La Purísima
From November 29 to December 7, we celebrated the Novena to “La Purísima,” leading up to the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. This is the biggest celebration in Nicaragua.

Praying the rosary at a Purísima celebration at a parishioner's house

“How nice it must be to have a mother.”

18-year-old W. was just talking to me about how his childhood; his mother died when he was two; he was raised by an uncle.  There are a lot of kids in Nicaragua that don’t live with their parents.  Some are “gifted” (the literal term) to someone else to raise.  Too often it’s because the mother doesn’t want them - perhaps because the new boyfriend doesn’t want her children from a previous relationship.

Stories like W.'s  help me understand the Nicas’ great devotion to our Lady.  W. himself agreed that part of why he wants to become Catholic is because of Mary…because it will be good to have a mother.

As my Spanish has improved, I've been able to have deeper conversation with men, women and youth about Mary, and we sisters have been able to talk about our relationship with Mary when we give reflections during Liturgies of the Word.  

Yoder as Juan Diego at the home for the elderly

The image of Mary here is primarily the Immaculate Conception, but there is a growing devotion to Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe.   The youth put on play about Our Lady of Guadalupe at the church at the home for the elderly.

Here are some other pictures from recent activities:

Zac and Alexis came to paint the church- and made friends with Sandy, Valeria and other local kids.

Thanks to Kristi B.  for funding the project to repaint the parish church ( as a bonus, she helped create a wonderful cultural exchange experience as well as provided temporary work for local youth.)  You can compare the photo at the top with one somewhere on the right and note the difference!  Folks are duly proud of their "sunshine in the valley."

Thank you also to Steve D., Kristi D., and their kids Zac and Alexis for coming on down during Thanksgiving.  It was a great experience- playing with the local kids, shopping in the market, eating nacatamales, communicating in spanish and sign-language with the local paint crew, visiting the poor local school on their last day of classes, and spending time with the Sisters.  Oh, and yes, riding the little Ruta bus! That was about as scary as the scariest amusement park ride, don't ya think?!  

Steve and a local young man paint and manage to communicate quite well! Steve made quite an impression on Yader.

Sr. Charlotte with one of her English students, Rosita, and Rosita's mom. Rosita received a certificate at the promotion ceremony.

Another of Sr. Charlotte's English classes (with parents) at their promotion ceremony.