The fourth part of my series includes some special people I met and built relationships with throughout the year. Here are a few profiles and stories of some beautiful people.
Puerto Rico
Richard is from Puerto Rico. I wrote a blog about him at the beginning of the year. He and his wife serve a little church about 1hr 1/2 outside of San Juan. He is unable to work because he has Fibromyalgia and is in constant pain. He was always joyful and had such a passion and desire for his church to be revived. We helped to reconstruct the church and encourage the church body of about 20 people. Richard was always making sure we rested, getting us water and cracking jokes. He was so sweet and genuine. 
Peru
We lived in an area called “The Miracle”. This miracle was a big dump area, dirty, dusty, and garbage everywhere. The kids in the neighborhood started coming to our English classes or church, during the month. That is how I got to know some precious little kids who kind of followed me around. They would knock on the door even at night reminding me that we were going to play soccer the next morning. On Good Friday we opened the church to the community to watch the Passion of the Christ. One of the kids was in the front row eating popcorn. He moved over a seat and motioned for me to come and sit with him. They were little 9-13 year olds who just needed love. We played soccer, laughed, took underwater pictures in clean laundry water buckets, and just had fun. Their precious faces will always be embedded on my heart.
Peru
Another beautiful face in Peru is Belen. She and her husband Henri are both under 28yrs old and have 3 precious boys, Benjamin, Angel and Santiago(James). We paid Belen to cook our food for the month. She cooked traditional Peruvian food and served us in so many ways. Her son Benjamin attended the preschool we lived and worked at. Her husband Henri drove a moto for his work and would sometimes take us places if we needed transportation. We spent Easter with them and they serve us hand and foot. One evening she invited us to her home for a dessert. She made us this traditional dessert which is similar to a warm fruit jello. It was really good. She came to our English classes and women’s evening and we also played volleyball with them in between some of the houses. Belen’s sweet face will always stay in my memory.
Ecuador
In Ecuador we stayed at Inca Link which is an organization that serves through a wide variety of ministries in Ecuador, Peru and Columbia. They housed and fed 4 teams in their base in Quito. Inca Link has interns and fulltime missionaries who live at the house to serve teams as well as bless those coming for rest and relaxation. An Ecuadorian couple served us all month in the kitchen and helping us during our stay. Fabi and Mabe were in their 30s and just really loved well. They both spoke English and Fabi had the most hilarious humor! It can be hard to have humor in your second language but somehow he had it! They were so endearing and everyone had felt as if they had gained another brother and sister. Their sweet servant hearts and genuine love was so evident and inspiring.
Panama
While we lived in the Darien, our hosts consisted of a Columbian couple and then their disciples and some extended family. The disciples are a young indigenous couple, Robinson and Ruth. They have 4 children and live on the property as full time missionaries with the ministry of children’s discipleship. There are the sweetest and have such genuine, servant hearts. The Wounaan culture is very disciplined. One of their cultures is that they don’t eat with people they don’t know. It can take awhile for them to get used to others. We shared the same outdoor kitchen and they wouldn’t prepare anything until we were done and the light was off. By the end of the two weeks, they were eating with us! Ruth taught us how to cook plantains a certain way and also cooked the best roasted chicken I have ever had!!! Litterally fire roasted! At the end of the month, we found out that our hosts were raising money to purchase a denture for Ruth because she was missing alot of her teeth. We put the $150 together and gave them to our host to get Ruth a denture! They also taught us some Woumao which is the indigenous language. They served us so well and it was a real experience of winning friends!
Costa Rica
Rosa, the woman who lived with her family on the gated property of the feeding center and church, was an incredible and endearing woman. She ran and cooked for the feeding center Monday through Saturday, walked up to the gate to unlock it every time anyone went in or out, practically raised her 3yr old grandson and served us so lovingly. She was always giving sweet hugs and she also taught me how to dice garlic the Latina way! She served and worked tirelessly for the organization and for us to be comfortable. She sacrificed so much for her family and all the people she served. Before they lived on the property, she and her family lived in a metal and plastic lean-to house. She has been through many hardships, yet has so much love for Jesus and beautiful joy.
9) Nicaragua:
When at Parent Vision Trip at Vision Nicaragua, we did a few house visits and met this beautiful and courageous woman, Connie. She helped out at the medical clinic at Vision Nicaragua and even made us chile mangos! When we visited her home, she and her son Darwin welcomed us in, made jokes and picked us mangos from her tree. Connie raise Darwin single-handedly and she also takes in many kids from the community when they need a safe place to stay for awhile. The kids in the village love Connie and whenever they are at her house, she feeds them and takes care of any other need they may have. She is truly a strong and giving woman. What a beautiful time it was getting to meet her with my parents! ( Rosa is the one in the pink apron on the left)
Honduras
Ever and Gladis are 23 and the most precious couple! They both speak English and were un-officially “adopted” by the American couple who founded AMOR ministries. They now help run the ministry and churches. They pastor two churches and also cook for a school feeding program once a week. They mentor some of the youth in the churches and teach them how to play worship. Throughout the month they became like a brother and sister to me. We had so much fun living life with them this month. They have such servant hearts and a passion for Jesus and discipleship.
These are only a few of the beautiful faces and stories of people I have met so far on the Race. I love getting to see how big the Kingdom of God is!
