This is a question I have heard a lot. Before I left and since being on the Race. I just wanted to share some of my heart when I hear this question.
The World Race: time has flown by. I am almost done my second month. Our first month, as you know from prior blogs, we had beds and full bathroom which included showers. I couldn’t be more thankful. But maybe what you didn’t see was all the hard work and construction we did month one. My team, Branches Of Peace and team Kaleo are not construction workers. However, we did the work as if we were. We dug a hole (for a well) for three days. We dug numerous trenches so that the water wouldn’t build up around their property and would properly drain. We built a roof over their building and stairwell so that the guest bedrooms wouldn’t flood when it rained (which it did daily). We also did a number of other projects on their property normally from 9 until 5 or 6 each night to help them be able to host more teams and business classes, as well as make their property as useful as possible. We were also very involved in their church. We attended women’s ministry, homeless feedings, ran Sunday school each week and even hosted a VBS.
So yes, I lived 5 minute walk from the beach and yes, it was absolutely beautiful. I couldn’t thank God enough for His creation.
But no. We weren’t on vacation.
Now this month has been incredible! We again have been blessed with beds and full bathrooms with showers. But this month looks a lot different. This month we have gone door to door telling people who Jesus is and giving them an opportunity to accept Him into their hearts. We’ve also been able to pray for the sick, and work in multiple village clinics. We’ve supported the local doctors. We have run children’s ministry, and Sunday services. We have also ran services for men with addictions and have been able to shed light on different things to bring them into freedom. This month we aren’t close to a beach. The nearest one is about two hours away, but we took a trip there to minster to local beach villages, who have never had anyone come to their house to talk about Jesus. And then ended the day playing in the water with them. Over this month, some have accepted Jesus!! YYAAYY, GOD!!!! And others don’t feel ready, which is okay too because the seed of Jesus has been planted.
We’ve walked through some pretty poverty stricken villages, seen and smelled some not so pretty things, but still the Lord has moved mighty though this squad into the hearts of the people in Nicaragua.
Yes I have seen some of the most beautiful things here! These beaches are beautiful; very similar to ours at home, and we’ve seen into volcanic crators and even slide down active volcanos!
But am I on vacation? No, far from it.
Being away from home and being outside of my comfort zone has been challenging. To know that I won’t be home until next August/September is a hard concept to grasp. Some days I LONG for my home, for my community there. Some days I wish I could go home, because THIS IS HARD! While other days I have to stop and ask myself “Is this real life?!”
Living with what once were six total strangers, being forced to do life with them, as well as seeking out the Lord as He brings up moments where I still need healing… As I think about friends who are having a rough time at home and I’m not there to be able to walk through it with them… To see the incredible things that are happening at home that I feel like I’m missing out on…
Yes, I know I am doing a once in a lifetime thing. And YES, I AM SO THANKFUL for this opportunity. But at the same time, I’m human and I struggle.
So when I hear the question “Aren’t you on vacation? Or how’s vacation going?”, even as lighthearted as it’s meant to be, it cuts deep. To think that what we are doing is just for fun.
I know most times all we post are fun pictures. Pictures of us at the beach, or with children laughing or with locals smiling but what we don’t always show are the tears, the fight we have to go through to get to those places. It’s tough but it is so worth it.
So if you’ve ever asked myself or another racer this question, it’s okay. No shame. But next time instead of asking “How’s your vacation?”, why don’t you ask, “How’s the ministry you’re working with? What has the Lord been doing this month? Or how’s your heart?” Those are all questions we want to answer and to talk about.
I want to end with a few pictures to show our ministry thus far.
As I mentioned ministry is door to door but sometimes we go in kind of larger groups due to translating and such. So a lot Of time instead of being the person that speaks at people’s doors Ive been looking for other ways to connect in ministry. That’s resulted in seeing children, seeing the ones who are kind of off to the side or sitting alone and engaging in conversation even with the little Spanish I know (which actually is much more since starting the race! yay) and then playing….laughter and playing doesnt require a lot of language. So these are some of the ones I’ve met during ministry! (Make sure to check my Facebook for more pics too!) 
FINANCE UPDATE!!!
THANK YOU to all those who Have given over this past week!! My deadline is now November 30th!
I still need about $690 to reach this deadline! Would you consider donating to my account!?
CRAZY!! We only have a full week left we leave friday December 2nd!! Wow another month passed by!! I’m super stoked for our next ministry spot in Honduras!
