Sunday, September 8th
12:16 PM
Cicrin Orphanage in Ometepe, Nicaragua
It has been a little less than a week here on the island of Ometepe, but it has felt like a lifetime.
The second we arrived and stepped off of our (very hot) van, a whole swarm of sweet children came running at us and enveloped us all in the biggest hugs. It felt almost like we were unworthy. What had we done for them, besides show up? Why did they already seem to love us so much? Whatever the reason, it was the sweetest greeting I had ever received.
Fast forward a bit, and we are assigned new ministry everyday as we stay in hot but insanely accommodating rooms. Depending on who goes where, the majority of work so far has been construction for the new classrooms they are building, painting and sanding every door and chair in sight, cooking and cleaning in the kitchens, and most importantly spending sweet time with the beautiful children of Cicrin.
We eat three meals a day, mostly rice and beans, in a small dining hall on campus with the team. Who knew I would like beet juice and limeade? We wash our clothes by hand over a bumpy board and a can of water and hang them up to dry. The showers are ice cold, but surprisingly enough feel very good due to the sheer heat outside. I don’t remember what it feels like to not be under a constant coat of bug repellant or what a soft bed with a blanket is like. I find that without the option, these things become far less essential.
Those who are in charge of everything here have not only been intensely welcoming, but are always assuring us that they are happy we are here and grateful for our help. But, to be honest, it feels as though they have helped us in many more ways.
We got to go swimming in a fresh water cove by the volcano yesterday, and then watch the sunset on a black sand beach. How can you question God’s bigness when He calls such radiant color to the sky? I have told this to my team countless times, but how amazing is it that God looked at the world and all He created in its beauty, and decided it wouldn’t be complete without me too?
Here, the church services are completely in spanish and not the quietest. Gratefully, I know Spanish, and have been deemed the “translator” for my team. We had a sweet small worship service on campus and two services in town at the church they attend. Greeted with hugs and smiles every which way.
During our Thursday night small worship time, they gathered us all into a circle and we sang. At that time, a small girl by the name of Celeste grabbed tightly onto my hand and with her other, onto my teammate, Tye’s hand. She got on her tippy toes and said (in spanish of course) that now she was tall enough for us to be her parents. Had I not had a running bet with a teammate that I would be the first to cry, with a king sized pack of Twizzlers on the line, I would’ve been taken over by sobs.
After this sweet encounter, the gracious director, Helen, told us all to get in groups of three, with one American in each group. We complied, and then she told the two others in the group that reside in Cicrin, to pray for us. For us. Here we are, coming from lavish and comfortable circumstances, to their country and community, and they pray for us. The love and kindness we have been shown has been so immense it is almost hard to comprehend.
Signing off for now!
Mack
