Kevin's Perspective

There is a lot that I could write about after a trip like the sea to sea Nicaragua. Like April said I have a lot on my mind, but won't use this blog to sort through most of it. Instead I would like to share some highlights of the trip.

The first thought that comes to mind as I reflect on the C2C would be the incredible way we say God answer prayer after prayer. There were a lot of close calls out on the roads, one person fell off a bridge into a small stream below and walked away from it, another hit a dog while flying down a mountain at 55 km/ h and after taking the rest of the day off was able to finish the last three days with no problems. There are so many more stories and I encourage you to keep up to date with the website as we start to post more of these personal reflections up from each rider (www.bikenica.wordpress.com)

Next on my highlight reel would have to be the time I spent driving up to Puerto Cabezas with three Nicaraguans before the tour began. Nestor, Dimas, Luis, and I drove in a box truck and a toyota land cruiser loaded with supplies and bikes. This was a big stretching moment for me. I had been thrown into many “Spanish / Nica “moments before, but not many this long with out April or a translater. For two days I worked on my Spanish, and more importantly got to build some meaningful relationships with Nicaraguans. Nestor (knowning a little english) was really able to challenge me to talk in Spanish like no one else ever has, Dimas was always there to help me negotiate meals and accomodation costs with the store and hotel owners. Then there is Luis. Luis showed me what Christ means when he calls us to LIVE out our faith by actions. Luis would be the first to stop and give up his water to a weary person along the side of the road (knowning he himself might not get water for a while). He would be the first to talk and encourage others in each town we came into. Luis would even during the rides stop in at random churhes and spend a moment singing with his brothers and sisters in Christ, simply out of a pure desire to worship Jesus with them at that moment. I am forever grateful to these three men for what they did for me, for the group, and for God on this trip.

And now for the remaining highlight reel...

#3 – the picturesque views I saw every day
#4 – enjoying a fish fry in Mulukuku as the sun was setting overlooking a beaufiful river.
#5 – Serving 24 bikers at each checkpoint and during the evenings with as much Gatorade and Power bars as there bodies could take!
#6 – Spending Ano Nueva (New Year's) in Rosita with nica fireworks and pinatas.
#7 – Watching a group of riders get lost, adding 20 kilometers on to there daily total and still saw one of them catch the leaders by days end.

With the sea to sea over most people have been asking what is next for me here. To this I don't have any concrete answer right now. Tomorrow April and I will meet with Steve Holtrop to go over the next 6 months and what it will look like for us, in addition I am hoping to meet with Eric Loftsgard to review the construction plans for the Nehemiah Centre's next phase of expansion. We thank you for your continued prayers and ask that you specifically pray about this week as we enter into a new chapter here in our work.

Kevin