quick update

These next two weeks will be quite busy. On Thursday (November 4), we'll be hosting the second computer teacher trainings at the Nehemiah Center. We'll be focusing on things that will help the teachers get a quick start with their lab using Open Source Software. On Friday I'll be heading to Santa Lucia, Boaco, about 2 hours outside of Managua for an initial meeting with a small rural community for a "participatory video" project. We'll be using the methods and manual of the organization InsightShare to empower the community in making a video about themselves. This initial meeting we will lay out our objectives and lead them in choosing a group of 6 or so people to be a part of the training. We hope to use their final video to show the impact in that community of the programs that the CRC and the Nehemiah Center have been promoting through a local organization ACJ (YMCA of Nicaragua). By having them make the video, we hope to have a more authentic picture of what's going on, but just as importantly we hope that the community will grow through the experience. When you have to think through your history, what parts of your community you want to present and how, and what hopes you have for the future, it makes you more self-aware as a community and actually becomes part of the development process. Following this first meeting on Friday, we will return on Monday to begin the actual training and creation of the video. It will be a 2 or three day training and then 2 or 3 days accomanying the team of trainees as they go out and make a film (up to 20 minuts) about themselves. So I'll be "out of town" for about a week, depending on how everything goes--we're planning on being flexible with the time we spend there because we're not sure how long everything will take.

Much planning still needs to be done on both of those fronts--both for the computer teacher training and the community-based video training. A good Nicaraguan friend of mine, Fabio, will be helping to facilitate the community training, which I'm very excited about--it is his first time collaborating with us on a major project, and he is a very talented individual. I look forward to seeing him fill this role.

As far as the Dama de Hierro goes (my truck), about a week and a half ago I submitted an appeal to the civil court, which I was told would take about a week to go through before I'd get an answer. We pleaded the case that I hadn't been given a fair chance at a just ruling, and that the evidence wasn't even considered, but rather ignored. I'll be hearing this week about that, and I believe I can appeal again if it still comes out against me...but so can she (the other party involved). So we're hoping she will accept the decision if she loses, and we're hoping for a just ruling.

I'm also in the process at the moment of getting a new passport. Mine went missing some time during my move about 4 months ago (I'm assuming it was then). It was in need of replacement anyway, since it was about to expire, but the complicating factor is that I need to renew my local residency, which is more difficult since it was my old passport that had the stamp. Hopefully I will be able to get all of this done in time to get a reasonably priced ticket to go home at Christmas--I'm afraid to get the ticket now because I'm not sure how long this whole process will take. Ah, the joys of living internationally! Some of you know what I mean!

Ah, one more thing. I mentioned previously that I had created a video for House of Hope, a ministry that reaches out to and serves prostitutes and former prostitutes of Managua. They posted the web version on their home page, and I invite you to take a look. I may be showing this film when I'm in North America again, but feel free to check it out anyway. (www.houseofhopenicaragua.com)

prayer items:

-pray that planning and preparation goes well for both of the trainings coming up--for the computer trainings and for the community participatory video trainings.

-pray that the appeal receives a fair look by a fair judge, and that the other woman involved, Sylvia, will accept her responsibility in the accident.

-pray that my passport and residency go through quickly so that I can get a ticket home for Christmas!