Easter here in Nicaragua is a big deal! Holy Week is like spring break so everyone travels to visit family/friends and/or goes to the beach/vacation. My host family and I went to visit my host family grandparent’s farm in the rural part of Nica in the mountains. It was a 7 hour trip: 4 hours in the car on the regular pot hole highways, then 2 hours on a dirt road/path that was even less maintained (at one point we drove through a shallow part of a river as a detour from a bridge that had broken), and then the last hour we had to go by horse. There were about 10 people/family members staying there. I slept on a table, woke up at 4am to the sound of monkeys in the trees/roosters/goats. They kept killing animals for us to feast on to celebrate Holy Week and the family together. I kept having to explain the vegetarian thing and ate A LOT of rice and beans. There were baby puppies, baby piggies, and baby horses/cows/goats and monkeys. There was no electricity. At night, with only a couple candles flickering, we had a mini church service led by my host dad who sang, played the guitar, prayed and reflected on Bible verses about Holy Week. It was really touching and beautiful hear my host dad pray for Ryan and I and for each person there. His name is Guadalupe and he is so wise and loving. I really enjoyed spending time with him over the week. We also played cards by candlelight too. It was quite the experience and was neat to be a part of since most Nicaraguans live that way. Also, good family time!
Since we have been back in Managua I have gone to a few church services and seen a lot of Roman Catholic crowds in processions down the highways carrying big floats of Jesus carrying the cross, Virgin Mary, the tomb, and a band with trumpets at the caboose. Also, the evangelical church that is next door to my house had a 18hour service on Good Friday and into Saturday...I heard them all night long singing, clapping, preaching. Like I said Holy Week is a big deal!
For Easter day, I went to the sunrise service at the church my dad is the pastor of at 5am. Gabriel went in his Pajamas and tennis shoes and we sang happy songs and celebrated Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Then, later that morning, Derrick (the other American staying at my host family’s house) and I also to the English church later that morningwhere we sang some of the Easter songs I am used to and enjoyed being around some of the Easter traditions from back in the States. After the service there was a banquet with lots of food and visiting. I met some new friends and had a very happy Easter.
Love,
Ayla
“Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” Luke 23:43/
“Entonces Jesús le dijo: "En verdad te digo: hoy estarás conmigo en el paraíso.” San Lucas 23:43
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