Nicaragua 2014: The Beauty In a Third World Country
Where do I even begin? This week was like nothing I have ever experienced before. I saw so much beauty and love within every single child I came in contact with this week. But before I get into that let me start with the beginning of the trip...
When we arrived in Managua on the first day it was heartbreaking for me. The majority of people in Nicaragua live in shacks with dirt floors and no running water or electricity. There is garbage everywhere and the roads are dirt (there are hardly any paved roads in Nicaragua). Dogs that are just skin and bones run around everywhere because people can't afford to feed them. They shoo dogs away like flies. I could see the rib cage of almost every horse, cow, and dog that we passed. The first time I really had to fight back tears was that first day when I saw children begging for money on the street. It wasn't even a shock for me, I knew what to expect, but you can prepare yourself all you want and it is still so different than seeing it in person.
I was having a lot of feelings of doubt when we finally arrived in Puerto Cabezas. I didn't think I was going to have a good time, I didn't want to stay on a compound where you can't flush toilet paper and the showers are a little dirty. And if I am being 100% honest I was hesitant about getting too close to the children. I guess I kind of started the week with a bad attitude. But let me tell you, God really transformed me in those first couple of days. The first day we arrived at the feeding center I was immediately swooped away by children that didn't even know me and who I could hardly communicate with (I don't speak spanish). I spent a couple hours playing games and giving and receiving hugs from kids with the most beautiful hearts I have ever seen. This girl in particular, along with her little sister, seemed to have a special attachment to me:
I watched them amidst the 500 or 600 other children as they sang worship songs to God before receiving their meals. It was the loudest and most touching worshipping I have ever heard. Every single child was singing at the top of their lungs. They were all so patient waiting for the one meal they would get that day and you could tell they were truly enjoying their time with God and not just singing to get to meal time. I honestly think they would sit there all day and sing before getting any food. And the crazy thing is they do this EVERY day. This is their life. Every day they wake up and walk, some of them for miles, to come receive the only food they will get each day. 5 year old children would come carrying their infant siblings. Toddlers would bring 3 or four bowls and carry it back to their families. Some kids would only eat half of their meal so they can take the rest to their mom or dad. And they spend hours at the feeding center playing, singing, waiting... And they do it all again the next day. And the next day. And the next...
But the part of my week that really changed me was this little guy:
His name is Adone. I am not sure if that is how you spell it but he pronounces it Adon-ee. On the third day we arrived at the feeding center he grabbed onto me and just would not let go. He just wanted to be held. For over an hour I just held him. I felt so much love from this little boy and we only exchanged a handful of words. As we went back to the compound that night I was journaling about Adone. And I was so overcome with a reminder of God's love. This is exactly how God loves me. He NEVER wants to let me go. He loves me and wants nothing more than to have my heart and hold me forever. I can say 100% that God was holding me and speaking to me through this little guy. Just thinking about Adone brings so many tears to my eyes. I can only hope that I get to see him again one day and he will some how remember me.
I was so humbled this week, not just by Adone, but by every child I encountered. These kids have nothing. literally nothing. Most of them are lucky to have more than one pair of clothes and a roof over their heads. The kids at the orphanage are at least blessed to be loved by Pastor Earl and all the people at Verbo. But they have nothing tangible. And yet they are the most blessed people I have ever seen. As we studied the book of James this week during our group time, an important thing that stuck out was that the poor are blessed and the rich are in danger. These kids love God more than any person I know. They had more joy on each of their faces than than I thought any one person could have.
I find myself complaining a lot about my life. I feel sad because our car is old and breaks down and we can't afford a new one, or because all we can afford is a 700 square foot apartment, or because I can't have as many clothes or purses as I see other women have. But how absolutely ridiculous does that all seem now... If any one of the children in Nicaragua saw how I live they wouldn't even believe it. In their eyes Josh and I probably live like a king. I can say all I want that Josh and I don't have much money but we have more money than a lot of them, if not all of them, will ever see in their lifetime. Pastor Earl said this week, "the only reason you live in America and they live here is because God has blessed you". How true, and heartbreaking, and wonderful is that? It is by the grace of our Lord that I live where I live and have all that I have. We should all be sharing the blessings He has given us with those that need it. If I can afford Starbucks every week I can afford to help those that actually need things like clothes and food. The feeding center doesn't even receive as much money as they need to feed those kids every day. But they feed them anyway. I can bless those kids with the money that the Lord has given us even if it means Josh and I don't get a new car right now or have to go to Starbucks a little less. Because those things seem so unnecessary when I think back on everything I have seen this week.
When we arrived in Managua on the first day it was heartbreaking for me. The majority of people in Nicaragua live in shacks with dirt floors and no running water or electricity. There is garbage everywhere and the roads are dirt (there are hardly any paved roads in Nicaragua). Dogs that are just skin and bones run around everywhere because people can't afford to feed them. They shoo dogs away like flies. I could see the rib cage of almost every horse, cow, and dog that we passed. The first time I really had to fight back tears was that first day when I saw children begging for money on the street. It wasn't even a shock for me, I knew what to expect, but you can prepare yourself all you want and it is still so different than seeing it in person.
I was having a lot of feelings of doubt when we finally arrived in Puerto Cabezas. I didn't think I was going to have a good time, I didn't want to stay on a compound where you can't flush toilet paper and the showers are a little dirty. And if I am being 100% honest I was hesitant about getting too close to the children. I guess I kind of started the week with a bad attitude. But let me tell you, God really transformed me in those first couple of days. The first day we arrived at the feeding center I was immediately swooped away by children that didn't even know me and who I could hardly communicate with (I don't speak spanish). I spent a couple hours playing games and giving and receiving hugs from kids with the most beautiful hearts I have ever seen. This girl in particular, along with her little sister, seemed to have a special attachment to me:
But the part of my week that really changed me was this little guy:
His name is Adone. I am not sure if that is how you spell it but he pronounces it Adon-ee. On the third day we arrived at the feeding center he grabbed onto me and just would not let go. He just wanted to be held. For over an hour I just held him. I felt so much love from this little boy and we only exchanged a handful of words. As we went back to the compound that night I was journaling about Adone. And I was so overcome with a reminder of God's love. This is exactly how God loves me. He NEVER wants to let me go. He loves me and wants nothing more than to have my heart and hold me forever. I can say 100% that God was holding me and speaking to me through this little guy. Just thinking about Adone brings so many tears to my eyes. I can only hope that I get to see him again one day and he will some how remember me.
I was so humbled this week, not just by Adone, but by every child I encountered. These kids have nothing. literally nothing. Most of them are lucky to have more than one pair of clothes and a roof over their heads. The kids at the orphanage are at least blessed to be loved by Pastor Earl and all the people at Verbo. But they have nothing tangible. And yet they are the most blessed people I have ever seen. As we studied the book of James this week during our group time, an important thing that stuck out was that the poor are blessed and the rich are in danger. These kids love God more than any person I know. They had more joy on each of their faces than than I thought any one person could have.
I find myself complaining a lot about my life. I feel sad because our car is old and breaks down and we can't afford a new one, or because all we can afford is a 700 square foot apartment, or because I can't have as many clothes or purses as I see other women have. But how absolutely ridiculous does that all seem now... If any one of the children in Nicaragua saw how I live they wouldn't even believe it. In their eyes Josh and I probably live like a king. I can say all I want that Josh and I don't have much money but we have more money than a lot of them, if not all of them, will ever see in their lifetime. Pastor Earl said this week, "the only reason you live in America and they live here is because God has blessed you". How true, and heartbreaking, and wonderful is that? It is by the grace of our Lord that I live where I live and have all that I have. We should all be sharing the blessings He has given us with those that need it. If I can afford Starbucks every week I can afford to help those that actually need things like clothes and food. The feeding center doesn't even receive as much money as they need to feed those kids every day. But they feed them anyway. I can bless those kids with the money that the Lord has given us even if it means Josh and I don't get a new car right now or have to go to Starbucks a little less. Because those things seem so unnecessary when I think back on everything I have seen this week.
I will try my best to no longer complain about the wonderful life I have been given. For the first time probably in my whole life I feel so thankful and content with everything that I have. And I will forever remember the beautiful faces of God's children that I had the pleasure of seeing this week. These are just a few that I felt a special connection with:
Photo credit for these beautiful pictures goes to Amanda Kicker :)
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