These past 5 months were so amazing. I wish I could explain in words what Central America means to me. I feel like my words won’t do it justice but I will try.
Central America, You are beautiful. From the mountains of Panama to the beaches of El Salvador, you showed me everything you had to offer. I specially remember when I crossed the border into Nicaragua, my 4th month, I looked out into the distance and it was one of the most beautiful sights I had seen. It was barren with just a couple trees- simular to what one would imagine real life Lion King to be. But it was beauty in its purest form. When I was looking out that window, I realised that beauty is all relative but if I take the time to look for it I will find it. No matter where I go, I find beauty.
Central America, You are love. From German and his family in Guatemala to sweet Margarita and Jairo in Urraco, you showed me what it means to love like Jesus. In Costa Rica, during debrief, I received the most genuine message from my host in Guatemala, German. He asked how my family in Baltimore was doing. He wanted to make sure everything was all right and I was ok. I realised in that moment that I was not just a random missionary that came into his life. I was a friend and someone he loved like family.
Central America, You are adventure. From the Catamaran in Costa Rica, to the crazy bus rides on the Tica Bus, you truly showed me adventure in all of its forms. The crazy chicken buses, fitting more than 5 people to a seat. The 16 hour bus ride to Honduras. The surfing in one of the top surf spots in the world. It’s all been such a grand adventure. You offered some of the most amazing adventures I could have asked for.
Central America, You weren’t a cake walk. From the spiritual warfare in Guatemala, to my sewage soaked bed in Honduras, you showed me how to be thankful even in the hardest of times. When I was tired from the horrid nightmares in Guatemala. You taught me what it was like to still thank God that I could even awake. You taught me to pray the biggest prayers to my Lord who answers them all. In Honduras, when I was done, done with everything around me. You taught me to write 1,000 things I was thankful for. You taught me how to view the world with joy even in the darkest places.
Central America, You will forever hold a piece of my heart. From the sweet children at REMAR orphanage to colonial Antigua, you will be in my heart. Sweet Anna, would laugh with me before I knew much Spanish and we could barely communicate. Colonial Antigua just feels right when I walk the streets. And rice and beans will always be my preferred meal. Pieces of my heart are left astray all over you.
Central America, I choose you! From your retched heat to your cool mountains to the warm ocean to the rain I craved, I would choose it time and time again. I loved spending the past 5 months with you. I loved the rice and beans everyday. I loved the sweet people who called me their children. I loved your crazy long church services. I loved who you are and everything about you.
To all of the people out there trying to figure out where to travel to next or what route to pick for the World Race or simply where to live next. Do it! Take the jump! But choose Central America. I promise it holds something so beautiful and amazing. I promise that it will shock you in every way. I promise you will fall in love like I did. How could you not?
