Mailing Address

Many people have asked about my address for Christmas cards so here it is.

Cristo Para La Ciudad
Carey Franklin
APDO MJ -46
Managua, Nicaragua

Merry Christmas!

Down to the Sea Video

Here's a video from our Thanksgiving ride.



So I'm not sure how to get this to show up right so here is the link to watch it on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhOiYaN1Shk

Saying Goodbye

One of the sad parts of living in Nicaragua among the missionary community is saying good-bye to friends who move on.


Mary Ezzell has been here almost as long as I've been in Nicaragua. We've been through thick and thin together. Adventures, trials, laughter, and heartache have been some of the things that have knit us together. We have worked together and side by side with Christ for the City. Last Friday we had a special "despedida" good-bye party for Mary. It was a special time of affirming Mary in the special ways she has left her mark in our lives as well as Nicaragua.

I'm going to miss Mary a lot. Life here will be different without her but hey that is the way things go around here. At least I know I'll see Mary again in April when she comes with a medical team from her church.

Down to the Sea Pics

Here are the pics I promised from last weekend's biking adventure.
I have to say that it was so hard to go back to work on Monday after spending two great days outdoors. I think we should be outside every weekend!

Jason Liechty, Aimee Bootsma, Mary Ezzell, and Carey Franklin friend forever connected through true Nica adventures

From Down to the Sea

Here is one of our rest stops. La Pita. There wasn't a house around but there was this random bus stop. The people from San Lucas did an awesome job of providing bananas and oranges at every stop.

I fell asleep on Friday night and didn't see any of the turtles lay eggs. As we were getting ready to leave on Sat. morn they said that there were baby turtles heading out to the see. Aimee and I ran down to the beach to see the turtles. They were sooooo adorable.


GO little guy Go! You can do it!

Down to the Sea!

This weekend we have started what what we hope to become a new Thanksgiving tradition; a Bike Trip!

Mark Vanderwees the mastermind behind the Sea to Sea ride we did in December came up with this little two-day ride. It was a great fundraiser for an organization called Fundación San Lucas. It is a small organization that works out in the small rural communities helping to establish seed and land banks. The people who run it are super friendly and did a great job organizing the support staff and logistics for the trip.

Aimee, Mary and I along with 23 other riders left from a small town about 45 minutes south of Managua and went down to the sea 52 kilometers. We stayed the night at a nature preserve. This is the time of year when the sea turtles come ashore and lay their eggs on the beaches. Chacocente is the name of the nature preserve and is one of the protected beaches for the turtles so we got to see turtles laying eggs on the beach. We also say baby turtles hatching and heading out to see.

All in all the weekend was super fun. Now to top it off we are going to play glow in the dark frisbee as a final hurrah for Mary before she heads back to the States.

pictures to come soon!

Thankful

Today I am thankful for so much. Not just because it is a special day set aside to reflect on all that we have been blessed with but because it is a wonderful priveliage that God has granted us with each and every day of the year.

I am thankful for my family. I was able to see them twice this summer which was a wonderful treat. My family has grown with new nephews this year which is exciting and a blessing in itself.

From Don's Wedding 09

From Don's Wedding 09

I am thankful for all 16 of my students in first grade. They are full of energy, life and a simpleness that I admire and appreciate.

From NCA 2009

I am thankful for great friends and roommates that challenge and encourage, laugh and cry with me through life's journey.

From Roast

I am thankful for my Christ for the City family that has grown stronger and deeper over the years. You guys ROCK!

I am thankful for health. I have been able to be out and enjoy God's beautiful creation here in Nicaragua more in the past year as I've biked, run and hiked all over. Our Creator is astounding.

From Corn Island 2009

I am thankful for all the extra families that I have here in Nicaragua too. They hold a very special place in my heart.

From CAREY'N ON

Peace

Praise the Lord the marches on Saturday were the most peaceful that I have seen during my time here in Nicaragua. I know that it largely due to the number of people and churches that have been praying for this dear country.

Thank you for continually lifting us up in prayer.

Here's a little funny first grade story that happened today.

One of my little girls asked me while we waited for her parents to pick her up after school, "Miss Franklin, do you sleep?". I replied, "Well Mariana do your mom and dad sleep?" She answered, "Yes!". I asked her, "Do you think that I need sleep just like your parents?" She said, "Yes." Then she sweetly asked "when and where?". I told her that I sleep at night just like she does and in my own bet at home. It was so cute because she genuinely wanted to know if I really did sleep and where. So I hope I was able to clear up a little first grade myth that teachers sleep in their classrooms and rarely ever leave school. ;-)

With that being said it is time for me to get some sleep. I guess I'll grab a good book and stretch out on my desk using my student's journals as my pillow and turn in for the night. Sweet Dreams!