As I have gotten into the routine for this traveling life style, some times I forget that this is not how my life once was. Then there are times when I stop and think about what I am doing, where I live, and the people that i get to meet and know that maybe it is a little bit different.
1. I live in a tent city with about 50 other people in a church. I can carry my belongings in my backpack that weighs just under 50 lbs and i brush my teeth out of a nalgene water bottle every morning.
2. I get to truck surf to work and church. This game involves standing in the back of a truck trying to see if i can get there with out holding on. On Sundays, I do it in a skirt.
3. I get the privilege of being part of a beautiful church congercation that is dedicated to changing the comunity that we are living in. This month, my team and I are working with Pastor David. He is an amazing man of God. Another pastor told us yesterday that about eight other men have tried to start a church in his community and Pastor David is the only one who has been able to build a church congergation.
4. I get to add stone mason to my skill set. This week my team and I have been helping a pastor build an adobe house for his family. I love the fact that my hands get to be part of the house that this man is building for His family. This process involves taking the dirt, mixing it with rock and water, to make the right kind of mud than turning those into bricks to be dried. So we get to play in the dirt and mud all day. Im not mad about it.
5. I have found a new love for the pick ax. Jesus said we would move mountains He just forgot to mention that some times it will be with your own hands, a pick ax and shovel.
6. I have consumed more carbs and coke this month then I ever have in my life. The food has been amazing there are some beautiful women that have been cooking all our food for us. We have been able to experience some real Nicraguan food but it comes with alot of carbs. And im pretty sure A Cold pop is cheaper then water.
7. I hand wash my clothes. Gone are the days of washing machines and dryers. But hey clean clothes are clean clothes in every country.
8. I get sunburnt at the pool in Febuary. While my family layers up in wool socks and flannels up north in Montana. I am at the pool soaking in the sun. I love the random blessing that i did not expect on the world race. Like a cold pool on a hot day.
9. I am one of the first people awake in the morning. This is strange for me. Since I have been on the race I have woken up around 6:45 almost every day. I think Jesus knows that I need to be alone to spend time with Him every morning. It has been a great blessing to just sit and watch the sun come up with my Bible in hand everday.
10. I never know what a day will bring. At home, I have some sort or routine or plan for my day. I never know what is about it happen around here. I live by the motto that everything is an adventure, fate, and Jesus´s plan.
11.Maybe its not all that diffrent. So many´things are different but I have come to realize that this is still just life out here on the race. We are simply entering into some one elses normal.
This is my life and as for right now i would not have it any other way.
This month has been a true blessing to me. We are in the little mountain town of Palacaguina serving about 4 different churches.
Please pray for the community here as they struggle with alot of poverty and violence.
Also for the health of my squad many people have gotten sick this month.
I would also like to ask you to pray about countinuing to financially support me.
There are also many other people on my squad who are still waiting me meet the next deadline of $11,000 by March.
Love you all.
NIka
P.S. Nika is what you call some one who is from Nicrugua… So I would just like to say that i found the place where everybody knows my name.
