Funny How God Works
I really don’t even know where to start.
This week at Campo Gonia has blown away any expectations we had coming into it. Words can’t describe how grateful we are to Pastor James ( Or Jaime as we call him in Spanish) and his wife Monica. They showed us hospitality as I have never seen it done before. From the moment we pulled up on the bus- until the time we left on the bus- they did absolutely everything we could of ever asked for, and then some.
As I mentioned before, this week is PVT week (Parent Vision Trip). Unfortunately (well I thought so before) my parents couldn’t make it this week. 10 of the girls from our squad’s parents also couldn’t make it this week so we were all placed on a team together while the rest of the squad got to do ministry with their parents for the week. Yes, I was the only guy this week on a team with 10 girls. Wasn’t so sure how that was going to be, but it turned out to be great.
If I was honest with myself though, I really wasn’t excited at all for this week. I was pretty sad that my parents weren’t going to be here and I knew how awesome the week would be for everyone who got to see theirs. Funny how God works though, because if they did come, I would have never gotten to meet Jaime and Monica and experience everything we have this week.
I remember the bus ride over here early last Friday morning. I hate to speak for everybody on this, but from the mood on the bus, I could tell that none of us were too excited that everyone else on the squad was about to see their parents for the first time in 8 months and we were heading out here.
We pulled up to the side of the road in the middle of nowhere (or so we thought) and were told that this is the place and to get out. We all looked at each other and said “I feel like this is punishment for us not having our parents here,” Turns out, we couldn’t have been more wrong. Pastor Jaime and Monica came running out to the street and welcomed us with open arms. Whatever it was we weren’t excited for on the bus instantly turned to excitement with the joy and laughter they brought to us.
We worked hard and gave it our all this week and in return have been so filled and so refreshed by them. We got to help with the construction projects they had around the property- home renovating, constructing walls, painting, chopping down trees, clearing out weeds, etc. We also got to help the 3 girls who work in the kitchen to prepare our meals every day- not to mention the best meals we have had so far I would say.
Lastly, and most importantly, we got to build eternal relationships with Jaime and Monica, the ladies working in the kitchen, and the men who live here on their property. I will be forever grateful for the conversations, the laughs, the love, and the bible knowledge we received from them.
This past week has been the best week I have had in the 8 months I have had on the Race to this day. I have connected in ways I had no idea I could with our ministry host Jaime. If you heard just a piece of his story and saw the things God was doing through him today you would be blown away. From the gangs of LA and Mexico, many years in prison, drugs, violence….the list could go on…To the amazing things He is doing here in Nicaragua. Truly Truly Truly shows how amazing our God is.
I have never seen such a story of redemption and a man who is so passionate about the people and the work they are doing here. I have also never joked and laughed with somebody as much as I have with him since I can remember. In only 7 days, he has turned into the older brother (sorry James but much older brother, ha) that I never had. Our team will be forever grateful for everything he and Monica have done for us.
It truly is funny how God works. He knew we were going to be without our parents this week and put us with the most amazing ministry contacts who really were like parents for us. They made it feel just like family and we are so blessed.
I really do wish I got to see my parents and do ministry with them this week, but I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to serve along side them here this week. Mom and Dad, I love you and it will just make that coming home party Thanksgiving week that much more special.
Thank you so much for everyone who has been praying for me and my squad mates. The prayers are definitely working. We were also in constant prayer for the others who did have their parents here and I hope they had an amazing week as well.
We leave here first thing in the morning. We take a bus down to where the ferry leaves from and then will be off to the island to meet up with the rest of the squad for the rest of the month. We will be staying and working at an orphanage so continued prayers as we head on are very welcomed. And needed.
