Day 5 (July 6) - Michaela

¡Hola a todos!

Today dawned a beautiful, sunny, breezy Sunday in Managua. Due to my recent development of circumstantial insomnia, I've been able to confirm that our neighborhood rooster starts his morning harrowing at 12 a.m.

We went down to breakfast at 9. Rosa had made us gallo pinto (mixed rice and beans), maduros (sweet fried plantain), eggs, watermelon, and my one of my favorites, the gorgeous pitaya juice. The younger team members went down the street to the school for Sunday school at 10:30 until the service started at 11.
 

Norman, his sister Elieth, Herndon, and Medardo led us in worship before Elvis went up to preach while the kids clamoured down from the sanctuary balcony to go back to the school for games (#ADHDfriendlyservices).


Because pastor Noel was away in Leon due to his father's recent passing, Elvis, a third year seminary student attending and practicing at the Capilla, gave his last minute sermon while some team members and a visiting family from Nicaragua Christian Academy (where Jess teaches), went up to the balcony for a translation provided by Norman. Elvis is a very skilled public speaker and I enjoyed the message immensely.

After the sermon, the kids went over to the Comedor for lunch, provided for each Sunday by the church, while many conversations began and Nick went upstairs to take a nap.

After our lunch, we split up for house visits: Victor, Angel, Carmen, Nick, Jayleen, and Victoria to check in on and converse with two older members of the church, Eufemia and then Josefa; and Jess, Bob, and I to bring a Bible to a delightful abuelita named Maria who we had met during our trip to tent city. After talking and praying with her and her housemate, Marina, we returned to the Capilla to find the others still out in search of Josefa's house, having no real address and only the general neighborhood.

During the hours after their return, we played futbol and revelled in the hispanic cultural treasure of siesta and "hanging out" - talking, laughing, playing, building relationship stuff.

Eventually the time for dinner came, and we all piled into the church van, along with Jess, long term missionary John, his fiancée Yadi, pastor Noel (who had returned earlier that afternoon), his wife Maria, and their son Samuel, to go to La Finca, a restaurant in downtown Managua where the team goes every year for Sunday dinner.

The dinner conversations over the delicious food lasted until around 8, when we drove back through the city to the Capilla, dropping off Noel, Maria, and a very sleepy Samuel. 

Back at the church, we were able to play a few more games of street fútbol and have those invaluable conversations that seem to remain with me for years.

I continue to be overwhelmed by the innumerable blessings and invaluable experiences and people I have been allowed to encounter in my life, namely here in Nicaragua. I cannot thank you all enough for your prayers and support for our trip. 

Muchísimas gracias,
Michaela