Kaye is my host grandma who doesn’t like her age to be shared, but acts not a day over 49 – the age she thinks is fitting. Kaye’s grandma tendencies don’t stop at hot tea and plain rice when we’re sick, but are laced into our breakfast, morning bible study, and evening movie selection (with popcorn of course). She’s the kind of grandma that goes grocery shopping with you and buys you bags of new fruit you’re bound to love. She wakes up every morning and claims the day for the Lord, inviting us to do the same. Every stranger she comes across is met with broken Spanish and a sincere smile. Kaye is the kind of grandma that makes sure you write down every detail of your future husband and prays over the list with you because ‘you have to be specific with God.’ She pulls out her list and tells you all about the man that’s waiting on her too.
I think my favorite thing about Kaye is her confidence in God. A year after losing her husband of 38 years to a sudden heart attack, Kaye followed the Lord to Nicaragua, trusting fully that His plan must be greater than hers. It’s not often you meet someone who speaks His promises into every conversation you have with them. It’s not often you meet someone who breaks into thanksgiving at any moment of the day. Kaye knows God as if He walks every step of every day with her. She laughs with Him, speaks with Him constantly, and cries tears of awe when He shares a little more of Himself with her – which is more often than not. She lives His truth because she knows it’s the only true way of life.
The cool thing about Kaye is that she isn’t ever satisfied with where she’s at. She demands more, fully aware that God has bigger and better things for her to enjoy with Him. She never stops seeking after what God’s trying to give her next. Kaye knows that when you become comfortable with your situation, your heart posture, your surroundings, you begin to rely more on those things than the One who gave them to you. Kaye believes in praising Gods name for our sickness, for our struggles, for our tough situations because grandmas like Kaye know that God’s glory and promises work best in through things. Kaye’s faith isn’t something she has, it’s something she does. Grandma’s like Kaye know that faith looks a whole lot like homemade cooking, spontaneous prayers, continual thanksgiving, and romantic comedy movie nights.
And we know that faith like grandma Kaye’s is an answer to our prayers.
My team and I were relocated to a new host here in Nicaragua. We’re currently in El Crucero, Nicaragua living in a home called Casa De Gozo (House of Joy). Here we play soccer, do pedicures, have baking classes, bible studies, and just enjoy life in the mountains. It’s nice and cool (thank the Lord) and safe enough to take a walk through the hills. God knew everything we needed and gave us exceedingly more than what we could have asked for. I’m so happy to finish out my race here!
See you in THIRTY TWO days!!!! (not that I’m counting down)
