Beaver Tail, Funnel Cake, Churros…

call it what you want it’s deep fried dough typically rolled in cinnamon and sugar and it’s a little taste of heaven. Add three milk cake with whipped cream and you have what we called dessert at the “Taste of Nicaragua” dinner last night.

My Jamaican mother-in-law made ‘rice and peas’, a tasty blend of long grain rice stewed with kindney beans and coconut milk, in Nicaragua it’s called Gallo Pinto or ‘speckled rooster’ , it’s pretty much a staple for all of Latin America.

See? I’m learning stuff!

I met the leader of the mission group who started the whole concept of aiding Nicaraguans on behalf of the Presbyterian church 12 years ago. They’ve designed a full two week experience that isn’t limited to young, strong people. They welcome everyone who wants to help (and can earn the funds to go) from 12 years old and up. Some people go to do physical labor, others go to help hold and feed sick babies, teach music or sports to kids or help young moms. There’s no end of work that can be done there or pretty much anywhere in the world. The organization is pretty grass roots but it’s become a fairly sophisticated outfit over the years. I will have access to running water, shower facilities and flush toilets. My food will come from a supermarket and be cooked for me and my transportation and an interpreter will be provided. A huge luxury I’m already feeling guilty about. In order to cover the two week trip in one week we’ll need to get to a lot of locations to acquire the video we need to tell their story.

The church group of fifteen is backed by an entire congregation. It’s a small town church outside of Niagara Falls, Ontario but they are mighty fund-raisers! They applied their madd skillz and raised almost double the necessary funds to go. Not only will we witness three school rooms being built and painted, a recent hurricane caused the boy’s orphanage to lose it’s roof. This group is going to replace it. A teacher who has donated all his time so far will get a salary and there will is still money left to use there. Each participant had to raise their own $3000. to go and they will each try to fill two fifty pound hockey bags with donated stuff to take with them and leave behind.

I nearly cried when the group presented the cheque to the mission leader.

We don’t see signs and wonders anymore?

I’d say a small group raising any money in this day and age is a wonder. A sign? I’m going to a third world country with my eyes wide open and not one ounce of my usual cynicism. That’s a miracle. Then there is the wonder of Churros. How something so simple, fattening and delicious crossed borders, oceans, cultures and lifetimes to be enjoyed in many worlds? I’d put that in the wonder category.