On Nov. 1st, our team headed out of San Salvador (we spent one night there) to Managua, Nicaragua for a short debrief. The 14 hour drive went suprisingly well for me as I slept almost the entire way (thank you sleeping pills). We arrived after dark and quite honestly, I was shocked.
The city was huge and there was this awesome Christmas lights tree in the middle of the city with a few trees around it that were light up as well. It wasn't for Christmas, I think they are like that always. But I love lights and I loved it! The following day, a few of my teammates went to the mall to try and get wifi. We were a little unsuccessful and were getting frustrated with people trying to rip us off.
So I immediately got a bad taste for Nicaragua and thought this month was going to be reflective of that experience. On Monday morning, my team and team Pursuit took public transportation to Isla De Ometepe. This is an island in the middle of Lake Nicaragua with 2 volcanoes, black sand, tropical plants, and beautiful people.
Our two teams are working at CICRIN orphanage. We are doing a variety of things including cooking, cleaning, construction, gardening, teaching english, etc. We couldn't be more blessed by this opportunity and we are really looking forward to the rest of the month. If you are friends with me on facebook, check out my pictures!
Yesterday we got a full tour of the grounds and today we started working! Several people were out in the gardens, a couple in the kitchen, a couple at the school, and the rest of us were doing what we could to help clean up around the kitchen area.
My job was to get on the roof of the kitchen/dining area to sweep up the tree debris from the roof and clean out the gutters. I have never sweat as much as I did today! It was some grueling work, but I loved every moment of it. I was covered with grime from head to toe and sweat was pouring off my face, but I was thanking God the entire time.
It was so cute when a few of the boys got out of school before lunch and came over to help us rake up some grass that had been cut (by a machette–that's how they do it here). They were riding in the wheelbarrow while going around picking up the grass we had raked! They were filled with so much joy.
I really am looking forward to the rest of the month, building relationships with the children here at the orphanage, accumulating more blisters, and working on my tan. Just in time for the holidays.
Be Blessed.
Thanks to everyone who is keeping me in your prayers! God has totally changed my heart, but I've got so much farther to go. And thank you to all my financial supporters!!! I am only $988.37 away from being FULLY FUNDED! God is so good and I know this is exactly where He wants me. 🙂
