Bus Ride #5

Yesterday was bus ridge #5 to Managua, Nicaragua.  I'd like to say that it gets a little easier every time, but that wouldn't be right.  Actually, yesterday's trip went as smoothly as a 3:00 a.m. wake-up call and a 15 hour drive in a hot bus can go.  The borders weren't especially difficult--just the usual waiting in line and paying the $30 in visa fees.

For those of you who know the building at the Honduran border (ceilings missing and/or falling, abundance of pigeons, etc.), it was closed and immigration was in a newer, remodeled building along the side.  That in itself was a blessing!  We passed by the "easier" of the two Nicaragua borders and without the inflatable in the bus, we had no problems crossing.  Not like last year, when they made us take all of our luggage out of the bus and open it for inspection.

We got settled into our room and had our favorite meal at the Hotel Estrella restaurant.  We barely made it to 9:00 p.m. before we fell into bed.

This morning we will worship with Iglesia Bautista Vida Nueva, Managua, and the team that is here from North  Carolina.  Please pray for our week:  Kids Clubs in neighborhood parks in the mornings and neighborhood campaigns with movies in the evenings.

If you're experiencing cold weather this week, please remember us as the daily temps here in Managua will be in the mid-90's!

Just like when I was 16

You know that first day you get your driver's license?  That's how I felt today after getting my Salvadoran driver's license--well, almost.  Once I got all of the documentation together:

• lab work showing blood type
• passport
• El Salvador residence card
• El Salvador NIT card
• Notarized copy of my Missouri driver's license

the process was simple:  wait in line and then get required copies made; wait in line and then get documentation checked and get fingerprinted; wait in line and then pay fee ($57);  wait in line and then get eye exam and photo taken; wait in line and then provide personal details (name of father, mother, height/weight, description (according to them I have blond hair), drug allergies, address/phone numbers) and wait in line and sign for and receive the license!

Tomorrow Stephen goes to get his license so we will repeat the process!

A Very Salvadoran Thanksgiving

Somehow, I missed writing about our Thanksgiving last week.  We didn't celebrate on Thanksgiving Day--in fact, we went out for pizza, which is as untraditional as a person can get.

On Friday night, we celebrated with our small group at the home of Ryan and Keeley Blackstock, another missionary couple (from Kansas City.)  The potluck featured a cross-cultural meal, as the 4 of us gringos introduced Thanksgiving to the rest of the group, most of whom had never experienced the holiday.  Keeley cooked the turkey and made stuffing and mashed potatoes.  I brought two pumpkin pies and a pecan pie.  After those things, all resemblance to Thanksgiving dinner ended; but, the rest of the food was good, too.  There was a red sauce, for the turkey, of course (they don't do gravy.)  Rice loaded with veggies and cheese, garlic cheese bread, fruit and a salad.

After the meal, we went around the table and each person got an opportunity to share what they were most thankful for in 2012.  It was amazing to hear the stories--different people with different things to share, but all linked by God's amazing grace.

Thanks to Ryan and Keeley for the pictures!  See below to meet the other 8 couples who make up our small group.

 Good food and conversation!

 Kid's table!

Us!

 Jorge and Alejandra

 Jose and Pei

 William and Delmy

 Eric and Katia

 Herribierto and Raquel

 Ryan and Keeley

 Salvador and Roxana

Fredy and Iris

It's open!

After at least 6 years (according to the papers), they are finally finished with a new divided highway that carries traffic from the west side of San Salvador to the east side.  Since we live on the west side of town, this road should reduce our driving time to church--important when you make 7 trips per week.  In addition, it should make the trip to the airport much faster and easier.

They had the dedication yesterday, so today was the first day we were able to drive on it.  It won't fix all of our traffic problems, but it will allow us to avoid a couple of very slow round-abouts and 3 or 4 traffic lights.

Hilo, Agua y Biblia

Our last Hilo, Agua y Biblia was this morning at the church in Miravalle.  The ladies were working to finish their Advent/Scripture calendars.  I took all of the ingredients and made up a batch of hot chocolate mix while they watched.  We bagged it, topped it with marshmallows distributed a bag to each woman.  There was enough for each of them to have a cup while they worked.  Each of them received a cop of the recipe in case they want to make it and give it as gifts.

Here's the recipe (adapted from Alton Brown), if any of you are interested:

Hot Chocolate Mix

2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup cocoa
2 1/2 cups powdered milk (whole milk is best)
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon salt

Mix all of the ingredients until well combined.  Store in a tightly closed container or baggie.

Fill any coffee cup or mug half full with the mixture.  Add boiling water; stir well.  Top with marshmallows, if desired.

 

Guatemala Trip Wrap Up

Great video of our week in Guatemala!  It highlights all three of the activities--VBS, soccer clinic and evening campaigns.  If you look carefully, you might catch a glimpse of us.

Happy Birthday, Stephen

Happy, happy day of birth to Stephen!  We celebrated with one of his favorite lunches--BLT's and corn on the cob.  Tonight is our small group meeting so we will be sharing birthday cake with everyone.

I only have a half day of school tomorrow, so we're going to see the new James Bond movie and then go out for dinner to finish off the celebration.

VBS in the Books

Amazing Wonders Aviation VBS finished yesterday.  What a week!  In the crafts "department" we crafted nearly 200 crafts a day.  Of course, we are worn out!  Today we're taking it easy; we just checked out of the hotel and made our way back to the Rivas home.  We are staying tonight and helping with the "Amazing Wonders Aviation Air Show" tomorrow morning.  It will serve as the VBS closing service and all the kids and parents are invited to join us at church in the morning.  The kids will have a mini-day of VBs (with crafts, inflatable and snacks) while their parents are in the service.  Then the kids will join the service and sing the VBS songs for their parents.  In addition to the VBS closing, they will recognize the outstanding kids from the soccer camp this week.

Please pray for this service--the purpose of both of these activities is to bring new families to the church.  Since most of the parents only dropped off their kids this week, the Sunday service is the first time for the parents to connect with the church.  

We will drive back to El Salvador after the service--should be home by 6:00 or so.

 Crafts on Crazy Hair Day

 Closing Session

 Closing session--recognizing best costumes.  Love the little girl who is wearing a hot air balloon!

My great craft team--Todd, Carol, Becky, Blake, Jennifer and Olivia!

Amazing Wonders Aviation VBS finished yesterday.  What a week!  In the crafts "department" we crafted nearly 200 crafts a day.  Of course, we are worn out!  Today we're taking it easy; we just checked out of the hotel and made our way back to the Rivas home.  We are staying tonight and helping with the "Amazing Wonders Aviation Air Show" tomorrow morning.  It will serve as the VBS closing service and all the kids and parents are invited to join us at church in the morning.  The kids will have a mini-day of VBs (with crafts, inflatable and snacks) while their parents are in the service.  Then the kids will join the service and sing the VBS songs for their parents.  In addition to the VBS closing, they will recognize the outstanding kids from the soccer camp this week.

Please pray for this service--the purpose of both of these activities is to bring new families to the church.  Since most of the parents only dropped off their kids this week, the Sunday service is the first time for the parents to connect with the church.

We will drive back to El Salvador after the service--should be home by 6:00 or so.

Antigua Again

We drove into Antigua yesterday afternoon and were able to spend time visiting with each of our teachers from the Spanish school last summer.  It was good to see them and to hear how they have been doing.  Times are hard there--only Araceley has found a job outside of the teaching field.  She recently finished her college degree in social work and has located a job with a foundation that helps educate idigenous women and children.  Nancy, Corina and Siria are teaching when there are students available, but weeks go by without students so the economic situation for them is difficult.

Last night we stayed at Hotel Encantada, a beautiful little boutique hotel in Antigua.  We had supper at our favorite restaurant again.  This morning we enjoyed a great breakfast on the terrace at the hotel.

Residency Process

We turned in our paperwork to renew our residency cards in May and, as usual, received a 3-month temporary card for May to August.  Unfortunately, our regular card wasn't ready when needed to leave for the states in August.  Instead of our permanent card, they printed another 3-month temporary card for August to November.  Today we made another trip to the immigration office to see if our regular cards were ready, but "no."  Instead after a 2-hour wait and another $20, we will be able to pick up another 3-month temporary card (November to February) tomorrow.  It does boggle the mind that they are more than 6 months behind!  Who knows if we'll get a regular card in February--we may go through the whole year with a temporary card--only problem is we need a regular card to get our new driver's license.  Looks like we will be driving on our old license until February and, perhaps, beyond.

He's back!

It's so great to have Stephen back!  He went to church last night--our first time out for any significant length of time.  We went to the lab today; he actually drove (first time in 17 days.)   We're so excited that all of his levels are normal or nearing normal!  His appetite is picking up and I'm trying to stuff him full of good food because he lost 7-10 pounds over the past two weeks.

Thanks so much for praying along with us.  He's promised not to "overdo" it for the next week so he will be ready to leave for Guatemala on November 7.  We will be there for 10 days helping get ready for VBS and then working at VBS.  

Tuesday--little by little

We got the tests results for the Epstein-Barr virus and, like the rest, it was negative.  Talked to the doctor yesterday and he wants one final blood panel (on Friday) to confirm that all of the levels have returned to normal.  Both Dr. Contreras and Stephen's brother, David (the doctor), said he should expect to be tired for a few weeks.  However, barring any unusual results in the blood tests on Friday or any return of his fever, it seems that he is on the road to recovery.  Thanks for praying along with us--it's been a very long 16 days!

Fever's Gone

Praise the Lord--no fever today!  He's tired which is what the doctors said to expect.  He will be on the antibiotic until Thursday.  Until then he's resting and not resuming any activities (band practice, etc.)

Hopeful Sunday morning

It's been 8 hours since the last dose of Tylenol--temperature is normal!  Now to monitor it over the next 24 hours, but . . . . praying it's the end of "whatever" virus Stephen has had for the last 12 days.

Saturday Update

Back to the lab today for a repeat of the same blood tests he had Monday and Thursday.  We get the idea that they are trying to draw some new conclusions from the ups and/or downs in the various subcategories.  He was supposed to have a mono test along with the test for the Epstein-Barr virus (the virus that causes mono.)  However, when we got to the lab, we found out that the Epstein-Barr test can only be done if the patient has been fasting.  Oops--we didn't know that!  So, that little bitty bowl of Cherrios that he ate this morning means we have to drive back to the lab tomorrow!  For some reason they didn't send us the results of the tests he did have--another thing to ask about tomorrow morning.  I guess, at least it is good news that the lab is open on Sunday.

As far as the fever goes--it seems to be well under control with the Tylenol every 6 hours.  It's been under 100 all day--most of the time under 99.5.  Today is the last day on Tylenol as we need to find out if the fever is really gone on it's own or only because of the Tylenol.

If it stays down, then we will assume that the antibiotic is doing its job and that it really is some type of bacterial infection (of unknown origin and type.)  If the fever comes back tomorrow or over the next few days, then we may be back to square one unless something shows up on the new tests he took today or will take tomorrow.

Thanks for praying for both of us!