We fell off the bus exhausted and fully alive. We’d just been ransacked by 60 plus Nicaragurans during rush hour. Why settle for maximum capacity when you can stowaway 45 extras in the aisles? We surveyed the traffic zipping by and before we could fully catch our breath, Carly yelled something about Frogger and we were off. We dodged in and out of car lanes and made it to the other side screaming and laughing. So much for being subtle.
Hey yall, the gringos are back from ministry…
She dangled the cockroach by his leg as we looked for chickens. Carly called for the birds in their native tongue, beckoning them as she chanted, Pollo, pollo, pollo. Then we noticed the single leg between her fingers so we backtracked to pick up the rest of its body. When we finally found a chicken, he devoured the snack so quickly I’m almost certain he had indigestion later.
Oh what we do for entertainment…
I heard gringa mixed in their rapid slang and I smiled periodically but mostly I just picked and listened. It’s amazing the life story you can discover about people through their trash. Apparently my people like sodium and fresh breath. I’ve never seen so many bags of chips and boxes of Chiclets. Tess came alongside and commented on how humbling the task was before us.
Indeed.
I’m honestly not sure we made a difference because the trash is so overwhelming but it was fascinating to see the utter indifference in the local’s eyes.
As He breaks my heart for what breaks His, I’m humbled by what that looks like. I’m being filled with tenderness I’ve never experienced and compassion is beginning to course through my veins.
Who is this new girl!?
It feels like He's activating parts of my heart I didn't know existed.
It’s ok that the people are indifferent. Perhaps God’s using us to plant a seed for the future. Who knows what being His hands and feet will affect.
I’d say I’m learning to dance in the rain but that’s just too cliché…The other day, in the back of a micro mini bus, I had a breakthrough.
God told me He wants to heal me.
He said it’s ok to float in the stream and listen to His voice. You can’t always hear Him over the roar of a waterfall anyway.
It’s been pretty peaceful since. I’ve gone back to the basics. I’m taking thoughts captive. I’m walking in authority and I’m listening. When you listen, you’re able to love with a rawness that screams Jesus. Instead of taking on the world, I’m relaxing in His arms. I’m picking up trash, I’m smiling and I’m relishing that my worth comes in simply loving God back.
