¡Viva la Vida!

Protection!

All our Nica friends are fiercely protective over us, thanks to the Lord. They are all planning on how to take care of the police corruption and the event that occurred last week. I think every police commissioner has been talked to, in addition to a few lawyers. We haven't spoken to anyone, but this has enraged the Nicas. I guess we just don't want to see any of this happen to anyone else. We'll keep you updated!

Also, we are in protection mode over our two young visitors. It is so amazing that the girls of the church aren't nearly as aggressive in making friends with our girls as the guys are! We don't want any rumors or reputations damaged! We just have to remember who our protector REALLY is!

Fathers & Daughters

Alan is a great dad. You can really see it in how he interacts with Gena. Watching this relationship makes me wish I had a daughter of my own (not that there's anything wrong with my boys, mind you, but...well, there's just something about that whole father-daughter thing that's really special).

Arrival in Nicaragua and the Subsequent Police Chase

Well our visitors finally arrived last night. They had a terrible ordeal battling ice and snow to get here but, bless God, they're here! Jan and I picked them up at the airport at 7 pm and on our return home I clipped a traffic cone at a police checkpoint - it was either the cone or the cop...afterwards I questioned my judgment. We continued on but the officer comandeered a pickup truck and ordered the driver to chase us. Yes, that makes me an official fugutive! So they swerve in front of us (I was doing a whopping 35 mph) and he points his AK-47 assault rifle in our direction - a motion I perceived as an order to pull over. I did and the furious police officer walks up to my window and gruffly orders us to return to his sub-station (at the traffic circle where the cone-clipping occurred). At the police sub-station he orders me (still brandishing the assault rifle) inside a darkened room and the questioning begins. He is trying hard to intimidate me but (though definitely scared) I knew that I could show no fear. That would only make him bolder. He says I'm going to be charged with 4 infractions:

(1) speeding (45 kph in a 20 kph zone)
(2) clipping the cone (which he said he had to pay for...LIE!)
(3) fleeing the scene (the most serious charge by far...becoming a fugitive from the law...even though he didn't indicate at the scene for me to pull over)
(4) and disrespecting a police officer (because I politely pointed out that it was either clipping the traffic cone or him and so I went with the cone)

Then another officer (the proverbial good cop) entered and tried to make it clear that a little dinero would make things alright. Meanwhile bad cop went back to the van and told Jan that I was definitely going to jail. When bad cop returned to the questioning room (i.e., interrogation chamber) I had befriended good cop - even to point where he handed me the AK-47 so I could show him that the bolt was rusty and needed cleaning. So as I'm holding the weapon bad cop walks in with saucer-wide eyes. I quickly hand the rifle back to good cop (all the while trying to suppress pointing it at bad cop) and then I said, "OK, let's negotiate." The bidding began at 2,000 cordobas (about $130) and finally I got them down to 1,300 ($80). I paid them 4 crisp U.S. twenties - my price for freedom.

So there you have it...adventures in crime and punishment.

The girls arrive today!

Hallelujah here they come! Gena and Shawna are finally arriving today. They've been snowbound for several days and are anxious to get here. We're welcoming them with balmy 80 degree sunshine!

Speaking of driving...

Today we experienced pura vida while with a bunch of the teachers. We went to lunch and hitched a ride in the back of a pickup on the way home. The experience was so liberating and refreshing! The wind in our hair, the sun shining down, the laughter of friends, and the smiles and greetings of Nicaraguans as we passed by. We felt so native...

Driving in Nicaragua

So, what is it like to maneuver the streets of Nicaragua? We recently have had access to a car, as our friends are in the States for a while, so we have had the wonderful oppotunity of driving about this great country. Driving is NEVER boring here. Dodging potholes has become akin to a video game for the driver, while the dogs play "frogger" amidst the buses, taxis, and various cars. You must always be aware of possible drunk bike riders, livestock that may or may not be tied up next to the road, oxcarts driven by five year olds, or children playing soccer next to the highway. Defensive driving is a must. But also, you must be on the offensive to pass the many expresso buses stopping frequently, as well as the cars that just can't make it past 30 mph. Passing on a curve is a no no, according to police that have stopped us, but tell the taxi drivers that! When newcomers first arrive they usually gasp and cover their eyes in the back seat. They get accustomed to it, though. I think driving in the States will be boring when we get back!

Plight of the Muchachas

Our poor visitors are stuck in Raleigh because of the snowstorm. Oh well, they should enjoy it while they can. I think it is around 80 right now, and it isn't even noon!

What is the emerging church...?

Ok, I (Greg) now realize that there are lots of people who have absolutely no idea what I mean when I say "the emerging" church. There are several types of readers on this blog: our friends, our family, people we "church" with (we call these our friends too!), people who don't "church" at all (friends, again), and my ooze and emergent friends. So sometimes I am talking to my ooze and emergent friends...people who understand and use these strange terms.

So...to clear up any confusion I am now addressing these pomos at my suppliants blog.

If anyone wants to know what the "emerging church" means, I have tried to explain it on the other blog. So go check it out!

More on the Nicaraguan Diets

Most people ask us what kind of food we eat down here in Central America. For breakfast we usually have a pastry called a pico, which is a triangle of bread with sugar on it, or we get a muffin with pineapple jelly in it, or we simply have corn flakes or cinnamon toast. Lunch varies... sometimes we have Nicaraguan cuisine, such as the national dish of gallo pinto, which literally means painted rooster. It is white rice cooked with red beans and fried with maybe some onions. We also eat maduro, fried plantains. We like carne asada, barbecued meat. We especially like the pork and chicken this way. We also enjoy a chicken and rice soup, or a chicken soup with vegetables. The very best is the freshly made drinks or refrescos we drink every day. Always a fresh fruit or two is chosen, and liquidated in the blender with sugar and water. Absolutely delicious! Our favorite is a mixture of oranges, cantaloupe, and pineapple. It is excellent!

Fresh fruit abounds here, as well as many vegetables. In our yard we have mangoes, avocadoes, pineapples, oranges, lemons, limes, bananas, plantains, and some other fruits only native to our area. Sometimes we pick them right off the tree and eat them fresh. There is absolutely no other way now to eat a banana! Tree ripened is so much better than buying them green in the supermarket and letting them ripen on the kitchen counter.

Nicaraguan Diets

We finally bought a scale yesterday that functions, and weighed ourselves to see what the verdict would be. Jan has lost 24 pounds and Greg has lost 5! We suspect that Greg had lost more, but he has been working hard to gain some weight back. He eats a huge portion of Eskimo ice cream (usually rum raisin) every night before bed. Why are we losing weight? The fact that we walk or bike most places as well as the limited access to desserts may have something to do with it. Also, we eat our big meal for lunch and have sandwiches or leftovers for dinner. Nicaraguans fry a lot of their food, so I would have thought we would be gaining weight, but thank God we are not! The boys are all trim and slim, much to Max's delight. He often comments about "when I was fat..." and how he is so glad to be in shape now.