Central America officially has a special place in my heart. As the days go on, I am realizing that I have a deep passion for this part of the world. The language, the culture, the hospitality… I love it all.
Nicaragua has been good to us. Our first stop in the country was in a little town called Granada. It was absolutely beautiful. We stayed at a ministry site called El Puente where our squad had a few days to focus on developing and becoming better leaders. It was great to learn some new information as well as be reminded of things I have learned in the past.
My team then headed out to Leon, Nicaragua. We are on our own, just the 6 of us, this month. This is our first month on the race that we’ve been by ourselves. We are just like any other family. We have our moments of miscommunication and frustration, but I love every one of them more than I ever thought possible. You see, your team on the world race is unlike any other group of people you’ll ever be with. We do life together. Wake up, eat breakfast, head to work, eat lunch, back to work, come home for dinner, then go to sleep. And we can’t forget to get some “team time and feedback” in there.
Team time and feedback is something that the world race has always done. Team time this month has consisted of various activities such as taking salsa classes, hiking volcanoes, playing volleyball and reading bible verses in a new way. Feedback is our chance to build each other up to become more Christ-like. If you notice someone on the team doing something great, this is your opportunity to let him or her know and give thanks. If you notice there is something they could do a little better or in a different way, tell them at feedback!
Feedback is for the whole team to hear. Yes, there are days I do not want to do feedback. Sometimes I’m exhausted and ready to go to bed or maybe I just am nervous to give certain feedback but I want my team to grow together. Feedback keeps us from bottling anything inside and helps us reach our full potential for what God has in store.
I am so thankful for both team time and feedback and I believe its teaching me a lesson I will take with me for the rest of my life. It has shown me the importance of building each other up as Christ’s children and helped me understand what it looks like to be a Godly woman.
With all that said, my team is having a wonderful month here in Nicaragua. Our ministry contact, El Ayudante, facilitates missions teams when they come in. The first week here, a medical missions team from Ohio came to set up health clinics all over Leon. We helped them with that and I learned how to check vital signs and even helped translate for the nurses. I am certainly not the best at Spanish but being here in Central America has created that desire in me to learn more of the language and I hope to be fluent one day.
El Ayudante’s main ministry is their children’s home, which takes care of 28 kids from abusive and/or drug-addicted homes. This month I am teaching math at the after school program. I am really enjoying it so far. These kids need lots of love. I know I am simply teaching them math, but I pray that God’s light shines through me when I am around them. I want them to know that the Father’s love is different than any love they’ve ever known.
Sometimes I catch myself looking around and have to take a step back and realize this is my life right now. I love it and I am so thankful for where I am. I thank God every day for calling me to the race and placing me on this team. I can’t thank Him enough. I challenge you to take a look around and be thankful for wherever you are and to dig in whatever you are doing. You are there for a reason!
