First of all I’m sorry it has taken me so long to post this! These past two months have been some of the busiest, most crazy months I’ve experienced and I haven’t been great about the discipline of writing. In September I went back out onto the field to lead a 3 month World Race Semesters trip to Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. Right now my team is in Panama, but I want to recap all of the goodness from my month in Nicaragua.
Team
This time around I am living with 10 girls between the ages of 18 and 21. They are crazy, but I love them. We have overcome so many obstacles together (ok yes, some of those obstacles might be insect related), and its cool to see the little family that we are creating with our own little habits and traditions (team workouts have become a thing, and if I’m being honest, I mostly just act as a cheerleader for everyone else during these time).
Construction
For ministry this month our team helped with construction, which is something that I never got to do on my race (I was pumped). We were helping to expand a local church down the road from our house. It was so much fun. We moved dirt, hacked at some rocks, listened to some good music, and built relationships with our hosts who were working along side of us.
I love the fact that I’ve taken good care of my hands- construction ruined that. I walked away with blisters and bruises and at first I was really bummed about it, but as the month went on it just become another thing that I got to surrender at the Lord’s feet: My hands. (That sounds super weird, but it was a really big deal…) I have calluses now, which I hate, but they remind me of some people that we got to serve, so that’s pretty cool.
Sponsorships
I wrote an entire blog about this experience but enough can’t be said about it. The Lord really did a work in my heart during our time working with this program. There was so much hope and joy paired with poverty in ways I haven’t seen. If you want to hear more about what it was really like, feel free to go back and read my original blog about it!
Kitties
If you know me, you know I love cats. This month I made so many cat friends, it was amazing! Two cats that I got to spend a ton of time with where momma cats, and whenever I would see them I would always say ‘momma bring me your babies!’ And something really wonderful happened: They actually did! (This is kinda a pointless story that doesn’t really have anything to do with Nicaragua, but it was a total blessing and I just wanted to share my good fortune with you all.)
Osman and David
Osman was my host this month, and David is a local that we partnered with during our time there. These guys are amazing. We worked together everyday at construction, clearing rocks and dirt, which could have gotten boring, if not for their constant joking and playfulness. They asked us questions, taught us some Spanish, and invited us into their homes again and again.
Radio
I did a lot of things for the first time this month, one of those things was being on the radio. My team was asked to come and share our testimonies on a local Christian radio station that is broadcasted all over the world. It’s definitely not something that I imagined myself doing on this trip, or really ever, but it was such a fun experience!
Practice of the Presence of God
(I could have included a picture of this book BUT thats boring, so here is another picture of me working super hard at ministry). Right before leaving for this trip I went on a little spending spree and got myself a couple of new books, one of them being the Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence in modern English. Y’all I did not expect my whole entire life to be wrecked by a 75 page book, but it happened. I was so challenged and convicted, I still am. I read it twice during my time in Nicaragua and I HIGHLY suggest it to anyone who wants to grow in intimacy with the Lord.
Yahosca
Yahosca was one of the ladies who worked in the kitchen and helped feed us 6 days a week. She is exactly 345 days older than me, she has an amazing family, aaannnnddddd she is an absolute clown. During our time in Nicaragua the team took turns helping in the kitchen and whenever I got to go in there with her, we always had the best times. On my birthday she helped to make a special treat for me, and on her birthday we got to have a true American style birthday party! Her family welcomed my team and I into their home for a night of hanging out and celebrating and it has been one of my favorite Race memories ever. Sweet Yahosca and I have stayed in touch since I left Nicaragua and I look forward to seeing her again in the future.
Mountains
Just to keep with tradition, I have to tell you about the Nicaraguan mountains (you would be disappointed if I didn’t). Well, they are beautiful and winding. We spent quite a bit of time driving through them this past month and the Lord reminded me of His creative power again and again. I was also reminded why I always keep my motion sickness bands nearby…
That’s a wrap on Nicaragua! This was a really amazing month both spiritually and physically. When I was asked to lead this trip, my friend said ‘Morgan this is a gift’, and that has never felt more true than this month.
Much Love,
Morgan.
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