Happy New Year!
We start out the new year at H.O.P.E. Central in Nicaragua. Our travel yesterday started with a minor hiccup at the airport but once all was taken care of (Thanks to everyone praying!), we were on our way...myself, Travis, Taellor, Buster (Slaton's dog), and no less than 16 bags of luggage (counting carry-ons). Slaton's first airplane ride was quite an adventure to him...of course, we had to push the blue stewardess button to ask her a question...his question was, "Why are we in the air?" which led to about a 5 minute reply from her regarding how airplanes are like cars. Slaton loved it! She was awesome. In Miami, we were able to see Buster unloaded from our plane so we knew that he had made it to Miami. On the flight from Miami to Nicaragua, Slaton's seat was behind a little girl that was his age. They played almost all the way there. As soon as Slaton saw the lights of Managua, he yelled (and I mean yelled!), "Look, it's Nicaragua!!!) and his friend started cheering and before we knew it the whole plane was cheering. Arriving into the airport, we had a easy trip through immigrations and customs...even with Buster (which was a nightmare of mine!) (I have to brag on Buster for a bit. We have never crated him and he is mainly and outside dog but he hadn't gone to the bathroom in his crate for the whole trip! Now, he went to the bathroom forever once we got to take him!) Maurice and Eduardo (a surprise for us!) were waiting and quickly we were on our way to H.O.P.E. Central.
As we drove the way from the airport to the base camp, I asked Slaton what he thought...his reply was, "I hate it." This was quite a surprise for us because he was so excited...so I asked why and his reply was, "There are bars everywhere and it looks so sad." I realized that we hadn't really prepared him for what he would see here in the way of poverty. We had completely prepared him for his new world, new home, new school, new teacher....but what about seeing those that live without, seeing homes that are not what he is used to, seeing those going without food.....this we hadn't prepared him.
However, from the moment we pulled into H.O.P.E. Central, he fell in love, literally, with it all. For those that have been here...remember the plants in from of the houses? He calls them his own jungle. The guard...he thinks they have the coolest job ever and I think he thinks that they are his new best friends....Thankfully, Dennis is trying to learn English so he doesn't mind that Slaton wants to constantly ask him questions! Buster and Rayna are getting along and Slaton loves Rayna! This morning after he awoke, I got him dressed and he went outside with Travis and then next thing I knew he's running around with only his shorts on and having a ball.
Today was spent going to the grocery store (which was a success), unpacking and making our home...our home. As I write this, Slaton and Travis are taking a nap (both are completely exhausted-Trav was just laying with him until he fell asleep!) and Tae and I are making cookies for the staff who many will return back to work tomorrow. We are putting the verse Jeremiah 29:11 in each of them.... "For I know the plans I have for you, " declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." This verse was in Trav and I's devotion today...quite fitting for a new year!
Thank you again for all of the prayers and encouragement during this adventure. While it is so very hard to leave those that we love, we are so very excited and will keep you posted as we go. I will also be posting under Tammy Conner Stearns if you would like to follow there or our email is stearnstammy@ymail.com.
Specific prayer requests are that our house would sell and that our transition here would continue to be good.
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