Day 2

Monday is the first day of “on site” construction and Bible School. The construction can best be described as CLOSE QUARTERS! When the old time song about the low cost of a place in Managua, Nicaragua, was written, the author hadn't anticipated the current price of real estate. Our host congregation is a small, warm, hospitable, and growing band of fervent believers. As we understand, only about ten members of the congregation have regular (perhaps full-time) employment. Even so they are so committed that they borrowed money to purchase an expensive (relatively speaking) lot and have a small building for their services. Close quarters describes the working space, the lot lines, and the need to mix concrete at curbside in the street. We were quite pleased to see the preparation of the construction site prior to our arrival this morning. Fourteen reasonably deep footers (approximately three feet down into volcanic rock) about three feet square awaited our finishing touches, then our assisting the local workmen to place square re-bar. Concurrently others were assigned to assemble re-bar columns about twenty feet long – four of which were erected and concreted in by end of work. All the grade stakes and boards to hold the elevation strings had been placed. We are blessed to feel that our time and manual work are not only appreciated by efficiently utilized.


In the afternoon, a lively Bible School was held just a bit down the street in a school location. Our team led enthusiastic children in games and Bible stories. Rev. Jimmy Cantey was a boon in making certain that “the heavenly language” of Spanish (as Pastor Luis Chavarria describes it!) was amply and effectively used to tel the stories.

Weather wise we couldn't ask for anything better. To describe it as perfect would not be an exaggeration! A light jacket felt good this morning and then again this evening for the street revival. The host pastor semi-apologized for how cold it was, but that is clearly a relative descriptor. Most of us were comfortable enough in our short-sleeved polo shirts although a jacket was welcome.

Pastor Luis has facilitated the arrangements and bridged the needs of the congregation to the expectations of our mission team splendidly. There has been virtually no wasted time because of anything overlooked. For that we are blessed.


The street revival was held along a section of a street which hadn't been closed off. It was a new experience to have a couple cars drive through during the message. The pastor is a believer from Mexico City who risked family ridicule and rejection by accepting Christ and leaving the Roman Catholic church. His message (in Spanish) was interpreted, at least to those sitting close enough to hear, by Rev. Jimmy Cantey. This gave some of us the drift of the gospel message tonight.

One more thing: Mike Hannaford asked that we pass along to those family members of the mission team that his wife, Becky, has the telephone contact information for you in case you need to make a call to one of us in Esteli. Some of us are working on the Spanish pronunciation which is close to “ace-tell-EE” with the emphasis on the third syllable.