Taller de Ceramica.... and a Baptism!

We took an excursion on Saturday to the little town of Ducuali Grande which is a very small pueblo outside of Condega located in the middle of the jungle. There is a "Taller de Ceramica" (ceramic workshop) in this small town where women potters make and sell their hand-made pottery throughout Nicaragua. The manager in the workshop lives on the property so she was kind enough to give us the grand tour. She showed us the huge vats they use to make the clay. There are two kinds of dirt used to make the clay; red from Condega and white from Jinotega.

Mixed with water, the properties of the dirt make a thick clay. There are four pottery wheels the women use to form bowls, serving dishes, glasses, vases, jewelry, etc.

The woman sitting at the wheel demonstrated how to make a bowl. She was so expert that it took her 5 minutes to make a salad bowl. (If I was still the principal at Coronado, I'd hire her in a minute!) Once the pottery is formed into a dish/jewelry, it's taken to one of the several kilns used to fire the pottery.

Each piece is unique because the firing process brings out the different colors of the clay and creates different designs. It was so beautiful that we had to purchase a couple serving dishes. Plus it's authentic... not make in China!

We have been working with many of the inactive families in our branch encouraging them to come back to church. This is the Valasquez family. We've been working with them for a time and they are starting to come back to church. A wonderful, loving family.

Laurie is doing her thing, teaching the sisters how to make tortillas. Kind of funny... a gringa teaching Latinas how to cook!

 This is a small Catholic Church located next to Taller de Ceramica. They have a church in every little town and they are very ornate and colorful.

We had a wonderful baptism this past Saturday. I was asked to perform the ordinance which is always a treat. Saul and Fernando are great young men and will be a strength to this branch. The baptisms here are small, intimate, and very simple where the spirit is strong.

The sisters we work with are awesome! They teach with power, love, and the spirit. Hermana Caballero (red blouse) is from El Salvador. She leaves for home next week. Hermana Zaphra is from Virginia and has about 7 months in the mission.

We love you all and we feel your prayers!