Hey Jesus, thanks for grace!

Hey Jesus, thanks for grace!

Is what Whitney Peters, otherwise known as me, wrote as her Facebook status yesterday. Living in Nicaragua, especially during my times living in more rural settings, my access to internet is not consistent. However; I think many times it's a blessing! Yesterday, when I finally did catch up on my FB news feed after the elections, all I could think is praise Jesus for GRACE. Whether people gloated over a win, "yelled" out in bitter anger or tried to argue through FB, it was ugly reading. God thank you for our undeserving grace when we forget our callings to extend that same grace, love and justice in all aspects of our lives. 

Through the BLAH, I found these two articles I really want to share:

1.  My Take On Election Day, Proclaiming My Love for Jesus 
2.  I Can Only Tell You What I Believe

Guess whose back?  Dun nuh nuh Back again. Whitney's back, tell a friend. (As I realize I have written in third person for the second time in this post, I want to apologize for being obnoxious. Only apologize, not change my writing. Another point, I just referenced an old Eminem song for those of you who may be confused.)

Yes, I am back in the big city of Managua. I left La Dalia with hesitancy and a longing to remain in the country side. My office had a little "la despedida," or literally the goodbye for me after my 5 weeks of learning and working in the La Dalia AMC office. It was also a mini birthday celebration for my co-worker Dina & I's birthdays. There was a short frosting fight between Dina and I. Also, I said by to what I now consider my Nicaraguan family. I left La Dalia with a longing to stay, yet with a small sense of joy knowing I will return to work with my first medical team in February. 

On my way back to Managua, I took a detour in Matagalpa to eat lunch with my friend Erich who works with the Mennonite Central Committee. I really like the city of Matagalpa. The weather is cooler. The city isn't huge, but it's also not teeny. The buildings, stores, and houses are built on rolling hills making the landscape at night filled with scattered lights. Little did I know it was actually Erich's birthday, so he offered for me to stay for the day and night. 

We first went to lunch at an awesome Italian restaurant with stove oven baked pizza. After eating "gallo pinto" (rice and beans) and tortillas for over a month, pizza was wonderful. I do love my gallo pinto, however; it was simply nice to have a break. Then, we sat on a stoop in front of a grocery store and people watched for a while. Later, we grabbed frappuccinos at this fancy coffee shop which is home to the fanciest bathroom in all of Nicaragua. We went to what Erich called "a monkey petting zoo" but I believe it's more like a mini zoo within a nice park, excluding the deadly playground equipment. Playgrounds here are most often metal, rickety, and pointy. They scare me a wee bit. The park has monkeys, crocodiles, rabbits, and random birds. Before arriving, Erich had told me sometimes the bigger monkeys take peoples hands and slam them against their cage, so I gained a sense of distrust for the monkeys. For the first time in my life I was afraid of a monkey. Therefore, we it came time for me to take a picture while holding a monkey's hand I think I'm almost crying in the picture. Not really, but almost. 

That evening Erich's host family threw a large birthday party for him. Complete with a family friend mariachi singer and a pinata. Erich danced with almost every lady present, we ate yummy pizza, and everyone had a turn at smacking the pinata including myself. Sure, I've had my fair share of pinata but they actually had a pulley system hooked up where they could move the pinata up and down and back and forth. It was a very entertaining thing to witness. Erich's host family allowed me to sleep in a spare room and once again I am witness to Nicaraguan hospitality. 

I arrived back in the city yesterday morning. It feels weird to be back. I have running water, electricity that doesn't give out, everything is really busy and noisy and I have a variety of foods. I know transitioning is going to be a continual part of my job and I will just learn to adjust and rely on my community and the Lord to help with the transitions.