Day 8: REMAR church & Cerra Negro

Buenos Tardes!

Eezac (Isaac) and Ie-lee (Hailey) here, at least this is how our names are pronounced here in Nicaragua. 

In the wee hours of the morning (9:30am), we sped off into the streets of Managua, with our trusty amigos Pedro and Chepe (our drivers). We attended a very enthusiastic Pentecostal service in the REMAR church. We were also briefly reunited with some friends from the REMAR boys' orphanage. 

After a very creative sermon, whose length could give even Dr. Rev. K. Sweeting (Isaac's Father) a run for his money, we traveled back to Angel's Inn, where we enjoyed our traditional Nicaraguan lunch consisting of sandwiches, juice, pop, pringles, yogurt and cookies. After lunch, we changed out of our Sunday best, and scampered off into our next adventure...Cerro Negro!

If you've ever watched Survivor Nicaragua, you will know exactly what we mean by adventure!

After picking up our boards at the base, and a very kindly offered ride from Pedro and Chepe to the trail, we began our steep hike to the peak, all the while carting our boards on our backs. 

What a view!

After climbing down a path to get to our run, the fun began!

Encased in a cloud which was hugging the top of the volcano, we were in a mist. As people began their   ride down on their boards, we were able to watch them vanish into the fog, before traveling into it ourselves!

POOF! 

All of a sudden, you were picking up speed by the second, and you could finally see! There we found we were only half way down! After "Rocketing" down the side of the volcano (we really couldn't go that fast), we met up at the bottom for a group photo and scurried back to dirty the inside of the vans, once again, with the volcanic ash, which in our descent, had coated our bodies and clothing!

After a sleepy three hour ride back to Angel's Inn, some fried chicken, and a hot shower, we were all ready for a good long Siesta! (nap/sleep)

Steamy on a Sunday Morning

Rocking Hailey's Leopard Avs

All aboard the REMAR church bus!
( Patrons' Transport to and from church)

An Amazing cloud mural at the front of the church

The temporary pastor whose sermon went on for 75 minutes.
" We are the Salt" - Title of Sermon

"North Americans preach their faith, Nicaraguans live/celebrate their faith"
                                                                     - Douglas Walker ( Trip Co-ordinator)

Raise your hands to celebrate the saviour

Everyone was sitting around Samuel (our amazing translator) in the service as he was translating for us.

Boys at play....Bored in church (from REMAR boys' orphanage)

Come together.

Old Soul - Wise Eyes

Smiling and Clapping during the church service

A girl with a secret.

Hola?...Coming out of Sunday School

This is the sign at the beginning of the road to Cerro Negro.

Our driver Pedro standing guard.

Getting ready to pick up our boards and sign the papers.

Tessa and the road ahead.

" Run Forrest Run!" - People running  down Cerro Negro.

Onward and forward climbing to the top.

Rocky Road 

Taking a photo break under the watchful eye of MackDog.

Vamos! 

Triumph - MackDog and Fernie.

Our two wonderful nurses - Mama et Nina (Mother and Daughter).

"Belly of the Beast" - with members of our group up above.

Fernie doing a Selfie in the midst of the clouds.

Unsure road to our descent.

Preparing to Launch.
From Left to Right: Sonja, Jacqueline P, Hailey, Rachel, Lexy, Jacqueline and Isaac bringing up the back.

Jacqueline P coming in for a landing.

Hailey "Crusin' for a Bruisin'"
(already wiped out twice).

Emptying Volcanic rock from our shoes, much to the amusement of Pedro who stayed at the bottom.

Sonja getting some grindage.

Poor Emma had no Protective Goggles. What a Champ!

Surfing Cerro Negro - Go MackDog! 

It's a race, it's a race - MackDog Hauling some "ASH".

Lindsay about to collide with MackDog's  board - " Stop Forrest! Stop!"

Rachel and her bagged shoes :) 

Que Pasa!? - What's up

The Breen Machine hiking back down the Volcano.

And it's Isaac coming into the finish line with the Wark sisters coming a close second.

Susan coming in war wounds and all.

Isaac riding the wave.

And the Wark sisters continue to battle to place second to Isaac.

Sisterly Love - Working as a team.

Samuel posing his surf moves (First time boarding down).

Melissa trying to get some speed.

Chepe was going to push Kristen down but Nicole got there first - Poor Chepe.

The Scenic walk back to the vans.

Samuel- what a Ladies' Man.

Pause for the Cause.

                                         

Fernie just a tad dirty.

Pedro didn't board down - but we love him anyway.

Kodak Moment (Samuel and Hailey in the back holding up her board).

Agua Por Favor - Back into the vans for our journey home.