Day of Rest

Today was a designated rest day for the team.  During the week, we’ve received so many comments regarding how much work this team was able to accomplish.  We have developed a bit of a reputation as a hard working crew and I certainly don’t mind keeping that title.

We got up and had breakfast at regular time (7:30 AM).  Have I mentioned that Juan is an amazing cook?  After breakfast, we jumped into our swim gear and headed for the wharf.  Most of us walked as it’s only about 10 blocks away.  Upon arrival at the terminal on the wharf, we were escorted out on to the dock and all piled into a covered pango boat.  We pulled away from the dock and headed for a place called Rama Cay.

Covered pango boat

As far as I can tell, the description of the people at Rama Cay is much like the indigenous people in Canada.  By our rough estimate, the island is about 1 mile in diameter (give or take a little).  A gaggle of children met us as we approached the dock.  Most of the time, visitors bring items to give away; things like clothing or food hampers.  In 2009 we did bring food hampers here – this time, we just came to visit.  These people spend their days fishing in the nearby area.  Piles of oyster shells can be found all over the island.  Pigs and chickens wander around freely – just like the little kids.  We walked the length of the island to the Moravian Church where we ran into the pastor (who we prayed for in 2009).  Juanita sat down with the children and started singing children’s songs.  They really seemed to like that.  The rest of our time there was just visiting with the local people.  Back into the boat and off to the Bluff.

Kids meeting the boat at Rama Cay

Juanita singing songs with the kids

Typical house at Rama Cay

Moravian Church at Rama Cay

The Bluff is a little chunk of land that separates the mainland from the ocean.  The water in-between is referred to as “the lagoon”.  Once we docked at the Bluff, it’s a short walk to a line of thatched roof huts.  Here we spent some time just enjoying the Caribbean Sea.  The waves constantly rolled into the shore providing a few opportunities to push people over.  Liz nearly lost her shell collection – if it were not for the quick thinking of Edith (who actually got dirty for the first time on the trip – just kidding Edith).  We were ready for some down time. 

Lunch was on the beach and consisted of tuna fish sandwiches and bags of chips.  A group of us wandered up the beach to find a cold drink.  There is something about an ice cold Coca-Cola on the beach at the Caribbean Sea.  We sat on the beach, went for walks and swam in the Sea.  A few folks wandered down the beach and found some men working to collect sand.  They would shovel it into carts and wheel it to the Lagoon side where they dump it into a boat. They bring it back to the main land where they shovel it into bags and sell it for various projects (like the cement work we are doing at the school). 

Some of the group on the beach

Beautiful beach on the Bluff

Sand being "harvested"

Thatched roof huts along the beach

The ride back to Bluefields was short and once back on shore we walked back to Pastor Ed’s home.  A few rode in his truck (the kids really like to ride in the back).  Some of the ladies went over to Casa Materna to take some measurements and identify some things that we might be able to do help spruce the place up a little.  I overheard the group say they wanted to put up some new curtains.

A fantastic dinner of fresh tortilla’s and taco fixings was topped off by birthday cake.  Yes, it was Pastor Ed’s 54^th birthday today.  Juan sang something in Spanish and then we all joined in with a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday.

A quiet evening, a little skin moisturizer (because a few of us got a little too much sun today) and it will be time for bed.  Tomorrow is church – and we are looking forward to the experience.

FLASH UPDATE:  For the first time in Bluefields history I could not hear a dog barking, a rooster crowing or loud music playing.  A large group of our ladies are on the second floor balcony and the laughter is so loud - that I think that all of Bluefields is wondering what is going on here.  Pastor Ed says that laughter is contagious.   I guess Pastor Monica did pray that Bluefields would never be the same....

Thank-you for your thoughts and prayers.

Curt

(for the Nic Team)