Last Post in Nicaragua . .

We still have over a week left but we want to have pictures to show you when we get back plus the fact that loading pictures for this blog takes FOREVER!

This is a little Rosie! :) She is very skinny as people dont feed their cats as they want them to catch the mice and whatever else comes in their houses. This is in a the Bro and Sis house who killed the goat. When we popped in to pick up our bikes after ministry she let us try some. . .it was delicous!! The brothers also played a prank on Darren telling him a chilli wasnt hot. . .Darren must just have a face that needs pranked!

On the ministry we came a across a whole community out digging .. they were digging a trench so that they could try and lay pipes and get a water supply in their houses . .at the moment they use wells outside. I thought we would leave witnessing to them as they were busy but as we walked past they all started talking and taking time out to speak to us. Darren also spent ages running up an down this really long trench trying to catch a baby chick that had fallen in . .much to the mens amusement.

This is a picture at our last meeting. . even though it was taken a couple of weeks before we leave, as we have a couple of trips planned this was our last meeting. To make it more interesting their was no sound. Singing the songs was interesting but I think it actually sounded better as you really had to think about the tune! The Kingdom Hall is one of the nicest buildings in the area and the brothers take pride in looking after it.

A small group of us out preaching on a Sunday afternoon . .

A couple of pictures of us out on the ministry. There is a lot of walking out on the ministry . .as it is the dry season at the moment often we are walking through what would normally be a river. How the people that live in these little communities cope getting food etc is unbelievable. Nothing is quick and easy out here . .simple things in Britain just take ages out here! But these people still take time and sit down to discuss the bible no matter what you interupt them doing.

Recognise this man Matthew?! Mathew gave us a few letters to give to his old bible studies. This is Jose who is now married! He was very happy to get a letter :)

Josua and Tabitha had all the young ones and single ones around to prepare the wt and watch the new  dvds from the convention. There was about 15 of us altogether. It was really frustrating not being able to join in when they all sang Listen, Obey and Be Blessed . .I tried in English but the little girl beside me was going no no spanish!!

Some of you may have seen on the news about a volcano erupting in Nicaragua .. we decided to go and see what the fuss was about! Well we had actually already planned to go and see friends in Chinandega and no one seemed to be worried about the volcano here so we felt it was safe enough. We took this picture on the bus .. When we got to Chinandega everyone was walking around wearing masks and the air was thick with ash. We started to wonder if we had made the right decision!

Whilst sitting in a  cafe we saw loads of fire engines go past  .. and we started to panic! But they were just washing down all the streets and cars and anyone that got in their way!  As time went on in the ash slowly became less and less and we got our hands on some facemasks . .cleansing my face at night was not fun!

On friday we went on the ministry in the rurals. I went on studies all morning which was really nice. We also went to a brother and sisters house which was full of brothers and sisters working hard. The brothers here need work done to their Kingdom Hall and to raise funds for it they are harvesting a field of hibiscus flowers. It sounds simple but it is really hard work. They are hoping to raise $1000. Considering the fact that this brother and sis(who have used their land to grow the plants) live in a house with corrugated iron walls and roof and a mud floor their generosity really touched us! Unfortunatly we only have pictures on our phones so cant upload them. This picture looks like a happy one.. however as we were out in such a rural place(we had argued with a taxi driver to take us there)we had no means of getting back  . .we walked for 2 miles at midday until we saw a caponera outside someones house. We shouted until the man came out and told us he wasnt working.  .we begged him(and offered more money than normal) to take us what would have been another 2-3miles. .so this is us so relieved to be on a caponera!!The poor guy was shattered at the end!

That evening we went to an English meeting! yay! It was really nice to be able to answer freely! Traditon after the meeting is pupusas . .it is like dough with either chicken, chicken and cheese or meat and cheese inside and then cooked . .they were really nice and cheap!I love Darrens face in this picture! We really enjoyed chatting in English!

Saturday we went to the beach! But forgot our camera! It was beautiful. The waves here however are so  dangerous. We were really careful not to go out our depths but the waves just sent you tumbling! It was great fun though! Nothing better than sitting in a hammock, watching the waves roll in with a tona in your hand. . . with that happy thought I will finish.

We have lots more photos and cant wait to see you all when we get back!

Lots of love Darren and Ems x