Ahhh! Nicaragua

Last week, I was in Nicaragua with Les and two grandchildren,
Mary and Matt. 

We took in as many bags as we were allowed,  with their maximum weight   The van was totally stuffed and then we were off!

We went to beautiful Granada for the pastors’ conference. They came from all over the countryside and because of one man’s generosity, all of us stayed in little hotels around the city…even though some couldn’t figure out how to turn on the AC,  shower or fan.  Nicaragua is one of the poorest countries in our hemisphere.  What a treat for everyone. 

The pastors got pretty serious when Les taught Malachi: a study on how God sees his servants who are unfaithful to their calling. 

Dr. Rogelio Aracena joined us from Cali, Colombia to teach biblical basics on marriage and divorce. There is so much common law marriage and confusion about what God says about  marriage and the causes for unfaithfulness and divorce.  

The biggest air conditioned conference room in Granada only holds 50.  We were 80 — but not a complaint was heard as we stuffed ourselves into that little room.  (It was in the high 90′s outside!)

Matt set up the computer to show the website for the first time ever.  They were dazzled.  Since less than 1/4 of them had emails, Matt helped get a pastor set up with email for everyone to watch.  Bingo!  The line formed so others could do it, too.  How helpful of Matt!  We want these men to jump aboard.  All of them have children/friends who know how to use our modern tools.

After Grandpa taught his classes, Mary, Matt and I explored as much as we could.  Check out the pictures below:

We set up shop for our pastor friends to choose things we took in.  The men’s dress shirts were so appreciated, and we had to have a drawing for the five coveted wedding dresses.

 Horse and buggy was the common mode of transportation,
with different prices for locals and tourists.

We climbed up the main cathedral’s bell tower.  We were
there for the 6:00pm ringing of the bells — yowch! 

A climb on Mt Mombacho (a dormant volcano that is
jagged, slippery & beautiful). We are between lava walls.

Mary on the Mombacho zipline

Matt showing off on the zipline.

Grandma holding on for dear life on the zipline.
 I was the oldest on the lines. 
You never know what you’ll do with your grandchildren.

A boat tour on Lake Cocibolca, the largest lake in Central America. 
What a view! That’s Mombacho Mountain as it stands today
without the tip that blew off centuries ago.

Matt got inside a “fast food” shop on the plaza where he made a
vigarón — a yuca, cabbage soaked in vinegar, pork rind delicacy
wrapped in banana leaves.  They love them — we didn’t.

Street children were not shy.  After Matt gave one 8 year old boy a little wooden car, he came back , banged it on the table and said, “I’m going to sell this!” and ran on.  But we saw him later and he still had it.

Our experiences were great as we saw again some of this needy world Christ came to redeem.  How we admire those faithful pastors and wives who continue to seek those who are lost in difficult places.

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