Finishing.

Well the time has come, and the end is here. In 5 days I will board a plan bound for the U.S. and leave this place that has been my home. While I have to admit that more than anything I am really excited about this (Michael will be meeting me at the airport), I am also happy to say that I feel I am ending well. I am glad to know that I am leaving people who I will miss and who will miss me in turn. I have learned so much, and though it has been a struggle, things at my job are ending very positively as well.

I don't know how much I've detailed it on this blog, but the work I have been doing here has been developing, distributing, and analyzing a survey to gather information about the Evangelical Church in Nicaragua. It has been quite the process, but in the end, it has turned out really well. I have worked hard these last three weeks on compiling all of the surveys we collected, and then going through the information and drawing it into some analysis. Although there were times when it didn't seem possible, I have actually ended up with a positive contribution to the Nehemiah Center and to the "Healthy Church Project" I've been working on with a team of Nicaraguan pastors. I think the best way to sum up this experience is that in my time here I have overcome some big obstacles, and I feel proud of that, and I have been defeated and beat down by other obstacles, and I learned more about myself and my weaknesses through that, so I am thankful for that too. I have also learned so much from the Nehemiah Center and by working on this project about about myself, about the world, and about God's Kingdom. I leave with a new vision for the church as an agent of transformation in society (to borrow Rene Padilla's inspiring title). Though it has been a difficult journey I am leaving with a sure knowledge that I have grown in both knowledge and character through this experience. Thank you all who have journeyed with me through it.

Love,

Pamela

Make Something Day.

I can't think of anything I would rather promote around this time of the year than Make Something Day, bringing many of my most favorite things together - saving money, hand-made things, and giving gifts. Take my advice and check out.

P.S. that's the first time I've figured out how to put a link into words. I know I'm a little behind the game, but I've gotta say... I'm pretty proud!

Don't believe everything you read in TIME magazine...

Especically regarding sensationalist articals about Nicaraguan politics.

But, the re-count confirmed the same results. We're yet to see just what exactly will come out of all of this.

Elections in Nicaragua

First of all, if any of you are avid news readers and have caught wind of the current unrest in Nicaragua, I want to assure you that I am totally safe, and there is really no danger of me being not safe even if things continue to escalate.

To the rest of you who are wondering why I would need to make that statement:
We had elections for mayors this past Sunday (mayor is a more important office in this political system), and they haven't gone well. Violence has been escalating, and both sides are accusing the other of foul play. They are doing a re-count today, but the fear is this will actually only cause more violence because the Sanandista party (President Ortega's party) is already sure that they've won, and the opposing PLC says it was rigged from the beginning and they won't accept the recount, so either way the results could cause more violence. Bags of burned PLC ballots were found in the dump in multiple municipalities, but the Sanandistas claim they were planted there, and there has been irregularities in the numbers in several municipalities as well.
As I said, I'm safe, I life on the outskirts of the city, a good ways from any violent activity, and I won't be travelling into the city center any time soon.
But, please pray for our country, and especially this city, Managua. Pray that things will be calmed down soon, and that somehow the truth will come out. My bosses are predicting that it's looking like the only thing that could come out of this is another negotiation between the two "caldeos" (strong men) of the country and leaders of these two parties, likely an underhanded deal which will give more power to these power hungry men. It's a really complicated situation, but it is consistent with the history of political movements in the country dating back to the Colonial era.
I'll let you know if anything else happens.