day of talents

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today was day 5 in Nicaragua, or otherwise dejectedly known to our team as, the halfway point. We feel as if we’ve just settled in and have started to make solid friendships, but the awareness of our limited time here creeping in on us has been blocked out and pushed to the side. As a team we’ve decided to focus on what we’re doing in the moment or in the day rather than dwelling on the unwelcome thoughts of leaving.

We spent the entire day at Centro de Fe today, and really got a feel of the school and what classes are like. We started out in the grades 3 and 4 classrooms, teaching them how to make beaded cross keychains, which was really fun. Trying to communicate without words can be incredibly hard, especially with young children who know very limited English. Fortunately, we had our fantastic translators and comic relievers, Lenin and Lester.  After our time with the kids, we headed downstairs to watch a drime that the grade 11 students had prepared for us. It was about how we sometimes see the sins of the world as pleasing to our eyes and succumb to them, but we later realize how much it ruins our lives after the initial novelty wears off. “Chains” are put onto our backs, and we are held captive by sin (the chains were the metaphor that was portrayed), and the only way to be free is to run back to Jesus. John 8:36 says, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” The drime was done extremely well, and beautifully portrayed the truth of the gospel.

 

After that, the students went home for lunch while we stayed and ate with the teachers at Centro de Fe. Through the help of our translators, introductions were given from both sides, and many kind and welcoming things were said from the teachers towards us, which was very encouraging. When we were done lunch, we had a break for about an hour, and most of us slept, while others did some worship or played volleyball. Free time can be really nice to have, especially when we’re driving off of adrenaline and makeshift energy all the time. When the grade 11 students gradually started to come back to the school, we started preparing for the talent show.

The talent show is something that we as a team have been thinking about for a long time prior to this trip. It was an opportunity for us to express ourselves, show our talents, and dive completely out of our comfort zones. We were able to give the students a brief glimpse into our own lives and what we love to do, and even though many of the “talents” were more just comedic acts, I took a lot away from it. It was amazing to see both the Canadians and Nicaraguans bond together through things like music, magic, and humour. We were surprised, however, at some of the acts. Who knew that two guys of complete different cultures and backgrounds could be so similar? Nelson sits down with his electric guitar, and Wes sits down at the drums, and without even a minute of practice prior begin to spontaneously play together for a good three minutes. Roslyn displayed a magical side when she pulled out a deck of cards, a simple elastic, and a disappearing penny, and completely blew our minds. She got the entire audience engaged and did a great job of making us incredibly confused. Also, Bethany really portrayed her “awfully” good talent with cups, a story I’m sure she would love to share with you some time. To sum it all up, the talent show was an awesome way for us to bond and grow together as not only a team, but as a community made up of two different cultures.

 

 

The love that is being shown to and from both sides fills my heart so much, and I feel incredibly happy. It will be extremely difficult to say goodbye to these friends, but I will treasure the moments that I’ve had with them forever, and I will cherish the memories that have been made and are still waiting to happen.

 Jenna