Between the Missions

I know it has been a year. But just to prove we have done some things, I am going to randomly post some pictures.

Julianna has taken quite a liking to fishing. I don't know where she gets it, but she got it.

We also found out this year that NASCAR wasn't our thing, but turkey legs are!

Julianna had the Greatest Birthday Party Ever! Styrofoam peanuts and static electricity! Yea! Ask her momma for full details.

Julianna is still doing her gymnastics and this year she specialized in power tumbling.

We have even hosted some great sleepovers.


OK. I admit this post was just designed to remind you all that we are leaving for Nicaragua again. I know you will keep us and the work there in your prayers. Thanks.

Nicaragua 08 Day Eight

Traveling Home




We started our morning by saying goodbye to our friends. These birds could talk, but they didn't make much sense to us.



We had a hour and a half drive into Managua to catch our flight. This volcano in the distance is just another of the many beautiful sights in this area.




Once we reached Managua, we had to find the local Harley store( who'd a thunk it?) for a couple of our team members. It was a little after nine o'clock and we had a flight to catch about noon. There was some disappointment when we read 10:30 on the locked door. However, while we pondered and moaned, a couple of guys came down the street (I think from a nearby garage) and opened up for business. You can't turn away a van and pickup full of tourists.

Even the girls found a way to pass the time, and after an hour on the highway, this is a good way to stretch your legs.




I look more tired than Julianna. I'll never understand where all of her energy comes from.


Has anyone ever read the safety card in the back of the seat? Julianna studied every one. Not for her own knowledge, but to see if there is anything they could have done better. She also enjoyed picking up a few extra Spanish words.


Now here is an interesting "lay-over" during our last layover in Houston.


"Mom, I am finally on the ground in Oklahoma City!" " ... and are my arms tired!"


A thousand words.




This trip was wonderful. I highly recommend mission trips. Julianna has already said she'll be going back.


Of course, we hope and pray that things continue to grow in Nicaragua for the church. David and Kim Romero are doing a great job and God is blessing their work. They went to Nicaragua with an unusual business plan where they were going to use a coffee farm as a business to employ church members and fund the mission work with little to no outside help. Things have evolved and David and Kim are now doing full-time mission work and the farm activities have been all but removed from the plan. I personally believe God needs them to sow his crops and He will take care of the business.

Keep Mission Nicaragua in your prayers.

Check out missionnicaragua.org for more information.

Nicaragua 08 Day Seven

Beach Day!!!

We spent this day at San Juan Del Sur. Another first for Julianna.
What a great beach! The sand isn't perfect white, but there aren't yet crowds, very good waves, and perfect weather this day. It was a little drive from Diriamba, less than two hours, but half of the highway could have been confused with a really bad alley in the States.



The day is starting out great for JLee. Another ride in the back of a pickup to go rent boards.



We are learning that Julianna doesn't do anything without sunscreen. We did multiple coats with many reapplies throughout the day and we survived with only a couple of minor patches. Julianna helped me with my back and I was well covered in a six inch stripe down the middle of my back, I got two red stripes in that area you just can't quite reach yourself. Julianna got two patches about two inches wide just below the swimsuit on her bottom. I suspect the wet swimsuit rinsed the reapplications off, because we were diligent and generous in the sunscreen use. Last year there were many bad burns and we heeded the warning.


Isn't this just adorable. Julianna and Bethany really got the hang of this body boarding sport. It probably helps that they float so well. I sink like a cartoon anvil when I try to catch the top of a wave. These girls at times would just lay on the boards in just an inch of water and the incoming wave would pick them up and carry them all the way in.



Julianna was also set on finding some seashells and we did okay during one nice walk down the beach.



It should come as no surprise that I really enjoyed having Julianna come along on this trip. We had fun, we worked together, and she made me very proud over and over again with how well she handled herself. I'll remember this time together for a very long time.









After awhile I convinced JLee (and Bethany too) to venture out at least waist deep and try to hop onto the waves. They made that look easy too.








Just after cleaning up and drying off, we called home to report on all the fun. Of course, she's in the bed of the truck again.



Dinner


Take a close look. This is the entrance to one of the best restaurants in the world. Really! Sorry, but I can't offer much help in finding the place. It is not far from the beach, but that's all I know.
We pulled up about 4:45 and noticed they didn't open til 6. But we knocked and the woman who owned the restaurant explained that her staff was off for their dinner break, but she would serve us drinks and appetizers while she tried to get them back in. She and her staff provided better than good service and the food surpassed that.



I really enjoy eating outdoors, especially in that weather.


Even Julianna loved her pasta.


After finishing dinner while the rest of us mingled and had desert, Julianna made a friend with another patron. I seem to recall she was from South Africa?? They got along really well. Julianna is really developing quite a talent at making friends.



I have uploaded all of the photos of our trip, good and blurry, into an online album. If you are interested, let me know and I'll send you the link. I think Julianna and I ( and Manny, too) took over 400 photos.



PS. Juan Pablo was the other young man from the Day 5 post whose name I couldn't remember. He and Gabriel and Jose are attending the Bible college. This is great for the local congregation. These are good guys.

Nicaragua 08 Day Six

This, the last work day, started with entertainment by the hotel cat at the expense of a local caterpillar.



The ladies planted in the garden at the church building today. Julianna took this picture of the soil I assume they had recently completed. I'm surprised you can't see the seeds sprouting already in this fertile land.


After lunch, Julianna decided to stay at the cement job and we put her right to work!



Yes, if Julianna is working in a picture, that means her Daddy is not working because he is behind the camera. ( No offense to the professional photographers out there...)



One of the family members at this house was Zerling, a new friend of Julianna's from VBS. Here they are enjoying the crayons and coloring book from the care package she received at VBS. Each child at VBS got a T-shirt and a package with school supplies and coloring books, etc. We also passed out a care package to the church members that included food and cooking oils, and medical supplies, etc.

Zerling taught Julianna how a household structure can double as a jungle gym. This combines strength, stamina, creativity, risk, and shade. Not a bad idea.



This is the victory lap, the last cement slab of the trip. I'm sure the backs are quite tired at this point.


After cleaning up, while waiting for dinner, Julianna and I hung out on the hotel grounds.




She said this flower looked like a popcorn ball.



If you are ever in Diriamba, Nicaragua, I can recommend this hotel.


The hotel also has a bird exhibit just out the back door.

Nicaragua 08 Day Five Pt. 3

Sunday Night Dinner

First a couple more shots from just after VBS wrapped up.
Rabbit ears are timeless and they break any language barriers. Julianna had no idea and it sure brought a smile to my face and the adults around me as I took this shot. The local kids loved posing for pictures and digital cameras supplied many smiles this week.


This is Cruz Guido with Julianna. She is very active in the church and community. She is in her second year of psychology studies at the local college. She really took a liking to Julianna. (I can't blame her.)


The next two shots are for all the family from Texas who can appreciate a good ride down the highway in the back of a pick-up. This was another one of those firsts Julianna got to experience on this trip.




This small three wheeled taxi has been nick-named a "mosquito" by the members of our group. The name stuck sometime last year since they were always buzzing around. Julianna, Bethany and I were able to catch a ride after dinner one night back to the hotel for 15 Cordobas ( about 75 cents ).





Dinner Sunday night was at the local preacher's house. Giovanni and Carolina put out quite a spread. Roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, cole slaw, and homemade ice cream for desert. Ummm, Ummm, good!!!


After dinner, Carolina showed the girls her pet birds. A couple of them were especially defensive protecting their eggs, but these two were very friendly.





Here is a group shot. Giovanni and Carolina, son Gabriel and (maybe someday soon, daughter) Cruz. Cruz and Gabriel seem to be an item. Gabriel, along with two other young men, Jose Guido (Cruz's brother) and Juan Pablo, from the congregation are attending the Bible College. All three of these men are good hard workers and are a bright future for the church in this area.

Nicaragua 08 Day Five Pt. 2

Sunday Afternoon VBS


Look at the length of the registration line for VBS. Everyone has got to have a name tag. It took over an hour to get everyone "inside". It even rained a little and no one budged. The kids are really patient and polite.

This is another view of the main facility. Parents were required to stay out of the VBS activities. Some of the parents have been known to want to take over for the kids and we wanted the kids to do all of their own crafts. The parents respected this request and socialized around and in the kids normal classroom. Interesting turn of events...


We had over 200 kids in attendance for VBS. It lasted two plus hours for three days. It started with singing led by own own bilingual super teacher and skit by the local high school kids.

Then the kids were divided into eight groups based on their random name tag animal/color combination. Each group did four activities each day, three crafts and a snack station. The kids stood around tables to do the crafts and shared supplies. Julianna has been blessed with years of craft training and had only a small amount of difficulty understanding the instructions in Spanish.

The theme of the week was " Firmes en Cristo" from Primero Corinthios 16:13.
- Again, I was paying attention.




Julianna actually adopted a small girl each day and tried to assist them with their crafts. She did find time to create a nice puppet for herself.


The girl in this picture is Reyna. Two years ago when I came to Nicaragua, as I was packing, Julianna on her own accord brought me a picture of herself, a piece of candy and a small stuffed animal. She gave me the instructions to find a little girl her age and give her the toy and candy and show her the picture so they could be friends. This is that girl I chose two years ago. It really made me happy to see them get together.

Nicaragua 08 Day Five

Sunday Morning


Look at the pretty girl all ready for church. God sure makes some very special things!

The Sunday attendance was extra high, possibly because they heard Julianna was gonna be there. They have one class for the children and one class for the adults.

This is the left half of the children's class room. Pretty full.

The right half. Also full.


Notice the line of attendees still filing in down the road through the doorway.


This is the over flow area just outside the children's class. A couple teachers inside, one just outside. It was very impressive how nicely all the kids acted. Julianna and Bethany watched through the window during the lesson.


After class Julianna and some of the local kids tried their best to chit-chat.

After class, all of the kids move their chairs into rows right behind the adults and all of the kids sit together during the combined worship service. Wow. That sounds like a recipe for riots in America. But, in Nicaragua the children were really well behaved. Of course they squirmed and some whispered, but overall they were better behaved most adults I know.


It really was a full service this particular morning.


If you look closely, you can see a red-head in the center of this picture.


I don't know if they were reading the words or looking at the highlight colors, but they are sure sharing the right book!

OK, I'm gonna have to post the VBS activities in another post. After the morning service we had a lunch on the premises for everyone and just about everyone stayed. After lunch we started preparing for VBS and the children never left the church grounds. Church really lasted all day and it was wonderful! Stay tuned...