We arrived about a week ago now to this island of Ometepe, Nicaragua. Teams Pneuma and Lovebound have so quickly become family. It’s refreshing to have more people and personalities to be around. To have more people to communicate with, to hear stories from, and to share resources with. You might say, we have a bit of a Christian commune going on here…
For the ladies, most our mornings are spent weeding in the garden which provides a decent amount of the food served here. (On this note, I have decided I LOVE gardening, and cannot wait to have my own one day…Never had the patience for it before, but now can better appreciate it because of the quiet moments spent there this month… ) I can now identify tomato plants, cucumber plants, and of course, Moringa trees. I’m hoping to add to this list more and more with each country.
On quite a few occasions already, I’ve also been spending time in the kitchen, learning how to prepare local dishes. My favorite thus far: Pico. A cinnamon breakfast item we had served here (with rice and beans, of course!)
Most of the children here are older, and I recently learned that most of them have families. Only one is a “true” orphan. The others, their parents simply could not care for them. Abandon. Most of them love attempting to make conversation with us, or friendly tease us. Though I’ve had great opportunities to practice Spanish, and most of them know a decent amount of english, please be in prayer about this process; pray that the communication barriers are broken down, and that it won’t be so much of a struggle.
Overall, this month is turning out to be a lesson in s i l e n c e, and the importance of being s t i l l. When not working in the kitchen, the garden, or with the children (who have school a good portion of the day) most of my time is spent in a hammock, swaying in the breeze, relaxing to the sound of the waves hitting the shore, reading God’s word, and praying. Already, hours upon hours have been spent doing just this. Just *b e i n g* in His presence, and soaking in all that He wants to reveal to me this month.
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.�
