León, Nicaragua - July 11, 2012

Nicaraguan Taco

Quite a while back we had heard rumors about a "bald bus" (aka topless bus) that runs in the evenings Friday-Sunday. A group of us from the congregation decided that since the evenings have been so nice lately we would have a ride on the bus and then head out for a snack. Sounds like a good plan - right?? Well, unfortunately, the bus isn't running right now. It could be because it is off tourist season or due to the revitalization of the downtown area - whatever the reason there was a group of very unhappy people... who quickly got over their disappointment - taco anyone??? Yum, we love tacos.  When you think of tacos I'm sure you are thinking of the yummy tacos you get north of us in Mexico, and I must admit that is what I was thinking too. I keep forgetting that tacos here are not at all like the ones you get in Mexico - they are more like taquitos. Taquitos topped with salad and crema - oh so different, but a good different if you know what I mean. So instead of a ride on the bus we satisfied ourselves with yummy tacos, sodas and nice company.  We'll be keeping our eye out for when the bald bus returns and try again.

Our plants in the garden continue to grow, however the tomato plant is starting to look a little sad - the lower leaves are turning yellow. We do have 3 tomatoes growing though - so all is not lost! We have two pepper plants but only one looks healthy - they have both flowered and we hope to see some results soon. The papaya plant/tree is now about a meter high. From what we have read it should flower soon and then we will know if it is male or female. If it is female and is pollinated then we should have some fruit but if it is male then there won't be any fruit and we'll have to decide if we are going to keep it or pull it out.  The cilantro is still doing well and is nice to have to add to our salsa when we make it. Nothing else took root - but honestly, it's hard to get "into" gardening when you are always attacked by the ants....

We've had quite a few visitors to our congregation lately which has been a nice addition. Lexi (pictured in the last post) has been here for almost a month and so will be returning to the States soon has been a joy to get to know. Right now we have 4 sisters visiting from North Carolina - Caroline, Andrea, Jasmine and Natalie - they will be here until the end of the month and are really helping us get our census done.

  

Census in Providencia

This coming weekend we have our first SAD here in Nicaragua. It is held on the old Bethel grounds in Ticuantepe which I hear are very beautiful. We will meet all of the other English congregations in Nicaragua (although I'm not sure if those from the Atlantic coast are joining us) as well as many English speaking needgreaters who want to have the SAD in their own language. It will be an early start on Sunday because the bus leaves the Kingdom Hall at 6:30 am and I think the drive will be 1 1/2 to 2 hours. We are really looking forward to Sunday!

Well, it seems like word has got out that we have a really nice house and all the "unattached" critters want to move in. Pat has been busy removing small lizards and things from the house.... Sunday night - just as we were getting ready for bed I noticed a small, furry creature move past the bathroom door... hummmm, 

"Pat, I think there is a rat in the room" - I said it very calmly - you'd be impressed! 

"What?? Are you sure"

"Yep, I'm pretty sure. It went over towards the dresser". (I then proceeded to climb onto the bed with my feet firmly out of reach)

Pat started to look around, moved the dresser - banged on it. "There's nothing there - are you sure?"

"Oh, yeah. I'm pretty sure. Why don't you open the sliding door so that when you find it you can push it out the door".

Pat opened the sliding door and then proceeded to look around the bookcase to see if there was anything there. In the meantime the rat crept out from under the dresser and tried to head back to the bathroom.

"Um, Pat - there it is.....over by the dresser". (I'm still sitting on the bed with my feet off the floor - someone needs to supervise these things)

Heroically, Pat was able to maneuver the rat out of the room with a little bit of persuasion from the broom and quickly shut the bedroom door. We knew that there wasn't anywhere in the living or dining rooms that the little guy would find to hide in and the door to the kitchen was closed. Therefore, we figured it would make it's way out the front door. We had a little discussion about whether or not rats could climb up onto beds and then went to sleep safe in the knowledge that the rat was gone.

The next morning Pat got up to make coffee and didn't find the rat anywhere and so we thought we had managed to get rid of it pretty easy. It was laundry day and when I took off the cover to the washing machine I discovered that rats can climb - yep - there it was sitting on top of the washing machine, hiding under the cover! I don't know who was more scared - me or the rat! Thankfully (for us anyway) when it ran off, it went away from our house. Sad to say, our friend has now become a problem for our neighbour.....

Sorry - no pictures were taken during this event!