2nd week of Pioneer School and a visit to León

We can understand why everyone enjoys Pioneer School. It's a crazy busy time but you learn so much and it is a time to make new friends. We really appreciated the generosity and love shown by so many - the brothers and sisters that came from the US to feed us, Sean and Christy Ross that put up with us for two weeks, the special little gifts (makeup, bookmarks, pens and markers) and the wonderful instructors.

Here are a few more pictures from our time in the first English Pioneer School in Nicaragua:

Makeup, earrings and perfume

Nazareth playing Kingdom Melodies as lunch was being prepared

frying the tortillas for tostadas

Tostadas for lunch - so delicious

They got creative in packing lunch - this box doesn't hold chicken....

it held a croissant sandwich, cookies, chips, and candies

We got to choose a handmade bookmark from a beautiful selection

Waiting for the rain to stop at Hotel Granada

Sean and Christy - our generous hosts

Pat, Debbie and Jen

Blake, Lisa , Ed Newbon

Andrea and Christy

Cindy and Jasel

Melessa, Jeri and M.C.

At the end of school we each received our own little cupcake

Information centre on La Calzada, Granada

When class finished on Friday afternoon, we said goodbye to everyone and headed to León to visit with friends and to touch base with some of our former Bible Students. We were thrilled when Nate and Ashlee asked if we could stay with them for a few days - it meant some one on one time with Lily. Lily is no longer the sweet little baby that we knew. She is growing into quite the young lady and has a beautiful little personality.

Cheeky Lily with her milk mustache

Central Parque - León, Nicaragua

Lily at Antonino's Pizza

Ashlee's sisters, Skye and Calli, arrived on Monday evening so we are currently bunking at Michelle and Miguel's place. Let me tell you a little secret about Miguel - he makes awesome breakfasts!

Next stop - San Salvador, El Salvador for the District Convention. We are really looking forward to this convention - not just for the new releases but we will be able to visit with some friends from Nova Scotia, Peter and Monica Stroud that are now serving in an English congregation in Antigua, Guatemala.

English Pioneer School - Granada, Nicaragua - August 15, 2013

We are in Granada this week attending the English Pioneer School (I think it is the first time it has been held here). So... no time to blog - but here are a few pictures so far this week:

Brother Garcia preparing to start class

Demonstration on presenting the Good News Brochure

Serving extra sandwiches

Brother Dexter showing some older  issues of Watchtower, Consolation and Awake

Amazing salad!

After class today we met with some of the crew that have been making and serving us lunch. These loving brothers and sisters are spending their two weeks vacation providing meals for the Pioneer School! We sure appreciate their love and hard work!

That's it for now! Back to the books to prepare for tomorrow.

Pearl Lagoon, Nicaragua - August 5, 2013

our backyard

Pat gave a talk yesterday about Noah, the flood and its meaning for our day. Well, for our congregation it had great significance because for the last few days we feel like we are living during the actual flood. Maybe he should have been giving us instructions on how to build and ark. We have had almost non-stop rain and I don't mean little showers but downpours. The sky has been gray and we haven't seen the sun except for maybe 5 or 10 minutes. Service was impossible on Saturday so we had a "rain" day. It seemed like nobody was out and about but I hear some kids were so desperate to play ball that they braved the thunder and lightning to enjoy a game. The temperature has been down around 24°C and we were feeling cold. We even made some hot cafe-mocha to warm us up. Even Pancho was feeling the cold and was shivering in his cage to keep warm. We were thankful that the electricity didn't go out all day and the internet stayed on too. It felt like a good old fashioned "snow" day when you didn't feel guilty for not going out.

Today we're still experiencing some rain but we were able to get down to check on the boat. It was quite full of water and it took us a good 1/2 hour to bail it out.

The boat - full of water

These two pelicans were keeping an eye on us

Pat - relaxing when we had finished

Debbie

This post was supposed to be published yesterday afternoon, but the internet went down and so we couldn't post.