Agradecimientos

There are too many people to thank and more to be thankful for than words could begin to articulate. We proudly prepared a Thanksgiving feast for 50...it was a great success with love and care included in each and every bite. Five days have come and gone alredy. The airplane awaits after an early 4:30 am departure from Matagalpa. Stay tuned for favorite frames and a description of Thanksgiving, which turned into a birthday celebration followed by another celebration on a terrace overlooking the city that has become another home for me. Happy National Day of Listening!!!

Hoy?

Batido. Una caminata con las mujeres...dos tienen 15 anos y una tiene 14! Reunion con Harold. Almuerzo con Kitty en La Vita e Bella. Placticar con el equipo en la terraza. Una caminata a mi cerro favorito. Otro batido (con leche de soya!) Aqui...antes de cenar y dormir! I am always humbled...always asking myself how I arrived where I am and how I could possibly express my gratitude. I will miss my family on Thursday, but am in good hands and loved by my familia Nica. These days will prove to be quick but plentiful. I am glad to be here. It is important to make the face to face connection to assure people here that my intention is to be here time and time again. A rooster follows us up the hill. A dog ensures we don´t get lost. Two men with rifles say there may be danger but laugh and tell us to yell loudly if we encounter any. Peace is all we found atop a mountain, overlooking a city with the sun finding respite behind the peaks. If I had 7 children by the time I was 27? If I were pregnant at 14? If I were embarrased to tell someone my favorite color? If I wasn´t able to listen to the stories of the world? Then...

Airport yoga is the best

especially when you can find a quiet chapel.

La novena visita.

Hola desde Matagalpa!! After having traveled all day, I was greeted last night by Manuel at the airport. We agreed that our reunion felt familiar...This is my 9th visit to Nicaragua in less than 5 years! We drove 1.5 hours to arrive late to Dora´s house, a second home for me. She greets me from behind the partially-opened door as she has eight times before. We smile. Laugh. Hug. We are happy. the house is clean. She shows me my room. She is proud of my room. It is ´my room´in ´my´home in a country far away in a land in which I feel so comfortable and close to myself yet far from my family. After sleeping and dreaming for hours, Dora joined me for a ´batido´at Don Chaco´s...our favorite locale. The Casa Materna is full. There are 30 women there and 10 more in the hospital. One woman, Felipa, will have twins any day. The others patiently await seeing thier newborn for the first time. The staff is still glowing from their 20th anniversary celebration. It feels amazing to continually be welcomed into thier home and their arms. I was told recently that good luck takes hard work. I´m not so sure I agree. Will four pumpkin pies feed over 40 people?