Our first morning in Nicaragua was a the Christ for the City International (CFCI) Hospitality house. We were the first team to use it. It had lots of space and was in a quiet area outside of the city. Here's Sydney's duck again:
Matt and Stephen connecting, unaware of the huge duck in front of them:
Our team was so great. And don't you just love Kyle's chair?
Jolydia made us breakfast and prepared the rooms for us. She is a precious soul:
Our first day we had cultural training:
It was eye opening to read some of the statistics.
The average American family spends about $141 per day, including $48 on housing, $30 on transportation, $28 on food, $8 on entertainment, $3 on alcohol & tobacco. (The average Starbucks customer spends $6 a day at Starbucks.)
To contrast, the average Nicaraguan earns about $4.50 per day. The average Nicaraguan is a teenager, with a third grade education, is living in poverty, with little hope to ever achieve a higher standard of living.
But where we are rich and they are poor monetarily, they are not lacking in contentment and their love for Jesus and each other. We had the privilege of visiting New Jerusalem church while in Managua. Ken gave a sermon on our enemy and his desire to destroy us and the importance of community. It was a powerful message. (Mario translated for him.)
This hammock at the CFCI house has all of my favorite colors:
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Isn't it peaceful?
The guys enjoying each other:
Others resting after lunch.
On the road again (and for the longest car trip, yet).
Our stop. I really had to go. This was how they labeled the baño.
Oh my. I wouldn't have chosen to use those particular potties had I not really needed to go. Oh wow.
Oh my. I wouldn't have chosen to use those particular potties had I not really needed to go. Oh wow.
Once in Matagalpa we got a little turned around looking for Norman's mother-in-law's house for dinner. We accidently passed this beautiful home. It would be a sight in America! I wonder what this family does for a living? This stuck out like a sore thumb, for sure!
This is the view of a street in Matagalpa:
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And our favorite Jesus picture. Stephen says this is how Joseph really got his coat. :)
The little boy across the street who greeted me with a smile everyday:
The house beside his:
Dinner. The top left were Tostones, mashed plantains that were deep fried. These were very popular. I'm not sure what the sauce on the chicken was called, but it tasted like a homemade cream of something sauce. It was tasty.
Once in our room at Selva Negra, Doris shared medicine with me that my mom-in-law shared with her. :)
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