C.O. Visit

We had our Circuit Overseer visit in the beginning of October. Their names are Todd and Lori Schleiper. (pictured with Michelle and Miguel Martinez)

They are from Canada and have been serving in Central America for 20 years. Beginning in Honduras they were pioneers, then became special pioneers, and eventually put into the traveling work. They began in our circuit and September, we are their first English Circuit.

Their visit was very encouraging, they gave us many good ideas to reach English speaking people. For example setting up tables at the grocery store and university. Contacting schools to teach classes in English using the Young People Ask Book, etc. This has been very successful in other parts of the circuit like El Salvador and Granada, Nicaragua.

Our pioneer meeting was also very encouraging. Our attendance was 17, which included 4 visitors from Spanish and 3 auxiliary pioneers. We are missing two pioneers who are in the States.

It was a wonderful visit and we can't wait to see them in December at the Circuit Assembly!

 

La Paz Centro

La Paz Centro is a small town located in between Leon and Managua. A group from our congregation goes every week in order to conduct bible studies and conduct more search work. We have visited twice since we've been here. 

It is a 40 minute bus ride and if you're hungry there are people who get on and off the bus trying to sell the passengers drinks, food, candy, etc.

On our last visit we were able to help Pat and Debbie finish the search work for the entire town, so now Pat can create territories for all of the English-speaking people found in La Paz Centro.

 Like Leon, La Paz Centro also has a central park with a church.

Instead of regular taxis, La Paz Centro has these which are called MotoTaxis. (Dez really wants to get in one)

 In case you didn't notice that is a pig that those boys are walking like a dog.

Here is the Kingdom Hall. The C.O.'s goal is to eventually have a satellite English group here in La Paz Centro, once the interest has been cultivated.

Health Care

On an earlier post, we had spoken about Shannon's fall. A few weeks after everything seemed settled she had pain and swelling in the area below her knee. We asked the brothers and they directed us to a clinic, called Metropolitana. Health Care in Nicaragua is free and paid for by the government. But there are clinics that charge and provide better care.

So when we entered the clinic, Shannon asked the receptionist for a doctor that spoke English, we had to wait a few hours for him to return to the clinic.( But now we have a business card so that we can call in advance.) But at least it's a relaxing place to sit and wait, there was even a fountain in the middle.  

The doctor was very nice and prescribed me antibiotics for my infection. There are pharmacies on every corner so it was easy to get the medicine.
Cost of doctor visit: $21
Cost of medicine: $20.55

Shannon had a follow up a few weeks later, and went for an x-ray, there was no more infection only left over inflammation.
Cost of x-ray: $13

Everyone was very friendly, helpful, and nice.
If there was a serious problem, there are better hospitals in Managua.
In case anyone is ever in Leon, we were told to avoid the hospitals, because they are understaffed and
provide a lot of guess work in the diagnosis. Here is one of the hospitals:

 A sister in her 70s was visiting from Florida and was able to get an appendectomy at one of the local clinics for $2000 that worked out well. Her experience and Shannon's have given us more confidence in having our health care taken care of.