It is different than America for reasons like, but not limited to:
Everything is in Spanish
The air smells like a continuous bonfire (which is wonderful to me).
You don't throw your used toilet paper in the toilet, it goes in the trash.
No noise ordinances.
Weird looks and stares from everyone.
Lights going off at any moment.
I remembered all of this, this week.
After fishing toilet paper out of the toilet for the third or fourth time, I shook my head. I hope this learning curve will not take much time. I like efficiency...which is the other thing to get used to about Latin America.
It's not on American time. Being on time is not so important.
The other day, I realized that I had no other obligation than to spend the time to sit for a while and converse with an elderly lady by the name of Maria who was begging on the street. I talked with her a little and then went to buy her some food. I was hesitant at first to do so because my heart and Harvest Equippers heart is to empower the church (in this case) of Nicaragua to do the work of the Kingdom. We do not want people to depend on the American's ministry or the U.S. dollar. But I felt the Lord giving me the choice, and I felt more joy in bringing her food. We (God and I) wanted to do this together. I think perhaps it was because taking care of the widows and the orphans seems to be a practical priority to Jesus according to the book of James. So on the busy sidewalk we sat. Although my Spanish wasn't at the place that I could understand everything she said, I was able to sit and be a listening ear. She has the happiest face despite sitting and begging which she said makes her roughly 100 cordoba ($5) a day instead of her former years of hand-washing clothes, which really generally only brings in roughly one U.S. dollar per load. She told me she has no family but a son she sees every now and again. She does have a house, which could literally mean a tin/plywood shack on the edge of town, or a cement house with an iron gate. I hope to find out once I get my Spanish down pat. To sit and talk with her was so life-giving for me, just for the fact that there was no time limit, no pressure, no work in the background that I was putting off. I was able to sit, smile, and enjoy this sweet lady's company.
I've also got to have a few other conversations with the people staying in the hostel where I live. Two are from Canada, who drove here from Colorado, each with great stories. The lights were out the night I talked with the Canadian couple. They asked me questions about church, which is the complete opposite of what I have always experienced with Atheists. Many atheists I've talked to tend to get irritated or shut off if God or Jesus is ever mentioned, which I always assume is because of how a Christian has acted towards them. Never have I been asked. They are moving here and living at the hostel until their house is ready. The couple from Colorado were psychology majors like I was, which has brought a lot of enjoyable and interesting discussion for both sides. We have gotten along very well and have shared a lot of love for the outdoors. They are also planning to move to Nicaragua for a while.
I have gotten to meet another missionary-Melissa who has started a house for orphans and/or neglected children over a year ago. Another friend of hers and I just arrived into the country which will bring community for her as well as us. Just in a week, I have had these deep, meaningful, and unexpected discussions with my house friends and Melissa. Today was also very meaningful because I was able to talk with and meet two Nicaraguan believers, but I'll leave that for next time.
Despite my desire to get things done, the Lord has been showing up unexpectedly on His time and is very much welcome in this country which are the things that I love about this place and am so glad to finally be here.
Thank you to everyone who has been praying and for the wonderful ladies who have been making sure I am doing well. Blessings to you all in the name of Jesus!
Thank you to everyone who has been praying and for the wonderful ladies who have been making sure I am doing well. Blessings to you all in the name of Jesus!
