During my time on this race, I have been exposed to many new opportunities which often times leave me nowhere near my comfort zone. I keep telling myself that I want to experience everything that my surroundings have to offer and fully jump into each endeavor with both feet, never looking back.
One prayer that was introduced to me by a teammate (that I have since written inside of my Bible and find to be extremely beneficial) is “What Will Today Bring”:
This is the beginning of a new day. God has given me this day to use as I will. I can waste it or use it for good. What I do today is important because I am exchanging a day of my life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever. Leaving in its place something I traded for it. I want it to be gain, not loss; good, not evil; success, not failure. I order that I shall never regret the price I paid for it.
One specific opportunity that I am thankful I chose to embrace was visiting a school for the deaf called “Helping Hands with Hearts for Christ”. When I first found out that we were invited to visit the school, my mind went straight to a racer on another team that we are working with this month. I thought she would be perfect for the job since she is fluent at signing. I then was intrigued and asked her if she would teach me sign language. Before I knew it I was having simple conversations with her! When the day came to go to the school I had decided to “tag along” not thinking I had much to offer, considering my lack of vocabulary.
When we arrived, we were greeted with glowing faces; you could tell that they were excited to have visitors and share their day with us. The kids were eager to show off their work books and teach us colors and other signs that are different in Nicaraguan signing. They never once showed any frustration or disappointment in us for not knowing sign language. They rarely have visitors, so they were ecstatic that we were there trying. Because we didn’t throw in the towel when we were frustrated, we showed them that they are worth the time and effort.
Towards the end of our visit, we met Mike Vilasi who helps run the school. He told us a bit of the school’s mission and how far they have come since first opening. Up until the 70’s, speaking in sign language was highly frowned upon in Nicaraguan society. If you were caught signing you would be severely beaten. Because of the negative stigma placed on the deaf, it was almost guaranteed that you would live a sheltered lonely life, rarely leaving your home merely because you were deaf. Once the stigma subsided there still wasn’t a place of learning conducive to the needs of the deaf society. This all changed 6 months ago. Helping Hands with Hearts for Christ provides students a learning environment tailored to their needs. When they learn a sign from flash cards, the word is also written in Spanish and English, allowing them to learn three languages at the same time. A family member or loved one also accompanies each student to the school to ensure that each child has someone to communicate with at home. Because of the low literacy rate in Nicaragua, this also provides an education for many women who have never received one. Students and their loved ones also receive lunch and a snack during the 4-hour school day. All participants learn the word of God as well. Students color a picture that corresponds with the verse given to their family member. Bus fare is also covered by the school, eliminating any factors that could prevent students from making it the school each day.
We often times miss out on amazing opportunities in life to grow and give much-needed love. We miss these opportunities because we believe the lies of the enemy. The lies that tell us we are not qualified or have nothing to offer. The lies that people-pleasing is more important than stepping out and risking looking silly, giving others the opportunity to judge and scrutinize us.
Is it worth it to believe these lies? When we never leave our familiar comfort zone in fear that we may be embarrassed or fall short, we not only miss out on the experiences God has planned for us, but we are stealing from the people God has placed outside our comfort zone that could benefit just from our presence.
Ask yourself before you go to bed if the price you just paid for the day was worth it.
*Helping Hands with Hearts for Christ runs all on donations primarily from the states. If you are interested in supporting their mission, donations should be made payable and mailed to: North Point Community Church. Attn: Nicaragua Missions, 532 N Brickyard Road. Columbia, SC 29223 Email:[email protected]*
