Our journey is drawing to a close. While everyone would have
liked to spend more time with the students from Centro de Fe, it was good to
spend time together as a team. The experiences of preparing for this trip,
having the preparation become reality in deep and genuine relationships, and
feeling the pain when relationships need to come to an end, at least in person,
have developed in us a deeper appreciation for what genuine relationships are
about. Each person on the team has grown and the truth that God intended us to
be in relationship has become clearer in each of us. It has given me great
pleasure to see this transformation take place, and to be part of it with such
an amazing group of students. But more on that a bit later. You want to know
what we did today, so here goes.
After breakfast, Lester and Peter arrived to take us out for
a day of activity and to experience more of Nicaraguan culture and beauty. It
was good to have Peter join us for a full day. In past trips, we saw more of
him and I was glad this group would get to know him a bit. Our first stop was
at a local potter in San Marcos . This is a family business run by a mother and
her sons, one of whom demonstrated the process by which this pottery is made. We
were all amazed at how quickly he was able to create a vase on a foot powered
wheel. He then explained the 21 day process of drying, applying pigments,
firing the pottery before it is brought upstairs to the shop. Some beautiful
pieces were purchased. Susan also tried her hand at throwing a pot on the wheel.
We then went ziplining. The crew that assisted us through
the course were so helpful and cheerful as we all did typical rides, got to experience
being superchicas, superchicos and one superpapa. Gliding upside down also
added to the variety and excitement of the experience. Through it all, our
safety was always obviously the top priority.
Then it was on to lunch in Granada on the corner of the
market in the town center. Think Nicaraguan A&W, though I think the chicken
has Chubby beat. Fortunately, it was fast as we all wanted to get on the boat
for a tour of some of the 365 islands on Lago Nicaragua. Besides seeing the vacation
homes of some of the richest in Nicaragua, we enjoyed visiting the monkeys on
their own special island. Egrets gliding above the water and vultures soaring
high overhead added to the beauty.
Then we returned to the center market, had some good coffee,
bought a few more locally made items, and wandered around taking in the sights.
However, we didn’t take too much time here because we were off to one of
Nicaragua’s most famous natural wonders.
Volcano Masaya is an active volcano with a parking lot right
on the rim. The smoke rising out of the crater makes it difficult to see very
far down, though we did see down to the second rim. The other side of the parking
lot offers a great view of the plain Managua and the lake, plus the northern
tip of Lago Nicaragua.
That completed a busy day except for a small taste of home
as we went to Pizza Hut for supper. We returned to the Nehemiah center to do
some packing and wrap up activities. We will get to see most of the students at
church tomorrow so we are looking forward to that.
I want to end with a short personal reflection. I realize
again how much I enjoy spending time with high school students. They certainly
keep me young with their energy and good natured teasing (I can’t count how
many times I have heard “classic Roy” in response to a picture or a memory). What
I love more is their sincerity, thoughtfulness and unreserved expression of
feelings. Trips like this make me realize God is so clearly at work in the
lives of these young people and give me hope. It is so gratifying to see them internalize
the importance of the focus on relationship in this trip, especially as we once
again heard of examples where helping hurts when it simply involves throwing
money at the perceived need. In the context of developing relationships, I have
grown to love each one of these students. God be praised.
- Roy