Two weeks ago my parents and 8 other family friends from my church came all the way to Nicaragua for their first ever mission trip. People I have known my whole life came travel abroad to help with what we are doing and experience how I live. And although they were really helpful with the projects that we did, I think the internal transformation is even more evident. The intensity of encouragement I felt from them was surreal and gave me a glimpse of the work God is doing through us all over, work that had been put in place years in advance.
We did get to work though and built a coop for 1,000 chickens-by hand. Like, no fun yellow toys to drive, only shovels and buckets- including for concrete mixing. And it was this heavy lifting or working in the not-so-pleasant-smelling pig stye.... they worked hard and had great attitudes through it all.
I also loved seeing my church meet and connect with our Nicaraguan counterparts as they experienced their culture. They helped me with both my girls and children's ministry, pictured above. The girls' ministry, Las Leonas (The Lionesses) is the life group I lead in a small village for teenage girls. I have been slowly handing over the leadership of the group to the girls themselves and I have loved seeing them mature and take the responsibility.
The childrens' ministry was birthed because, in the past, all of the girls' little siblings would burst into our meetings wanting to be a part of what we are doing. Until recently when, by the grace of God, different people have come and started a ministry with the kids of this small community. They read the bible, color, play and-on dangerous occassions-face paint with the kids while their older sisters focus on their life group lesson.
After my church and parents left, our U.S. team went on a retreat to a mountainous pineapple farm. Missing my family after the trip and receiving surprise letters from back home reminded me of how much I’m giving up and people I'm missing from back home. But during the retreat, playing cards and volleyball, hiking, and remissing with our large and diverse team really started to feel like I have made cousins, aunts and uncles here.