As I reflect on my time here so far, it is crazy to think my first week in Nicaragua is complete. We arrived on Monday evening to open arms and warm hugs, and each day since has embraced us in this way. We are living on Isla de Ometepe, a volcanic island in the middle of Lake Nicaragua, at an orphanage called CICRIN. For this first in country blog, I thought I would give a little insight into what our time here has looked like so far.
Mornings are slow and filled with intentionality as we serve in our morning chores. This could be raking leaves, mopping the kitchen, or helping with dishes — once mundane chores now seen as an opportunity to love the people of Nicaragua better. CICRIN also runs a school program, and the school year will begin next week. We have spent the afternoons preparing the school for 120 students to receive an education. This looks like sanding and staining school desks, pulling weeds from a garden, and coating the school in fresh paint — things that could be seen as unnecessary now seen as a great honor to participate in.
Through this first week, the Lord has changed my perspective. If I’m being honest, initially, I didn’t understand why it was necessary to re-sand 50 desks that to me already looked great. However, I learned to picture the kid who would be sitting in each desk. Each desk a place where a kid will receive a quality education and would learn about the goodness of God. Each desk a place where a kid will learn skills that can carry them through life. Each desk filled with opportunities greater than the limits my human brain placed on it.
My prayer for this trip is that as I live each day the Lord will keep this perspective — that I would see each day as another opportunity to minister in every area of life. My hope is that others would come to know Jesus not from my words alone, but rather from the love and joy I carry into each task set before us. I am so excited for all the things the Lord has taught me and will continue to teach me through these weeks and months. I will be back soon with more stories and lessons, but for now, I hope this begins to pain a picture of my life here in Nicaragua.
