Family!!
We have a few days left in Nicaragua. God has brought my team and I through a war this month. Our entire squad as well. We have stumbled through serious and frequent bouts with sickness. We have gone through hard team times with difficult topics. We've argued over ministry. I've been sick, exhausted, sweaty, filthy, confused, frustrated, annoyed and grumpy.
But this blog isn't about those times.
Despite a tough month, so far Nicaragua has been my favorite country. While the above description is accurate, It doesn't define my month. It has shaped it, but not defined it. In contrast, I won't sit here and say that an amazing ministry experience defined my month either. That experience neither happened nor defined my month because of the lack there of.
We had some cool days of ministry, but….what I will remember is sunset number 23.
It was a great one. I sat in my hammock under the palm trees and watched the orange blob drown into the horizon. Simultaneously, the clouds above blow up in a beautiful pink orange forest fire in the sky. From 5:15-5:50 all I did was watch sunset 23. Good choice.
Sunset 22 was a good one too. I sat on a building porch with a book and watched massive clouds glow in golden color.
Sunset 21 was equal in stature, as was 20, 19 all the way down to the first sunset I watched here in Nicaragua. All awe inspiring moments in the presence of God, and his masterpiece.
It's moments like watching sunset 23 and thinking how good God is that defined my month here in Nicaragua.
Things like…
Watching tremendous thunderstorms night in and night out.
Having numerous dance parties in the rain.
Viewing a glittering carpet of fireflies just after dusk.
Observing the mist clear away from the volcano in our backyard.
Drinking coconut milk straight from one of the many coconut trees on our host's property.
Spending the most beautiful mornings worshiping Jesus.
Having pancakes, eggs, cereal, pineapple, bananas and orange juice for breakfast 🙂
Praying before breakfast with Jac, then watching those prayers get answered one by one in the days to come.
Laughing and going deep while doing construction with Nate.
Playing baseball with the property guards, but getting called out every time you would slug a home run.
Playing soccer in a rain-forced river, then teaching Nicaraguans how to play tackle football in that same river.
Laughing about "Mr. Daily" college stories with James.
Marine biology lessons about mallard ducks from Nate.
Mutton chop sideburns.
Waking up to 500 cheering kids at 4:30 am to celebrate Nicaraguan independence.
Hammock time with Grace.
Jac's wake-up playlist.
Laying in bed sick with James.
Baptizing Erin.
Watching Erin's life flip 180 degrees.
Watching Mindy carry the same laugh even though she was in pain and had mono.
Surfing the warm Nicaraguan ocean.
Anytime we got to visit the beach.
Swimming in the waves (honest I have never had more fun swimming in waves in my whole life).
Seeing the cutest, but shabbiest and stinkiest, cocker-spaniel "Lotee" get pushed around because she has three dreads in her ears.
Seeing Nate, Jac and Erin be fully joyful after spending 5 unexpected nights in a hospital cot.
Smiling huge at Nicaraguans while naively and repeatedly saying "Hola! Como estas?" But not understanding a word they said back past "bein" (I'm well).
Seeing that those same Nicaraguans saw Jesus through my hopeless Spanish skills.
Meeting and befriending Josue.
Meeting a pet monkey.
Playing drums at church for worship.
Praying over men after Sunday school.
Fasting day for support.
Talking to great old friends, and making great new friends.
Riding everywhere in a flatbed army truck.
Finding a Michigan State teddy bear.
Dropping off a little piece of heaven everywhere we went.
Some of these happened once, some up to 23 times. None will be found in the bible, but everyone pointed me to Jesus.
Because every moment made me pause, and thank my creator for how awesome he is.
Turns out he loves being thanked and loves the small things too.
Take some time, watch the sunset, the leaves fall, or catch a snow flake in your mouth. (Depending on how far north you are) 😉
Love from Nicaragua!
Jake
