Day six Faith Fun and Farewells

Today was our last full day in Nicaragua and it was a full day. The Tingles call this fun day and it lived up to its name.

The first stop on fun day was to the side of a dormant volcano for a jungle canopy tour via zip line. It was amazing to watch as my team members put their fears behind them and stepped way out of their comfort zone. Every member of the team participated and some even did stunts like going upside down or flying across the zip line like superman.

Second stop was at Tip Top for lunch. Tip Top is Nicaragua's number one fast food restaurant. Its kind of like KFC in the states except all the chicken is raised in Nicaragua and that means its free range, organic and tasty.

Third stop was at another volcano except this one is active. Mount Masaya is so active in fact that we had to wear hard hats and limit our time at the crater to 5 minutes. The volcano was amazing and the views from the peak were extraordinary.

Our forth stop was at the artisan market in Masaya. This was a chance for the team to pick up some souvenirs of the trip as well as gifts for the family and friends we left at home.

The last stop was at La Colonia, one of the local grocery store chains. This was our chance to purchase some Nicaraguan coffee and some of the goodies we have enjoyed during our stay.

We ended the day with a farewell banquet. It was apparent from the things said at that dinner that none of us will walk away from this trip untouched by all we have heard, seen and done here in Nicaragua. The team has bonded so well that for many of us it's going to be strange not to eat, work and play with each other in the days to come. Wayne and Megan have been fantastic hosts and a tremendous inspiration to us all. We are going to miss them greatly.

"A friend loves at all times'
and a brother is born for adversity." (Proverbs 17:17 ESV)

Day five transformed.

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV)

Today was our last work day here in Nicaragua and our last day with the students of Centro Escolar LifeLink. My feelings on this are mixed. I look around at all that was accomplished and I feel proud. I'm proud of our team and the way that we worked together to meet all the goals we set for ourselves before leaving. I'm proud that we are leaving the school in a better place than when we arrived. I'm sad that we have to leave these children whose lives we touched for just a short time but who had such a big impact on each of use. Mostly I'm in awe of how God worked through us and in us here in Nicaragua.

Some of the transformations were amazing, some just fun. Socks were transformed into puppets. PVC pipe and some fabric were transformed into an amazing puppet stage. Old paint cans were transformed into drums. Empty cement stalls were transformed into a working bathroom. Plain cement walls were transformed into the green and white walls of a school.

Every night after returning from school we have a debriefing meeting with Wayne and Megan. In this meeting we have some fun and discuss the day. Wayne always asks if anyone would like to share a WHEPA (wow) moment from the day. From the comments made in this meeting, I can tell that this trip has precipitated a transformation in many of us. This trip is only the beginning of a journey with much more to come. It's up to us to make sure we do not lose site of the things we learned in Ciudad Sandino.

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6 ESV)

Enjoy the pictures!

Day four gifts of the spirit

"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone." (1 Corinthians 12:4-6 ESV)

Today at Centro Escolar LifeLink the words of this Scripture manifest themselves in the people around me. It seems that God has provided a little of everything we could possibly need to complete this mission successfully. It has been truly amazing to watch how each persons individual gifts have blended to become something so much bigger than just one person.

Today I watched as team members led worship sharing their gift of music, while others shared their testimony and their love for Christ.

Some used their gift of art to create a puppet stage, puppets and to write a script for a puppet show.

Others used their gifts to complete the plumbing of the new bathroom and to help paint the newly constructed sections of the school building.

We even got to witness the children's gifts as they presented the schools gymnastics program.

So many gifts - all of them empowered by God.

To end our day we were given another gift, an invitation to dine with the Tingles in their home. Wayne and Megan have been amazing hosts and tonight was another example of their gift of hospitality.

Each of us has been blessed by God with an abundance of gifts and this mission trip has proven to be one of those wonderful blessings from God.

Enjoy the pictures!