Today is Sunday, and Sunday morning in Nicaragua is special, so special that they celebrate with fireworks. I can understand why they like them so much, because all guys like to light something and make it explode, it is just so fulfilling to blow things up. It may be genetic, or cultural, or just guys being stupid, but it is still fun. And it is father day so just let us have some fun. Except that Father’s Day is next Sunday in Nicaragua, so I don’t know why they are blowing them off this morning. And they only have the loud noise fireworks, none of the color burst kind, so it is not like having the full affect of an explosive device, it is only partially fulfilling.

They do the children’s church in the morning, and our group split into 3 different teams to go and help at children’s church. Then we had lunch, rice but no beans bummer, and mashed potatoes and beef, very good. Then we visited a potters house and the husband and wife explained what they do and then she made some pottery and showed us how to do it. Then a few people tried their hand at it. The girls did ok, but Bill got a little rough with his bowl and it fell apart. I bet he is better at fireworks.

After that we went to the lookout, which sounds like a shady type of place, but in fact it was a sunny little tourism spot near the top of an old volcano, and down below was a lagoon, and in the distance, lake Nicaragua, which is the largest lake in central and South America, and the only lake in the world with its own freshwater shark. I wish Paul was here and we would do some fishing, and maybe we would actually catch something, but not this time, so the sharks are safe (actually everything is safe when I go fishing).

After that we went to the 5:00 service in Pacaya, which is a small village that Oscar and Tamy planted a church in several years ago. Oscar asked me to preach the sermon, so I did, how can you say no to someone who’s nephew just scored a game winning goal in the World Cup! The sermon started out ok, and then about half way thru, the rainy season started. Last year it started when we were spaying dogs outside. This year it started during my sermon. It rained hard. Oscar had to turn the microphone up. I don’t know if God was trying to tell me something, or if it was just meteorological coincidence, but since it was not thundering or lightning, I just kept on talking. It was hard to tell how it went, because you had to keep starting and stopping for Tamy to interpret, but I guess it went ok because I didn’t hear any snickering, unless Nicaraguan jeers sound like snoring, in which case it did not go so well. But they are very kind and polite here, so no one said anything mean, not that I could tell anyway.

Tomorrow we head into Managua, the capital of Nicaragua, to do some small animal work, so I will let you know how it goes. And maybe I will buy some fireworks, and shoot them off, really early in the morning. Then I will feel better, just like one of the guys!

Blessings from Pacaya
Dr Mike