Jinotega: A photo

Here is a picture of Jinotega from the highway as we entered the city on Monday. We'll take more photos next time we go.

A Visit to Jinotega

Monday we went to Jinotega as a family to "spy out the land".

We arrived a bit after 11 a.m. and proceeded to eat lunch, chat with them a bit and release them to see the city on their own in groups of 2. They had about an hour and a half to walk around and see what ever they wanted to see. Once we were all back together, we talked about their observations in the van and then in the evening we all talked again about what we had seen and thought during the day. All the kids were positive about the day, expressing their concerns, but positive and accepting.

Their positive observations were that the city is peaceful, smaller, cooler, relaxed and has nice parks. There is not much traffic; there are good sidewalks; it has a kids park; is closer to the mountains; and it is easy to get around. Bev noticed that a lot of the women are pregnant. I found out that there are three universities and a fourth one that will open next year and there are no English language schools.

The main concern expressed was the leaving of friends in Matagalpa. "Can we visit at least once a month," was a consistent request.

Bev and I know there are other questions and doubts there like opportunities to play indoor soccer, to continue with Tae Kwon Do, etc.

It is a beautiful location with lots of outing opportunities. It is a more conservative and reserved city. There are a good number of churches there but none in the center part of town and they are not unified at all.

• The altitude is 3232 feet above sea level
• The population is approximately 51,000 as of 2005
• 80% of the nations coffee comes from the department of Jinotega

The Starting of a New Idea and a New Adventure

Friday, Sept 28, I was out and about, paying bills [or trying to... only in Nicaragua], buying stuff and, as normal, walking and thinking. Into my head came an idea that I have long resisted; the idea of English classes to make the start in Jinotega.

I continued home, that's the direction I was headed, and during the late afternoon mentioned the idea to Bev. She said, "I've been thinking the same thing."

Oh my, God, are you speaking? I think so.

I wrote Scott and mentioned some of the English, Alpha and coffee. Wow, a combination and it will work. I'm going to have to present the idea to Armin and see how it fits into the accounting of Al-Mundo. You know, I'm excited about this.

Securing materials, learning and preparing will be from now til Jan. Practice on classes will be here with people from the church; Jan - March. Visits to Jinotega need to start soon. D-day Jinotega will be in July.

The spark has been ignited. I'm excited. Let's go... God, touch the world through us.