I didn’t post last night because we were having “Reflection” and then played a rousing game of Taboo. Let’s just say that at the end of a long day and when you’re very tired, Taboo is that much more hilarious.
Yesterday we visited a volcano, Pedro the potter, a laguna in an extinct volcano crater where we also ate lunch, the Masaya Market, and we ate dinner at a Mexican restaurant while watching a beautiful sunset on the patio. It was a great day. When everyone went around and said their “highs” of the day, everybody had things to share. Our challenges yesterday was the lovely humdity which we in South Carolina know all too well and a sometimes slow bus ride, but it is what it is down here and we all have to deal.
For many the volcano was the highlight because many had not seen a volcano before. The students were fascinated/surprised that we had to park the bus facing out so that if the volcano erupted, we could drive quickly away. Don’t worry – if there’s ever any seismic activity or high sulfur admissions, they don’t even let you near the thing. On the way home last night, Sarah told some of us about our spiritual experience with the volcano. She says that she looks at the deep, deep crater and how far down it goes and then at all the rocks around that the volcano has spit out or how far the lava comes all the way miles down the mountain and she begins to see the sheer force and power of the volcano. She says that when she sees that, she is reminded of how she’s not in charge. There’s someone far bigger than she that’s in charge and she’s thankful for that. She says that on good days, she is comforted that someone else is in charge but on the bad days, it’s frustrating, because she likes to be in charge.
When you see that volcano and how big it is and all that it is capable of you are definitely reminded in some ways
that yes, we are mere mortals. We’re just plain old humans with all of our frailties and fears. But you’re also reminded at how amazing it is that our big God, the God of the whole universe, came here for us – these sometimes silly humans – and seeks to be in relationship with us. That’s pretty powerful stuff. As students begin to gear up for another school year, it’s a great reminder to realize that you’re not in charge. We do the best we can with what we’re given and then we trust and leave it up to God.
There’s a lot of information being thrown the students way and there’s so much to absorb that it’s hard to keep up, but they’re all doing well. No one is sick. Everyone is eating well. And everyone is happy and getting along. What more can you ask for? Since it’s still the weekend and not a work day, today we’re touring around Managua, the country’s capitol and then going to Batahola church. Looking forward to another day in this beautiful country!
=0), Narcie
PS – We were all glad that Andrew arrived safely and met us at the market with Sarah. Everyone is doing well and sleeping well. I’ve invited them to post on here as well so hopefully I can coax them to actually do it. Right now we’re getting ready and waiting on breakfast. We eat Nicaraguan food for breakfast and lunch and then a member of the Jubilee House Community cooks a sort of American meal for dinner. It really is a community here with everyone helping to load and unload the bus, everyone taking turns carrying the food and cleaning up. It’s beautiful to see the students working together like this.
