I feel so blessed to have another month on the race that totally rocks. Maybe I’m still in the so- called “honeymoon phase”. If so, I hope I stay in it the whole 11 months. I have grown a lot spritually from all of the amazing people that have been pouring into us this month…even if they don’t realize it. I want you to meet three women whom I hsvr been honored to get to know over this month.They each posess wisdom, power, strength, laughter and hearts of true servants. My team and I were immediately drawn to Rosa and have been visiting houses with her as often as we can. The main thing Rosa has taught me is the power of prayer. I remember how uncomfortable I felt praying over people the first day we visited houses with her. I hated it, honestly. I thought it was awkward, pointless because I don’t speak Spanish, and silly to pray for things like a broken wrist to heal itself with no cast or any type of medicine. But we still went with her each day and each day got easier. I became more confident in my prayers because I was actively putting my faith in God. I saw powerful things happening because of our prayers. I even prayed I would grow in praying. What do you know, that got answered too. I have never met a woman like Rosa before and I don’t know that I will again. She’s just so awesome and will always be in my heart as a reminder of why we were put on this earth. Rosa, Barb and Maria have been Godly examples of women in my life that will leave a lasting impact for sure. I’m so blessed that I have learned a lot from them and from our rock solid minsitry contacts here, as well–Lisa, Diego, Linda and Tommy. So now we’re wrapping up month two and I hate how fast the time is flying! My heart is going to break all over again (ugh) when we leave Candelaria on Tuesday to head to Granada for debrief with the entire squad. But, I’m super pumped about being with everyone again to recharge and get ready for Costa Rica!
ROSA
is the prayer warrior I have talked about in previous blogs, but this woman deserves multiple blog recognitions. She has a solid family and a bunch of kids–ten altogether, but two have passed away. She is a prominent woman in the community and church in Candelaria. I’ve mentioned before, but this woman freakin raised her daughter from the dead. Her daughter was pronounced dead by a bunch of different doctors for four hours…I’m talking cotton in her nose and mouth because they were ready to take her to wherever they take dead people. Rosa told her daughter to speak and she did. This was nine years ago and her daughter is an active part of the youth ministry here today. I get goose bumps everytime I hear the story because it’s just that FREAKIN awesome. Anyways, Rosa wakes up at 3:30 am every day to pray before she gets her day started. She spends her days visiting houses of the people in the community and has the reputation where people seek her out for prayer now because her prayer and faithfulness is that powerful. She walked to Rosa’s (our cook…everyone is named Rosa) house to pray for her one day. Rosa house is a 45 minute BIKE ride from here…yea, she rocks.
Christy, Rosa and I
BARBARA
is a crazy, awesome woman from Florida. She is 60 years old and has been a widow for six years. She came to Candelaria with her church on a short term mission trip and felt that God was calling her back here. Barb sold all of her things, packed herself into four suitcases (one of them has got to be a ton of hair gel and purses) and moved to Nicaragua two weeks ago. She’ll be the first to tell you how crazy it is that she’s here. But I absolutely love her faithfulness to obediately follow God’s path regardless of circumstances. Barb is so young at heart and has a passion for the youth here, and they just love her, too! I love that she shares whatever is on her mind–good or bad–and has a radiating fire in her heart that is so apparent everywhere she steps foot. The other week my team, Lisa, Diego and Kenia took a cattle truck on rough roads up a mountain to the foot of the volcano to surf down. Barb came with us! She was a trooper and even managed to turn what could have been a frustrating experience into a lesson from the Lord that she shared with the youth. She is still in culture shock and isn’t ashamed to point out everything that is insane about this living in this country, but she totally embraces it. Barb is a true example of following God’s call, no matter what age, and giving up everything she has to glorify Him.
Barb and I at the bonfire(left) Me, Lisa and Barb on the swings after pizza(right)
MARIA
is a widow we started visiting a few weeks ago and we completely fell in love. She is 100 years old but she’s convinced she’s 113; either way she’s super old and super awesome. The fact that she has lived this long in Nicaragua with limited health care is a miracle. From the day we met her, we have been to see her every day since. She’s always sitting either in her rocking chair or hammock (her bed) waiting for us to come. A few of the kids around the church come visit her with us and they interpret her Spanish because we can’t understand what she says through her teethless gums. Maria laughs with us, we sing to her, pray together, Christy rubs some sketchy gel on her head and sometimes up her nose (true servant right there), we bring her food, and love on her. We have seen the life come back into Maria so much since the first time we visited her because of the love God pours through us. I’ve learned that no matter a language or age barrier we are called to simply show love and that often speaks more than words. Maria’s joy, gumless smile and endless kisses bring me more happiness than I think she will ever realize.
Christy putting on Maria’s new shoes she bought her (left) and praying with Maria(right)
