This month for me has been a lot about just doing things. Seemingly minor things, but doing them.
(one thing i need to work on “just doing” is taking pictures so, lo siento, for now)
In past months, it’s felt like we have a lot of time to build relationships and a lot of opportunity with the same people- so I procrastinate. I wait until our last week of ministry to really invest, you’ve gotta pace yourself and warm up to people, amiright?
Well this month is way shorter. I feel it. And the Lord has been gracious to show me that within the first days here in Nicaragua.
This weekend we helped with an apologetics conference. I found myself watching while my team was playing with the kids. There was a kickball game and a futbol game and I felt like I wanted to go play but for some reason was hesitant. Why? We only had a few opportunities with these kids, why not go play?
The enemy had a bunch of lies going in my head. ‘It won’t make a difference if you play…’ ‘You’re the only girl…’ ‘You’re not good at futbol and these kids are basically professionals…’ ‘Just go play kickball instead…’
“Not today, Satan.”
So I jumped into the futbol game. It grew from just the kids under 12 to a few of the older kids (who part of me regretted inviting to play because lets face it.. My futbol skills are at a 12 year old level.. A good 12 year old, but a 12 year old nonetheless) and one of our ministry partners who I got to see in a different light. It was super fun and I played for most of that afternoon.
I made a lot of fast friends and have actually seen quite a few of the kids/teens around the community and on our prayer walks. Just recognizing them and talking to them every time I see them has been really fun for me and I hope means something to them too!
During the week we’ve been working with a few locals out on the Bases land. In the mornings we clear the field with machetes, and dig holes for new plantain trees (also a trench). During our rest times I’ve been intentional about choosing to spend time just sitting with the locals we work with. They speak next to no English but sometimes I try to start Spanglish convo or we just sit in silence and I share my chips with them.
It’s been cool to see how just that, remembering their names and greeting them literally every single time I see them has grown our relationships. There’s truly power in just acknowledging people.
Our most recent day out at the Land we worked with a group of YoungLife youth. Again I just tried to talk to them. Luckily a few of them knew enough English to help me with my Spanglish so we could talk while we were digging holes.
In the middle of the morning a storm came and we were all waiting it out under the pavilion. Our groups kind of separated but I felt like I was supposed to hang out with the group of kids. Everyone was really tired so while our team was resting I went over to sit with the Nicaraguans.
Honestly, I was kinda nervous and really wanted to but didn’t want to at the same time. Even though I’d been talking to a few of them while we were working I was literally going to sit in a group of like 10 teenage boys with nothing to say to them. Awkward.
But I did. And it grew our friendships, I got to meet more of them and talk to them about what we were doing in Nicaragua, how long we’d be here etc.
I feel like by the end of that morning I had a bunch of new friends. We were all laughing and joking together and I was really sad when it came time to leave.
I really love it here, in Nicaragua, and I think a lot of that has to do with my willingness to actually DO when I feel like I’m supposed to do. It’s incredible how quickly bonds can grow if the Holy Spirit is in it!!
All that to say, Just Do It, whatever ‘It’ is!
Dad, Life’s good here (:
