I’ve been meaning to write this blog for a couple of days, but ive been on planes and automobiles literally all over the world. I’m in Manila in the Philippines right now (blog coming about that soon), but I just wanted to update you guys since I was struggling to find time (and internet) to blog in Nicaragua.
So, without further ado, here is 11 things that I noticed while i was in Central America:
1. Family is EVERYTHING in Central America. I mean everything. The culture is all centered around families and extended families and they do everything together. And when you find a healthy, God-fearing family, it is beautiful and you can just see the love poured out. But oddly enough, there are a ton of families not like this, but the idea of family is still everything. It’s a strange dynamic that’s impossible to describe.
2. Speaking of family, fatherlessness is devastating on the family unit, and never was this more apparent than in Honduras (see my blog on the fatherlessness nation).
3. Central America is ABSOLUTELY BREATHTAKINGLY BEAUTIFUL. From volcanoes to Spanish forts, from rain forests and mud houses to gorgeous cathedrals, Latin America is definitely overlooked when it comes to beauty. I definitely recommend a visit. (Especially to Nicaragua, trust me, so underrated).
4. Simplicity and abandonment is beautiful and enables relationship building. We were in both huge cities and small villages, with internet and plenty, and without it or a clean toilet, and one huge thing I noticed is that people build the best relationships when they are living together in community without technology and business to distract them. And living under conditions when people are dependent on each other is wonderful for building friendships.
5. Tacos are AWESOME. But fried food will get you if you eat it for an entire month. Holy smokes.
6. Missionaries are THE HARDEST WORKING and sometimes most underappreciated people I know. Every single contact I have met is pulling at least 60-80 hours a week in “ministry”, not to mention living it out. And it’s not easy. It’s draining spiritually, physically, and emotionally. And they are raising money to do it. Can you imagine if you had to raise money to pay your salary at work? These people need our prayers and our money and our love. So call a missionary you know and tell them you are thinking about them. Seriously, i’ve seen the difference it makes when they know someone loves them too.
7. I’ll never ever hate on the megabus again. Holy smokes these buses were something else. Cattle trucks would have been an upgrade, and standing “room” only was the norm on school buses, and holding on for your life on the back of a route truck is an experience. But it was fun!
8. ANYTHING can become an adventure. I can’t tell you how many “ordinary” days have become my favorite memories because of little things life throws your way. The best example I have is taking little Anderson and William to their first day of school in Tegucigulpa. I drove, with mikkia, zack, Jillian, and Needia rollin with us. Turns out their school was on the top of a mountain, and was closed. So I got the privilege of driving those little fire balls around Tegucigulpa on errands all morning. It was a blast, and we were exhausted. (and stupid instagram won’t let me upload the photo. sorry people!)
9. There is a massive need for Godly men to step up here. Most of the missionaries i met were women, which is cool, but there are a ton of boys in the community who need to be shown how to be men of God, which is a man’s job. 
10. If you make an effort to try and learn the language and customs of a country, it goes a LONG way in earning the respect of its people, because it shows that you care and don’t have a “my culture is better than yours” mentality.
11. Taking the time just to be with someone makes a world of difference in relationships. Our contact in Honduras stressed this so much. Don’t let your work become a distraction from being with people, which is what we are here for anyway. God made us to be with people and to live in community as His Bride, and it’s beautiful when it’s done with love. 
