Good morning, Family and Friends.

Internet did not work late last night, nor early this morning. I hope frequent short notes are better than longer epistles.

Pastor Leonor has two hotels, close to each other, where the groups and individuals are staying. I have a private room here, and it has all the amenities needed, even air conditioning. I slept very well last night. It felt good to get my battery re-charged!

In evening visits with others I found out that a group was on the same plane with me from Salt Lake City to Atlanta, and also from Atlanta to Managua! But I didn’t know them. Even Pastor Leonor did not recognize them until we got to Managua and met the conference personnel.

Pastor Barr, whose church helped sponsor my speaking appointment, is also here. He used to be up in Montana, I believe, but is now back east. They want me to translate with their group, but I don't know how things will work out.

We do appreciate your prayers.

See y'all later. Will work on pictures tonight. There is an IT man here who can help me if I stumble.

Thanks.
Harvey

Tuesday, March 04, 2008 4:57 PM
Nicaragua-4

Today was a “tourist” day. Six of us went in a van and did sightseeing around town, and naturally took some pictures. Our IT man has a new movie camera that holds 8 gigabytes of memory.

We had a good dinner here at the hotel. By the way, I will be staying here for at least a week. Pastor Leonor did find a home where I can stay, but the group wants me to be here with them. The room is adequate, with air conditioning and the other amenities. Its name is La Posada del Angel.

After lunch at 2:00 five of us went on another tour. This time to Granada, the oldest city in Nicaragua. Over 500 years old! From there we went to the lake and a boat ride around many islands. Beautiful country. The boat had space for 12, with outboard motor, etc.

On way back we stopped and had some fresh coconut “water.” In the morning I bought half a dozen mangos each, of three brands, and also tangerines.

I think the leaders have decided I will have a church to myself, and not work as translator for their group. Two of the groups’ speakers will alternate nights, and thus allow the other one, Pastor Barr and the IT man, to visit sites and take pictures, etc.

Tomorrow will be orientation day, and we will be busy all morning at our academy down the road.

This morning we also visited the central church and the elementary school next to it. They have 180 students in grades 1-6.

I hope that tonight the IT man will work with me and put in my website the pictures taken. I have erased several bummers, so hope the ones left show up in a readable fashion.

Hope all is well with all of you.

Thanks for your prayers. They are really a “life-line” for all of us.

Harvey

Wednesday, March 05, 2008 3:52 PM
Nicaragua-5

Some of you may have noticed that I did get to download some pictures on my Picasa website. No doubt they need some explanation, though some of them are obviously just scenery. Won't download more until tomorrow.

Today was Orientation Day at our boarding school about 35 kilometers from here. It is really a very lovely place. They've been in operation about 20 years. Next Sunday they will begin their university section. Currently they have 380 students, preschool through academy levels.

Our meeting was due to start at 10:00, but there was some delay in all of the buses getting there. The session went well, with local pastors attending also, at least those involved in the meetings.

Besides the ShareHim participants, a group visited that are here on some other evangelism schedule. They presented two choral songs, and did very well musically. Good sound and interpretation. I think there were 16 singers. I am not sure where they will be working or in what project.

We didn't have lunch until 2:00! It was served in the cafeteria, and they did a very good job of feeding all of that group; one standard plate and a drink. And we were able to get back to the meeting by 2:30.

Orientation covered many phases of evangelism, and the format that ShareHim and The Quiet Hour use.

I took my saw and played a couple of numbers as we waited for the last bus to arrive. Even showed one of the young men how to play it. He and the audience got quite a kick out of it.

The various groups got to meet with their pastors and set up plans for getting equipment installed and tested, etc. My host pastor will pick me up at 10 tomorrow morning and we'll go to my site. Then in the afternoon I'll go (as interpreter) with some to another site while they set up their equipment. I hope I have all of the correct wires, etc., so we can get the DVD, projector, and laptop all synchronized, with their sound system.

Well, I don't know what the evening has in store. Pastor Leonor and my pastor found me a room to stay with a family, if I decide to leave the hotel. However, I would miss out on all of the morning devotionals and sharing with other evangelism units with the experiences we/they are having. In spite of cost here, I think I will remain here in the hotel. We have very congenial people, and they want me to stay. If I were to stay in a home I'd miss out on all of this. And THIS is a very important part of the evangelism program. Sharing experiences, and praying for the success of the meetings in the winning of souls for Christ.

So. I think I will close down for now. wishing you all the best of everything.

Thanks for remembering us in your prayers.

Harvey

Nicaragua email reports: March 2-3 | March 4-5 | March 6-8 | March 9-10 | March 11-12 | March 14-15 | March 16-17 | March 21-22 | March 23