Ancianos Coronados

Child-like faith comes to mind when I think of these special people. It blows my mind thinking of how much faith and life these sweet people have. They know the Lord like I want to know Him. They walk around full of the Lord's joy. I want that. There isn't too much of a difference from doing children's ministry to ministering to the elderly. They cling to you the same. They crave love the same. I hope when I am full of wrinkles and grays I am half as pleasing to be around as these people. They truly lit up my day today.

 Tomorrow we will be doing home visits and inviting the community to join us for community night at the school. It is my favorite day of this trip every year. The kids get to bring their families to join us in some worship, fun, and laughs by Chagy's performance. I cannot wait! it will also be our last day at the school which might be a bit heavy on my heart. I have truly enjoyed watching my team love these kids this year. The team this time is made up of a lot of new faces. I can be pretty intense when it comes to my Nica family and I will admit to being a bit nervous about the amount of new people, but ultimately God placed them all on this team strategically and it has been a joy to get to see them love the people I love and do it so well. I stood back a lot this year. I observed so much. I am excited to see God continue to work here. I am excited to come back soon and see the fruit from the seeds planted on this trip.

I love this place. I love these people. I love this life. 

Jesus is Calling

I'm not really sure how to use my words tonight. I'm still trying to take in the emotions. I'll try... 

Yesterday we spent the day at the school. The younger kids come in the morning, and the teenagers come in the afternoon. We spent the morning in the classrooms talking to the kids about Gods faithfulness. In the afternoon we worked on team building and intentional relationships with the older kids and played a bunch of fun relay type games. It was such a fun day! I loved connecting with these kids in a different way. Chagy did his think for both groups of kids. The altar call for the teenagers was powerful. The Holy Spirit made his presence known and lives were touched. I was honored to be held tightly by a sweet girl on my team earlier as she gave her heart to the Lord. That's what this is all about. Those kind of moments. We sent the kids away that day with shopping sacks filled with rice and beans and a few mandarin oranges. Those oranges are a big deal to these kids. They don't get to get their sweet hands on them often at all. I said bye to a couple of the kids who I have connected to the most since the first year I journeyed to Nicaragua. Again I had that feeling of peace in my heart. I hated the thought of it being a while until I saw them again, but I knew I wasn't saying goodbye for good. Tonight, I found out why. 

Today we honored our sabbath. We spent the day at the beach soaking up some sun and drinking unlimited fruit juices. Seemed like it would be an easy in the heart kind of day, but I should've known God wasn't flying me to Nicaragua to not use my heart, even if it was my day off. A team from Gateway wrote us all prophetic words. During worship, I chose to read mine. My life will never be the same. I have known for 3 years now that a part of me was in Nicaragua and I'd never fully get it back. I have known that my life was changed for the better because of the work God did on my heart here years ago. I have known that I had a place here, but didn't know what that looked like or for how long. Tonight, I still don't fully, but I know that God reached out His hand to me and asked me to go with Him. I'm saying yes. I don't know what the rest of my life will look like now. I don't know how this is going to work. I don't know much, but I know God is in this and I know He sent me the perfect man to walk with me through this journey. I cannot wait to see how God starts to use Joshu and I! I am so thankful that this is our life. I am honored to get to love these people and this place for so much longer than I ever imagined. 

Your timing God, not ours. 

No Orphan To God

It was so good seeing the orphans again. Greeting them at the street as the bus dropped them off after school. Familiar faces jumped into our arms and it was beautiful. Seven, only seven remain of around 35. The old orphanage got shut down last year leaving these kids without love and a home. Some returned back to people who dropped them off to begin with and others remain unaccounted for to this day. Breaks my heart thinking of where they could be. God knows. I have to let the truth of His faithfulness overpower my fears. He loves them more than Inever could. He loved them first.

The kids rushed to their rooms to change out of their school uniforms and were surprised to find that we had painted their new home. So many smiles. So many hugs. So much pizza! Lots of fun things took place. We played in the dirt, some played fútbol, some got their nails painted (including Joshua and I). It was a perfect day of just loving Gods children the way He would have us. These kids are so strong. I will never know exactly the strength of their hearts. I don't know their pain. I just love them. 4 o'clock in the morning these children travel the distance to fill their water barrels that give them water for two hours of the day. Two hours of water. Just two. 

 

 

 

I was afraid of what saying goodbye to these sweet babies would be like this year. I was afraid it would hurt. Surprisingly it was peaceful. Of course I hate the time apart, but my heart knew it wouldn't be the last time. I know God has a part of my heart here still for a purpose. My heart has finally recognized the truth to "see you later" verses "goodbye". I am so overwhelmed with joy. I am fully content with my current placement and current calling. I don't know how long He will have me here, but I'm thankful. So thankful. 

 

  

P.s. I didn't know I could fall more in love with Joshua, but it happened. I cannot believe how perfect God planned this. He has gifted me beyond my understanding. He loves me that much. 

Whole Again

So much joy!

Instantly after landing yesterday I immediately felt an overwhelming sense of peace. A peace that only God can gift. I don't know what it truly is about this place. I know I love the kids so much, I know I love Pastor Wayne and Elaine, but I don't know the deeper root to why it feels like home. Maybe because of the simplicity of the possibility that it could be. In the middle of my welcome home hug, Wayne offered to go ahead and shred my passport. Then Joshua decided it would be a good idea for him to hold onto my passport for the remainder of the trip because he knows I would have let Wayne shred it in a heartbeat if it meant I could stay forever. Joshua just needs a few more days until he falls in love with this place! Though I saw the look on his face while holding those precious children in his arms, so maybe it won't take much more work lol. Truth is, I'm just happiest here. I am thankful for my time here and I am honored that the Lord keeps sending me. I don't know how long He will continue to do so, but I choose to live in this moment, right now, right here. I am thankful I'm here. 

Today was so good. We went to church today at Oasis. I hugged some, high-fived others, cried happy tears with the rest. I was just so joyful! I got to introduce Joshua to people who love me here and most were super happy to finally meet him, some were overprotective. Thing about those few though, they're not even 4 ft tall or over the age of 10! :)

We bagged a ridiculous amount of beans and rice to bless families with. This is a big deal for the locals here! A lot of these kids come from single parent homes where there is little food provided and some days none at all. 

 

So uh.... this is all I got on my phone today. I was too busy loving on my babies!!! Josh has all the photos. Bug him! Jk, I'll get them tomorrow. 

How can you be praying for us?

1. Pray for health over the team 
2. Pray for the orphans we will be with tomorrow. (I'll share the story tomorrow) 
3. Pray for the painting project (painting orphanage)
4. Pray for these kids to feel God's love! 
5. Pray for our hearts, hands, and feet to be submitted to God

Going Home

My heart has been longing for this very moment.

The moment when it becomes real to me that I'm going back.

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This weekend I will be whole again. 

I will hold God's precious children in my arms once more. 

I will reunite with the piece of me that found a home in Nicaragua. 

How beautiful it is that God still chooses me. 

He still gives me the honor of sending me to love. 

Me, in all my brokenness... He still chooses me.

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This year will be so much more than I can begin to imagine. 

I get to go and serve with the man of my dreams.

The man I love gets to love on the kids who's love changed my life years ago. 

I am blessed beyond understanding. 

This year will be a dream.

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God, I come expectant. 

I come completely submitted to Your will.

I come ready for all that You have waiting for me.

God, I come loved.