Paint, steps, and volleyball.

Today started off with some amazing pancakes, fruit, and home-made pineapple juice......right after the 5am wake up call by  a dog, a million birds, and some other noises that were either exotic animals or the other guys in my room.

We left our rather comfortable hostel at 8:30am with a bunch of people who were eager to work. As soon as we got to the church in Managua everyone just jumped in and started working. We planned to come and pour concrete as part of the foundation to a future training facility. The permit to do so has not yet been granted so we are onto plan B. Today some of the group began building steps into the hillside of the church property, another group painted the first coat on the entire bottom level of the church, a third group did some landscaping, and yet another group went with some of the Managua Church leaders to the surrounding neighborhood to pass out tracts and invite people to church. Everyone did very well with the heat and worked tirelessly until Laura arrived fresh from Miami at around 1pm. Once agian a team we hit lunch at the food court in the mall and caught the tail end of the Brazil vs North Korea World Cup match........a lot of people here are routing for Brazil.

Later this evening after some rest we began our Volleyball outreach tournament. We started by playing a game the missionary, Brian Weed, said is a local favorite called "Giraffe, Elephant, Cow". This has become an instant favorite with our group. Then Caleb read a story called "You Are Special" by Max Lucado to everyone......in Spanish!!!!!......and did great. I tied into it a brief message about our "God shaped hole" and invited everyone to come back tomorrow night to find out about the love of God. We had about 75 people there (including our team).            

We made 12 teams of 3 Nicaraguans and 3 American's apiece. I have to say that the best team is the "el Pastore" team......all the pastors on one team. lol The first leg of the volleyball tournament went well. Our tam really connected and made friends with the Nicaraguan's tonight. I'm excited to see what God will do through our newly formed friendships.