R's Nicaragua Trip (lots of photos!)

I was in Nicaragua April 4-11.  Our team of 10 was very dynamic and we enjoyed getting to know each other.  We were there to spend time with a group of teenagers who live at La Quinta de Esperanza (The Place of Hope), a Christian children's home (like an orphanage, but a bit different).  It was a great trip, full of memorable experiences and relationship-building.  I was so thankful to be a part of the team and witness God's work in Jinotepe, Nicaragua, but I was also glad to get home to Deric! :)  Thank you for your prayers, and enjoy the photos!

"We need to talk" poster in the airport parking lot.
I took this on Palm Sunday...thought it was appropriate. :)

Looking up at a wind chime.
I forgot this guy's name.
Kari with the green one (also forgot his/her name).

Kari walking to church with her little friend.
Greg talking with Enoch.
These girls loved to pose for me!
Perla and two cuties from the local barrio (neighborhood).
"He loves you" mural painted on the front church wall.
This girl loved to worship!

They danced to Carmen's "Army of the Lord." It was awesome.
They asked us to pray for/over them.

This little guy, Alejandro, stole my heart that morning.
Monday morning: making Gospel bracelets to pass out to the barrio (neighborhood) kids.
gold = heaven/paradise/relationship with God, black = our hearts because of sin, red = Jesus' shed blood on the cross, dying for our sins, white = our hearts after we receive His forgiveness and accept His gift of grace, green = our new life that grows in God.
William.

Later that night...making bags of Gospel jelly beans to pass out to kids.


This is the bumpy dirt road which leads to The Quinta (where the church is and the kids live).
All ready to go out into the barrio and pass out bracelets. 
Tilling the soil in the garden.
This is in the local barrio (neighborhood).



We have a lot to be thankful for!

Jonathan and Dariluz (her name means "to give light") explain the Gospel to the kids.

With her new bracelet.

Some of The Quinta's kids
Patricia, Ruth y yo.
Tuesday morning we drove two hours to the beach of San Juan del Sur.

Sam enjoyed EVERY moment!


 Flor and Ruth

This is the hotel.
Up on the roof of the hotel.
Manuel and Freddy
I thought this was an ironic sight.
Wednesday morning we celebrated Cheryl's birthday by going ziplining!
So fun!

Landing Superwoman.

Coffee beans in their natural habitat.
Chad with a friend. 
Wednesday afternoon we traveled to the quaint town of Grenada.

I loved the architecture. 


We ate here, at Cathy's Waffle House...like an IHOP. :)

okay. this guy had a little squirrel on a harness and shoestring leash. Di and Kari held it, which creeped me out a bit.

Grenada's square.
At the Wednesday evening church service we performed a sticks routine to the song "Arise, my love."

View from our room's balcony.
Hotel lobby.
The room Kari and I shared (very nice!)
Thursday morning: market time!

This grossed us out.


Poinsettia in its natural habitat. :)
Friday afternoon we visited Masaya.  Here's Perla's family's kitchen....
...yard...
...and bedroom.
Walking in a Masaya neighborhood.
Ismael, Kari, and Carlos.
Our whole group out to lunch in Grenada.
Grenada's tourist-oriented market.
With Ismael and Perla.

Siblings. 
At the Catalina lookout, with the Mombacho Volcano behind us.
Studs.
It was a beautiful time of day to be there, just before sunset (what I call "Golden Hour.")
Friday night we had dinner together at the hotel and then we prayed for the kids.
Goofy group picture with our new t-shirts.