Day Six (Thursday)

Today was our last day with our brothers and sisters at New Jerusalem Lutheran Church in Quince de Julio.  Vicar Jeronimo started the morning with our devotion before the teams left to do the last of the water filters.

After the water filter teams left, Pastor Greg and Diana Strand had their final class with the women.  Today we covered oral hygiene and nutrition for our physical health topics and witness bracelets for our spiritual topic.

The women all joined hands with us for prayer at the end of class and we reminded them that although our physical connection would soon be broken, the connection in our hearts would remain and one day we would all be reconnected in heaven.

The kids had another great morning playing outside.  This time they tied 3 jump ropes together for jumping and limbo, climbed the tree, and asked for lots of pictures, especially with their dear Audrey.

After lunch it was time for our last VBS with the kids.  Again, we used every last chair in the church and ran out of crafts.  The kids even dealt with a burning trash pile during their lesson, but they did great with their verse of the day and patiently waited in line to receive a witness bracelet and other reminders to take home.

It was a bit of a crazy day for the clean water project since the schedule for visits kept changing, but as Audrey said a couple nights ago, "You go with the flow -- you never know."  Once the water team got back from visiting the last homes for filters and Tippy Taps, it was time for our closing program in the church and lots of farewell hugs.  Pastor Dave, Bill, Bob, Cindy, and Andrea did a drama based on the book of Jonah, and then Pastor Silvio, Justo, Vicar Jeronimo, and Aurelia all had closing words for us (and even some tokens of remembrance.)

Then it was time for hugs and tears and goodbyes.  So many hugs!  I thought we'd never drag Audrey onto the van and I think she must have the entire congregation in her autograph book!

We stopped for one last team shot before we loaded up and I finally got a picture of Jose our driver and Jose and Frank our translators.

So that was our last day in Quince de Julio.  We were so thankful to be able to finish all 40 water filters to improve the health of 40 families and to reach so many children and adults through the programs at the church.   It was hard to leave because only God knows if we will see our Nicaraguan brothers and sisters again this side of heaven.  Yet, four of us were just here a year ago, so we will have to wait and see what God has in store for us.  

Tonight we are packing up in Chinandega to go sightseeing near Managua tomorrow before we check in at the airport hotel.  We pray that we will be safe as we travel and that we will be able to enjoy our last day together tomorrow.  We also pray that God will continue to guide and strengthen the people of Quince de Julio and that he will give them His hope and peace.