Happy Finnish Literature Day

Last weekend I participated in a 11km “fun run” in the mountainous region of Matagalpa. The gringo group from Mangua pre-race
I tied my friend Amira for last place. We obviously had a different opinion of what a “fun run” was than the other participants. Regardless of us losing it was still an enjoyable time. Matagalpa is a higher altitude than Managua which made the running temperature nice, and the trail led us through coffee plantations so it was gorgeous. Since we were going at a slower pace than everyone else I really got to take in the beauty of the surroundings and we got to know red-cross van well.

Amira and me post-race

Group post-race

Post robbery life has still continued to be an inconvenience. We had to establish what I call “the house arrest schedule,” not just for security but because workers are in and out of the house all day fixing things. Yesterday, this morning, and Monday are my assigned days. It basically means I have to stay at home in case someone comes over to do something. This morning welders are here putting in a new, more secure back door. They are very nice but their work is extremely noisy.

During my house arrest time this week I’ve been trying to do my own laundry. The washing part has been pretty basic but drying is quite annoying. Nicaragua is extremely humid and it is the rainy season and we don’t have a dryer and our dogs like to attack the laundry line. So this is the chain of frustration, first you find moldy clothes in your closet that you decide you should wash. Then you realize you need to dry it somewhere (hopefully thoroughly so that it doesn’t just mold right away again). Then you can’t hang it outside because it is rainy, so you hang it in the garage for 15 hours, then the next morning you have to lock the dogs in the garage so people can go in the yard but it is still raining so you drape it over all the furniture in the house for another 15 hours. Then you see a little sun so you hang it outside to kill that last bit of mold and you get ready to move it inside as soon as you see the dark clouds moving closer. I am writing this at 11:30 am and it has been sunny all morning so I think the clothes from yesterday’s wash are going to be genuinely dry (and they’ve only been moved 3 times).

I’ve been trying to just schedule my house arrests for the morning so that I can still open the library in the afternoon and that has been working out well but I haven’t been able to do follow-up cleaning from when my mom was here. And also I had to take the week off from Matthew’s school. This morning we had a house meeting to set up a schedule for next week so that we can be more prepared for the inconveniences that may come our way.

And on a more upbeat final note, thank you so much for your prayers, encouragement, and generosity this past week (and 2 years). I am blown away, once again by God’s grace and provision in all ways. So thank you for being available to be used by Him to show and pour His (and your) love to me. Really I don’t deserve it but do appreciate it.