The journey continues, from L.A. to Nicaragua!
It must be said…I love my life here! The first country I ever went to outside of the U.S. was actually Nicaragua, about ten years ago. The Lord confirmed His calling on my life for missions when I was here back in 1998, and then I got the privilege to travel to 3 more Latin American countries for missions within the next 3 years. I have always adored the culture and the people here. You would be hard-pressed to find nicer or a more humble group of people anywhere in the world.
So, what have I been up to for these last two and a half weeks, you may ask…
Construction!!! I have been dying to get my hands dirty and work out in the sun this whole year, only being slightly satisfied from time to time with painting projects and the such back in the Philippines and a few other times, but we have finally been able to get out there and tackle some construction projects! I always love the first few minutes that pass as we arrive on the construction site, just two American girls with our little water bottles and sunscreen (Heather and myself), while the guys size us up and mentally prepare for a day of undoing whatever it is we have managed to foul up! Granted, I understand their apprehension. We look more like cheerleaders than construction workers! But then they assign us a task, and off we go…lifting 12 foot zinc metal sheets over our heads and handing them to the astonished guys waiting on the roof top nail them down! Their faces are priceless! And then we settle in to our routine as the helpers who have gained some sort of respect and are counted among the trabajadores (workers). One of my goals this month was to go to bed every night completely exhausted from a hard days’ work…so far, so good!
We have been able to make really good friendships with the guys that we work with, which always makes it more fun. They are around our age, and what with their average English skills and our foggy but working Spanish, we are able to have conversations. The main question everyone asks is why we are here, and why on earth two girls from the States would be so eager to work outside and get dirty to build other people’s houses. It’s been a great time so far. Today we even got to try our hand at some power tools…with much success! All in all, we have helped to build 10 roofs, I have painted a ton, and we were mixing and shoveling concrete the other day. I didn’t even know I had that many muscles in my back, but I know now because they are all aching!
It’s a good feeling to work hard and to help out and get to see the results of your labor. This year has been so diverse with so many types of ministry, which I am grateful for. I have been stretched in a lot of ways by having to do things I wouldn’t normally volunteer for. But here in Nicaragua, I couldn’t think of anything better than working right alongside of some amazing men of God to help repair other people’s houses because we know we serve the same God and we want to show that love that we have for Him, but more importnatly the love He has for the people in the community. I like that we are the wild cards on the site each day! We are the unexpected girls who show up to be a part of the hurricane relief efforts each day, and yet we are the ones who walk away blessed! Then we get greeted by 20 -30 orphan boys who play a game of baseball on our front lawn every night before dinner! It’s such an awesome way of life here!
Oh, and I am getting so tan that people have started to ask what Central American country I’m from! Then I open my mouth and exhaust the few Spanish phrases I know and they realize in fact that I am American and just haven’t been using that much sunscreen! Life is good.
Pictures coming soon….the internet connection can be a little tricky here!
