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Home at the moment is the Peace and Hope Trust building located in a compound (condominio Cedro Real) on the main Managua / Granada road. We are in a compound for security reasons. Whilst sitting on the veranda and eating tea you can be completely foolled into a false sense of security and that we could quite simply be at home (with palm trees and sunshine though) but the truth is that this is a very poor country, the poorest of all of the central American Countries.

So we live in a compound that is secured with fencing and 24 hours armed guards. Its amazing how you just accept the fact that the security guard is walking around with a rifle on his shoulder.

My first full day here has been nothing short of full! Got up yesterday at 6.00am and went for a run and had a quiet time with God, was wonderful just to sit in such a lush and peaceful place with the sun shining down and be in Gods presence. Mmmmm.

So this is pretty much what I got up to yesterday.

Up at 6.00am and went for a run

Time with God

Breakfast

Organised a flight to bluefields

Picked up by Tony Langmead (SIFT Project Manager) and went out to a volcano with a lagoon in the crater - called Lagoon de Apoya

Christmas party at Hilton hotel in Managua with British / Nicaraguan society (slap up meal in other words)


Bluefields Trip
The Peace and Hope Trust where we are staying undertake a great numbe rof projects serving those who are isolated and have nothing. Bluefields is part of the old Mosquito coast on the Carabean side of the country. When I say it is isolated, I mean you cant get there unless you fly there. There are no roads going to the town. You can drive to the river in El Rama and then take a boat down the Escondido river. thats the only way to get there. There is a doctor out there runnign a project to help feed the street children and people of the village. We will be going out there to help feed the children and see what they get up to. Going to be a very interesting trip since the town is so isolated. Thik we are going out there on the 2nd January for a couple of days.


Lagoon de Apoya
This is a lake in the crater of an inactive volcano. Its on the way out to Granada. It is immense, you can see a Quinn and an Elliott swimming in the crater if you click the photo it will come up a little bigger. Tony Langmead the project Manager for SIFT took us out there where we had lunch and lounged around in hammocks all afternoon. Was wonderful, not to mention tht the water is heated from the volcanic activity below so the water was lovely. Mist came in over the crater edge and it even started raining whilst we were out there swimming. Was such a gerat afternoon relaxing and taking it easy and getting to know a little more of what goes on out here. Mind you the locals where giving us a fwe strange looks as we entered the lagoon, i think it may have been a bit chilly for them, but at 27 degrees yesterday there was no way in this world I was not going to get my bones in the water. British hey, all we need is an excuse for a bit of sun and we think we are in a tropical paradise.

Some photos taken yesterday:

Oxen having a stroll



Andy and Tony at Lagoon de Apoya





How to take your girl out for the evening, these people manage to get up to 4 people on one bike - this is the most popular way to take your girl out.


Volcano getting a bit steamy

As a side from this there is a verse in Isaiah that has really rung out for both Andy and I - Isiaiah 61 (taken from the Amplified Bible)

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, becuase the Lord has annointed and qualified me to preach the gospel of Good tidings to the meek, the poor and afflicted: He has sent me to bind up ad heal the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the physical and spiritual captives and the opening of the prison and of eyes to those who are bound.

To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, the year of his favour and the day of vengenceof our God , to comfort all who mourn.

To grant onsolation and joy to those who mourn in Zion - to give them an ornament a garland or diadem of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a heavy, burdened and failing spirit - that they may be called oaks of rightousness, lofty, strong and magnificent, distinguished for uprightousness and right standing with God, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified........