I have a friend named Mike. He is 25 years old and hails from Wales, England. Mike is tall and thin, he has a long reddish/orange beard that he leaves untrimmed. He has one piercing and no tattoos. You can often find Mike wearing a simple pair of shorts and t-shirt with a ball cap and shades. A fun fact about Mike is that he despises shoes, he will only wear them if necessary. Everywhere we travel you will find that he never has shoes on – some may cringe at this and think about all the things that could happen to his feet, all the foreign country and the diseases there are! Yet, Mike has not cut his feet or gotten any infection yet… maybe Mike will write a book some day about not wearing shoes. Mike also enjoys playing guitar, singing and skateboarding. He is a free soul with a heart for adventure, a little too daring sometimes Mike provides steady entertainment for his team and squad. All wildness of Mikes character aside he is kind, he is loving, he is devoted to his Heavenly Father, he shows grace, he leads confidently and he is gentle.
There is a boy, his name is Dylan. Dylan turned eight years old today as I write this story, November 7th, 2018. Dylan is brave and courageous, always wanting to try new things. Dylan runs, runs wild and free, he chases after life and all the thrilling opportunities that are presented in front of him. Whether its riding the horses on the farm, chasing after the dogs, climbing all the trees possible or saying yes to any stranger that wanted to pick him up and just squeeze him. Dylan is a child that is care free, his spirit is free – who knew he’d find a friend in unlikely places.
We arrived in Nicaragua shortly after the start of October. We moved onto a farm and quickly got familiar with the staff and their families. The cooks and cleaning ladies had the cutest children that always seemed to be hanging around the property and we were some World Racers excited to live on a farm and stretch our group of 34 over a 70 acre property for some much needed space. When the exact moment that Mike met Dylan I am unsure but watching the two become best friends over a month is something we all observed.
Mike brought out his longboard as he often does. With a perfect smooth cement slab in the middle of the farm covered my a tin roof Mike made the go ahead to construct his own skate park. It wasn’t long before Dylan ventured over to help his curiosity understand this new phenomenon that was happening before his eyes. Mikes heart was ready and unannounced to him God was allowing him to do ministry in an unlikely place. Mike and Dylan would skate board for hours, many other kids would come and go trying to learn the new tricks of the trade. However, I could always count to see Mike and Dylan long boarding together – sometimes on separate boards (borrowed from one of our ministry contacts that skateboards) other times Dylan would sit on Mike’s shoulders as they would cruise around the pavilion. They built up such trust that Dylan would eventually stand on Mike’s shoulders as he would zip around on the long board making everyone’s eyes go wide and scream “be careful Mike!”.
Mike and Dylan would eat meals sometimes together, Mike would pick Dylan up by his feet and spin him around in circles until Dylan couldn’t walk straight. Mike would throw Dylan up into the air until one day he threw him so high he hit a tree branch. As we placed Dylan down, Dylan looked up at Mike with a smile that could stretch oceans and said again. Mike was a safe place for Dylan, a partner in wild spirit, a jungle gym, a promise of a laugh and a smile. He was a best friend.
Time moves forward whether life is going good or bad. The time came we had to leave Nicaragua. The best buds needed to separate and Mike would not be there to see this daring seven year old turn eight. The entire squad was giving hugs and crying as we said our final goodbyes to the staff that became family for a month. It wouldn’t take long for Dylan to be confused and his mother explain to him what was happening. The first heartbreak of child isn’t fun to watch. Dylan squeezed his eyes shut as tight as he could determined not to open them anymore, maybe in hopes that if he didn’t open them Mike would never leave. For a good 20 minutes he buried his little head into crossed arms on his mothers hip as Mike rubbed his back trying to comfort him.
Finally, Mike swept him up and brought him to sit on his lap, head still tight in crossed arms tears dropping from his bowed head. Mike brought him to a translator even though he spoke decent Spanish he wanted to make sure Dylan really heard what he was saying. Mike told Dylan he was the coolest kid he had ever met, he told him that he was the bravest and most courageous. Mike opened up to share his desire for children one day and if they weren’t like Dylan there would be problems. Mike quickly handed Dylan off and ran to the dorms. He return not a mere two minutes later with a hat of his own and placed it on Dylan head. Dylan was carried to the truck and only looked up at the last moment of visibility to see Mike jumping, waving, and yelling “adios!!!!” as the truck pulled away into the night. Best friends never to see each other again.
Many ask what good it can to come into places for short times with no plan to return and love so deeply then let go. Many say the ‘love deeply, hold loosely’ motto is not effective. Mike just caused a child’s first heartbreak, is he content with that? No. However, the other option is to not love at all. Build your walls, close your heart. Mike didn’t have to invest the time he did into Dylan, he didn’t have to let Dylan climb on him, sit and eat with him or long board with him – but he did. Mike showed Dylan unconditional love.
I fully believe Dylan will always remember Mike. I believe he will hold Mike dearly into his future. I believe Mike made a positive impact and that God allowed a friendship so strong that will be talked about for years to come from both sides. It’s hard to see these relationships end but trusting that God has a plan for it is all you can do sometimes. It helped me see that I should never be afraid to invest in someones life – how can I live with myself if I don’t take the opportunity God gives me to love someone?
I have a friend, his name is Mike.
There is a boy, his name is Dylan.
They became best friends in October of 2018.
“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.” Proverbs 3:3-4
Mike and Dylan are a good example of this. Mike’s obedience to the greatest command of love that I discussed in the previous blog is just one of God’s great stories. Take with you a piece of advice from these stories. No matter your time with someone – love on them and love them hard – pour into them all you can for you don’t know the difference it’ll make in their heart.
Much love and many blessings,
Rachel
