Last night I attended the coolest surprise birthday party ever.
It was an authentic Nicaraguan birthday party including:
an egg hunt,
a lakeside sunset
a relay race,
musical chairs,
princess party favors,
a homemade piñata,
a carrot cake,
salsa dancing,
AND best of all…
21 overjoyed orphans!
All the kids knew the birthday party was happening, but they thought it was one of the Racers birthdays.
So when we yelled 'SURPRISE SUJAN!' one shy little girl's face lit up with shock and excitement as she realized it was actually her that was being celebrated!
The excitement settled and the games began!
Prizes were handed out to the winners of each game and the energy grew as the party went on.
The Americans were taught how to properly hit a piñata:
In between every few swings at the piñata, you have to stop for a quick salsa break!
We all settled down and sang happy birthday in both English and Spanish and the cake was passed out!
As the kids sugar intake went up and the sun continued to go down, the dance party began!
Bachata, Meringue, Salsa and of course the classic jump-around, and I was in heaven.
We danced the evening away until it was dinner time.
The birthday party gave us a great glimpse of the true family that lives and works here at CICRIN; the kids are all like siblings and the staff here loves the kids as their own.
But something else happened at the birthday party.
It wasn't that I hadn't been myself on the Race, but I was still holding back a little something.
Still fighting for acceptance, scared my team might not like the unedited, 100% Brittany.
But as I was dancing around with the kids, Cinderella party bag in hand, I realized that I could let loose.
I could be myself.
No strings attached.
I can be the 22 year old that still loves disney princess bandaids, because they do in fact work better.
I can be the girl who gets competitive, even if its musical chairs against 12 year olds. (oops)
I can be the girl who loves to dance, even if its by myself in a circle of jumping children.
I can be the girl who jumps in a lake with all my clothes on, because life is just too short.
I can just be me.
Because that is all that the Lord has asked of me.
Love to all,
Brittany
