Today is our sightseeing and shopping day. Nicaragua is not exactly a tourist’s paradise, but there are a few things to do and see. We head out early to drop off our luggage at the hotel we will be staying in tonight, directly across the street from the airport.
First, we head to Granada, the oldest city in Central America, founded in 1524. But we’re not doing a history lesson; we’re going for the canopy tour.
A canopy tour is nothing more than riding zip lines from tree to tree, 60 to 80 feet above a coffee plantation on the side of a volcano. Step one is to hook up your harness good and tight. It feels like…well… harness is a good name for it. Starting off at cliff side, you’ll jump out to glide across the open space to the next platform while your stomach falls the 70 feet to the ground – 14 more platforms to go. Further explanations will just make you nervous; let’s move on.
Nicaragua has volcanoes. Lots of them. However, there are a string of 9 in an almost straight line following the Pacific coast and inland about 50 miles that are still quite active. Masaya Volcan is Nicaragua’s first National Park and allows visitors to the top of Masaya, which last erupted in 2004.
Because of the sulphur dioxide constantly pouring from it, sometimes it is closed to visitors.
A bus ride to the top takes a while, as the bus never gets out of first gear. At the top, you can look over the rim, into the center, occasionally seeing lava far below. There is not a lot to see, but, hey; how many people have looked into an active volcano?
Back in Managua, it’s shopping. A large, open market is filled with the kinds of handcrafted items we like to take home as souvenirs; brightly colored hammocks and pottery as well as the more mundane stuff of life like shoes, shirts, pants and socks. We’re happy to buy these items because we witnessed much of it being made in the homes of the people we served this week, so, we know it directly supports them – it’s not bought from China and re-sold in the market.
And then, our last meal in Nicaragua – Pizza Hut! We say goodbye to our hosts and translators all too soon with our thoughts torn between getting home to our loved ones and how soon we can get back here; not to do it again, but to continue the work He has started.
There are many more stories to be told about the days in the clinic, walking the streets doing evangelism and the people we were privileged to meet, but suffice to say, they are all a testament to what God can do with willing servants. I can speak for everyone involved in this mission when I say that it was an honor to be Christ’s representative to these people, and in His name bring health, healing and the word of God.
The Numbers
11,000 Cephalexin caps delivered.
4524 Miles traveled by plane, bus, taxi and foot by each team member
4285 Prescriptions filled.
1170 Pounds of medicines and medical supplies taken into the country.
1080 Salvations.
1018 Patients seen and treated.
94 Avg. daytime temp. 2/20/05 to 2/27/05
90 Vacation days used.
33 Injections administered.
18 Missionaries on the trip.
7 Translators.
4 Days, churches, clinics.
1 Wedding performed.
