The last day was a very busy one! We had our last breakfast of rice and beans and then loaded our luggage onto our bus, and off we went to Mombacho Volcano. There, we had the opportunity to zipline down the dormant volcano. This was a highlight for sure as we went zipping through the trees and even saw howler monkeys! Afterward, we headed to Messiah Market, which is a popular market for souvenir shopping located in an old fort. We broke up into groups and tried our hand at bartering, but with our limited Spanish and experience, we weren’t very successful! Once we all found some souvenirs, we headed back to the bus and onto Messiah Volcano. As we drove up the volcano, we saw lava rock from eruptions and the paths where lava had flowed. We were able to peer over into the crater of the volcano, where sulfur-smelling smoke was rising out of. Lots of pictures were taken, and it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
Being a part of the culture for just a couple of days was such a wonderful experience. The people were accepting of us, and even though there was a communication barrier, it was still fun to talk to the locals and see how they live. Sunday night, we headed to the Ferrington’s home, a missionary family who have lived in Nicaragua since 2005. Their beautiful compound houses mission teams and groups when they come to Nicaragua. Since it was New Year’s Eve, we were able to watch the fireworks in Managua. In Nicaragua, they do not have fireworks shows but wait until 12 to set them all off at once. We were able to drive up on a hill to get a good view of the city, and it was so fun to see all the fireworks! The whole valley lit up with them, and they just kept going. It was an amazing last experience before loading up and heading to the airport to make the trek back.
Thank you!
We are so thankful for the prayers and financial support you all gave. We could not have done this trip without your support. It was an unforgettable experience, especially for the CILTs, who now have firsthand experience explaining the gospel to kids in a different country. Our hope is they will use the skills they learned and the cultural experience to help them as they continue to lead at camp and outside of camp.
