They warned us. At some moment on our race they said it would happen. I had fair warning since July at training camp. Past racers who were there at training camp told us about it. But me I was confident inside that It’s not going to happen to me, I am pretty strong about those things. I am always ready for things like this… or so I thought.
It finally hit me, like a ton of bricks at that. Thursday night was the year-end service at church, and since there are sister churches it was a full house that night. Well there was worship, a teaching, specials, communion, baby dedication, saying goodbye to the old and bringing in the new by putting it on paper and burning it, and last but not least a goodbye for us. My team of 6, we got up there and said our goodbyes to the church. The place we have known for the past month, the place where we have been growing relationships the past month, the place where we have found our hearts desire in what ministry we thrive in the best. These people opened their hearts, homes, and lives to us. Gladly inviting us in. Showing us the greatest hospitality I have ever seen in my life.
Thursday night… well, it was different. As we stood in front of the church, they extended their hands and corporately prayed over us. We all said our goodbyes, and said a little statement of what we were feeling at that moment during our tme here… than anyone who wanted to give a personal goodbye, came up to us and gave us a hug and or kiss, One by One they came and hugged us, usually saying “Dios te bendiga” translating into God bless you or thank you for your time here. I stood there hugging all who came up, felt as though 100 people hugged me. It came pretty close to it.
I have grown close to a few of the adults and the youth the most during my time here. As I hug one of the ladies, Consuelo is her name, my heart just breaks. She is one the most sweetest ladies I have ever come across. She was one of the first ladies I met to coming to this ministry site. She was the first person we prayed for when we did house visits our second week. The love that she shows and gives brings me to a place of gratitude and realization of what true love really is, unrelenting love that overwhelms you with joy.
Right after she came to hug me, here comes Rosa. She was the first woman I met when arriving here. I wrote a blog on her a few days ago. Read it if you haven’t yet. This woman who is strong in the faith and a prayer warrior like no other, I have adored from the start. Hugs me and I just don’t let go. She has shown me so much, without doing much. She never changed her lifestyle or who she was because we were there. She just lived her life as normal and I got to grab ahold on to what a person of unrelenting faith is like.
This has been my past month here in Candelaria, Nicaragua. At the end of month 3 on the race. It hits me. We grow close to a group of people, invading their lives and vice versa, but than we leave. Tough at times, hard for what it is but knows that God has a plan and reason why.
I will not forget anything that I have learned here, and it will stay with me forever.
6 out of 50 people were placed at New Song. I am glad to have been apart of it, and the specific reason as to how Jesus’s love is the same everywhere we go.
No place I'd rather be.. Than here in HIS love!
Next stop… Thailand
We’ll see what is waiting for me there.
Have an amazing New Years everyone and here’s to 2012!
Love,
Andrew
