We left our house at 4:15 yesterday morning thinking we were going to Nicaragua on the church bus. But like so many things here, things change. There was a small group of us (15) who were able to leave on Friday so we loaded up in two vans (blue and green.) The larger group would leave by bus on Saturday morning. Just another example of a good idea (let's leave on Friday instead of Saturday) that doesn't work out as planned because too many people had to work on Friday.
Finally loaded up and pulled out of the church about 5:40 (already 40 minutes later than the scheduled time.) We traveled about 30 minutes and stopped to get gas in the vans (no one thinks ahead.) With only 2 per seat, we had a space to rest/sleep. About 2 hours later, the driver of our van realized that he didn't have his driver's license--he had left it at the gas station. Although Stephen offered to drive, it didn't matter because Guillermo's license was the one associated with the documentation from the church and he would be required to show it to drive across the border. U turn and drive back to the gas station . . . . like a madman. This part of the trip gave new meaning to the verse, "pray without ceasing." The green van went on to the next city to wait for us--actually they had it easy! Pick up the license and U turn and repeat!
During the time, we were listening to oldies on the van radio. Mind you they weren't Spanish oldies, they were American oldies in Spanish. Our conversation went like this:
Stephen--I never thought I'd hear "Devil With a Blue Dress On" in Spanish.
Me--What about "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"? Who would have thought there was a Spanish translation for "a-wimoweh."
Just so you know, my two personal favorites were "Preciousa," aka "Pretty Women, " and "Te Quiero Moni," aka Mony, Mony.
We met up with the green van and continued to San Miguel. We stopped for lunch just before reaching the El Salvador border. For the last 10 miles or so, the green van had been overheating. They filled it with water and antifreeze at the gas station, but it ran right through. After lunch, next stop at a repair shop. Unfortunately, we discovered that the radiator hose was ruined and the shop didn't have another one. He patched it (temporarily) and Gerardo decided that he should return to El Salvador instead of continuing on. Great plan--but now 13 people and all of the luggage need to fit in the van. After about an hour, packed in like sardines, we pressed on to the El Salvador/Honduras border.
Amazingly, the borders were not packed and we were able to pass through in 20-30 minutes. Back in the van (by the way it doesn't have air conditioning) for the 100 mile drive through Honduras. The bad thing is that it takes almost 4 hours to drive 100 miles because the roads are filled with pot holes the size of small countries, the road curves upward through the mountain and there numerous 18-wheelers slow down the ascent.
We reached the Honduran/Nicaraguan border at 6:00 p.m. Thankfully, those borders were empty and we passed through with little, if any delay. We had another 3+ hours to reach Managua, with a 1/2 stop to eat dinner along the way.
Safe and happily we arrived at the church about 10:30 p.m. and at the house of Pastor Rodrigo and his way, Mirian, about 11:00. We were staying only one night with them, but they gave us their bedroom and airconditioner! Finally, got to sleep after midnight--one really long day.
Pastor Steve always says that when the trip is filled with obstacles it means that the campaign will be a big success! So "glad" to be a part of this week! Once again we say, "next year, we're going to fly."
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