Yesterday. Christmas Eve in Nicaragua. Who would have thought I’d be surrounded by about fifty children running the “Three legged race” station, wearing hilariously ridiculous clothing, speaking in Spanish on Christmas Eve in Nicaragua? The first month, I woke up on the ground every morning. The second month, I woke up in a tent every morning. The third month I’ve been blessed with a bed (which is an awesome Christmas gift in of itself!) But many of these mornings I wake up thinking “God, I can’t believe you sent me here.” Never in a million years would I have guessed this would be what I would spend a year doing. Being God’s hands and feet. Being what God has created me and everyone else to be. Sending me to find “The least of these” and dying to myself every day to serve others and fulfill God’s plan. It’s NUTS to me. I can’t believe I’m here.
I learned a lot yesterday. First off, yesterday we went into the barrios (neighborhoods in Spanish), and visited people’s huts and shacks (is what I call them). We proceeded to pray for a thirteen year old who has epilepsy and has to go to the hospital for surgery (in which costs a lot of money). The grandma told us that he never gets gifts because he’s tall and seems a lot older than what he is. Right away this reminded me that some of these people simply depend on outsiders for gifts if they get any at all. So two of our Nicaraguan friends who are fifteen and sixteen year old who start running off. They came back with two gifts for him which meant the world to this boy. I later asked if they were gifts for someone else, and Jason (the fifteen year old) told me that Lester (the sixteen year old) asked him if Jason’s family got anything for him for Christmas. When Jason said yes, Lester and Jason ran to go get Lester’s gifts and selflessly gave them to this boy. This touched me so much.
Later we had a huge “Feliz Cumplionos Jesus” (Happy Birthday Jesus) party at the church. Lester told Brandon (one of my brothers on my team) that he liked his shirt. Brandon runs back to his room, changes his shirt and gives Lester his favorite shirt.
At the end of the party, the epileptic boy wanted to find a way to get a bible. The pastor had just bought a brand new bible for himself, in which he just handed over to this boy who he’s never met in his life.
Who am I? Who am I to be so selfish with my belongings, time, and love?! This was a full day of people being so incredibly selfless and loving, and I am so overwhelmed by it. I am so blessed to be surrounded by people who are such great influences and convict me to be better. I can’t believe I’m here. I miss my family so much and this is the first Christmas missed which makes me sad, but I would have missed seeing fifty children’s faces light up and race at me with huge smiles. I would have missed seeing these people be so loving and selfless. I would have missed the opportunity to make myself better. This Christmas, I challenge you to count your blessings and thank God for the things he’s provided. I know many people who are just thankful for a bowl of rice and beans that we provided them for Christmas.
Love you all and Happy Birthday Jesus.
