Ok, instead of starting this off with some cliche greeting, I’d like to apologize to everyone for my lack of blogs while in Nicaragua. I am especially sorry to those who have been praying for me and were generous enough to donate to this trip! My blog website was having many technical problems, I am not even sure if this will upload. Wow, I started this blog off with ok, thats not very good it is? I’ll try again… Hi everyone!!! I am so excited to fill you guys in on the last few months. Sorry in advance, this will be a rather long blog because there is so much to tell all you wonderful people.
-Here is the general lay out of what my day looks like here.
My team of 26 lives at a very nice compound that is owned by vision Nicaragua. God has blessed us with wonderful living conditions that include, beds, showers, 2 wonderful cooks, and a whole bunch of other great staff members. I usually wake up pretty early in the morning to go help the cooks, Estila and Antonia,(you’ll hear about them later) and then the group either paints or does construction around the compound. After lunch we almost always go to Bethel, a nearby community that I have grown to love dearly. My heart is really in the ministry here in Nicaragua, I have made so many good relationships and I am not very excited to leave in less then 5 days. However, the great experiences I have gotten to have while living here while be some of the best memories I ever have.
I don’t even know what to begin to tell you guys about! I will start with my two Nicaraguan mothers, Antonia and Estila. The ladies are up every morning at 4 to make our group stacks upon stacks of pancakes. They are always ridiculously happy and joyful. I always ask them how they’re doing, and the answer is always BIEN BIEN. They have told me that it is impossible for life not be good with God and good health. They are extremely thankful to God for giving them what they have and I have never heard them complain about anything. This was even more amazing to me when Estila invited me to come live with her for 2 days. I have never seen someone so proud of their home. Estila’s house consist of two rooms, one made of cement blocks, another made out of tin walls. Her bed is literally a bed frame with cardboard on top. When I slept there I was given the only actual bed, a mattress paid for by Maryini’s, Estila’s only daughter, sponsorship family. They didn’t have a fridge, they didn’t have a floor, only dirt, and dind’t have so many other common amenities that we are so used to having and take for granted. It was a really cool experience to live with Estila and Maryini, I probably could have lived there for all 3 months, I would have learned a lot more Spanish and wouldn’t have gotten so used to living in nice conditions.(Even though I am thankful for having them, it would’ve been nice to rough it a little)
Anyways, leaving Antonia and Estila will probably be the hardest part about leaving Nicaragua. I have had so many good memories with them and hang out with them literally everyday. They have been a major part of my time here, I have learned to love serving people because helping them in the kitchen is so fun and makes me extremelly happy. I just love these 2 women to death. I could tell so many stories about them, but that would be enough for 3 blogs. This was a kind of overview for you people to understand my love for them. Also keep them in your prayers, both are single mothers and have their hands full. Also their sister, Thelma, is very sick and they don’t know with what, so prayers for her would be appreciated. (She’s the one holding the cake in the picture below)
Another huge part of my time here has been building and enjoying my relationship with my “family”. In Bethel, the community we do most of our ministry in, I almost always spend my time at one house. For some reason this family caught my attention from the very first time we were in Bethel, especially Maria. Maria might actually be considered insane, but I love every second of being insane with her. Let me explain the family dynamics. First off we have Yudith, the beloved mother. I say beloved because her kids act like its raining candy whenever she gets home from work. The love her children show for her, and the love she returns has almost brought me to tears many times. It’s not as common to see such a parent-child relationship here, so when you see it, it means a lot. Also Yudith is an extremely strong Christian and loves talking about her faith. In Nicaragua, the culture has a very legalistic view on Christianity so it is very rare to find an adult who not only realizes the problems with the legalism, but knows God’s grace and teaches His grace and love to her children. She has 6 kids, 2 of whom i have not met.
However, the oldest that still is at home is Alejandro, literally a 12 year old adult. Because the family’s father is working so much, the responsibility of baby-sitting and taking care of the younger kids falls on Alejandro’s shoulders. He is an amazing older brother. He is always stressing over trying to keep Jose David, who might be even more crazy then Maria, and Maria under control.
Then they’re are the 7 year old twins-Jose Angel and Maria. They are the complete opposites of each other. Jose Angel is actually what his name says he is- a complete angel. He is the quietest out of all of the kids, but the smartest. He is extremely thoughtful and sweet, always looking out for his twin sister and trying to make everyone else happy.
Next is Maria. Unlike her twin, her voice is raised 95% of them time.. She is this fiery, spunky, fearless little girl with a whole lot of sass. I don’t blame her, the only girl living with all these boys she’s got to make her voice heard. Even though she’s sassy, she’ll hug and say hi to literally everyone. I have never walked past anyone with her either going up and hugging them or yelling HOLA. She really is a sweet girl and I love her so much. I really have a heart for this little girl and see a lot of myself in her.
Finally, we have Jose David, or as the whole family calls him- Chilae, a white Nicaraguan. I don’t even feel bad saying this because everyone knows its true, but he is by far the favorite in the family. I have never seen a 6 year old possess so much energy. Ever. His crazy energy makes everyone who sees him laugh out loud. I cannot even begin to describe what exactly he is like. Just know that he is amazingly adorable but crazy( in a good way) at the same time.
Sorry this was all so long, the family that I hang out with is a huge part of my time and I wish I could put in to words how much I love them. Yesterday my friend, Ellen Hudson, and I threw the kids and icecream party and gave them the pictures you see of them here. Doing all of that probably made me the happiest that I have been in Nicaragua. Yudith ended up giving us both earrings even though she barley owns any and it basically brought Ellen Hudson and I to tears.Sorry if this blog really was not about anything, as I said in my frist blog I really don’t know how to blog. The basic message I wanted to tell was Estila and Antonia and my family have all inspired me to love without holding back. The love Estila and Antonia show to me is so moving. My family’s love for each other and the way they extended that love to me and welcomed me was even more moving. I am so sad to be leaving this beautiful country along with all of its beautiful people. God is so good because of the work he has done here. And because of everything else he does ha, but especially for what he has done here..
A quick update on upcoming things
Tomorrow a few friends and myself will be climbing San Cristóbal Volcano, the highest volcano in Central America, prayers that I won’t die would be nice.
On sunday my squad leaves for Granada for our “Nicaraguan Debrief”
On Wednesday we all peace out and start our journey to the Philippines.
That’s about all i have to write! thank you so much to those who actually got through me ranting about all these amazing people and read the whole thing. Feel free to comment with questions are facebook message me questions, I’ll be happy to answer!
I love and miss all of you nice people at home!
