A month of celebrations

This month flew by with a ton of celebrations and special events. On December 8, the Feast  of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, we had baptisms and communions in the home. I was lucky enough to be a godmother to two of the boys in the section and was so happy to be able to be part of their special day. They are both developmentally challenged but that did nothing to diminish their joy in receiving Christ. The two of them have a bad habit of behaving bad in mass but as Mat* told me he "Lowered the crank on my (his) energy" so he could receive God properly. 

So much happiness!

Group photo with everyone involved

My two new godsons!

Getting ready before the big show :)

Then a mere four days later were the graduations. In the house we celebrated preschool, elementary school, high school, college and vocational workshops. The entire home was proud of all the accomplishments as we had a nurse, chef and pharmacist graduate from university to begin their professional careers  this year. It truly speaks to the strength of the NPH family when you take into account all the graduates who earned their new degree. I was especially proud of all of the 6th graders as I taught all of them and many for 2 years.

All the 6th grade graduates!

Trying to get my godson to smile as I escorted him to the stage.

Receiving the diploma!

Receiving thanks for my service from the school director. 

As for other happenings in the home, we had several birthdays and therefore a LOT of birthday cake and cracking of eggs over the head (a Nica tradition). 

We also had a very blessed late crop of beans so were all happy to go to pick them one December morning. Due to severe droughts this year the majority of the harvests were lost, causing a bean shortage in a country whose staples are rice and beans. This means that in the coming year beans will be not only sparse but also extremely expensive which is cause for many worries about how everyone will survive. When the beans are ready to pick everyone in the home wakes up at 5 am and picks till the sun rises at 10 am to avoid the sun beating down. Picking every single bean from a huge field becomes easy work when everyone over the age of 8 years old pitches in. 

All the boys (and me) lining up to choose our rows. 

Even the director comes out

Picking before the sun rises is the only way to go

Then of course Christmas time came around and with that Christmas decorations. Check them out...

Some of the volunteers in the ranch.

Casa San Jose and our Christmas tree

After all of the joyous celebrations and decorations came my goodbye. I came home Dec. 19  and spent a bittersweet last day with the boys and night with everyone else. In honor of my return to the city with the best pizza ever I took them all to pizza in town. Needless to say we all had a blast! 

Pizza in town

 

A presentation during my goodbye with everyone

Whether you're coming or leaving the line of hugs is NPH Nica tradition

Although I am extremely happy to see my family and friends it was also terribly to difficult to say "See you later" (because I refuse to let this be a goodbye) to my new family in Nicaragua.  

If you want to hear a reflection on my time in general with NPH Nicaragua you can check out my testimony. All volunteers are asked to write a reflection as they wrap up their time to be posted on the website but I'll post mine here as well.