Walking to Nicaragua!

4am arrived and despite a  van that wouldn't start and 21 people standing in the driveway, we piled in 2 vans and headed north to Nicaragua! We drove up mostly 2-lane highways, brahmin bulls in every field and the occasional volcano to keep us alert. We stopped for breakfast and had the usual beans and rice with an egg and assorted tropical juices - many of us chose "kass" a fruit native only to Costa Rica. Another sleepy few hours and we arrived at the border crossing. Wow. Fortunately the line wasn't too bad, until people started meandering in front of us, wedging themselves in between us, I bet 10 people or more wedged in among our team until we were finally able to get to the desk - and the one worker went to lunch :) Fortunately, he wasn't gone long and we were all through the process. This is when I realized....we had to do it again! That line only got us OUT of Costa Rica - now we had to get INTO Nicaragua! We walked across a park, over a field, through a metal "cattle  path" then through a HOLE in the fence (so not kidding!) to get into Nicaragua - and yes, there were armed soldiers in the fields keeping an eye out for interlopers! We then walked through buses and vans and into ANOTHER building where they processed our enttrance - while we were waiting, vendors offered us animals made of shells, leather belts, cigarettes, ice cream, and sun glasses - oh, and fireworks kept randomly shooting off! Exciting!

We were finally IN Nicaragua, had a really "authentic lunch" - grilled meat with rice and beans (!) - Cindy L said this must have been the oldest bull in Nic - he was mighty tough! On the way to the guest house, our driver was pulled over for "disobeying a traffic officer" - let me translate, there is a van full of equipment and 21 gringos who I can extort money from in the name of the law! After some arguing we had to pay him $15 which he would "take to the police station to pay our fine!" Yikes- corruption at its finest! We arrived at our guest house which is very nice but the internet is spotty and we may not have good access all week. Trust that we are safe, hot, sweaty, well-fed, happy, and ready to work! Tomorrow is our first day in Tipitapa and we all have different jobs - eye clinic, contruction, meeting the residents of the community, planning a kid's event, CPR training, and lots more! A great day I am sure! Thanks for the prayer support - we WALTZED through customs - that has taken SIX HOURS in the past, so we know God has prepared the way for us! Love to us - keep us in your prayers and we will communicate as we can! (Jason sends his love... specifically to Laura!)