This past week has been the busiest, fullest week yet on this Race. And that is saying something! It’s hard to believe we arrived only 11 days ago, but I am so glad we are just beginning as there is much left to do here.
This month Team Rayos is living in Granada, Nicaragua, a tourist town on Lake Nicaragua. We are working with Reap Granada, a mission that is partnered with Adventures in Missions. Our mom and dad for the month are Scott and Jen Esposito. We also have several “sisters and brothers” here working as long-term missionaries, along with Journey, the youngest Esposito.
I have come to admire this family’s work here in Nicaragua. It is evident that wherever they go, they bring light. They have spent the last two and a half years building relationships with those around Granada, and especially those living in the neighboring town of El Pantenal.
Throughout the week, my team is involved in six bible studies, two feeding programs, house visits, sports days, and loving on the children who stop by the house (not to mention, we are adding spanish class to the mix!). It has been so fun getting to know the people here, especially seeing them open up to us after having us around for the last several days.
The first weekend we were here, we hosted a “Boys’ Day” for the boys living in Pantenal. About 40 boys came out to the field. This day consisted of face paint, hot dogs, relay games, water balloons, and lots of laughter and joy. It was the first Boys’ Day these boys had and they soaked up every moment of it.
One of the feeding programs is held at the house of a local woman. She turned her front yard into a school and is now teaching almost 20 children daily. It is incredible to see all that she has started in her community. From the moment we walked into her yard, her mother, Yadera, became my friend. Yadera talked to me about her life, all the while being patient with my understanding of her language, and with every struggle she mentioned (even just in talking about the heat), she would point to heaven and say something to the effect of, “But God is good!”. I have been able to talk with her several times now. When I left their house yesterday, Yadera told me that I would be forever in her heart.
I am constantly surprised by how the people in Central America love. We come, and then we go. More often than not, we are not the first missionaries they have seen come through; not the first ones they have bonded with only to be left days later, and yet, they continue to pour into us, love on us as if we are their forever friends. I am thankful for the opportunity to invest in these lives for the few weeks we have here. And although I hope my being here will make an impact on their lives longterm, I know that I will leave with an imprint on my heart that will stick with me longterm.
