Within our first few days in Nicaragua, I was walking with my teammate Jake down a back road in the village of Bethel, when a family asked me to take pictures of their kids. I did so as Jake continued on to play with one of the kids down the road. From there, they invited me to their house where we sat for about 30 minutes… them talking to me in Spanish, and me understanding nothing. I was alone, feeling completely awkward… and at the same time, wondering why they continued talking to me when they could tell I understood nothing.
The one thing I did understand in all of this was how happy they were to be sitting with me. The father’s face was nothing but a smile the entire time I was there. Their joy in speaking with me for that short period of time kept me coming back.
The next two times I visited were the same. I would go greet them, and then just sit with them while Miguel (the father) tried to tell me about his family, his son’s health problems, and his situation. I knew he was trying to tell me these things, but could only catch a few words here and there. But still… the smiles on their faces every time I would walk around the corner and their open arms inviting me to come sit with them continued to draw me to this family.
Finally, on my forth visit, I took my friend Junior with me.
From what we understood, Miguel no longer works. He did work in the sugar cane fields… thank God he doesn’t have kidney disease as most of the men who work in the fields get it. But, he is older and weak, so he probably got fired and replaced by younger guys who can do more work. He has not been able to find work since then. I believe he said people from the church help him provide food for his family. He gives the family most of the food and doesn’t eat much himself…That is evident by looking at how tiny he is. He has an older son (Fernando), an 8 year old daughter (Evelyn) and a 3 year old son (Miguel).
His son Miguel had to have an operation not long ago to remove what I think was some kind of tumor or growth on his lower back. He is unable to walk for long periods of time because his legs are very weak and will fall asleep on him.
My heart broke for this family and their situation… I grew to love them so much. I looked forward to each visit with them and tried see them every opportunity I had. Very few times was I able to take someone with me to translate… In fact, one time I took Connie with me.
Connie speaks very little English, but is animated, speaks slowly, and uses very common words so I am able to understand her a lot better. So on that occasion, I had Miguel speaking to me in Spanish, and then Connie translating it to a Spanish I could understand. It was funny to Miguel.
The times I went alone meant just as much to me though. I didn’t need to understand what they were saying. Just being in their presence… seeing their smiles… each hug I was given… Those are what blessed me the most.
Miguel and his family brought me incredible joy and happiness this month. God definitely placed them in my path for a reason. I went to Bethel with the intentions to hopefully bless people there, but I think I was the one blessed this month.
