You mean you didn't have pesos in your gift bag?

Sunday morning began with a visit to Puerta De Salvacion, the church started by Sports Outreach staff members Tim and Barbara Wood. As nearly all structures in Ometepec, the church is an open air facility. It is basically set up as a small amphitheater. We enjoyed worshiping with the members, and seeing a performance put on by the Vacation Bible School, where some of the team had volunteered earlier in the week. One of the coolest things was seeing the little Johnson kids singing and socializing in Spanish alongside the rest of the children of Ometepec.

In the afternoon, we went on a prayer walk through the heart of the city. Ben encouraged us to pray for the people of the city, specifically their protection from and victory over alcoholism, the negative affects of the machismo culture, and idolization of the saints.

Lunch is the biggest meal of the day here, and frequently won't occur until 2 or 3 p.m. Sunday's lunch was special because Ben and Katie invited us to eat at their house alongside two of their closest native friends, Gerardo and Pily. In preparation for the meal, a few of us went to purchase handmade corn tortillas from a family operation about a block away. When Ben was asked why the group was in town, he told them about our work in the medical clinics. We learned that one of the ladies was suffering from some kind of progressive disease which had been deteriorating her body for 10 years. So, Ben offered to bring Adam back to take a look at her later on.

Katie and Pily combined efforts to produce an amazing spread which we enjoyed with fellowship and games in the Johnson home. It was a beautiful time of enjoying and embracing each others' cultural differences as well as sharing our faith commonalities. Specifically, Adam and Maria shared their testimonies/faith stories, with the group which Ben translated so as to include Gerardo and Pily. Afterwards, in a gesture of appreciation for our hospitality and care for his city, Gerardo treated the group to "picaditas", small handmade corn pizzas made by street vendors over an open wood fire. They were beyond amazing.

The majority of today was spent running a medical clinic in a nearby town. Adam and Kacie saw a steady flow of patients throughout the day while others prayed with the patients or supported them administratively. The rest of the group played games at a nearby playground with children and shared the gospel through gospel bracelets with children and some older folks who also had gathered there.

Late this afternoon we piled 27 people, yes, that's correct, 27 people in the 15 passenger van and drove to Ben's soccer game. Once again, we enjoyed this part of the culture, seeing the fruit of some of the relationships Ben has cultivated on the soccer field, and seeing another victory performance.

Finally, we concluded the day by hearing faith stories from Ben, Katie and Jamie, and sharing a little ice cream and fellowship.