MISSION WORLD

well, it is almost over now. although we have four more whole days before we arrive back in the states, the organized ministry is pretty much over. it has been one long day. we had a great experience in another secondary school in Ticuantepe, where we saw over 400 saved, including many faculty members.

tomorrow, we will be heading out fairly early to Volcan Masaya, where we will accompany this week’s group on a tour of the area, shopping, eating, etc.: this will mark the end of our 5.5 hour-a-day driving habit, which is good news considering that i have read nearly all of Hemingway’s Complete Short Works, my companion on many a grueling traverse of Nicaragua’s pitted roadways.

i do not yet have the total figure for salvations this week, but it is definitely in excess of 1,500. it has been a very successful and thoroughly wearying week, one which we are both sorry and glad to see draw to a close. much work has been accomplished and numerous lives have been transformed. please keep us in your prayers as we continue that work.

God bless,

dallas & shanna

Well, today is the last day of team ministry for us. Yesterday we went to a little town just outside of Managua to hold two fiestas and a service, and today we will be doing the same thing again. Tomorrow we will (hopefully) be going to Masaya Volcano with the team, where we will get to actually go to the top of the volcano and look in, and then do some shopping and such.

We have not gotten to visit Masaya (the meaning of which you can gather!), so I hope we’ll be allowed to go.
We can’t wait to come home on Tuesday. Our last few days we will get to rest, so it will be a nice wind down from the trip. We will be staying at the Robinsons again when Terry (who we’re staying with) and Paul (another intern) leave for Honduras sometime this weekend. We’re glad not to be going back to Honduras, because I was having a lot of problems with my asthma while I was there. Hopefully we will get to visit Sisteo’s (Terry Steiden’s favorite restaurant here) and The Tavern (Lucila, one of our translator’s, family’s restaurant).

Also, Monday is a holiday here- some sort of Catholic religious day to honor Mary, in which the kids basically trick-or-treat. Should be interesting, from what I hear. Maybe they dress up as the pope or something.

Well we will see you all in just a few days- we keep talking about what restaurants we are going to visit when we get home, and all the things we want to cook. Most of all I think we both just want to take real showers in warm water and then get out and sit in the air conditioning.

Love you all and miss you!

Shanna & Dallas

well, today was a very long day. activity began at 8:00 and continued without stop until around 11:00. that’s a.m. to p.m. as you can imagine, running on minimal sleep we are exhausted. we drove for a total of around 5 1/2 hours today on a school bus that looked (as do all u.s. buses turned Nicaraguan public transportation fleet members) as though a mariachi band with a penchant for all things Walt Disney and/ or brightly colored were given charge over its Centro American makeover. on a brigter note, there were a lot of salvations, most notably a couple hundred teenagers at a secondary school (a.k.a. high school) in Ticuantepi. our trip is drawing to a close, with only one more day of actual planned ministry if that makes sense. Friday will be spent, among other things, travelling to Managua in order to get the teams to the airport (along with their 100 pieces of luggage, most of which are adorned with ominous orange hangtags bearing the caution: HEAVY), driving, driving and driving.

with more than 20 people staying at this house alone, all of whom use a single computer, it is difficult for me to communicate in as much detail as i would like, so there must be fill-in-the-blank conversations at a later date. for now, i’ll just say that we are doing well, seeing numerous souls won for Christ and missing our families and friends. we love you guys. more later…

que pasa?

well, today is a real scorcher, but we have gotten/ are getting a lot done. we left early and drove an hour to the seaside town of Puerto Sandino where we had two fiestas and a lot of street witnessing.

From Terry:

“Sandino” refers to Augusto Sandino from which the “Sandinistas” derive their name. He was a revolutionary General whose name and figure are as recognizable in Nicaragua as George Washington is in the US. His image is abundant in Nicaragua and known by all:

there was a big hubbub with the transportation situation (we had to rent- our Barbie pink bus broke down). only a few of us were able to return to Leon and minister at the Las Tias (the aunts) orphanage, prepare for this evenings crusade and then return to Pto. Sandino at five o’clock.

the town has a beautiful black sand beach and the most gentle waves and pet toucans. it’s different than many of the other towns because there are many folks there from Nicaragua’s Atlantic coast, and many of them are at least partially bilingual - that’s refreshing.

anyway, there is a line for the computer so i’ll sign off, but things are going great and we miss you guys a lot.

talk to you later!

Hey Everyone

Today was a good day- we had another fiesta today, and went out witnessing. I haven’t heard the final word on the number saved. Anyway, the exciting part of the day was this: while out witnessing we stopped to get something to drink, and sat down to talk to the family that owned the store, and Dallas complemented them how pretty their two parrots, who were sitting outside, were. The lady smiled, then led us inside the house to show us something: her pet toucan!

It was incredible. We got to hold it and pet it and everything- it was very friendly and breathtakingly beautiful. Brittany, one of the other interns, took pictures that she will send me when she leaves, so I will have them when I come back. Anyway, that was definitely a once in a lifetime experience. If you can believe it, she said she paid $30 for it. You know that even if you could get one legally in the US (which you can’t) it would cost you like $1500.

That’s about it for the day. The big bus broke down and they had to rent a smaller one- there isn’t room for everyone to go to the service tonight, so Brittany (another intern) and I are staying here tonight. It’s nice to have a day off, but I wish Dallas could have a day to relax soon, too, because he hasn’t had even one day since we got here. But he’s a trooper, and we’ll be home soon.

Just think, a week from today we will be packing to come home! Love and miss all of you- don’t forget that we love to hear from you all!

Shanna & Dallas

From Terry:

Do you think anyone is homesick there in Nicaragua?

Hey everyone

Well, we had a frightening experience today. We went to the beach for some recreational time between our morning and night services. We were told numerous times that the currents were strong, and not to go out too far. Dallas and I stayed in the surf, and knew (both of us not being very good swimmers) not to go any further. But two of the younger boys who are here with the team (around 14 maybe) started getting pulled too far.

Zack, one of the other interns, was a lifeguard and swam out there to try to get them. He got stuck too, and his father went out after him. Two Nicaraguans swam out and got the boys in, but Zack and his father had drifted out so far that no one would go, because they knew they would get stuck too. They were yelling help and going under for long periods of time.

Finally, a guy swam out there and was able to help get them back in, but Zack’s dad, Keith, could not even hold himself up anymore. We got them both ashore and after vomiting up lots of water and breathing exercises the guy helped him do, they were finally able to at least sit upright. They guy turned out to be from New Zealand, and after he sat with Keith for at least 20 minutes and making sure he was okay, he walked away. I saw him walk behind a stand and start throwing up water himself. Dallas and I took him some water and told him thank you.

Needless to say, it was very frightening. We, Dallas especially, have become great friends with Zack and were already making plans to visit him and his family sometime, because he lives on the way to my best friend’s house in Texas. But God’s hand was upon them, and this man who appeared out of the blue was used in a magnificent way to bring our two brothers to safety.

Please keep their health in your prayers, because they undoubtedly were very shaken by the experience. But glory to God for bringing them back to us.

As I said before, Dallas and I will be arriving in Louisville at 10:23 on Tuesday, August 16th. We fly through Miami, then through Chicago. Can’t wait to be home and to see everyone.

Love you and miss you!

S & D

Hey everyone

Last night was the second night of the crusade. We had about 4000 people and close to 130 professions of faith. Dallas sang, and it was a pretty cool night. Tonight is the last night of the crusade, so pray for God to move tonight (as we know he will).

Tuesday we had lots of rain during the crusade, which seemed a blessing, but when we woke up the next morning we heard on the news that a bus full of people coming to the crusade hit a truck carrying two people, also going to the crusade. In the rain the car lost control and the two in the truck were killed. Anyway, pray for their families, and that they had found Jesus before they met him.

Tomorrow this group leaves for home, and we will be going back to Nicaragua tomorrow afternoon or night. Safe travel and easy clearance across the border are always prayers (it takes FOREVER). Also, a group of 28 or so are coming Saturday night, so we need to keep their travel and plans for the week in our prayers.

One of our interns leaves tomorrow, and two more at the end of next week. It has been great to meet them and build relationships with other strong young Christians.

Love you all and talk to you soon

Shanna & Dallas

From Terry:

The same day, I got this email and picture from 2 of Open Eyes’ interpreters:

Hello Friends and family from States!!

Lucila and Jojo

Hey everyone

Sorry for no word the last couple of days- we have been busy busy busy! Two fiestas and a church service yesterday, and two fiestas and a crusade today.

From Terry:

A brief explanation of a fiesta: In the traditional sense, it is a celebration, usually to honor a saint. There will be a marching band (of sorts - usually at least a drum or MANY and a trumpet), a large statue of the saint and a lot of people singing, dancing, having a good time.

The “fiesta” Shanna is talking about is a little different. The mission team and interpreters will set up a sound system on a street corner, in a park, even on a rural road out in the country. The missionaries then fan out, going door to door and meeting folks on the street to tell them there will be a fiesta in 15 minutes. If that doesn’t excite them (and it always does, because EVERYONE loves a fiesta), then “caramelos” (candy) assures that at least a million children will show up.

Once everyone gathers, there will be some skits, music and games. The kids love it, the adults, who stand all around the perimeter, watching, are amused and curious at all the North Americans. This opens up many conversations and opportunities to talk about what they are doing here. In Nicaragua, it seems you only have to ask once:

“Do you know Jesus?”
“Well, yes, I know who he is.”
“Would you like to know him?”
“well, sure!”

You think I’m kidding…I’m not kidding.

Local pastors are there to follow up with folks, get their names and get them hooked up in churches and small groups. Typically, the missionaries will attend a worship service that evening in one of the local pastor’s churches and they often see the folks who accepted Jesus that day in church that evening with their families!

And that’s a fiesta.

Early mornings, late nights. And it has been HOT. At least ninety every day, and NO air conditioning. I try to take a nap because the heat is so exhausting, but I find myself trying not to touch the sheet or my own skin, and fans don’t seem to offer much relief. We all wake up drenched with sweat. And by the time you get out of the shower, you’re sweating again!

Tonight it POURED during the crusade, which was, like everything else, outside. Nevertheless, there were probably 1500 people there, drenched to the bone by the time they left. We had 52 professions of faith, which proves that God works despite what we see as setbacks.

That’s all for now… We love you all and miss you. Pray for the rain to continue- it is the only relief from the heat. Also, I (Shanna) have been a little sick for the past week and a half- sore throat and coughing and the like. The doctor from the medical trip last week gave me an antibiotic and I’m starting to feel better. Lots of us have gotten sick, so pray that the sickness would STOP! God bless you- we pray for you often.

Love you

Shanna & Dallas

Hey everyone!
We did the church service this morning, and it was pretty cool. The church was tiny, and there were only about 30 people. But when you typically see so many people, it is nice to have a day when you can look into the eyes of all the people you are ministering to. They were very accepting and loving, and are devoted to God.
We’re getting ready to leave for the night service- Dallas and I will be doing music again tonight. Tomorrow we start the crusade- evangelism mostly, with leadership training for the pastors and women’s training for the pastors’ wives. We’re looking forward to the week! We’ll be in Honduras until Saturday, it sounds like, and then back to Nicaragua for the team of 28. I think Arlene heads back to the States on Saturday, too.
By the way, two weeks ago Terry and Arlene stumbled across a little boy who had been abandoned by his mother and was found naked living and eating with the pigs. His name is Luis Manuel (Manuel for short) and he is now much healthier after getting real food and medication. They shaved his head to get rid of lice, and have him on an antibiotic and parasite medication. He is doing much better. They went to speak to the lady supposedly in charge of him to speak to him about making things legal for him to stay with them. He is a little behind developmentally and linguistically, and had been physically abused. Keep Terry and Arlene (the couple who runs Open Eyes Ministry, and with whom we are staying, and little Manuel in your prayers). By the way, we think he is about three or four. Pray for him, and that God would have his hand firmly on the life of this little child.
Love and Blessings

S & D