, so now I’m going to see if I can get a decent internet connection to post it. We really enjoy hearing from everyone, and will try our best to always reply, but I imagine as of tomorrow things will start getting busier and we might get a bit slower about responding. But it doesn’t mean we’re not thinking of you all and appreciating your emails and comments on the blog.

Finally........some pictures

We've been here a few days now and I finally got the camera out today. I think since we've been before nothing is new and different like last time, so I haven't really taken pictures.

Later I'll make sure I take pictures of some of the fruits and veggies we've been buying that you probably won't recognize.

For now here are a couple of pictures of an avocado I bought today! Almost as big as my head but not quite! That's a horrible picture of me but just wanted to give the avocado some perspective!

We've done more of the same. Been out in service. We had some visitors from El Crucero who I didn't take a single picture of for some reason. It was the wife and son of a brother who is doing work on the house. We had a really nice day with them.

And the Robleto's came today for a little while. Here they are at the table with Charley.

I've done quite a bit of baking these last few days. I gave someone my banana bread recipe, which made me want to make some, so I've made a couple of loaves. Easy and yummy and cheap to buy the ingredients!

Here are a couple of pictures of the downstairs of the house. It's all been repainted since last time we were down here. It looks really nice.

And the back porch has also been extended. Before it just went as far as the nearest pillar you see in the first picture. There's a lot of construction stuff because they're building pillars and fencing for the front of the house to close it all in and make it safer.

And jumping back a few days to this past Saturday in Indianapolis, here are a few pictures we took. All of Charley's immediate family came so we took some family pictures. First a picture of my adorable niece Josslyn. And then a couple of the family pictures we took with my mam and dad and Charley's family.

Josslyn, almost one year old. My cousin's little girl but I consider her my niece.

Charley's sister's boy, Noah & Asa

The Matthews & Flores families

Hope you enjoyed the pictures. That's all for now. 

Oh and I almost forgot, a picture of one of our roommates - isn't he cute?! He's a gecko, but he hasn't tried to sell us car insurance yet. He does have a British accent though.

Measuring spoon added for perspective!

Isaac was kind to us!

Well, here we are, blogging from Nicaragua once again! I’d forgotten how much fun it was to sit here, sweating profusely, writing about our travels! This is the second day I’m trying to finish writing this. When we were just about to go the little store around the corner to buy an hour’s internet, the heavens opened, and it didn’t stop the rest of the night. I think I heard the loudest thunder I’ve ever heard.

Sunday we had an amazingly smooth trip here. We got to Miami on time, with about an hour layover, and our flight left there on time. It was a bit windy and raining when we were there, and I saw tons of cancelled flights on the board, but thankfully ours wasn’t one of them. Charley tried to make us miss our flight out of Miami for the second time – it’s become a bit of a habit. He did this to me last year too, although that time it was on the way home and was because he put the hammock chair we were carrying through security check and forgot to pick it up. If you’ve ever been to Miami airport, you know how far apart everything is!

So, here’s what happened. Charley was on a desperate search for a Starbucks that he didn’t have to go through security to get to. He eventually figured out where it was, but by then our flight should have been boarding. But they hadn’t announced anything yet so we figured we had time. About 2 minutes after he walked away, they started boarding, and since the flight was nowhere near full, it didn’t long to get everyone one. So, I called Charley to tell him to hurry. He was just arriving to Starbucks when they started boarding. By the time everyone else was on there was no sign of him. So I got up, with two carry-on suitcases each weighing about 30 lbs, and one with really bad wheels, a backpack, a laptop bag, my purse, and Charley’s two hats, and tripped over myself dragging it all to the doorway. I called Charley and told him to hurry. But not to Charley-hurry, to Rachel-hurry, ie, RUN!!! He did, spilling coffee on himself along the way, and we got on! I don’t suppose they would have left without us since we had checked luggage on the flight, but it makes for a more dramatic story if you imagine that they would have! And I must admit, his mocha was DELISH, so it was worth the hassle!

So, we arrived, our ride was here with the truck at the airport, all of our bags where on the belt by the time we got to them, we had no problem getting our 90 days of tourist visa. All in all it was a very successful trip down here.

We got to the house, started to unpack a bit, went to the store to buy a few things for the next few meals, and then lost track of time and went to the meeting, getting there about 10 minutes late! It was funny when we walked in because the attendant sat us near the front, so a lot of the brothers saw us and were all grinning and surprised to see us! We visited the congregation that we served in for three months last time, so after the meeting it was wonderful to hug everyone and chat with them. They already knew we’d be serving in a different congregation, but were happy to see us even if just for a week! That night we got home and finished unpacking, almost, and were asleep by 8:30. The two hour time difference caught up with us!

Woke up bright and early, about 5:30, Monday morning. I stayed home and finished unpacking and Charley went out in service with the congregation we visited on Sunday. In the afternoon we went to a local market and bought a few things we needed around the house. We also tried out the GPS and it works down here – thanks Dad!! It had the market in its Nicaragua map and took us right to it.  It was funny though because only the main streets really have names, so after a while it told us in 1 mile to turn left on “Road”, then after that, we turned right on “Road”!!!!

Today we went out in service for a few hours in the morning.  The road we had to drive down was already the worst one in the territory, and since the rainy season started it was even worse! We got within about 30 feet of the house we were meeting at, and left it there since it turned into a bit of a stream at that point! I had a really nice conversation with a girl this morning for quite a while. The sun was really hot thought, and standing talking to someone, it felt like someone had poured a bottle of water down my front and back. I hate sweating like that, but I’ll just have to get used to that!

Well, it’s time to pay attention to our visitors! I haven’t taken a single picture yet! Maybe I’ll take some of the house tomorrow. It looks a lot different to last time, all painted different colors inside. It’s really pretty. 

Hasta luego!

Live from Indianapolis....for the last time!

Well, took me a bit longer to get to this update than I had planned. This not working thing is exhausting! Seriously - I think I need to go spend a couple of days at work so that I can relax a bit!

So, I'll start out by sharing the Pioneer School picture that I didn't want to show you all last time. All of the students in the class have their pictures now, so I can share it. Hopefully none of them mind being online. If any of you are seeing this and don't want the picture on here, just let me know and I'll take it right down.

It was so nice to have a little part in the Pioneer School. We got to eat lunch with them a couple of times during the two weeks so that was a treat. And I got to spend an afternoon with the CO's wife on a couple of my studies. They're off to their new assignment so it was nice to spend some time with her before we all headed our different ways.

What else? We got in a bit of an accident with the Honda. As it turned out it was enough damage to total it we got more from the insurance than we were going to sell it for, and the family who were going to buy it still wanted it, so they got a free car, and we got 3x the price for it!! We also just sold the Jetta yesterday so that was a relief. We just went to the BMV today to take the plates back and get a bit of a refund although it wasn't much, but better than nothing.

We went to Columbus, Ohio for a couple of days to visit some friends. We hadn't seen them since they had their two kids so it was nice to spend some time with them, and with her parents, who were very hospitable. I fell in love with their little girl, Charlotte. Here she is taking a picture of me with my cell phone. She's the coolest little thing! She's not two yet, but she talks really well and has already given her first comment at the meeting. I didn't hear her cry the whole time we were there. I'm sure she cries at times, but all in all, she's a very well behaved little thing. Her little brother cried a bit more, but we'll forgive him for that since he's only a few months old!!! They are just the cutest little family!

Polish food I ate at the North Market in Columbus - yum

Apparantly, Baby Eli's conversation didn't entertain Charley very much.

With Nicci, mommy of two adorable little kids. I didn't get a picture of her hubby.

We've enjoyed some nice meals at a few people's houses this last couple of weeks. People from our hall that is. We have a very hospitable congregation here, and we had a fun time hanging out with them. I don't really have any photos from those evenings I don't think. I might have some on the camera that I didn't download but that camera is buried in a suitcase somewhere so I'm not about to try and retrieve it!

Mam and dad had a little get together for us on the 12th and we had family and a few friends over for a nice evening of food and conversation. Here are a few pictures from that. We usually have an anniversary dinner every year with some of these couples since we all got married around the same time, but we won't be here for it this year, so it was nice to see them before we leave. 

Baby Josslyn - ain't she cute?!

The awesome cake my mam and dad got us!

With Diego & Jill, Alison, Brady & Thomas, and Aaron and Tasha.

Josh & Wendy, oh and Josslyn!

Aunty Lesley and Aunt Glennis

Mam & Dad

Hollister & Thomas enjoying their ice cream.

Charley went backpacking with his sister and her husband for a few days. It's not just not my thing so I didn't go. I figured they'd have a better time without me dragging behind and complaining all the time!!! They went to KY and enjoyed three days of hiking and camping in the middle of nowhere! Charley took some really nice pictures but they're also on that camera that is buried in a suitcase so maybe later I'll post those!

Then our congregation had a going away party for us in the park. We had a really nice time. Two sisters in the hall who are from El Salvador spent the whole time making pupusas - my favorite!!!! And I saw quite a few who helped and learned how to make them too. Someone also made us this really cool gift with paint handprints of all the kids that were there. There's a picture of that below. And the kids sang Song 120 Listen, Obey & Be Blessed for us! That was a real treat! They did a very good job of it.

She only has one tooth but she knows how to use it!

The kids singing

The girls

The guys

So this last week was a lot of saying goodbye, first to my bible studies. Most shed a few tears, but they've been left in good hands so I look forward to hearing how they're doing every now and then. On Tuesday my mam and I went for an English Tea at a place downtown. It was a present from my dad and we had a nice time. There were a couple of things not quite authentic about it, but all in all it was a fun afternoon. We also went around a bunch of Goodwill stores and I managed to get another carry-on sized suitcase, and a big one, for $7.50 so that was a productive outing!

Yesterday we started and mostly finished packing. We have two suitcases each, plus a carry-on each, The checked luggage is filled to the brim, and bordering on the 50lb limit. Hopefully when we get to the airport tomorrow morning we don't have to do any moving around of stuff! Charley even managed to get his juice extractor packed so he was really pleased about that!! It'll be nice to have so many fresh juices all the time down there. I wanted to take my vegetable steamer but in the end clothes won out!

Today Charley's family are coming up to spend the day so it should be a fun day. Hopefully the goodbyes won't be too traumatic! Thursday night was our last meeting and I was doing really well until one of my studies started sobbing, and then I lost it and cried through the next half a dozen hugs as did all the sisters who were hugging me! We leave behind a beautiful congregation, but it's not loosing friends, it's just moving on to gain even more.

So, here we are, 24 hours from now we should be almost arriving in Nicaragua. Assuming that is, that the hurricane heading towards Miami doesn't interfere with our travel plans! But there's nothing we can do about that, so we'll just have to go with the flow! We're really excited about getting down there. Not really too nervous, just excited. I will be glad once the travelling part is over, and we're settled in our home for the next year. 

Well, I think that was more than enough. Keep in touch, it is always very encouraging to hear from you all and know that people are reading. The next post will probably be from Nicaragua, so until then, take care!

Unemployed and lovin' it!

So, Charley and I are both now officially unemployed!!! Woohoooo!!!!!!


My last day at work was Friday. It was really a rather surreal experience. I've worked there almost 13 years, so it felt really odd to pack up my desk and leave. But the day was fun. It was Rachel Day at work! 


After a training in the morning, which was very entertaining, we had a celebration in our breakroom with a cake. Here are a few pictures of that.

The ladies in this picture are the four people I worked most with.
Mercedes, in the white top, is the unfortunate one
who gets stuck doing all my work as well as her's now.
Thanks Mercedes!!!!

Yum - Cream cheese icing - we devoured that cake!

Then about 11 of us went out to lunch at Patachou Cafe. I had a broken yolk sandwich with bacon and avocado and fresh fruit. It was as delicious as it looks in this picture, or perhaps even more so! Thanks again, Marie!

Then I got to leave work a little early, so the day ended with a round of goodbyes. I got a bit choked up during that part of the day. It was just kind of the beginning of the end! Made me think about all the goodbyes that will be coming up, the ones that will be much harder than saying goodbye to my job. 


So, Charley and I have never been so happy about being unemployed. For me, this is the first time in over 13 years that I haven't had a job! But there's lots to do, so the time will no doubt fly by. I'm glad we have these next three weeks to get organized - aka, procrastinate until 3 days before we leave!


We got to enjoy an evening with Josh, Wendy, Aunty Lesley and the kids. I would love to share pictures but I don't have any. Oh yeah, there's a story! Thursday morning Charley and I went to take the Spanish Pioneer School picture. I'll share that picture next week after the pioneer school class has actually had a chance to see it themselves! Anyway, so Wednesday evening, about 12 hours before taking the picture, I find out I left my camera at my in-law's house almost 2 hours away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Any other time it wouldn't have mattered. My dad suggested I take the picture with my cell phone - if you've seen my cell phone you'll know why that was particularly funny! Thankfully a brother in my parents congregation saved the day by letting me use his camera. And actually it's nicer than mine, so we ended up with a better quality picture because of it!!! But I didn't panic, or cry, or scream - I was rather proud of myself. I'm working on staying calm in the face of disaster, and I'm a lot better than I used to be!


Well, just wanted to share my last day at work story mostly. The end of an era!