Hola amigos!
Disclaimer: I’d just like to apologize for not blogging much recently. The past two weeks were a blur of leaving Costa Rica, packing up all our things, bidding farewell to our sweet new friends, taking two quick trips to San Jose, Costa Rica and Granada, Nicaragua, unpacking all our things, and then settling into our new home in Palacaguina, Nicaragua. This past half-month has been busy, but so very, very good to me. So thank you for your patience, dear friends.
“The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish.” -John 1:14 (MSG)
My team and another team from my squad moved into our home in Palacaguina, Nicaragua a little less than a week ago. We partner with 519now ministry and help with the construction of a Christian bilingual school/serve in a home for kids with special needs. I am loving every second I spend in this beautiful place, but saying goodbye to my favorite country and my new Costa Rican friends was hard. Very rarely does one get the pleasure of meeting people with so much strength, boldness, wit, vivacity, and love for life. Costa Rica is known for its gorgeous scenery, but the people we met were definitely the most beautiful part of our entire month. We had the privilege of spending almost all our time with our neighbors who resided next door to the church we lived in. They quickly took the clueless gringas in under their wing, and became our protectors, teachers, and best friends. They accompanied us to the grocery store weekly, called us taxis (and made sure we didn’t get ripped off), washed our clothes, cooked us food, took us swimming in the river, brought us pineapple fresh from the field every single day, and even put out a few tiny little kitchen fires that we may have started. They served us selflessly, without expecting anything in return, simply because they loved us. To me, it paralleled the way Jesus served us through the cross… He died for us simply because he loved us and he wanted to do life with us.
With our wonderful neighbors, we laughed, we cried, and we conversed about the all-knowing, all-powerful God who brought us together. I think my favorite thing that the Lord has done for me, besides inviting me into His Kingdom through the blood of the Lamb, is all the friends He’s given me as a result of my love for Him. He is a God who is far bigger than culture, language barriers, economics, and circumstances. He is a King who tears down walls, casts out darkness, and breaks cycles. His relentless love for His kids takes us to unlikely places, places us in unlikely circumstances, and gives us unlikely friends.
I am so full of gratitude for the people He gave me in Costa Rica, and for the way they brought me closer to Him. I’m thankful for friends and experiences that’ll impact me for the rest of my life. Above all, I’m thankful for His character and the way He makes all things work together for the good of those who love Him. Lord, thank You for an amazing, unforgettable first month.
Friends, my time on the race thus far has been incredible to say the least. I want to keep learning about my God, loving His people, and serving Him through partner ministries. In order to continue doing this, I need to raise about $3,500 more by the end of December. If you feel called to support me financially, you can do that right here through this blog. Thank you, dear friends, for believing in me and believing in the things I’m about.
For the Kingdom,
Ellen
