To Hell and Back

It seems like we have been traveling at warp speed since leaving the peaceful life in San Ramon. Thinking back to that idyllic time in the mountains, there are three truisms that stick in my mind:

1. There is absolutely no reason for a village to keep more than one rooster.

2. The more pictures of Jesus on the side of the bus … the worse the driver.

3. There is NO graceful way to enter a cold shower.

On our way to Managua we took a detour to the Masaya region to the east of Managua. There we drove up the side of a semi-dormant volcano (if there is such a thing). The Masaya volcano has not experienced a major eruption since 1772 but every now and then it "burps," so to speak, and hurls boulders from the vent. As we pulled into the parking lot a plume of steam filled the sky above the vent and there were signs telling drivers to back into their parking spots. I assumed that this would make a quicker exit possible. 

When I got out the first thing I did was read a big sign that read in English:

"Dear Visitor, This is an active volcano that can present phenomenas without advisement, such as smoke and expulsions of rock and sand. In such a situation, we advise you:

1. Keep away from the area.

2. In case of expulsions of rock, protect yourself under the car.

3. Stay 20 minutes only in the crater area."

I haven't fit under a car in years, so I was anxious for our 20 minutes to be up. I did look over the railing and was impressed with the sheer enormity of the crater in the earth which probably could have contained 100 RBC centers.

In the museum at the base of the volcano we learned that the ancient Indians called this place "The Mouth of Hell." I guess now  if anyone tells us where to go, we can say, "Thank you, but we have already been there."

Pastor Larry (Managua, Nicaragua)