Our first chapter on the Race is officially over. Our first 5 months, while spent on different continents, have all been Spanish speaking countries with (somewhat) similar cultures. We were able to learn conversational Spanish, and really begin to feel at home in Latin America. I thought as a final farewell, I’d briefly review my favorite (and not so favorite) things about each country.
The Dominican Republic
Liked tostones! I could have eaten them all day every day if it were an option! Oh and the steady stream of coffee! The best was probably team time around a bonfire though…
Loved life on a mountain and everything that entailed… the people, small church the community revolved around, their way of life, the simplicity of how people lived, the passion they sang with, and THE STUNNING VIEWS!
Loathed seeing cow heads hanging from random trees, knowing I would be eating that cow the next day
Laughed playing games with all the kids that always hung around, especially once they learned how ticklish I am!
Learned to pray powerful prayers, and to live joyfully! Also how in the beginning of the month a certain climb was neverending and we never thought we’d make it up, but by the end of the month it is just a small hill on the way to wherever our destination might be
Learned to pray powerful prayers, and to live joyfully! Also how in the beginning of the month a certain climb was neverending and we never thought we’d make it up, but by the end of the month it is just a small hill on the way to wherever our destination might be
Lasting Memory: Spending a day picking coffee beans off the side of the mountain, “defruiting” the beans the next day, and then enjoying the freshest cup of coffee I’ll ever have
Ecuador
Liked teaching English, especially to the 5th-7th graders.
Loved my host family and how they immidiately took me in as one of the family. They never got frustrated if I didn’t understand, just laughed with me and found a different way to explain. And as a going away/birthday party we had a dance party that later turned into zumba for the ladies… They always made things fun!
Loathed the cold, rainy weather EVERY DAY
Laughed As we’re getting ready to eat guinea pig (our hosts were just putting the dead ones in the oven) and Megan asks to play with the only one that was still alive. So, for about 15 minutes the guinea pig was passed around as his brothers and sisters were being cooked for our meal
Learned to serve with joy, knowing God is moving even in the little things (and to knit scarves with no needles, just my fingers!)
Lasting Memory: When Justin climbed in the bull ring waving his red rain jacket around, and then narrowly missing the bull’s horns!
Peru
Liked always having a supply of fresh juice while we worked!
Loved how my team supported me and allowed me to be vuln
erable
Loathed how little time I was able to spend with my host family
Laughed when my face got shoved in a birthday cake… and how no matter what I did I came home covered in paint from head to toe
Learned so more about my identity
Lasting Memory: The day we visited the dump… I can still remember the joy of Ana as we played volleyball with her… such a big smile!
Nicaragua
Liked the peaceful property and all the trees at La Quinta… and Mama Teresa’s pancakes!
Loved living among the youth and watching them take charge in their community. Fell so in love with that kind of ministry and wow, the kids there are something else.
Loathed leaving… I was not ready to say goodbye to all my incredible friends. I’ve never cried so hard leaving a place in my life.
Laughed when Alex would ride Princessa (the sheep) and any time he’d speak English it cracked me up. One day Franklin, Walter, and Rene were determined that if they put enough gel in my hair it would stand straight up… not quite!
Learned how little of a barrier language can be sometimes… and I also learned to like soccer!
Lasting Memory: The soccer tournaments -> watching the guys play, cheering with the ladies, helping cook plantano chips with Jousto & Franklin, good talks with Alex, hanging out with Rene while he was the DJ… And then our last night there they all surprised us by performing a dance medley and giving us a notebook filled with letters for each of us!
El Salvador
Liked The FAS soccer game we were able to go to! Not to mention the chocolate & peanut covered bananas they sold at church for 30 cents!
Lovedthe variety of ministry and so different from what I’ve done before. I especially loved homeless ministry… I so desperately wished I had more time to show these men they are loved and valued. The Lord broke my heart for a few of them, one before I even spoke to him and never learned more than his name
Loathed
how little time we spent with each ministry… I love building relationships, but God had other things to teach us this month
Laughed when our first night we played estes divertido with our contact (A game called this is so much fun. Its a staring/no smiling contest and a dancing game all in one!)
Learned to be bolder and trust the Lord to speak through me. We don’t always get another chance to see someone, so make the most of what we’re given!
Lasting Memory: Making friends at Pizza Hut and seeing how the Lord used us even there… and of course zip lining down the mountain!
So with that, ADIOS LATIN AMERICA, Sawatdee Kaa Thailand!
