Tasbapauni ... Again!

Since the beginning of the Miskito classes and meetings there has been very little time to write for this blog. We are making trips up the lagoon with the Mensajero (Congregation's boat) on a weekly basis now, and we are also starting to go further and further for longer trips.

This last weekend we went to Tasbapauni. My last visit to Tasbapauni was roughly two years ago, in fact I wrote about it on this blog. It was different this time though, first of all the weather was excellent. I distinctly remember mountainous waves pummeling the boat for the entire three hour trip two years ago. This time the sun was shining and the water was calm.

Tasbapauni

This time we stayed the night in the town of Tasbapauni rather than making the long trip across the lagoon to stay at a sister's farm. While we worked the territory (which was very responsive, but complained that we don't come often enough) we kept on the lookout for a suitable camp site. Several places were offered, such as a school and the home of a local family. We finally decided however on a small shelter across the street from a store on the wharf. This way everyone was together, those camping and those sleeping on the boat. I was among the three brothers who slept on the boat.

Preparing the morning coffee

Some of the sisters were assigned to plan the meals for the trip, and would go back from the territory a little bit early to cook the group's meal, which they did over what the locals call a "furnace". Its a metal dish with coals inside and a place to build a fire underneath.

The real challenge was keeping the drunks from stealing our food, so after one brother cleverly guided them away from the shelter, the sisters put a bench in front of the door and had someone sit on it until everything was packed. Though I was not there at the time, one inebriated man very nearly lost his fingers when he reached for the freshly cut vegetables as the sisters were preparingfor the meal.

Sleeping on the boat was fun as well. The stars were amazing, and we looked up at them in awe while the clouds rolled in and then rained all over us. It was an interesting experience but I could probably say its one of the worst night's sleep I've ever had. We were also woken up occasionally by boats passing by early in the morning (rather suspicious if you ask me). The navy paid us a visit too, we were all half asleep when their boat came up next to ours (about 4:00 AM) and they shone lights in our faces and in the boat. They asked us some questions in a mixture of creole, spanish, and miskito that I hardly understood, and our captain (also half asleep) mumbled a reply in spanish, something along the lines of "we come in peace" and "we're Jehovah's witnesses". The moment they heard "Jehovah's Witnesses" they lost all interest in our boat and took off again on their merry way.

Despite the challenges everything went very well. People in the community were thankful for our visit, and some arrangements were made to continue bible studies by phone. Camping out and sharing meals together with a larger group of adventurous witnesses was an amazing, unforgettable experience, just like it was the last time. I'm looking forward to more trips in the future.

Part of our group at the beach on the ocean-side of Tasbapauni

East side of Tasbapauni. The west faces the lagoon while the East faces the Caribbean sea

New stuff!

Awas

A lot has changed in 6 months, and new exciting things are happening here in Pearl Lagoon. We had two announcements made at the meeting last night that will have a very large effect on the ministry here.

Firstly, there will be weekly Miskito classes starting on Monday, and afterwards every Saturday in the evening. We will be using similar methods to other branch directed courses, i.e. juggling and tossing balloons (yes, it actually has something to do with learning a language).

There is a large Miskito population here so we will have plenty of opportunity to use what we learn. Many people in Pearl Lagoon speak Miskito, but two of the neighboring towns (Awas and Raitipura) are entirely Miskito speaking. Miskito is still a thriving language so there are easily thousands nearby that speak it as their mother tongue and still use it every day.

The second was that we will be holding meetings (the congregation bible study) in Miskito on a separate night in the town of Raitipura! The people in this community have shown great interest in studying and also coming to the meetings, but for them it is a half hour walk, which is partially spent wading through a small body of water. We expect a very large turnout for the meetings. Hopefully the conductor will make it there with dry feet.

To the skies!

Finally i am back in Pearl Lagoon. Its a been a long and exhausting journey but I have made it safe and sound.

The trip down here was incredible, and the convention was the most amazing one I have been to yet. There were people from 15 different countries in attendance, many of the delegates traveled for days to be there.

Los Angeles

My trip started as usual from Calgary, a late night flight into Los Angeles, California. Upon arriving and collecting my bags however I went to check which gate my next flight would be leaving from only to see the flight number followed by the word "Cancelled" in red letters... You'd think they would tell people about that sort of thing rather than letting them figure out why the plane hasn't showed up on their own. At least they put me on the next flight which would be a day later and covered the cost of the hotel. This did mean however that it was unlikely that I would make it to the convention. after some negotiation however I was able to get on a flight that would land me in El Salvador the morning of the first day, so that I would at least be able to get most of it.

El Salvador is a beautiful place, as we were coming in I could see the mountains poking through the layer of clouds. After landing I was hit by a wave of hot wet air, reminding me that I was once again in the tropics, though San Salvador is significantly cooler than Pearl Lagoon due to the high altitude. As the taxi drove up the mountain into the city of San Salvador we would pass in and out of the clouds. Upon opening my tablet the screen immediately fogged up from the sudden change in humidity. I managed to make it to the hotel and get unpacked just in time for me to make it for the afternoon sessions.

El Salvador

Starbucks, San Salvador

As usual the program was amazing. But it was also encouraging and fascinating to meet brothers and sisters from all over the world who had come to serve in Central America, and to hear their experiences. Everyone there had come so far, and was so excited just to be there. The singing during the program was so intense that even though there were only 900 in attendance they seemed louder than the 8,000 that would be at the regional conventions back in Calgary.

"Keep Seeking First God's Kingdom!" Regional Convention

Pupusas

After the program a group of us went to sample the local cuisine, specifically the legendary pupusas that El Salvador is known for. A brother who had been driving some of us to the convention insisted that we go to one specific "pupuseria". I hadn't been to any so I took his word for it. What I did not realize was that this one was not even in San Salvador, it was more than half an hour's drive outside the city to a small town high in the mountains. I showed the address to the taxi driver and he asked if someone was meeting me there, since it was a long distance. The fare was more than it cost to get from the airport, and about 20 minutes into the drive I started to think "This had better be an amazing place overlooking the entire city on a mountain top or something"...

Pupusodromo #8 with old and new friends

Well as it turned out thats what it was. Although it was dark so I wasn't able to take pictures... sorry. While we waited for the food however some street performers came by and gave us a show.

Ticabus Terminal, San Salvador

The journey back to Nicaragua was also quite long, but at least the bus was comfortable. I managed to get on one of the chartered buses a long with the Bluefields congregation since they were going the same way and knew me from before. It took us about 12 hours and we watched the new video released at the convention a long the way. Upon reaching the border we were taken outside of the bus into a medical office where supposedly we would be checked for Ebola. One of the nurses came in and complained to a man at the front desk that they were understaffed and couldn't get through all the people coming in. Shortly after this conversation our passports were returned and we got back on the bus. Guess we just didn't have the "ebola look".

Our bus from San Salvador to Managua

Watching the new Video on the road

My view of the Honduras Countryside

After a night in Managua I was back on yet another bus, this time on the way to El Rama. When I got to the "bus" for Pearl Lagoon which was waiting in Rama, it was already packed to the door with people standing up. Supposedly it had been like that for hours, still beyond me why they don't just leave if they are full. Even more to my surprise I was let on. I would have stood up for the 5 hour muddy roller-coaster ride that followed, but unfortunately it was too crowded to be allowed said comfort, so instead I leaned over the seat beside me with my feet on the floor since there wasn't enough room in the aisle for me to stand upright. people kept getting on until about the half way point and then they started to get off. Finally I had a seat and sort of dozed off or passed out for the rest of the trip. I think this song pretty well sums up the trip.

We didn't get stuck ourselves but had to stop a few times and help other vehicles get out of the mud. There were also a few times that we had to lighten the bus to get through an area, so all of the passengers got off and walked until we were past the rough spot. Understanding Spanish at this point was not to my advantage as I was able to hear the conversation between the driver and his assistant telling the assistant to keep the door closed and stay inside in case the bus flipped over and crushed him. Glad I didn't try to ride on the roof.

In all I made good time in getting back to pearl lagoon where I belong, it only took about 2 days travel with few stops.

Back in Pearl Lagoon

How to make your smart phone work in Nicaragua

If you're planning on moving down to Nicaragua or just visiting you've probably given some thought to what you are going to do about your phone. Many people like to buy an inexpensive pay as you go phone upon arrival. This is a good option as a phone can cost as little as $15 in Nicaragua and you may spend as little as $4-5 a month depending on how much you use it.



There is however another option, if you would like to continue using your smart phone from your home country. Of course this works regardless of where you are traveling, though prices mentioned may vary accordingly.

As you may know, all phones have a chip or SIM card inside. This is what allows your phone to connect to cell networks and make calls/text messages. In Nicaragua you can buy a new one by itself (no phone included) for around $6. You may find however, that this chip looks a bit different than the one in your smart phone. Smart phones generally have a micro SIM card which is much smaller, and the ones you get in Nicaragua won't fit.

On the left in this picture is the Canadian chip I used in a Galaxy S4. On the right is a Claro chip that came with a $16 phone I bought in Nicaragua. The size difference is obvious. Below are step by step instructions on how to make your phone work in Nicaragua, the following procedures are for a Galaxy S4 but the same principles should apply to any phone. The location of the chip may vary.

Step 1: Ensure that your phone is unlocked. When your service provider is the one who provided your cell phone, chances are it is "locked" meaning that it will not accept a chip from any other provider so that you can't change carriers without buying a new phone. There are many videos online and articles on how to unlock a phone. Usually it involves either buying one that wasn't locked in the first place, or paying your current provider a fee (often around $50). The process is very simple and entirely legal, you just pay a fee to be allowed to do it.

Step 2: Remove the current chip from your phone. Usually located underneath the battery, it should just slide out.

This is the back of my phone with the battery removed. Notice the red chip

Step 3: Grab some scissors... I'm not joking. Use your old chip as a guide and cut your new Nicaraguan chip into the same shape and size. You will notice that the gold panel on both chips is roughly the same size, this is the only important part of the chip. The rest is actually nothing but plastic. So long as the gold panel is not damaged the chip will continue to function no matter how much plastic you cut off. If you're afraid of accidentally cutting the metal, use a file to grind away the plastic with a bit more control.

Canadian chip on the left, Nicaraguan chip on the right, after trimming the fat

Step 4: Put the newly re-shaped Nicaraguan chip back in the phone, put in the battery and start it up. If you're doing this outside Nicaragua like I did it will tell you something about no service and you will be spammed with text messages in Spanish telling you about Claro's wonderful roaming plans and how you can win a truck. You're phone is now ready to use just like any other cheap pay as you go phone in Nicaragua. Reload it at a pulperria like normal and you are good to go. By using this method theoretically you can travel anywhere in the world and use the same phone anywhere you go.

*Note that your phone number is contained in the chip, so when you change chips your phone number will also change.

**I am not responsible if attempting these techniques results in your phone exploding and/or phasing into another dimension or otherwise being damaged.

I comin right now

Its been roughly six months now since I left Nicaragua. Things have not gone exactly as planned and I had to seriously consider whether or not I would be able to return. But now after careful consideration of my options I am preparing to head back. I'm not exactly sure how its going to work out yet but I'm sure it will.

Route to San Salvador

The first stop on this trip will be San Salvador, for the English Regional Convention. The flight is slightly shorter than it has been in the past due to there being only one stopover. After that I meet up with the Pearl Lagoon congregation at the convention. Making the arrangements for the hotel over the phone was a real test of my Spanish speaking ability and I was quite proud of myself after successfully making the reservation (i hope?).

After what is sure to be an amazing program I ride back with the brothers to Managua, and then back to Pearl Lagoon by chicken bus/vegetable truck/panga where I hope to stay as long as possible.

Route to Managua

Route to Pearl Lagoon

The Northwest Territories

I am now back in Fort Macleod after a somewhat longer than expected trip to Yellowknife, NWT. We were delayed on the way up and had to spend a night with the brothers in High Level due to the road being closed as a result of forest fires, but we were able to continue on the next day and arrived in Yellowknife in the early Afternoon.

Along the way we saw wild buffalo and crossed the massive Mackenzie river. When the river first came into view we commented on how huge that "lake" was. And then we realized it was merely a river feeding into Great Slave Lake. What kept amazing us was the scale of this region. The Northwest territories is a huge area of the world with a very small population. Towns are few and far between, often 6 or more hours drive apart, although most can only be reached by plane. I was just doing some research for a comparison, and the total land mass is 1.1 million square kilometers. That means you could fit all of central america inside the northwest territories... twice.

After going through hours of wilderness, Yellowknife itself is quite a surprise. It is a modern city of about 19,000 people. There are also a high ratio of apartment buildings, as they are more economical to heat in the winter time. Of course it was warm during our stay, the daytime temperatures stayed mostly in the high 20's. Daylight remained through the night although it did get fairly but not completely dark around 2 AM, just before the sun started rising again.

Generally speaking people here are very friendly, and in the ministry they are polite even if not interested. The territory is very productive within Yellowknife, but there are huge areas to the north that have never been worked. For this reason there is going to be special campaign in the fall to send groups of witnesses in by plane to these communities.

Anyways if you like reading as much as I don't, here are the pictures:

This is a river we passed near Enterprise, NWT.

Mackenzie River seen from the bridge

This is a real street name.

Old town, at the bay where many people park their house boats

Yellowknife Downtown seen from Pilot's Monument

10:00 PM Fishing trip. Orange light and haze due to forest fire smoke

Cameron Falls, NWT

This is our service group with a Bible student seeing a kingdom hall for the first time.
He is from Taloyoak and studies over the phone, he was in Yellowknife
for medical treatment.

We also got a tour of Buffalo Airways. This is a DC-3

Our plan was to take pictures of the planes through the fence...
The staff had a better idea and gave us a full tour, even letting
us sit in the cockpit of one of the planes.

 We ended up being stuck for a few extra days due to the roads being closed, but we enjoyed our time in the North. I hope I will get to see more of northern Canada in the future.

Back on the road

I've been back in Canada now since April, working with the intent to save up and return to Pearl Lagoon. Its coming a long although keeping up with my service schedule has meant not working as much as I had planned.

This does not mean however that i cant go anywhere in the meantime. While still In Pearl Lagoon I decided that to make the most of my circumstances i would take another trip to some place different, somewhere unlike anywhere I have been before. I made a list of possible destinations and upon returning to Canada i found that a few from the congregation were planning a road trip to one of those destinations.

That brings us to right now. I am writing this post on the road and were just about to pass Edmonton. Where are we going? Well, about 22 hours straight north of Fort Macleod, to Yellowknife, in the Canadian Northwest Territories. There have been forest fires up there lately, but word is that the road has just been re-opened so we should be in the clear. Theres 5 of us in a pickup with a 400 litre backup tank in the back. If we wanted to we could probably keep driving straight into Russia without stopping for gas (if not for the Arctic Ocean). We left at 5 AM and expect to be there before sunset. Wondering how we are going to drive for 22 hours and be there before sunset? Well were going to be so far north that this time of year the sun doesnt really set.

Anyways, more updates to come. We will be in Yellowknife roughly 10 days, rampant shenanigans expected.

Back in Canada

Fort Macleod, AB

After 11 months away I am now back in Canada. I had hoped to find some way of working online while I was down in Mexico, or in Nicaragua that would allow me to avoid coming back for work, but after a long and tiring search and many applications nothing has turned up. Lack of reliable internet was a major factor. In any case I am now back in Fort Macleod to work for a few months, then I will be able to go back to Pearl Lagoon for at least another year. I guess it isn't such a terrible option, having to work for just a few months of each year, getting to visit family and friends here in Canada while I work in the warmer months then dodging winter again when I go back to Nicaragua.

Alberta car group

And the territory

First big mac in over 6 months

I should say I ALMOST dodged winter. There were still a few weeks left with heavy snow and a few days of -20C. Apparently it was the worst winter in years. Although the cold was not too difficult to adjust to. The real shock was the change in humidity. The air is so dry here I have trouble breathing, sore throat and my hands, face, and eyes are in pain.

On the bright side, no more cold showers for a while. And my diet of rice and beans will be replaced with steak and more steak. Perhaps with extra meat on the side.

Pearl Lagoon Bus

The trip back went smoothly. It was long but was without many complications. I took the 5:30 AM bus from Pearl Lagoon to Rama, then took the express bus at noon from Rama to Managua the next day. I spent the night in Managua and actually got to eat at a Chinese restaurant.

I hope to get some more equipment while I'm back, some things to make my stay a bit more comfortable the next time. I'll especially be checking out some camping stores. I saw in one store a collapsible stainless steel wine glass... brilliant. Anyways heres a few more pictures from the trip.

Managua Airport

Nicaragua from the sky

Toronto Airport, 3:00 AM

 

The Corn Islands... again

I planned on writing about the trip to the Corn Islands much sooner, actually immediately after the post about the bluff. But I haven't been able to. Actually there isn't much to write about, we mostly just went snorkeling and ate lots of seafood. We did get to visit the new English group though, very exciting to see the first ever English group being started on the island, which really makes sense seeing that at least 50%(if not much more) of the islands local population is English/Creole speaking.

This post will be few words and many pictures, enjoy. Note: I didn't take all of these pictures, after the trip we shared pictures so some of these are from other people in our group. Click to enlarge.

This is the Corn Island airplane

Sunset, east side of Corn Island overlooking the caribbean

Patrick

Corn Island from the Air

Big corn Island

This is the view from the toilet in the above picture. I'm not kidding.

"Restourante" on Little corn Island

Big Corn Island

Whatisthisidonteven

Big Corn Island

A very expensive, but worthwhile Piña Colada

Margarita

Picnic Center, Big Corn Island

Little Corn

Coming into Little Corn

Stunning water clarity

View from the place me and Honorio stayed

Wharf, Big Corn

Little Corn Island

Little Corn Island

Big Corn Island

Big corn island, near the Wharf

Plenty of horsepower to handle the open ocean... if only one of the engines hadn't failed half way there.

This is the boat that took us to Little Corn Island

One of the hotels that part of our group was staying at

View from a different hotel that others stayed in

English meeting on Big corn, Visual aids in use

At the wharf the night we left

On board the Island Express

 

This is the boat we went back on

At the end of the trip it was down to just me and Honorio taking the boat home. Everyone else had flown back. Some were already halfway back to Canada. The return trip was actually much more pleasant than getting there. The boat was much bigger and we had more space to move around. Both of us managed to sleep through the entire journey. Honorio used my air mattress on top of a giant cooler and I tied my hammock to the support bars for the tarp about 8 feet off the ground. I was more comfortable than in my bed in Pearl Lagoon, although I was a -bit- concerned about falling. Thankfully there were some propane tanks below me to break my fall.