#1

Hey everybody,

First off we want to thank everybody for their encouraging emails we really appreciate any time that goes into emailing us.

Our first day in Nicaragua was an easy transition back. Some good friends hooked us up with a hotel room who picked us up at the airport, to our surprise everything we packed made it (3 check ins) all of which was 1 lb under the weight limit, whew. The next day we met up with our friends Nate and Hillary Miller they had a bedroom and bed with mosquito net all ready for us to use when we got to their house, its been a real blessing being able to stay their while we're getting things arranged.

The next day we met with the branch coordinator Rafael and he asked us where we were hoping to go and given the opportunity we mentioned how nice it would be to be near water, beings that Jehovah has a great sense of humor we were exiled to the island Ometepe. He only suggested the one place and said if you really don't like it there come back and I'll give you option b, so we headed off to scout out our new home. Ometepe has about 35,000 people on the entire island.

There are 4 congregations 2 big ones out in the rural territory and 2 small ones surprisingly in the city area. We're in the Moyogalpa cong. 35 publishers 6 foreigners (that includes us) 10 pioneers (that includes foreigners) 1 elder and 3 ministerial servants.
Ometepe is the island in the really big lake "Nicaragua". Its a 2 hour bus ride south from the capital and then a 1 hour ferry ride to the island. We were told it's one of the safest places in the country, if anybody is committed for a crime their sent off the island and not let back on, and if they try to get off the island with stolen stuff they don't let them leave, its kinda funny.

Right when we got off the boat the other 4 foreigners picked us up and took us back to their place where they had lunch ready. It was really nice to get to know them right when we got there, our elder and his wife are also special pioneers. They showed us around and a couple of places that were for rent but in the end we opted for the safest, prettiest and of course smallest place imaginable...the kingdom hall apartment. Right now the second school is being used as storage, but Ben our elder told us that they're going to build a shed out back and clear out the second school so we can use it as a guest room...hint hint...we'd love visitors. There'll be a bed and a ceiling and your own private bathroom and a mosquito net and a fan, anyways it'll be nice if anyone is thinking of coming out. Oh ya there is also 2 volcano's on the island but don't let that deter you. We rented a motor bike and drove all around the island to kind of get a feel for it and see how big it is, that was a lot of fun, we couldn't get going to fast every time we got about 20 miles per hour a herd of oxen showed up in the middle of the road, thank goodness they're docile creatures.

That's about all for now, we're back in Managua right now with Hillary and Nate getting everything together to take back to the island ie: fridge, stove, washer, etc. (the apartment isn't furnished). We'll update you and send pictures when we're all settled in.
Kirk and kelly