On the Road Again

The Sea to Sea Nicaragua bike tour is HERE!
All the cycling participants from North America have arrived and now are enjoying some R&R time to prepare for the smooth effortless roads ahead of them...or maybe the roads won't be so effortless.

Thirty people - Nicaraguans, North Americans and North Americans living in Nicaragua are heading out to the East Coast to a town call Puerta Cabezas to begin this incredible bicycle tour across the country. We will be travelling from the North East corner down to the South West corner in 9 days. The first day begins on Monday, December 29 and end on Tuesday, January 6 at Gran Pacifica.

The purpose of this trip is to raise money to support the many families and farms that suffered the effects of Huricane Felix. Three organizations have worked to together to make this happen: Accion Medica Christiana, Canadian Food Grains Bank and Christian Reformed World Relief Committee. We do have a website for the tour www.bikenica.wordpress.com where you can find out more info on the purpose and goal, see who is riding and hopefully we will be able to post some updates along the way...so check it out!

Kevin already left this morning to drive out in an ambulance and a box truck with 3 Nicaraguans, so he gets extra opportunity to practice his Spanish! I am leaving tomorrow morning in a pick up truck along with a couple other people who will be a part of the support crew. Yes, that is right, neither Kevin or I are biking. We take the role of support very seriously.

Until next time...

A Forever Green Christmas

Before and After - The Hair Crisis

We were so distraught at what to do with his hair that we came to you - our supporters - because we figured you should have a say in the matter and because we trust you to look out for our well-being.

Here's the situation: Kevin didn't have his hair cut since before we left for Nicaragua and we were staying at his parent's place. With three months of growing it was looking pretty long. I didn't mind if it stayed long, as longer hair looks good on him, but I did want to cut it nice and trim for everyone who looks at him. But Kevin less so wanted me to trim it and would rather that I use the electric clippers to clean it right off...to which I was very much opposed. Hence, the reason we needed to come to you our trusted supporters.

Some of you were pretty adamant with your opinions about Kevin's hair, which we like to see. We had such a good turn out on the poll that we could say, yes, polls serve a good purpose. HOWEVER, there was a tie between long and short...so, we went back to his junior high days and gave him a mushroom cut...figured it would keep everyone happy.

and with a little styling, the new, more mature look is great!

...although, Kevin doesn't seem to think so.

So the battle was on once again between Kevin wanting it cut all of it off OR me making him look nice, trim and acceptable for those who look at him...

Needless to say, I'm the one with the clippers.
And Kevin's not looking too unhappy.

Thanks! I'm fun!

I had one of those dreaded experiences. The one where you quickly walk away and not look anyone in the eye. Yet deep down inside I was laughing at myself - because it was pretty funny.

Last week I was hanging out with the Bethel Edmonton CRC team that has had an unofficial church partnership with the communities of Chinandega for 6 years now. They are a very active church that is just plain excited about worshipping God through serving others and being with the people they have grown to love in Chinandega. I went with the famous Alma and the experienced Andrea. Both of them have led many, many teams to experience Nicaragua in it's beauty and pains as well encourage growth in the lives of many Christians. It was so good to learn from them this past week.

The team spent the week on the construction site, hanging out with kids and teaching women how to take care of themselves and their children. Along with that the team went into many homes to pray with families and share Christ's love. I had a few favourite times, one which included going to the community of El Limonel to hang out with the beautiful kids while the nurses spoke with the moms about health stuff. Maria Saeli (a missionary here) had a children's picture Bible with her that she let me use. So I held the book open and the kids excitedly chorused out the stories to me. They sure taught me a few things about sounding out words properly! Next we handed out colouring books and crayons while calling out "patience!" and "sit down!" I have never seen 65 kids so quite and content as those kids were colouring away on concrete picnic tables.

For me, this was a good time of reflection on my values, thoughts and beliefs and a time for me to step into my role of healthy church partnership facilitator. What does this all mean?? I enjoyed picking peoples brains and hearing what they all thought about the whole church partnership thing. I am excited to learn more and hopefully contribute in a meaningful way to this program. There are a couple more churches sending teams down in the new year that are leaning towards partnerships...including our home church!...so I am looking forward to working with them and the Nicaraguan communities they will be spending time with.

Soooo...about that dreaded experience...it also happened to be a part of a favourite experience I had. On the last day in Chinandega I had to go pick up an important document from the bus terminal. The pastor of the community said he would drive me back on his motor bike! I was pumped! I happened to not be dressed for the occasion as it was the only time I had donned a skirt the whole trip, BUT, that wasn't about to stop me and I hopped on the bike behind him. We zipped through the streets as I held on for dear life to the bike and to the envelope. Almost back to our destination I am prepping myself as to what I was going to say to the pastor. This was going to be good. The pastor being only a spanish speaker this was my opportunity to get a conversation going. We came to a stop, I hop off and say with a big smile "Gracias! Estoy divertido!" My grand exit... However, it didn't come out at all like I had prepped for. English = "Thanks! I am fun!" The pastor started laughing and I immediately realized what I said. I quickly turned around and booked it for the small house that was awaiting my arrival.

I shake my head.