We are now a little over two weeks into our time in Nicaragua. It’s an interesting time in the race. We are just about 9 months total in with 2 months left. For some reason I think most of us shifted gears when we came to Central America. I don’t know if it’s because we stopped in Los Angeles for a long layover and got a taste of the good ol’ US. Maybe it’s because we all know we’re only a few hours flight from home. It could be because we have a case of something like senioritis. Whatever the cause I believe for many of our squad we are definitely looking ahead and not focused on the here and now. It’s understandable; almost all of us have no idea what’s going to happen when we go home. Schools, jobs, internships, how life will be back with our families and friends, it’s all one big question mark. Regardless of what awaits each of us next we still have 2 months and 3 countries that we are committed to serve in. Every one of us needs to dig down deep and find a way to continue to serve our contacts and one another in a way that shows preference for others. We need to understand that not only do we have a community of support who are going through the same struggles, but a family. A family that we can depend on to fight with us when we are tired and worn out or when we don’t want to get out of bed in the morning. We have a God that is with us every step of the way whose strength will never fail. There will be times when we let each other down, when our own flesh fails, as does our team’s. Our Lord will never let us down or fail, and maybe that’s something we all need to be reminded of. Once again we need to find a way to get over ourselves and stop depending so much on our own efforts, because let’s face it, our own efforts are not nearly enough and never will be. If we continue to rely on what our flesh is capable of and don’t depend on God 100% we will continue to grow weary. We will all continue to grow numb to the suffering all around us because we have seen and experienced so much. We will continue to be frustrated with each other and want do nothing more than put in our IPods and get on the internet to escape to our own little worlds of comfort we’ve created. All we’ll continue to think about is what’s next and forget about what’s now. If we can’t figure this out now, how in the world does anyone honestly think we’ll be able to make any difference when we’re back in the States with all its distractions and detractors?
So moving on……Central America has been awesome. Vision Nicaragua is an incredible organization that we have been blessed to be able to work alongside. We have been able to work with a local man, Mario is just amazing. We have had the opportunity to get to know a couple of the men, Kevin and Ron who are working with all their hearts to keep VN up and running and improving all the communities with food handouts, toys for kids, finding jobs and most importantly building and maintaining relationships of based on the Love of Christ. This past week our team has been given the opportunity to help hand out rice and beans to two villages and toys in one. We’ve been able to help paint a church, help with a medical clinic and my personal favorite, play with and love on some kiddos. Also we have been able to work with another organization, Amigos for Christ. They have an amazing ministry in place that encourages many of the locals who were affected the most by Hurricane Mitch in 1998. After the hurricane there were torrential rains which caused flooding and mudslides that killed many and left more without homes or jobs. Over the past 12 years Amigos has worked to provide these displaced people with an opportunity to have homes and jobs. Overlooked by their own government, Amigos has given many of these people the opportunity to have hope once again. We were given the chance to help in a small way by helping to dig and trench and lay pipe for a new well and water pump for one of the villages that does not have running water. I am so thankful for these two groups and the many others who continue to pour into these communities and this country by serving others and spreading the unfailing and unconditional Love of Jesus.
