I don’t believe I posted a blog at all while in Africa. So here is a way past due update.
The first month was amazing. We were at El Shaddai which is an orphanage located on a mountain top. The top of that mountain held one of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever seen. But not only did that mountain hold one of the most beautiful sights but also some of the most beautiful kids. At arrival we all got paired up with buddies and spent the month getting to know and build relationships with them. One younger boy, who wasn’t my buddy, stole my heart. He was a trouble maker and the sweetest thing all in one. Honestly though he just wanted to be loved. If I could’ve left all my stuff there and smushed him into my pack I would’ve. But I couldn’t and so after a month we said goodbye. I didn’t think I would cry leaving there but I did. (I’ve cried more on this race than during the first 18 years of my life) The night we left I cried and continuously asked God why. Why did I get the privileged life I live? Why have I never had to wonder if I’ll have food to eat? Why do I have dressers full of clothes and all Bondila had were three holed outfits? But then I was reminded of something.
While at El Shaddai my team and I went on a house visit. A house visit is when you visit a family from the church at their home and bring some food and supplies for them. My team and I went to a gogo’s (grandmother’s) house. While there we sat on the floor with her and 4 of her grandkids. One of them was sleeping and had numerous flies all over her. Mad about the sight I silently yelled at God. After we gave the gogo the food we brought she replied with “Thank you so much and God bless you. I’ve been praying for this. Now I won’t have to worry if my kids will have food on Christmas” The young child and the gogo’s words both brought tears to my eyes. Later on I sat looking out over the mountains and had a conversation with God.
I was let in on a secret of His that day. I was questioning him about why those people live like that and I don’t. He asked me why I get mad at him for giving others a life like this when they’ve never stopped to question him. That lady had no food for Christmas and never did she stop to ask God why but instead prayed He would provide and he did. He said yes you have many privileges that they don’t have but they have the greatest one of all. They have the privilege of knowing me personally and they don’t need worldly things to realize that. I laughed a little and then questioned myself. Those people see God work and provide for them in ways I’ll probably never be able to imagine. So how am I the blessed one? My entire life I’ve put worldly objects above God. I thought because having a tv in every room of my house and a car downstairs in the garage that I was blessed. Funny though because never did I even stop to thank God for either of those things. I realized just how fogged my view of God was that day. I met an angel and saw our Lord work in a crazy amazing way during that home visit. So the night we left this replayed in my mind and again I was reminded that I’m not more blessed than they are and that God does and will continue to provide for them as needed.
The second month we were in the city of Manzini. While there we worked at The Hope House which is kind of like a rehabilitation center. While there I visited a stubborn, funny, Scottish man. Most people didn’t like Dave because he had very dry humor and liked to fight about everything. He reminded me a lot of my grandfather though. For any of you that know papa just picture him with a Scottish accent, one leg, and loving boats instead of planes and that’s Dave. As time went on and I got to know Dave more he became a friend and let the walls down. He taught me a lot while there. He showed me how to laugh and love life even when it isn’t going as planned. He constantly reminded me to cherish my days. Sometimes I’d bring him deserts and he’d get super excited, reminding me that it’s the little things in life. I wish I could’ve met his kids and told them just how much their father loved and adored them. I picture God wooing and ahing over us the way he did over them. The biggest thing I learned during Manzini though is that it’s all about your own attitude. If you’re a future racer reading this know that the cliche of choosing in actually is true. You choose to choose in or out and depending on what you pick it’ll make or brake your month. God laughed a little at me during this lesson. Although I knew I had chosen out that month and was continuously on a downward negative spiral one afternoon I realized it more than others. I was helping David build a swing and as he slowly realized he couldn’t lift the log, or balance on a tree limb, or do most things he used to be able to do he started to give up. I gave him a pep talk and in it I used the cliche choosing in. I laughed because as I was sitting there telling him to choose in I had already chose out of the month. Even though I loved visiting and getting to know Dave that was only for about 8 hours a week. The other 160 hours, I’m not going to lie, I sat in my room and complained about not having other things to do. Basically I chose out and therefore Manzini was by far my hardest month.
Enough about Africa though because now I’m in Nicaragua and I’m already in love with this place. It’s only week two, week one in the new location and it’s by far my favorite of the three countries. We are staying half way up a mountain in a town called Palacaguina. Our main ministry is building a church about an hour away from us. On Wednesdays we get together with two other teams in the area and help build a cabana. On Sunday’s we go to bible study in the morning and church in the evening. Church last Sunday was insane. We go to Assemblies of God. I’ve never experienced anything like it before. A lady passed out and like five other ladies were seizing. Not going to lie it was pretty weird and out of my comfort zone. It didn’t feel bizarre or anything though so obviously it was of the Holy Spirit. Well hopefully at least. That’s all I’ve got for now though. Promise to update you all more often!
Stay golden.
Love,
Court
