the days since my last blog post have been something out of this world. i have gone out prayer walking most days, but we have also farmed, gone to the beach with the staff & their families, celebrated the 4thof july, & played many games of basketball & checkers. the Lord has been showing me the kingdom in everything i have participated in, which makes it difficult for me to share stories. which ones do i pick? so, today i want to share an overview of what the Lord has taught me, rather than one specific story.
as i entered training camp & the first week of nicaragua, i have to admit that my heart was pretty closed off. i was uncomfortable; i was in a place where i knew no one but was expected to share my true self with everyone. once in nicaragua i didn’t speak the same language, i was clearly the odd gringo, & again i was uncomfortable. however, God used one family to change my heart posture. in my last blog, you saw a picture of me & Guasa, mi hermano de otra madre. his real name is Saul (sa-ool) & his family has welcomed me as one of their own. his wife & three kids are some of my favorite humans. i have been able to get to know them when they come to REAP for sunday church services & other evening bible studies. i was also able to spend the day at the beach with them when REAP took their staff & families to have a day off. i played in the water with two of the kiddos for 3 hours & then spent the evening playing basketball & skateboarding with all three of them. as it was getting late, the youngest crawled into my lap & gave me the biggest hug. his wife, Ana, is loving, encouraging, teaches me spanish, helps me follow along in the bible during the all-spanish church services, & gives the best hugs. Ana was baptized last sunday at REAP & i was able to sit up with the family & cheer her on. what a wonderful family!!
Saul has become my best friend here. i spend every day doing something with him. most of the time it is prayer walking, but we’ve gone on mango adventures (fresh mangos with salt, chili, & lime = best afternoon snack), played a lot of basketball, learned some soccer tricks, learned spanish/english, listened to music, read different bible passages, chatted about life & growing up in nicaragua & so much more. while i made a new friend & have loved every moment with him, God has used this man & his family to show me how much better life can be with an open heart. i didn’t want to open up because i knew it would hurt to say goodbye, but i have seen the fruit from living life with this new heart posture. not only was i able to open up with Saul, but my teammates have told me they have seen me come alive these last few weeks. i am now more open with my team, with my squad & with God. God used Saul, Ana & their kiddos to allow my heart to be opened to the Lord’s love. i am now able to be filled up with his love & continue pouring it out to those around me.
as i look to saying goodbye, i reflect on this incredible culture. i asked members of my squad to write down words that described nicaragua. here are some of the words to hopefully give you an inside look: hospitality, encouraging, love, being watered, restoration, bearing good fruit, open hearts, generous, victorious, oppressed but not crushed, persecuted but not abandoned, seeking, hopeful, redemption, overflowing joy, faithful, & inviting.
this last month has been one of the best months of my life. the goodbyes are going to suck & i know i will be sad, but i am choosing to focus on bringing this new found heart posture to costa rica. i want to be able to jump into our new ministry day one with a ‘yes’ spirit & an open heart. prayers for this transition would be much appreciated! we say goodbye monday & make it to our new home of jacó, costa rica on tuesday evening. here’s to month one being completed!
love you all!
mads
Ana’s baptism day!
hanging with the fam at the beach
my beach pal
i got to hold this little guy for over an hour while the fam watched Saul play basketball
