You can tell by the date and time that it is already evening here, and I am tired. Maybe it is because I skipped dinner at 2:00 this afternoon.

This morning I went with our "senior" group in a van (same one we took the other day) and visited Masaya Volcano. Quite a sight. When I got back I downloaded about 70 pictures, including the ones from the other day on the launch ride on the lake.

We also stopped by a place farther south and looked at a lake, they say caused by this volcano. We got an orange soda drink at a very lovely thatched "bar" on the hillside looking over the lake.

My pastor was to have picked me up at 2:00, but didn't get here until after 3:00. We took my equipment to the site in Reparto Schick. It so happens that this is the site of our metropolitan school here in Managua. It is a huge building. Classrooms on each side, and the equivalent of a basket ball court between them. They will haul in chairs or benches for the meetings.

I am fortunate that the pastor is very sharp with computers. He will bring his and we will run the CDs off of it. The DVD player I took works great, but he feels his computer is more flexible. He will use DVD player as a "prize" for the church in his district that has most baptisms.

It took us a little while to get all the wires straight, but things work well. They have a power plant that we'll have for stand-by electricity. This afternoon we used that, to make sure it was working.

(((((The keyboard on this small laptop is a far cry from the one with the desk-top.... ....  So that is a good alibi for typpoooossssssss. )))))

We had to wait for one of the members who had the keys to the huge front gate to arrive at the school. He had gone to buy paint for some touchup work they will do tomorrow. The school has elementary and secondary students, with an enrollment of about 180. They have a huge yard.

It is eight miles from the hotel to the school. It took us 30 minutes to return. Traffic can be heavy in the evening. We had a combination of two- and four-lane roads, all paved, some with asphalt, others with a sort of concrete block.

The pastor coordinates three districts, with about 12 churches. There will be ShareHim campaigns in four of them, so he will have to rotate between them in the evening.

I want to congratulate again Pastor Luis Leonor and the work he does as the coordinator for this segment of ShareHim. He travels all over the world! I'm looking forward to going to Cuba in October with him and another group. He was explaining to me some of the problems finding an adequate place for 50 to receive orientation. It might be in Cancun, Mexico, and then fly to Santiago, Cuba. Lots depends on hotel prices at that time of the year.

He resolved (very diplomatically) with folk here a possible conflict with assignments, as Pastor Barr wanted to visit several sites. So he and his associate speaker will take turns speaking. That way Pastor Barr can visit other places one night, while the IT man (forget his name) preaches. No doubt he will go and take videos of sites also.

Love you all. Thanks for all who are responding to my memos. If they are too boring, you know how to wipe them out on the computer!

We are looking forward to the meetings that will begin tomorrow night.

Love you all.
Harvey

Saturday, March 08, 2008 12:53 PM
Nicaragua-7

Happy Sabbath! I believe.

Internet has been down all of last night and most of this morning. But we finally have access to it now.

Yesterday I did go to the wholesale open air market with Pastor Leonor. What a place! Blocks and blocks of fruit and vegetable stands. Much more open than the downtown one.

We also stopped by a supermarket and picked up a few items that we needed for “housekeeping”, like a sharp knife for my avocados, mangos, and things like that. Some salt, a little mayonnaise, some bread, etc.

I arrived at the meeting site at about 6:00. Meeting was supposed to start at 6:30. We had problems with a computer that was supposed to run the video of Jesus, and also song lyrics. Service started at about 7:00. They had a lively song service, and also had a musical group call “Conjunto Emanuel.” Seven voices, excellent tone, blend, and interpretation. They did two numbers prior to the service, and one at the end.

I think I mentioned the auditorium/gym has a cement floor, with 17 rows of chairs, school desks, and other seats, with 15 in each row: one can estimate the attendance at 255. I'd say it was three-quarters full, with many children and young people.

I started speaking at about 7:20 and was able to complete the study on Daniel 2 in about 25 minutes. Didn't waste any time, but being able to speak in Spanish made the short time possible because we didn’t have to wait for the translator.

When I got back, I downloaded about 46 pictures onto the computer. I've tried to get them into Picasa, but am having problems. Well, last night and this morning, we had no Internet. Then this afternoon I've tried, but there is a hitch somewhere. Our IT man is busy studying, but will give me a hand as soon as he is free. I've tried to eliminate most of the poor shots, but some do slip through.

Today. Well, that's another story.

They told me last night they'd be here at 8:00 to take me to church, as Sabbath School started at 8:45. Time passed, and passed, and passed. Pastor Luis Leonor phoned the supervisor for this district (who is with other pastors in a Union meeting here in town). He said he'd make sure someone came. But time passed, and passed, and passed. At 11:00 o'clock I called the pastor again, and he was surprised no one had come to pick me up. More time passed, and passed, and passed, so I turned on the air conditioner in my room and took a nice nap until about 12:30 when other groups were returning.

Had a nice lunch with them at 1:00. Tried again to work on pictures, but there is some glitch I am missing. Hope to get them on their way, as previously mentioned. I have some shots of the market and also the auditorium, both empty, and quite full last night.

It was interesting at the end of the service when I made a call for those who wanted to go home with Jesus. To hear all of the metal school desks scraping on the cement floor, etc. I waited until all was quiet, and then had the dedication prayer. After that the singing group did their last number, and people went home.

It is a very challenging experience. Once again, I must give credit to Pastor Luis Leonor, who needs the wisdom of Solomon and the patience of Job to solve all of the little quirks that develop in a project as big as this in so many sites. Say an extra prayer for him.

So that's the “30” for now.

Maranatha, ShareHim, and do have a Quiet Hour today, and every day.

Love,
Harvey

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