Summer Vacation in Jinotega

The kids have been on “summer vacation” since the end of November; most of them will return to school February 15.  While we are in the northern hemisphere, they still call this time of year “summer”- aka “the dry season.”  

We’ve keeping the kids busy throughout January with a variety of activities- including the third annual “Concurso de Cometas” (Kite Flying Contest). While January is generally very windy, the day we chose happened to be a low-wind morning. 

 No importa- kids still showed up with kites made out of recycled plastic bags and the the balsa wood sticks they found in the fields and streets (these come from the cohetes –fireworks - that were set off during the festivities of December). Kite categories included, “Longest Tail,” “Longest Time in the Air,” “Greatest Distance,” “Prettiest Kite,” and “Ugliest Kite.”  Only two rules: the kite a) had to be home-made, and b) had to get airborne!

José y la Tunica de Muchos Colores

We also hosted our first annual “Vacation Bible School,” with the theme of “Heroes of the Bible.”  We focused on Old Testament characters, as we found in our catechism classes that many children (not to mention adults) are unfamiliar with Noah and the flood, Abraham and Sarah, Joseph and the coat of many colors, etc.  The kids enjoyed bible stories, songs, crafts, games and DVDs, and several of our teens were assistants, often teaching lessons.

Youth Group, Sangre de Cristo

At the foot of the Cross

 I finally got to the “Peña de la Cruz,” the most famous site in Jinotega.  Sergio, our neighbor, was guide for 11 youth and me- we hiked to the top of a mountain that has an illuminated cross which can been see all from all over our valley.  

Sergio, our guide, with Orlando

  









Usually people hike there on May 3- the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross in Nicaragua- but the teens were chomping at the bit to go on “paseo” (a field trip, basically), and this was an affordable activity (free!).

We also hosted our first “Night at the Movies,” which the youth are begging us to continue.  We sold popcorn and Rice Krispie Treats to raise money for the youth group (they loved the Rice Krispies, and of course think I spent hours making them!); but the real purpose of the “Movie Night”: have fun… provide alternative safe activities for the teens of the barrio… and build community.  We did ask them to write down the best lesson they learned from the movie (Karate Kid) – the best response won one of those Valentine stuffed animals that sings a love song (big hit with the teens) right before “Friendship and Love Day” – what we call February 14 here!