Back from Nicaragua

We had a great time in Nicaragua. We went back to the same place we went in last August. It was nice to receive a warm welcome back from the staff. We really enjoy thhe atmosphere the place has. The staff is mostly all family and they stay on the grounds during their work week. So you really get to know them, if you take the time. This time I made a great connection with one girl who works in the pulperia and the kids made "friends" with a brother and sister that work there as well.

thank you for praying for our trip down last Wednesday. We couldn't have planned it better. God answered our prayers of safety and a taxi driver and even down to the movies on the bus! the trip went well and the only movie shown was the Chihuahua movie. (Cheesy, yes, but defienetly kid- appropriate!). Then, at the border, we found a nice man who works tourism there and he helped us find a taxi driver, named Carlos. Carlos drove us to the hotel. He is a Christian and shared his testimony with us during the hour long trip. He is a very nice man who has only been a Christian 7 years, but has a wonderful story of how God saved his life from an addiction to alcohol and freed him from being a slave of a lifetime of sin. It was really such a blessing to meet him and we told him how we prayed for God to direct us to someone whom we could trust to take us to the hotel. We shared with him that God answered our prayers by allowing us to meet him.

We enjoyed the few days we had at the hotel. This time we stayed in a one room apartment and loved it! There was a small pool that the four apartments shared and the kids loved it! It was freezing cold- but they didn't seem to mind. We also scouted out where we'll stay next time! We'll be going b ack in late April or early May with Matt's mom, Sue. She'll be coming back to visit us during the time when we have to leave the country again. So, she is going to go with us and we'll all head to Nicaragua! The kids spent the whole time this trip planning "all the things we'll do next time with Mimi!"

The climate was really different this time. Even though it is summer time there as well, it was really windy and there was a significant difference in the temperature in the water- much cooler this time. No one seemed to know why, just one of those weather things that happens sometimes. Usually it would be really hot...eithere way- it was still a great trip

Carlos came back to pick us up early Sunday morning, although he told us he normally does not work on Sundays. He drove us to Rivas, which is where we were to catch the bus back to CR. Before he dropped us off, though, he showed us his street and also took us by his church, which was really neat. He lives right in the city and it was nice to for him to share part of his life with us. We shared with us that he has family here in Costa Rica. He actually has a sister that lives in Desamparados, which is about 15 minutes from us. She does not know the Lord and he asked us if he could give her our number, which we agreed. We invited him to call us if he is ever in CR. And he was pleased when we asked him if we could call him when we are back in April. We pray God will allow us to continue the relationship we've begun with him.

The rest of the day was not quite what we expected...but all in all we made it home safely and that is what is most important. There was some confusion with our bus tickets and the bus company actually re-sold out tickets, so when the bus arrived, there was no room for us on it...So, after waiting on the street corner for almost two hours, we watched as the bus drove away, knowing the next one would not be by for 5 more hours. We made our way to the ticket office only to find out that the next bus with available seats was not coming through until Tuesday...YES...TUESDAY! At this point, I was crying...thinking what were we going to do? Well, thankfully, my observant husband saw another bus company right down the street and so we walked down and found out that we could purchase tickets for the 11:00 bus (which meant only about an hour wait). Thankfully Matt had brought extra money (just in case!) and we had enough to purchase the tickets! So, we caught the next bus, which we actually thought was a better company than the first one we took. There was a huge hang-up at the border and we were there for close to two-hours, on the bus...but mad it through with no problems. The drive back through CR was long and slow, due to much slow-moving traffic. We finally arrived back in San Jose around 7:00 PM and then home about 7:40 or so. the girls and were in bed by 8:15! We were so tired. Matt and Ethan stayed up to watch the SuperBowl and then went to bed.

We are tired today and have a lot to do...but we'll take it slow and settle back in.

It is always good to be back home!

Thank you for praying for our trip!

Please pray for us to settle back into a school routine this week. It is always hard to settle back in after being gone like this.