¡Viva la Vida!

Team Update for home

The SC team is having a blast. No one has been sick, praise the Lord. We were a little concerned because some kind of stomach virus had passed through the previous team.

The excitments have included a scorpion and a tarantula in a certain youth pastor´s bed, but otherwise the housing has been noneventful.

Yesterday was a shopping trip to the local tourist market. This group can sure shop! They enjoyed it so much they are hoping for a little extra time there if we can fit it in.

Weds night was a ladies meeting at the church, and it was an awesome night. Three ladies shared their testimonies, and Kim preached.

Last night was the men's meeting. The guys came home all pumped up and excited about their night.

Today is a "cultural presentation" at the public school near the church. They are doing two presentation. One in the morning and one in the afternoon. They are expecting over 200 students.

Tomorrow is a family seminar out in the country and a kid's outreach.

Just wanted to let you know that everyone is fine and enjoying their time immensely.

Questions for the S.C. Team

For all those who are reading this to keep up with the S.C. Team, here are some good questions to ask them when they return...

Ask Pam about her special 8-legged friend who decided to make his home in her bed...

Ask Pastor Brad what he thought was so expensive on his first day in Nicaragua...

Ask Josh about playing to a "captive" audience last night...

Ask the ladies about the tick invasion of their room...

Ask Matt why there are no ticks in his room...

Ask Phil about Gracie's favorite food here (hint - it's covered in chocolate)...

S.C. Team, Painters Extraordinaires

Well we're into day 3 with our South Carolina Team and they've managed to paint the Iglesia Bautista Nueva Jerusalen (New Jerusalem Baptist Church) in Campos Azules in record time. One of the team members, Mike, sized up the church building before we went to buy the paint and had the judgment to buy precisely enough to do the job. Today when the team finished they only had a small amount left - just enough for the church to use if any touch-ups are needed.

Last night the team was welcomed by the church with a music service followed by a traditional Nicaraguan dinner. Pastor Calero asked Pastor Brad to give a 20-minute message, effectively putting him on the spot (no pastor turns down an offer to preach!), and Pastor Brad rose to the occasion. We got back around 10 pm last night completely exhausted but very happy and very full.

Tonight the ladies are preaching at the Wednesday night Ladies meeting at the church. We're excited to hear about how it goes. Tomorrow the men get their chance at the Men's meeting. Updates to come!

Exhilarating Exhaustion

Keeping up with a mission team is tiring work. They come in for ten days or two weeks and are busy pretty much the whole time. They want to make the most of their time here, as do we. The Minnesota team left this morning at 5 am. Tomorrow afternoon the SC team arrives.

Last night Max and I were so tired we were both asleep by 8:30. The house and streets were quiet because of a thunderstorm. It was a perfect night. Even this morning the streets were unusually quiet. We weren't awakened by the shoe shine man or fruit sellers.

The SC team will be doing a lot of work out in Campos Azules, a rural area of Masatepe. When I asked the pastor and his family if they would like to go to the airport with us they were so excited. They have never been to the airport.... they have only been near it once. :)