You know you’re in for a fun adventure when 5 minutes into the trip everyone is singing I Want it that Way and Baby by Justin Bieber at the top of their lungs. This was the case last night on our way to Vancouver. We met at the school for a send off with some of the ACS community. Obviously there were still some nerves due to the solidity of our trip, but we had faith that we would end up where God wanted us to be. And so, we prayed, and were on our way.
Before our flight we were informed that we would not be allowed to nap in Nicaragua, so if we didn’t sleep on the plane we would have to stay awake for a full 36 hours. Many of the team members tried – rather unsuccessfully – to sleep, while others took advantage of the inflight entertainment. A “seat chat” feature allowed individuals to talk to any passenger via the screen on each seat. The boys on the team had a hay day with this, even attempting to communicate with a first class member or two.
Once that madness finally came to an end, and everyone was finally settling into the long flight, we were startled by the 2 am croissants that were handed out – except to those who managed to sleep through. However, if they weren’t wakened by the food delivery, we’re sure the violent turbulence did the trick.
Finally, safely on the ground in Mexico City, we were introduced to a new obstacle. No, we’re not talking about the fact that the toilet paper can’t be flushed, but a select individual’s run-in with the law. This member of the team, who had gone through airport security not 6 hours earlier, was oblivious to the several warnings that you aren’t allowed to take a full water bottle through security. Thus, the whole team had to wait as Tom got examined, had to go all the way back to the bathrooms to empty his water bottle, make his way all the way back through the lines, and proceed to get examined once again for his Lysol wipes.
When at last we all made it through security, we boarded and were huddled into the back of the tiny airplane that would take us the final leg of our journey to Nicaragua. We once again took attendance, which includes each member reciting in order a specific number given to them during our send off. Unfortunately, much like our security skills, our memory/counting skills are just as underdeveloped. One would think a simple task such as counting to twenty would be simple, however, this continues to not be the case. Out of the 15 times we’ve attempted this feat, it has been accomplished effectively a grand total of twice.
However topsy-turvy the travel day has been so far, as soon as we got into Nicaragua we knew it was worth it. Driving through the city of Managua, seeing the vibrancy and life in the city was amazing, and opened our eyes to the culture we will be experiencing. Walking into the Nehemiah center, where we will be staying, it immediately felt like home. From lounging around in the hammocks, to catching a gecko and naming him Conrad, to Tom trying to bargain with our leaders to eat a grub (large worm) in exchange for the Wi-Fi password, it’s already been such a memorable experience in such a short time.
On a more serious note, obviously things are changing very fast back home and although we are in constant contact with ACS admin to determine next steps, tomorrow we will be walking into Centro de Fe to meet the kids, coming with excitement and faith, instead of fear. For more updates and highlights on our trip keep, reading our blogs, and follow the school’s Instagram page @weareallacs.
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