What I Didn’t Know About The Race

Well folks, month 3 ministry is officially over. As of yesterday, we left our ministry site to come together with the rest of the squad to spend Thanksgiving together. On Sunday we travel to Honduras, divide into new teams for the month, and begin our last month in Central America.

I came into this race knowing I would be spending one month in each place, realizing that would mean saying goodbye to these people I had just lived and worked with for the past month. What they didn’t tell me was how incredibly difficult it would be to say goodbye to the people I now call my friends, who have now become family.

 

 

This month was definitely the hardest when it came time to say “see you later”. There is something incredibly special about La Finca in Nicaragua. For the past three weeks I have been living, working and doing life with the workers at Vida Joven.

 

 

Every day we would wake up at around 6:00AM and eat breakfast. Then we would head down to daily devotional with the workers. This included a message, a couple of Spanish worship songs, and a daily chant. It was a great way to start the day and days we didn’t have it, I truly missed it.

 

Then we would head off to work. After working for a few hours, we would head to coffee time at 9:00AM. This included just hanging out, drinking coffee and snacking on Gallo pinto for a little bit. This is time I cherished so much. There was always teasing, jokes and joy. And you could guarantee there would be someone in tears from laughter.

 

After coffee, we headed back to work where we would do various projects. The first week we worked on clearing out a ditch that had filled with mud and grass. The next week we helped chip paint of the gate doors, build a retaining wall, and build a set of cement steps. The last week was dedicated to help build a game for an obstacle course. Although the work was very tough and exhausting, I truly loved every minute of it. I never knew I could find so much joy in shoveling for 7 hours a day.

 

 

At 12:00PM we would head down to the kitchen for lunch. All the workers would grab their food as quick as they could and then go play either baseball or soccer. Watching their spirit and happiness throughout these two activities was easily the best part of my day.

 

Throughout these past three weeks I have learned so much and have met some absolutely amazing people. My heart is hurting with having to leave and say “see you later”. I didn’t realize that these people would become so important to me that I would break down in tears at the thought of leaving. They didn’t tell me there would be times when grown men are crying and hugging you and saying “goodbye and God bless”. They didn’t tell me that my heart would be broken and longing for the moment I get to return there.

 

 

I fell in love with Nicaragua. I fell in love with Vida Joven. I fell in love with the people. These were all things I didn’t know would happen. But I am so incredibly thankful for the opportunity to have met these people and be at this place. And even though my heart is hurting, I know I will be back to this place.

As always, thank you for the continuous love and support. If you could pray for me, my team, and my squad as we venture through these holidays away from home, it would be greatly appreciated!

Xoxo,
Kaitlin