This particular ride reminded of a terrifically-insane mountain biking experience I had in SC several years ago.  It was my first mountain biking trip… all was great until we came to an incline that I just couldn’t climb.  But little did I know I would be riding with world-class cyclist, Kim Morrow! I was about to give up and walk my bike, but she bailed me out by putting one hand on the small of my back while riding beside me and literally pushed me up the mountainside.  All the while saying, “Good job, Mary, you’re doing great”.  Wow!  She is truly amazing and is still a dear friend.  She’s given me some good tips for training for the Sea to Sea.  She’s an Elite Fit Coach now, check out her website: http://elitefitcoach.com/

Their prayers were answered!  It rained all week, but stopped on Friday until late Saturday afternoon.  The river was low when we passed through in on Friday…

Whew!

After a long, rainless day of seeing patients in the make-shift clinic on Saturday, it began to rain at about 4PM.  It rained without ceasing until 6PM.  We finished clinic and got ready to drive back to Managua.  You know the old saying “If it’s the Lord’s will and the creek don’t rise”?  Well, now I understand it much better…I’ve experienced it!  We drove away only to return to the church 10 minutes later after consulting with the locals at the river’s wild edge.  We listened to their advice and decided not to try to cross the river, it had risen too high and was too dangerous to cross.

The 7 of us split up into three different homes of church members and they took care of us for the night.  We had the privilege of getting to know Dona Victoria, a 76 year old (sometimes 72 year old, it changed each time we asked).  The pastor of the church chopped firewood for her before he left us at the house for the night.  She then cooked us a delicious dinner over an open fire in her kitchen. She also had a really cool oven attached to her house (she also had access to it from inside the house).

I was reminded of Proverbs 16:9

In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

Although we really wanted to get back to Managua on Saturday night, the Lord had other plans in mind. He blessed us with more time with our Nicaraguan Christian brothers and sisters and used it as a reminder for me to always be prepared to entertain visitors in my home at a moment’s notice, just as our brothers did in Nancimi.

We called a friend who came with some big metal cutting clippers (I have no idea what they are really called). He partially climbed over the fence to get in but then was about to impale himself…that would have been ugly… so we offered him a ladder. He went to work and successfully cut through the lock and saved the day. So much for a secure house. We are looking into alarm systems!

My best friend, Sondra, and I traveled to celebrate with John and his bride, Tracey.  The reception was held under a big white tent with BBQ, toasts, and dancing.  My swing dancing moves were a little rusty, but I had a blast dancing with John on his big day.

After the wedding, Sondra and I spent some time hiking in the Rocky Mountains.  We went to Rocky Mountain National Park, where the Aspens were glowing yellow in all their brillance.

We hiked, stalked elk, tried to take pictures of chipmunks, and best of all rock hopped.  We had such a good time.  When I lived in the foothills of SC, rock hopping was one of my favorite things to do. 

As we were watching the elk and listening to the bull call out to the cows, my roommate, Carey, called me to tell me that our home in Nicaragua had been robbed.  It was so surreal!  What was I to do?…except pray for my roomies (there are four of us in total) and thank God that no one was hurt.  The thieves broke in between 8AM-10AM.  We took quite a hit.  They stole a lot of cash and electronics, including our TV, modem, and phone.  Lori’s work computers, cameras, and external hard drive with all of her back up files were also stolen.  We are in the process of picking up the pieces, still discovering “little” things that are missing, and trying to decide how to make our home more secure.  The words that God left for us in Matthew 6:19-21 have come to mind recently:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures heaven where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

The robbery was a good reminder of these truths.

On our last day in Colorado, we visited Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs.  It is one of my favorite spots in Colorado.  We got caught up in exploring through all of the awesome rock formations and lost track of time.  We spent the last 20 minutes of our time there running back to the car, for fear that we were going to miss our flight out of Denver.  We made the flight…in case some of you were worried.

I  visited my parents in Florida for the weekend before heading back to Nicaragua.  Mom was super supportive about the robbery and went with me to shop for a few necessities for our Nicaraguan home, and to buy Lori a new computer.

On Friday, Aimee, Carey, and I took a 3 hour bike ride from Managua to the beach.  We rode about 30 miles in 3 hours.   This was my first “long” ride.  I am training for the Sea to Sea Nicaragua Cycling Event  that will take place in January of 2009.  The purpose of this event is to raise $100,000 to buy seed for the Nicaraguan farmers that sustained heavy losses due to the damage that Hurricane Felix (Category 5) caused on September 4th, 2007. I’ll be one of the 20 bikers whom will bike from the Atlantic Coast to the Pacific Coast of Nicaragua to raise awareness for the disaster response.  We will cover 650KM (404 miles) in 10 days, December 28th-January 6th.  Each rider is required to secure $1000 in sponsors and $500 to cover in country trip costs.  The Canadian Foodgrains Bank will match 4:1 of the dollars raised!

We had a great weekend relaxing and playing at the beach and then rode back again on Sunday…only it took 4 hours to get back.  I hadn’t noticed that most of the ride to the beach was downhill.  And you know what they say, what goes down must come up!  Wait, is that right?  I basically feel like I have been hit by a truck.  Might have something to do with cycling and learning how to surf in the same weekend!  Anyway, I’d be great if you would like to donate to the Sea to Sea Nicaragua Cycling Event.  I need to raise $1500 by October 31st.

I woke up on the 15th, crawled out of my bunkbed and started getting ready for the last clinic day in Loma Linda with the Seacoast medical team.  After team devotions under a thatch-roofed pavillion, my 3 roommates popped up out of nowhere with banana muffins and a crazy-looking hat (which they insisted I where for the entire day).  Everyone sang Happy Birthday to me.  WOW!  That was special, especially at 7:00AM!

At the clinic site, the Nicaraguan church we were working with cooked a huge lunch for all of us to share and then they surprised Jeff and I (we share the same birth date) with a huge cake. 

They sang “Feliz Cumpleanos” to us using three different melodies with beautiful Spanish lyrics and then also sang to us in English.  Could the day get any better…?  Yes, and it did!!!  After some cross-cultural frosting-in-the-face exchanges…

Later, after finishing a delicious Nicaraguan dinner, they brought out a beautiful chocolate cake for Jeff and I.  It was the best cake I’ve had in a long time (and I’m not even big on chocolate).  Although I missed spending my birthday with loved ones in the States, I couldn’t have asked for a more special birthday. Thanks to all that made it happen!