Day 11

Bright and early morning! But what a morning it was!

Today was my favorite day with the kids thus far! You may ask what made today so special? Well keep reading and you will find out. :)

I woke up at 6am this morning to shower and get ready for church. We had to leave at 7:15am to catch the bus to head to Grenada and be there on time. We didn't go to a church but rather to a beach area. Why you might ask, well 3 of our scholars got baptized today! How incredible! They were all so excited and when talking with one scholar who has been through a lot in his life and is only 17, but the stories he would tell you would horrify you, he mentioned to me how excited he was because he was going to become new and that his old self would die in that water and that all the bad in his life would be gone and he has a new start. It was so incredible to see the light on his face and how every time he would mention it his face would light up. To watch these three young kids praise God and go down in the water in Jesus name was absolutely incredible! It also pleased me how excited they were that I was there to support them. I'm telling you, God is moving here in Nicaragua in these kids' lives. All it takes in one person to plant, another to water, and God will give the increase.

Miguel, José, and Joseling worshipping God before being baptized

Baptism here in Nicaragua is a huge celebration. It is almost as if the person was celebrating their birthday in the states or a having a huge party. Everyone goes to the beach and the women cook early in the morning and bring food with them and the kids bring extra clothes so they can swim in the water. It is an all day event! It's quite fascinating to see the difference in how we as Americans celebrate things versus how Nicaraguans celebrate things especially something as amazing as being born again! 

Joseling being baptized

José being baptized

Miguel being baptized 

Watching these three go down in Jesus name was absolutely amazing! What God is doing in these kids' lives is incredible and I'm so blessed to be a part of it!

José, Joseling, and Miguel after being baptized

They looked so happy after they were baptized! After a baptism it is traditional for their to be a piñata for those who were baptized and their is typically candy in it. It was really neat to be a part of this celebration with them. Oh by the way, these families cook some amazing food! They made chicken and rice and it was absolutely delicious! We all ate together and spent time swimming…I got dragged into the water in my clothes even though I didn't bring any other clothes. It was fun though and I eventually dried off. I had a great time bonding with them and just talking to them and laughing and playing around.

We were able to go on a boat ride with Miguel and his family to this little island called 'La isla de mono' or in english 'Monkey Island'. We saw some pretty cute monkeys on mango trees. It was fun and who doesn't love a little boat ride?!

We headed back to the hostel at around 3pm and arrived back in Managua at around 4:30 almost 5pm. We all relaxed and took naps and then it was off to dinner at the mall's food court, where I had McDonalds for the first time in over 2 years! It was quite delicious, but I was also very hungry! Ice cream of course after dinner to sweeten things up and then back to the hostel to head to bed. 

I am so exhausted from a long day in the sun and with the kids. I am also so overjoyed at what God did today and can't wait to see what God has in store for the next 4 weeks! :)

Until next time, Buenas noches