1. In my pre-elementary school years I let my younger brother win in foot races, bike races, basketball, etc.
2. From age 5 on I was the mean, ultra-competitive, I-will- punch-you-in-the-gut-if-you-drive-the-lane-again older brother.
3. My little brother is now a doctor.
4. I don’t like needles.
5. Full-time mission work is harder – but infinitely more fulfilling – than I thought it would be. But not for the reasons I thought.
6. Ditto for marriage.
7. I almost failed Spanish I and Spanish II in college.
8. Maybe this is one of the reasons full-time mission work (in a Spanish-speaking country!) is harder than I thought.
9. For the four Halloweens during my college years I dressed up as Luke Skywalker…
10. A cowboy…
11. “White trash…”
12. And “lactose intolerant.”
13. I have no idea what that says about me except that I was an immature college student.
14. The first time I met Amber she almost killed me (by driving like Evil Knievel through Charleston on a scavenger hunt).
15. The first time Amber and I “went out,” I almost killed her (by taking her running on the beach in 90-degree heat).
16. The only cars I’ve ever owned have been Nissans: an ‘85 Pulsar, an ‘01 Frontier, and a ‘99 Pathfinder.
17. I have a road rage problem, but I love “driving like I’m in a video game” as I do in Nicaragua.
18. The older I get, the less sports I watch.
19. And the more political shows I watch.
20. I’ve had 5 knee surgeries over the past 15 years. (That’s only one surgery every three years. Not bad.)
21. I still wear my 7th grade AAU basketball t-shirt to sleep in.
22. My back-up sleeping shirt is from my 7th grade Babe Ruth League baseball team.
23. I have a problem letting go.
24. And I’m not very fashion conscious.
25. I cheated at a church-sponsored Spades tournament. And my partner in crime was this guy.
26. I love kids.
27. I especially love Nicaraguan kids.
28. I pray that I’ll be half as good of a parent as my Mom and Dad were/are.
29. I’m the luckiest guy in the world: I’m married to a sweet, beautiful, godly woman; my “career” is really my life…and I love it; and I have unbelievable friends and family members cheering me on.
30. Today I turned 30.

Now I tag three troublemakers from Charleston who came to visit us in Nicaragua in August (and who we’re going to see while we’re in the Lowcountry!): Brittany, Tiffany, and Rheagan.

Nathan: How has your understanding of the Great Commission changed since your trip?

Brittany: Going to Nicaragua and serving in a medical clinic allowed me the opportunity to spread God’s love and to embark on the Great Commission strictly by “showing up”. I’ve always thought of the great commission as more of verbal evangelism, but I realized on my trip that simply by our willingness to serve as the Lord’s hands for 10 days, hundreds of people were served medically, loved beyond words and language barriers, and many were impacted eternally. I learned actions do speak louder than words sometimes and by simply showing compassion and love, hearts can be won for Christ.

Nathan: Your Christian friend has never been on a mission trip and says, “It’s just not for me.” How do you respond?

Brittany: I would encourage anyone doubting whether a trip of this nature would be “for them” or not, to take a risk and step out of their comfort zone for 10 days. God can use ANYONE and needs EVERYONE to reach those that need aid, love, and hope. You’ll find the strength needed to make the trip and will learn more about yourself in 10 days than you ever thought possible. (I wrote a little about this is my blog entry titled “Here Am I. Send Me.”) I also uncovered passions inside of me, such as nursing, that I may not have found had I not been outside of my comfort zone.

Nathan: What surprised you about your short-term mission experience?

Brittany: What surprised me most about short-term mission work was the long-term effect a tip would have on me. I still find myself referencing the trip daily and sharing with others what I learned about the people, the culture, the need, and even myself. I also didn’t expect to create such soul ties with the people I met in Nicaragua as well as my teammates. I didn’t realize how hard it would be to leave our Nicaraguan “teammates” behind, knowing I may never see them again on this side of eternity, and that I would cry harder saying goodbye to them than I have in my entire life. As for my Seacoast teammates, although we all seemed distant during the meetings that led up to our trip, once we arrived in Managua I honestly felt as though I was with family. I have never cared more deeply for 17 total strangers.

Nathan: Did you go through any culture shock in Nicaragua?

Brittany: One of the “culture shock” moments for me was having to tell a thirsty child that he could not have clean water to drink from our supply. It was such a foreign concept to me and one that shook me to the core when I saw the children reaching into murky buckets full of stagnant water for a drink. (I wrote about this in my blog titled “Now that I have Seen I am Responsible.”).

Nathan: When you’re thinking about your Nicaragua mission trip, what makes you chuckle?

Brittany: What makes me chuckle? Definitely my many hours in the pharmacy! We had such an amazing crew and even though we were located in the hottest part of the clinic and were sweaty, tired, and thirsty, we managed to laugh all day, every day. Receiving a prescription for “No-flirt 500mg” still makes me laugh along with the countless hours of teasing one another while still meeting hundreds of medical needs daily!

Nathan: When you picture a face associated with your mission, whose face is it?

Brittany: The one face that has been engraved on my heart and mind from the trip is Gabriel. There were others, such as Karla who I will never forget, but to me Gabriel served as the face of the future of Loma Linda. He played all day long in the hot sun and never complained. He would be there to greet us from the minute we arrived to moment we left. He always seemed hungry for attention and although he was at an age where most American boys would shy away from a hug in an effort to not appear un-cool, he would embrace your hug and just walk with you, arms wrapped around your waist until you decided to let go of him. He was the hardest for me to leave because I knew what awaits him in that community (i.e. drugs, crime, and fatherless homes) and I wanted to be able to rescue him from that. I still do. (I wrote a little about this is my blog entry titled “Hasta Luego, Gabriel”).

For more fantastic stories and reflections on Brittany’s Nicaragua mission trip, check out her blog. You can also read about her recent “Back to Middle School” trip with her girlfriends, seeing New Kids on the Block live in Chicago. You can follow Brittany on Twitter here. (Extra credit to anyone who can figure out what Brittany’s Twitter name means.)

Nicaragua to review disputed mayoral election

MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) — Nicaragua’s election council agreed Wednesday to a local review of the Managua mayoral election results, but opposition party members who claimed fraud in the balloting demanded that international observers be present.

The race for mayor of Nicaragua’s capital was the most closely watched of 146 municipal elections considered a test for President Daniel Ortega, a leftist who has been fiercely critical of the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush while building close ties to Venezuela, Russia and Iran.

Ortega’s Sandinistas won the most mayoralties in Sunday’s elections. But the opposition Constitutionalist Liberal Party, or PLC, claims there was widespread fraud and has demanded an international review.

Election council president Robert Rivas told foreign diplomats Wednesday that the Sandinistas and the PLC would be invited to review ballot tally sheets in the Managua election, according to a statement from his office.

He said he would ask prosecutors to investigate news media reports that ballots and other election material were found in a city garbage bin. Local media showed photographs and video Wednesday of the partially burned election material.

PLC spokesman Leonel Teller rejected Rivas’ offer, saying it fell short of opposition demands that international observers be present at any review. He also insisted that all the municipal elections should be reviewed “because there was generalized fraud.”

Official results indicate former world boxing champion and Sandinista candidate Alexis Arguello won the Managua election, defeating Eduardo Montealegre, a former finance minister who narrowly lost the 2006 presidential race.

Ortega’s government has been criticized for refusing to allow observers from the Organization of American States or a prominent local monitoring group at the elections. Ortega has said he rejected the observers “because they are financed by outside powers” and he has dismissed fraud allegations.

The vote followed a bitter campaign marked by violent confrontations between Sandinistas and opposition supporters.

Ortega returned to power nearly two decades after leading a Marxist government that fought U.S.-backed Contra rebels. He has come under fire for barring two opposition parties from fielding mayoral candidates and for police raids against non-governmental organizations critical of his administration.

The U.S. State Department has expressed concern about the fraud allegations and the tense atmosphere during the campaign. OAS Secretary-General Jose Miguel Insulza has pointedly noted that the presence of international observers would have been helpful in resolving the elections dispute.

There have been numerous reports of violence and unrest throughout the country.  We ask you to join us in praying for calm and for peace to prevail in Nicaragua.

• Nov. 7-9 – Charlotte
• Nov. 9-13 – Richmond, Ky.
• Nov. 13-15 – Louisville
• Nov. 15-19 – Knoxville
• Nov. 19-26 – Charleston
• Nov. 26 - Dec. 2 – Charlotte
• Dec. 3-4 – Atlanta

I can’t believe that in less than 24 hours we’ll be back in the good ol’ U. S. of A.!

It’s not a presidential election year, but alcalde elections are taking place across the country. “Alcalde” is Spanish for mayor, but this position is actually more like mayor, governor, and future presidential candidate (at least for the Managua alcalde) rolled into one. It’s important. I’ve pulled biographical information on the two major candidates in Managua…

Alexis Argüello - Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN)

Alexis Argüello is a former professional Nicaraguan boxer and three time World champion. “The Explosive Thin Man,” as he was known, lost his first professional fight in 1968, but then won 36 of his next 38 bouts, which then led him to a world Featherweight championship bout, which he lost in a 15-round unanimous decision. Undaunted, Argüello began another streak of wins, and found himself in a title fight again, this time emerging victorious as the new Featherweight champion of the world. Argüello defended this title a few times, then moved up in weight and won the Junior Lightweight belt. He then moved up in weight again and won the world Lightweight championship, becoming only the sixth boxer to win world titles in three divisions, and the second Latin American to do it.

During the 1980s Argüello briefly fought with the Contras in his native Nicaragua, but after a few months in the jungle he retired from the war. He then attempted several comebacks into boxing during the late 1980s and early 1990s and had some success. He retired for good in 1995 with 82 wins, 65 by knockout, and 8 losses. Argüello was elected to the International Boxing Hall Of Fame in 1992. In 2008 he was honored by being selected as Nicaragua’s flag-bearer at the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.

Today Argüello is involved in politics. In 2004 he was elected vice-mayor of Managua under the banner of the Sandinista National Liberation Front — the same party against whom he took up arms in the 1980s. Argüello hopes to move from vice-mayor to the mayor’s seat of capital city Managua in the upcoming election. (I couldn’t find Argüello’s campaign website, but here is the official FSLN English-version website.)

Eduardo Montealegre - Constitutional Liberal Party (PLC)

Eduardo Montealegre was born in Nicaragua’s capital Managua. He received a degree in economics from Brown University in 1976 and an MBA with a focus in finance and strategic planning from Harvard University in 1980. He later became a businessman in Nicaragua.

Montealegre served as minister to the presidency in 1998 under Arnoldo Alemán. He also served as foreign minister from 1999 to 2000 in the government of Arnoldo Alemán and as finance minister from 2002 to 2003 in the government of the next President Enrique Bolaños. Subsequently, he served as minister to the presidency of Enrique Bolaños.

He announced his split from the Constitutional Liberal Party (PLC) in protest of the control of the party by former President Alemán, currently serving a 20-year sentence for misappropriation of funds. Montealegre objects to an alliance, referred to in the popular media as “El Pacto”, between Arnoldo Alemán and Daniel Ortega, who ran as the candidate of the FSLN in 2006 for the fourth consecutive time since his 1985-1990 presidency.

Under the banner of the Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance (ALN) — as a spin-off of the Constitutional Liberal Party (PLC) and in alliance with other liberal parties and the Conservative Party — Montealegre lost the 2006 presidentail election, finishing in second place after Daniel Ortega, receiving 28 percent of the vote.

After losing control of the leadership of the ALN in 2008, Montealegre agreed to run for mayor of Managua as a candidate of his former party, the PLC, in an alliance of opposition parties against the Ortega-led Sandinistas. Here is Eduardo’s campaign website.

Check back here on Monday for results from this exciting, important election in Nicaragua. And no matter who wins, thank you for your prayers for the people of Nicaragua and for its leaders!

And I’ll go to sleep tonight as a proud American.

Whether I agree with him or not, I will pray for President Obama. And for his family. And for leaders across the country as they take the reigns the greatest nation on God’s green earth.

God protect them. Give them wisdom and guidance.

God bless America.

First, the House

• The Dems will increase their majority from 236-199 to 245-190.

Then, the Senate

• Elizabeth Dole (R) will lose her seat in North Carolina.
• Al Franken (D) will win the race in Minnesota (please, God, let me be wrong on this one predication!)
• Despite Ashley Judd’s influence…especially in Kentucky…and especially among men…Mitch McConnell (R) will hold on to his important Senate seat.
• The Dems will pick up several seats in the Senate, but will not win the filibuster-proof majority of 60 seats in the Senate. When the dust settles, I predict the new Senate will be: Democrats 59*, Republicans 41(* including the two Democrat-leaning and -caucusing Independents).

Finally, the Big Prize

• Exactly four years ago I watched Obama give his first nationally televised speech at the DNC. After watching that speech I said to myself, “He’s going to be president one day.” Whether he wins tomorrow or not, I’m pretty sure that prediction is going to turn out to be correct.
• Last summer I was talking politics with my parents and a few aunts and uncles. This was just as the primary season was beginning to heat up. I voiced my opinion that I thought Obama would beat Hillary. Why? He’s less polarizing, more eloquent, and more electable in a general election. My family thought I was crazy. Let me just take this opportunity to say, “I told you so!”
• I also predicted last summer that an Obama vs. McCain election would be a blow-out win for Obama; I have no reason to change that predication now. I’m going to guess the national/popular vote will be Obama 54.5%, McCain 47.5% and the electoral vote will be Obama 375, McCain 163.

There it is! Let’s see how well I do. Again, these predictions have nothing to do with how I voted…they’re just predictions. And regardless of who wins or loses, America will remain the greatest nation on God’s green earth!

Now, tell me where and why I’m wrong…

Since several of the “gringos” will be in the U.S. during November, we decided to go ahead and throw a Turkey Day party on the day before Halloween! Of course Thanksgiving is an American holiday. But our Latino friends embraced the concept (it was actually their idea to have a “team Thanksgiving”) and everyone had a wonderful time of fellowship…and food! Each person shared something he or she is thankful to God for. And each person “bellied up to the bar” for delicious turkey, dressing, mashed potatos, sweet potatos, squash casserole, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, and more! Here are a few pictures of the Nicaraguan Thanksgiving…

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The United States isn’t the only country in the middle of campaign season — Nicaragua goes to the polls this November too.

It’s not a presidential election year, but alcalde elections are taking place across the country. “Alcalde” is Spanish for mayor, but this position is actually more like mayor, governor, and future presidential candidate (at least for the Managua alcalde) rolled into one. It’s important. And Nicaraguans are just as passionate about politics as Obamacans and McCainiacs.

Here are a few snapshots of Nicaraguan politicking on the streets and rotundas of Managua: