You know, I felt it immediately upon entering the city.
"Granada…" Doesn't that sound like a place you'd go to rest your bones and soothe your soul? It's a historic city on the edge of one of Central America's biggest lakes. And it's breath-taking. I've made friends with a young boy who sells flowers in the square at night and a woman who sits on her stoop every day with a tiny frail body, wrinkles on her face, and plenty of spunk.
These people are underdogs, despised by their neighbours to the south and the brunt of every joke. But they've got heart. Oh they've got so much heart. They want to dance and shake your hand and teach you about their culture. They want songs sung to them over a plate of food or even a morsel of food. I feel like I am such a part of the neighbhourhood, even though I know that the street will not miss me when I'm gone.
On the first night in the city a couple of us invited a young boy to eat dinner with us. He was trying to sell us a flower design made from a leaf. He wanted us to put them in our hair. I didn't have the money but I did have the heart. Eventually he gave me the flower anyway and I wore it as a sign of our connection. I wrapped my arm around him like he was my little brother, nustled my hands in his hair and sang a string of words telling him that we were going to be friends forever. He ate only a few of his chicken fingers and fries (he even fed me some like a mom would feed a baby: think airplane noises). He asked if he could please take the rest home to give to his little sister. The boys arm wrestled him and he taught one of the girls to dance and Kara told him about the gospel.
It was such a beautiful progression, to see all of our talents and gifts taking this kid from the street to the gate of Heaven. And hopefully I have the opportunity to introduce him to you all in Heaven because he and his mother accepted Christ into their lives the very next day courtesy of the Holy Spirit and some of my squadmates. I like to think that he had some flowers put in his hair in that instant.
Don't count anyone yout, ever. Don't overlook the little boy in your life begging you for money. All that he really wants is some unconditional love. Don't we all? I mean, wouldn't we do the same thing if we had to? Aren't we blessed to be on this side of the scenario? And out of that blessing shouldn't we strive to rest the bones of others, and soothe the souls of those we greet? He approached us out of desperation, but God had bigger plans. He linked this boy's misfortune with Jesus in me and it was a sweet aroma, my life being used for love.
Use whatever gifts you have to put flowers in peoples' hair.
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As this current juncture, your best bet for viewing my photos is to view the pictures that I post on Facebook via Instagram. I have to admit here and now that I'm being a little bit lazy about putting pictures on the blog (pray for some motivation!) BUT you can view my video of my time in Costa Rica right HERE!
