Five days ago we were in Panajachel, Guatemala, saying our
final goodbyes to the people and the Lake.
Since last Friday I have left a painting at a hostel in Guatemala City,
watched a fellow racer have to go to the hospital because he was throwing up
continuously for hours (some stayed behind, but all have now rejoined their
teams), “slept” in San Salvador (went to bed at about 1:00am for a 5:00am
departure), driven through Honduras, and were left off at a bus stop without a
working cell near Chichigalpa. (It’s
located about twenty miles from the Pacific coast, almost parallel with
Managua.)
Our arrival at New Song Ministries on a Sunday was almost
ideal. We had the opportunity to meet
the missionaries, Tommy and Linda Gable, who started the mission eight years
ago. They mainly do the teaching and
project aspects of the mission, so the everyday running of the five acre
mission falls into the capable hands of Jim Bob/Diego and Brittany. But Monday and Tuesday are always “off” days
for the mission, so we were able to use that time to get to know the area, the
other team we’re serving with this month: Logos, and some of the people.
Monday we found out more about the mission of the
mission. It is a spot located in the
community of Candelaria, which was created for and still performs the function
of a labor force for the nearby sugar cane plantation that is the largest in
Central America. New Song Ministries has
a three bedroom dormitory containing a kitchen and eating area, an open air
church with a large concrete floor, a garden, small medical clinic for free
services on Fridays, a baseball field, and basketball court that is 91% dirt,
7% concrete, and 2% calloused skin since most the kids play barefoot. It has been reiterated to us that the desire
for us is that we use the mornings to worship and get time in the Word,
evenings for services and youth events, and the rest of the time building
relationships. This is in stark contrast
to last month that was focused on projects. 
We as a team have taken to those objectives quickly. On Tuesday I did have the opportunity to
touch the waters of the Pacific for the third time in my life, but even while
we were there we sought to get to know the locals. I played soccer on the beach with a boy named
Moises that informed me through my knowledge of Spanish from six years ago that
he lives on the street. He said that he
had brothers, but when I asked him where they were he said, “No se.” (I don’t know.) I thought he didn’t understand my poorly
constructed question until his facial expression clarified the matter. He had brothers, but he didn’t know where
they were.
Earlier today we sat in on a four hour seminar being held at
the mission on spiritual warfare. (My
personal goal for this month is to “put into application what Benjamin taught
me last month” and this seminar, which was quite similar to Ben’s teachings
confirmed that desire. There will be more
on this when I feel as though I’ve actually walked in faith in this
matter.) After the seminar I did what I
love to do: play sports. There’s almost always kids hanging out on the
mission, and they seem to enjoy hanging onto and around the 13 new gringos in
the area. I’ve definitely felt led to
spend my time with the older boys, and most of them spend their days playing
baseball, soccer, or basketball. “Coach,
put me in.” Names like Luis, Hector,
Wilbur, Carlos, Denise, Aaron, Rigo, Carlos, Gerald, and Felix meant nothing to
me 24 hours ago. Now they are the reason
that I’m here. I showered after playing soccer
and basketball with them so I wouldn’t smell too much during the youth Bible
study held each Wednesday. Tommy did a
great job addressing the issue of relationships and being unequally yolked. Alana from my team suggested that we split
the guys and girls next week to address this matter in a more honest
setting. I’m looking forward to
that.
Apparently they like hanging out with us, because they all
stuck around afterwards for quite awhile.
Therefore, I did what I love to do:
taught games. After some one vs.
one games, we played Octopus tag for close to an houe. It seemed like they loved it, and it makes me
go to bed excited that we’re not only building relationships so quickly, but
that we’re doing it while being ourselves.
In a matter of days I’m a world away from what I had grown
to know and love in Guatemala. As a team
leader I feel more comfortable and confident in my duties and desires to love
and serve my team while we minister to the Nicaraguans. A world away, yet also exactly where I’m
supposed to be.
But oh so many bugs. At this moment, three critters are crawling across
my screen, two think my right leg is filet mignon, and there’s got to be
something large waiting in my sleeping bag.
I apologize for the time in
between blogs, but personal time can be hard to come by here.
Future Blogs to be looking for:
– 1. Couple from Southern California I met taking
their family around the world for 10 months
– 2. Leadership lessons that I’m learning…and they
hurt.
– 3. Video tour of the mission here and how it’s used
