a welcomed vacation

So we're stuck in Managua for a day or two as we attempt a vacation from our labors in Bethel, Nicaragua. We all have to get out of the country for a few days in order to renew our visas. Our translator Enrique is with us and Costa Ricans apparently have a problem with Nicaraguans and are making him jump through some hoops before he is allowed into the country. Every citizen of the entire world is allowed into Costa with only a form of ID excluding Nicaraguans, Guatemalans, and about three other countries. I don't get it!

We just spent about three days in San Juan Del Sur with my dad and pretty much surfed the whole time. Check this sweet picture of Josh sitting on a cliff with cactuses. We saw some that were twenty feet tall. I didn't even know there were cactus in this country. Other notables included driving through a river to get to our so called "resort". I also got pulled over twice in 5 minutes and Josh got out of another ticket not with money this time but by simply annoying the cop to the point of letting us go. Oh, and I nearly ran over a monkey as it crossed the road in front of us this morning. Ha! Who runs over monkeys?

Oh Canada!

I’ve just spent some time with a group in Nicaragua called Three-Fold Ministries. Our organization is considering partnering up with these guys. I found the people to be incredibly warm and welcoming which is good considering they claim to follow the same Jesus Christ that we do. I’ve never really spent a lot of time with Canadians but I’m posting this on the internets so that you all may know that they are safe for your mingling pleasure. We had to run out to Managua to drop of some people and upon returning we were offered beers and/or rum and coke, yet another reason to love Presbyterians! I was very impressed with everything they were doing and just how well prepared they were for their events. We were privileged to witness their very first event that hosted the surrounding community. They used a Spanish/Vantriliquist/Comedy movie broadcast on a big screen to share the gospel message with the kids. The relationships that we build are so eternal and its really quite remarkable to meet other people from different parts of the world that have the same underlying heart……..to love God and love people. I’m sure that I won’t see most of them on this earth again, but it was certainly a pleasure and I wish them all the best in all of their endeavors, so long as said endeavors do not include one of their hockey teams beating our beloved Carolina Team. Let's Go Canes!