In Spanish, the word “cambio” means change. This month is definitely all about “cambio” for me. So it’s a new month, with a new ministry, new projects, new kids to love on, and even a new team to work alongside our team. I’m not going to lie, I am not the best at dealing with change, which is one of the reasons I am on this race…to deal with change constantly and to be able to cope with it through God’s peace. Panajachel was wonderful. We made so many loving memories, and the people of Panajachel will be in my heart forever. However, we’re out of Guatemala now and those days of walking with Isai down the alley to see the kitties at the corner tiende shop and doing hospital ministry in Solola are over, and God has something new in store for me this month. What does He have in store? I’m not quite sure yet. So far Helen and Robert (our contacts) have us in the garden/fields planting vegetables while the kids are in school. All the gardening is fun but I definitely have to keep chugging water from my Nalgene because the weather here is HOT and I don’t want to get dehydrated in the sun and pass out. Other than doing agriculture work on the CICRIN land near the orphanage, we are working with the kids there during the evenings when they’re out of school.
We’re working at CICRIN orphanage on the island of Ometepe where there are 16 teenage orphans and two children (2 and 6 years old). When I first found out we would be working with teenagers this month, I was so excited! I love youth ministry and have had plenty of experience with it in the past, so I thought “this month will be super great for me!” Well, teenagers who are without their parents for whatever reason (abandon, death, jail, drugs, etc. etc.) are very different than the teenagers I mentor back at home. The teens at the orphanage are very jaded and bitter, with a lot of attitude. They also refuse to speak English with me, which is frustrating because after only a month in Central America, I am still not fluent (surprising I know). Everytime I try to ask them questions they roll their eyes or correct me on my Spanish pronunciation. I know that they all need to much love and I know my prayer is that they eventually open up to me, but it’s just hard. I want them to know that I am on their side, and that I know that they’ve been hurt and scarred from their past, but they are still sons and daughters of the Lord who are so dearly beloved and treasured in the Kingdom of God. I know it’s an attack against Satan for me to feel frustrated and discouraged but I am not going to let it keep me down. I will continue trying with the teenagers, and continue loving them and pouring into them, whether they accept it or not. One “door way” for me is that all the teenage girls LOVE “High School Musical” and “Hannah Montana”, which I also love. We watched the second “High School Musical” movie all together the other night in Spanish and it was definite progress for me. PRAISE JESUS!
Another thing about this month is that the ministry of CICRIN is very remote, the nearest town is 20 minutes away and there is no WIFI or internet connection at the ministry site so I unfortunately will not be able to post blogs and photos as much as I’d like to. Sorry, friends and family. It’s very unfortunate, but it’s going to be a reality for me this year: not a lot of connection with the outside world sometimes. I am going to do my best to keep you all updated as much as I can, just keep me in your prayers and the teens and children of CICRIN orphange in your prayers. Pray that the Lord softens their hearts to us and pray that they let team Lovebound and Pneuma into their lives. More on Nicaragua November to come!! LOVE YOU ALL!!
Working in the garden, digging the plots to plant the squash.
From left to right: Sarah, Angela (in the back), Bri and I (back right).
The view of the lake from the CICRIN orphanage. Absolutely breathtaking!
