Day 211
I’m at that point where I don’t know how to start writing. Not because there’s nothing to say, but the opposite.
There’s so much to say.
I don’t know how to begin catching you all up, so I’ll start with the basics.
Nepal was incredible. But the last few weeks of my time there, to put it simply, was very challenging. This is for reasons I may explain in another blog. It’s far too intense, far too many words, and far too unfair to you and to my experience to squeeze it all into a paragraph. I’m sure some of you assumed this, as my blogs stopped coming and my appearance on social media significantly decreased. Some of you have reached out to me and checked on me, which I appreciate more than you know. I’m sorry for disappearing and I hope in time I can unpack all these experiences.
Our journey to Nicaragua included a long layover in Chicago. The travel days were exhausting, but I got to spend time with Jordan’s family. They treated us so well. I know they’re reading this, so for the millionth time, thank you Mr. & Mrs. Schaeffer for treating us so well. And for the hot shower! It snowed while we were in Chicago; a dream kind of snow that fit the, “this is a dream,” feeling. We went to IHOP, Starbucks, Chipotle, and Target.
Overwhelming is an understatement. I may or may not have sat with a couple of my crying teammates in the Tide isle. Thinking about our return home during this layover was inevitable.
I was more than ready to get back on the plane.
As you’ll learn more about as my race comes to a rapid close, the thought of reentry into The States is nerve wracking to me. Prayers appreciated as I contemplate where Jesus is calling me, and what He’s calling me to do.
Our first course of action in Nicaragua was a leadership weekend at a beautiful hostel in Granada. There, we had a team change. Our squad of 40ish people is divided into little teams of 5 to 7. Although you know, travel with, and spend time with the rest of the squad, a change in your core community is hard.
My team had already experienced some change. At the end of Nepal, God led my teammate Ally home to some beautiful opportunities back in the States (please keep her in your prayers because this transition is not easy). My team didn’t get to have a proper goodbye with her. So, yeah. That sucked.
I know to you all, these names may not mean much and the faces in my photos may just be faces, but to me, these people have been my family for the past seven months.
My new team is:
Kendra Mallin
Emily Duncan
Shea Fitzgerald
Christy McPherson
Maggie Christie
I already adore them, and it’s already been cool the see the dynamics of the squad stretch and grow.
After leadership weekend, Mom made her way to Nicaragua for Parent Vision Trip! We reunited and shared photos and stories. Mom got to spend time with my community, and I got to meet all my friends incredible parents. Mingling together was so sweet. And even more sweet was ministry. I knew when Mom nearly started crying at the sight of a street dog, or a beggar, that ministry would be interesting for her. There definitely isn’t a way to be used to these things. But my friends and I have seen them so often, and so up close and personal, that leading our parents in the ways to cope, serve, and press on, was a unique experience.
We had three days of ministry during our week in Nicaragua. One day we shoveled dirt into wheelbarrows and filled in dangerous cracks in the fields where kids can play and be apart of a team if they come to a Bible study before. It was hot. Jordan and I shoveled dirt into the wheelbarrows with Ashley, Jordan, and Emma’s dads. Mom lugged a shovel around with the moms and the girls in the field. When we were done, she soaked herself with the hose. No surprise there.
The second day of ministry, we did a prayer walk. We went door to door, family to family, asking how we can pray for them. Most of their houses are smaller than my parents bedroom. I watched the hearts of our parents go out to these people. They prayed, loved, and at times, when it got to them, they cried.
The third day of ministry we went to the dump to feed the workers there. Not only is the dump a difficult place to process, it’s a difficult place to physically breathe.
Not only was the ministry powerful, we had many breathtaking adventures. A trip to a volcano, walks around Granada, zip lining, and a day at a lake made from a crater.
I treasure the time I spent in Nicaragua. Please be praying for the parents as God continues working in them. And to the parents, thank you for all your support and love.
After 24 hours of bussing through Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala, we arrived. Parramos, Guatemala. An Adventures in Missions base.
Our home for our last two months.
Our whole squad is living together, and we’re divided into rooms with our teams. We have beds, showers with hot water, and coffee in the morning!
I love it here. We arrived in the mist of huge celebrations for Holy Week (Antigua, which is about 30 minutes from us, is the second most popular place to travel for Holy Week). So at first, ministry was shut down because of these celebrations, but we got explore Antigua and Chimaltenango in our free time.
My first week of ministry here was at a special needs home called Los Gozosos.
And, well..I adore those kids more than I can say.
I didn’t know it was possible for so much joy to bubble out of people, but it does. It overflows out of them, and I may not understand it completely, but the joy I feel when I’m around them is so different and innocent and refreshing.
I love them very much. My ministry for the next two months will actually be at a different school, called Grace School. There, I’ll teach English and tutor kids of different ages and grades. I’ll also be able to visit Los Gozosos in the morning every now and then, because half my team goes to Grace School in the morning, and the other half in the afternoon. I’m in the afternoon crew.
Well, that’s all the updates I can think of! I love you all and hope to share more soon. Keep the faith.
