Independence

Today was our first day as three independent women in Nicaragua (woah!). We drove to Masatepe early in the morning to met up with the team from Omaha for one last time. Priscilla drove Rip's car and boy was it exciting and terrifying all at the same time. Nicaraguans are ruthless, fearless, crazy drivers (to say the least). Luckily, she likes to drive things and loved it. Once we met up with the team we packed up two SUV's and one van to a town called Granada. There is a huge mountain/volcano located in this town named Mombacho. We took military trucks up the mountain and hiked to the top to see the beautiful view; it was breathtaking. We then drove down the mountain a bit to go zip lining! For those of you who aren't familiar with this, it's an insane sport where you get helmeted and harnessed and climb to the top of the highest tree in the middle of the jungle/mountain. Once you reach it, you are hooked on to a wire and you fly hundreds of feet above the jungle floor from tree to tree. It is one of the most exhilarating experiences you could ever have. When they let you go from the platform and push you off you feel as if you are flying above the world and you get this incredible sense of freedom. It was very awesome.

After eating lunch, we drove to a market with the Omaha team. Each one of us girls was in charge of a group of teens and helped them maneuver their way through a Nicaraguan market (which can be sort of tricky sometimes!). We felt good about taking on leadership roles and helped them out with translations, bargaining, and being safe. It was nice for us educators to put on our 'teachers hats' and take care of these lovely teens.

At night we drove to Lake Nicaragua and took a boat tour to see the mini islands that were formed when a huge piece of Mount Mombacho collapsed. It was beautiful, but dark. Some of us were brave enough to stick our hands in the shark and alligator populated water!

We had a busy day and ended it by saying our last farewells to the Omaha team. We were sad to see them leave because we made some lasting connections with several of them during this week. We are truly blessed to have met them and to have worked side by side serving the Lord in everything we did during their stay. Please pray for safe travels as they are leaving tomorrow at 4:00 in the morning.

We are now alone in OUR HOUSE!!! It is so cool to call this house our own for the next 40 days and we felt good as we drove into our driveway without a "grownup". It was an adventurous and exhausting day!!!

I am today what yesterday has made me; tomorrow I shall be changed by today's experiences.

xoxo

Priscilla and Delanie