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Nicaragua trip

Hey fam,

I'm back in Costa Rica!

It was time for a visa run for the group so about 30 of us packed up for 4 days in Nicaragua. As I write this we're on the bus headed for the Villa.

Our trip was awesome. First of all praise God for his help at the border both times. What could have been the worst part of the trip was easy and almost fun. Typically the time spent crossing the border could be around four hours or more, but somehow we were able to cross in about two hours going into Nicaragua on Monday and coming out today. And also instead of standing outside in the sun for it we were able to wait on the bus.

In Nicaragua we went into town the first day for snacks, adventuring, and fun. We went to the grocery store where everything cost about half as much as in Costa Rica. Then we got rickshaw rides. That could be a horse pulling a little cart behind it but these ones were guys on bicycles that push people in an oversized basket/cart like a little taxi. We raced each other and got a mini-tour of town.
Then, we headed to the camp we were staying at. It was an awesome camp. The girls had a big room for all of us. There was a really nice pool, awesome open fields and lanes of trees. There were paths to go exploring, hammocks hung everywhere, and lots of places to go lay out and just have quiet time and enjoy God's creation.

Our second day we had a camp for kids. There were around 80 kids that we split into teams. Goal: help them have as much fun as possible. They played soccer, basketball, gaga ball, did relays, heard people's testimonies and just ran around. After lunch was pool time. They played water polo and the little ones got a lot of horsey rides. One little boy would kiss every girl on the cheek that picked him up. The little girl I had was just about as cute as a child could get. They all left around 4 and we were able to rest and hang out by the pool.

The next morning I woke up at 5am to watch the sunset with my roomie Sami. It was beautiful and a really great time. Then later we went to the beach, about an hour and a half drive. The beach was pretty and the waves were crazy. Some of the group rented surfboards and spent the day teaching themselves to surf.
Note: I did not get ridiculously burnt. Wohoo!

Also another note: we baught an iguana on the way home on the side of the road. At the camp the cooks cooked it for us in a stew. Also the iguanita was a pregnant female. So they cooked her eggs also. I ate a bite of iguana and half an egg. Yup.

Today we got up at 5:30am to get ready to head home. At the border I bought a hammock and a pair of sunglasses for $10 because I couldn't find a bracelet.

Overall the trip was an awesome time to serve, to love on some kids, to rest, to spend time together, and have fun. I'm so thankful for the camp we stayed at, the country side, the scenery, and the adventure. God was so present in all of it.
Sometimes I wonder why I was born in America to a middle class family and not to a family with a house with tin walls and a thatched roof. Hopefully I use my blessings according to God's will and only bring glory to Christ. I didn't create this life for myself. I couldn't if I wanted to. Help me Lord to glorify you.

Love has no borders,
- Rachel Martha

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