Day 22

Getting up at 10am never felt so good!

Of course naturally I woke up at 5am but stayed in bed and didn't get up until late which was great! I got up and showered and then got ready for the day. This morning was pretty relaxed.

Oh before I go on, I wanted to make a correction, so Rosia, yea her name is spelled Rocío, I went back into my old posts and fixed that. Also her official title is psychologist. I kept getting different names, but that's it. Ok now that that is settled, let me continue! :)

We went to get lunch around 12:20ish and of course we went to the usual spot right around the corner! :) Then we went to metrocentro and met Joseling, one of our scholars. Joseling is a sweetheart! If you remember she is one of the scholars who I was able to see baptized. She is such a beautiful young lady and has such a sweet spirit and a great heart! I asked Brad if we could bring her because she lives close to us but also because she is such a great young lady. I am excited to get to know her so much more in these last couple of weeks I have here.

Now I know I have mentioned that this saturday we are having an open house party for our new office and all the families are invited! So we met with Joseling so she could help us pick out things for the party. We went to the market again, the same one that we have been to three times now. It's crazy! You would never know that we have been there three times! Every time we go we see a different side of it. This market is the biggest market in all of Central America! It's insane and these kids and adults get around it like it is a grocery aisle in walmart and I have no clue where I am going! It's also fascinating the various smells, the various people, and various items. It will never cease to fascinate me that's for sure!

It's also crazy in the market because you have to be aware of so many things! You have to watch your step so you don't trip over all the bumps or step into a puddle. You have to watch above your head so your head doesn't hit any of the items that are hanging up to be sold. You have to watch the people around you so you don't get pick-pocketed. You have to watch the people going through with huge carts of food and other items, so your foot doesn't get run over. And if you're not a local like myself, you have to watch the person in front of you so you don't lose them and they can guide you out of there! It is definitely a pretty crazy and neat experience though! I am so thrilled that I have been able to see this non-tourist market. I would definitely recommend wherever you go to go check out their local market, not alone though of course! Go with a local, but definitely go! :) These types of experiences are so great!

Jessie and I in a very tight walk way in the market

In the market we needed to buy a piñata and candy for the party, because it is not a party without a piñata. We were able to get two, one for the boys and one for the girls. I didn't get pictures of them today but I will definitely have them for ya'll on saturday. Anyways, we also bought big poster boards to make a mural where we are going to have all 31 scholars outline their hand and decorate their handprint however they want to on saturday! We are so excited to do that and then hang it up in our new space! So saturday's fiesta will be hopping, as the kids nowadays say! :) 

It was also very crazy that while we were at the market we ran into other scholars! This was very crazy and rare! This market is so big! The likelihood of you running into someone from your neighborhood is  some really low percentage! It's very unlikely! So it was really neat to see Carla and Patricia, two moms of our scholars, Nino, Kimberly, and Didier. It was so great! 

Nino, myself, Jessie, Kimberly, Didier, and either Carla or Patricia (they're twins it's hard to tell)

We left the market and dropped Joseling off, dropped off the piñatas at the office, and then headed home. When we got home we were able to talk with the house maid and she told us that there were two beds from the girl who just moved out next door and she would be willing to sell them to us. You see Jessie and I had these cot beds and the foam mattresses were sinking in and became very uncomfortable, so Brad was helping us out. So we were able to get these two beds that have a box spring and mattress for $10 each! It was so awesome! We felt like queens sitting on these actual beds and to know I get to sleep in an actual bed tonight is so exciting! It's crazy how it's all these little things at home that I took for granted are like special treats here! I am definitely blessed and won't be taking these things for granted anymore that's for sure! So we were definitely blessed tonight to be given these beds! :) Thank you Jesus for an actual bed! 

Jessie enjoying our new beds! 

After getting our new beds settled in to our room, we headed to the super market to buy groceries for the house and plates and cups for the party on saturday. Also I, of course, had to buy more Oreos, I was running low! This is the only sugar that I get here and it is definitely nice to munch on them after meals. So we were able to get everything we needed and then took a taxi with all of the stuff back to the house. 

We got back and I was able to FaceTime my folks who were at the One Way Churches International Convocation. I am sad to miss it but it was nice to see all of the pastors. So my dad FaceTimes me while he is on the platform with all of the other pastors during worship service! It was really funny but all the pastors seemed happy to see me and it was so great seeing all of them too! I got to listen to some of the worship going on and watch the congregation praise God. It was nice to be able to still be there in a sense. So thanks for that dad! :)

I got some work done for VISEDAL on updating and keeping track of finances and my work hours, etc. Then I made dinner again for myself. Tonight I made a stir fry. I cooked some pasta and cooked a lot of vegetables then mixed them in a pan with some soy sauce. It was so good! My mom said I'm going to have to cook for her when I get home so she can try the food that I've been cooking here. I guess I'll have to see about that. We might do an exchange where she makes me dinner and I'll make her dinner, because I miss my mom's cooking! :) 

Now I am just enjoying the rest of my night and was able to FaceTime my folks again but this time actually talk with them after their service. It's always nice to laugh and joke with them like we always do. They definitely brighten my day every time I hear from them or even think of them. I love my family so much! :) Take care of your family and love them and appreciate them! Family is important and should be treasured! :) 

Well until next time, buenas noches

Day 21

9am to 3pm….Not bad work hours at all!

Today was a great day that made me realize what it would be like to do something like this for the rest of my life! I now understand when adults tell me to choose something that I enjoy because then it won't feel like work because it will be what you love to do. That's how I feel here! I forget sometimes that this is an internship and that I am working. I definitely could see something like this as a future profession!

So my day began at 8am. Got ready for the day and then we headed out to meet Rocío again at 9:30am at metrocentro(the mall). We then walked to the houses of some of the scholars who live nearby. We met with the moms to discuss the schedule for the next coming weeks and told them about the Open House party we will be having this saturday. It was really great because all the moms were home and we were able to see the kids as well and the kids seem so excited. This office will not only be a place for the kids to have sessions with Rocío but also to come do homework, learn english, and work with Jessie and I! It's really great! Just pray that scheduling works out and that the kids take the responsibility to come. I am being very optimistic about this because that is my nature but also because someone has to be. But it's really exciting to be a part of all of this new development for VISEDAL and I just can't wait to see the kids more often!

Jessie, Rocío, Davíd, Manuel, the mom, and myself 

Myself, José, and Ana- Ana showing me her great grades on her school work 

Myself, Génesis Valesca, and Jessie

It was really great to see a majority of the kids and see their parents as well! So after we met with the rest of the scholars, we headed to metrocentro to take Génesis Valesca to celebrate her birthday. We ate lunch at the pizza hut in the mall and were able to get her a little dessert as well. It was then off to the market because she told Brad that she wanted a very beautiful dress for her birthday! So off we went to catch a bus and head to the market.

The market was a lot more calm today than it was the other time we went. I don't know why, but I certainly wasn't complaining. We went to a few dress shops until we found one dress that she liked so much! It was a princess dress. Brad asked me if that was very impractical and I told him no because when girls are her age they will wear those princess dresses everywhere! It is every little girls dream to be a princess. So Brad agreed and we were able to get her the dress she wanted. She was so excited! But she is always a very happy little girl! I have never seen this girl not smile or not have any energy to run or play or just be her playful self. She is a sweetheart and really fell in love with Jessie today! 

Génesis Valesca in her pink princess dress!

It was a great day today! Another special thing that happened today was that Davíd gave me a bracelet that he had made. Manuel and Davíd are brothers and they are the sweetest things! Manuel is such a good kid and his smile would make anyone smile. He has definitely the quality of a leader and I see him doing great things! Davíd is a sweetheart and just a ball of energy! He is definitely blessed to have as great of a role model as Manuel. They are really great boys! They were so sweet to give both Jessie and I these bracelets that they make out of those colorful and tight bands. They look really neat and again these kids' generosity never ceases to amaze me!

So it was a productive, joy filling, and special day today! I am so blessed to be here and to know these kids and be given the opportunity to get to know them more! I thank God, because honestly everything just lined up and I know it is His will for me to be here and I just pray that He continues to use me and that I can continue to show these kids God's love and as I begin these sessions with the older girls and my project that God will give me the words to say and that He will open their hearts to receiving what I am saying. I am so blessed! 

So when we got back to the hostel we were able to relax and I got a few things done and then dinner was made at home. I made myself some eggs and fried up a tortilla. Pretty good! :) Oreos after dinner are always a nice treat as well! :)

One thing that has been on my mind a lot recently is that life has a way of knocking you down and sometimes it isn't easy and you don't feel like you have the strength to get up. It's just great to know that no matter what God will always be there to help pick you back up and dust you off and tell you that you can do it and that greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world. Life has a way of putting you down and putting you through difficult situations. Just know that a diamond has to go through the fire before it can shine and be the strongest rock. If you can endure the fire, you will come out stronger than you were ever before. And know you aren't alone. Just like God was in the fire with Shadrach, Meshach, and Obednago, He will be in the fire with you the whole time! I want these kids to know that too! They have been through so much in their life and for them to know that God is with them throughout it all because He said He will never leave you nor forsake you is incredible! I want them and you all to know that no matter what life throws at them as long as you stay true to God and His word then no weapon formed against you shall prosper! You are where you are in your life for a reason, trust in God. I want these kids to know that it is ok to trust in God and that He won't let them down! This is only a season and every season has to change because we revolve around the Son(and no I didn't spell that wrong :) ). Just some food for thought and also pray that I can relay this to the kids!

Until next time, buenas noches

Day 20

Busy, Busy, Busy, Busy!

The shower seemed colder than it has ever been this morning. I have learned how to handle it and make it less difficult to shower. You see the trick is to just jump right under the shower head all at once. Your body, when exposed at once begins to become accustomed to it and it is almost as if your skin puts on a thicker coat because the water seems to warm up a bit. Or it could be that your body is so numb that it doesn't feel the intensity of the cold water as much. Yea, just throw yourself in it, if you do it little by little it will seem so much worse. Once your back is completely under the shower head and your back is used to the water it is a lot easier. So there you have it, 'Mekaila's Tricks to Master a Cold Shower', coming soon to all bookstores near you!

So my morning began at 6:45am with a shower. I made breakfast for the team after I got myself ready for the day. We left the hostel around 8:20 to meet Rocío, the kids therapist, at the bus stop. We all then headed to Camile Ortega, which is a neighborhood where a lot of our scholars live. We met with some of the moms and a few of the older girls to discuss what our plans were for the following week and letting them know about the office and that we plan to have an open house party on Saturday. So it was really great to see them and to see that they seemed excited and interested in coming throughout the week to meet with us. I love every time I go because I get to see Ninoska and her beautiful little baby boy Eduardo Esmir. He is the cutest thing!

Eduardo Esmir and myself

We then took Nino and Sonia's moms, Carla and Patricia who are twins which can get confusing at times, to a lawyer. You see both of them have a son who are our scholars who aren't filed as people in Nicaragua. They have no birth certificates and to the government they don't exist. You may ask how this could happen? Well they just didn't have the money at the time that Kevin and Leo were born. Now Leo is about 15 and Kevin is 18. So we had to go get that taken care of especially since we are becoming recognized in Nicaragua by the government.

Anyways, while we were there with the lawyer and there 'office', her assistant was typing up the information needed. No she wasn't using a laptop, she was using a typewriter! It was so interesting! I have never seen a typewriter being used in my life time other than on movies! I felt like I was on an old old movie. It was really neat to watch her and it was just crazy how they still use those down here. I can understand why, it doesn't need electricity which is really expensive and they don't need wifi. It is all manuel. But still it was pretty neat to see and to think if kids saw that now they wouldn't know what to do with it. I probably couldn't even operate it on my own!

The typewriter

The picture above is the typewriter. I wish I could've gotten a picture of the front, but we weren't even supposed to take pictures anyways but Brad snuck a picture on his phone for me. It's very big and I bet pretty heavy too. I might invest in one some day just to try it out for myself and to say I used a typewriter! Pretty cool for us younger generation to see the older generation still alive in some areas, it's almost like traveling back in time without having to have a time machine! Ok enough about that. :)

We were able to get the process started on getting Kevin and Leo to exist. It was then off to lunch after we said bye to those in the neighborhood. We had lunch at a different spot today. We went to Managua's biggest university and ate lunch on their campus. It was pretty yummy. I had chicken tenders and fries. I'm not going to lie, it was pretty nice to have an Americanized meal for a change. I love the food here but sometimes you miss the food back at home. They definitely didn't beat my mom's fried chicken tenders, which that sounds so good right now! With her white rice and yams! YUMMY!!!! :) Anyways it was just nice to do something different. 

We came back to the hostel and I was able to take a nap while Jessie and Brad went to the clinic to check on Jessie's head. Thankfully, the doctor said it is nothing to worry about. He gave her some medication to help the pain and numbness. So thank you all for your prayers. She is feeling a lot better! Anyways, my nap was well needed and when they got back we headed to another government building to get VISEDAL registered. It's crazy to watch the process of NGO's and becoming recognized by the government. I know with each government there is a different process but yet there is still a process. So we got recognized last week, so this week we had to get registered. That didn't take long, Brad just had to make a copy of a paper, pay a fine, and then get the stamp and we were good to go.

We headed to metrocentro so Brad could do a few things and also we were able to get ice cream after a busy but productive day. Ice cream before dinner! My favorite! :) We then came back to the hostel and relaxed for a little bit before making dinner. Tonight it was fried rice with veggies and quesadillas. Very delicious. I'm telling you we are getting so much better each day of cooking here. Well it was a great meal to end a great day. 

Well it has been a very busy day of running around all over the place. But very productive! We got a lot accomplished today and it feels great! Well I''m off to bed because I am exhausted!

Until next time, buenas noches

Day 19

Back to work!

Today was somewhat difficult getting back into the swing of things after a pretty lazy weekend. But none the less, we got back to work. Jessie and Brad woke up earlier and headed to the clinic for Jessie this morning at 9am. Pray for her health, she is doing well it's just her head and neck have been seriously bothering her for a few days now and there is a bump on her head and it might be some type of insect bite and it could be causing the pain and numbness. We don't know and the clinic was too busy today so they are going to go tomorrow afternoon. So just please pray that God will heal her body and to shield her from all harm while here in Nicaragua. We are a team here and if one member is down then we all feel the affects of it. So just pray that God puts a hedge of protection around her from any sickness and any attack from the enemy while she is here. Thanks :)

Anyways, I had to be up and ready to go by 10, which they got back from the clinic a little earlier than that since they left and didn't see a doctor. We had a meeting with Rocío. She is the kid's counselor almost, more like a psychologist. She is someone for the kids to talk to and receive advise from and just so they always have someone to go to. She is such a sweet lady and it's so wonderful to work with her. Our meeting was going to a flea market and buying tables and chairs and other items for our new office. We headed to the flea market and were able to pick out what we needed and were able to stay under budget which is great! Rocío did a great job finding out the prices and this flea market before today.

So we loaded the stuff up in a pickup truck. The back was almost full and there is only two seats in the front, one for the driver and one for a passenger. Now, if you didn't know it is very common in Nicaragua for people to ride in the bed of a truck. You will see it everywhere! It is the easiest way to transport a group of people and stuff all together, especially since the trucks usually only have one or two extra seats in the truck. So what did the four of us do? We did what any Nicaraguan would do, we road in the bed of the truck, standing up might I add! We let Rocío sit in the truck with the driver and Brad, Jessie, and myself went in the back with all the stuff! It was such a cool thing to do and apparently legal here too. I felt like such a local, as silly as that sounds. I told Brad and Jessie all we needed was a bag of water and we would look just like the locals, well in action. Oh and by the way, here they sell sealed bags of water. They say they are purified so I drink them. But anyways it was neat! We rode about 5-10 minutes in the truck to our office which isn't too bad at all. Once we got to the office we unloaded everything and headed to lunch.

Jessie and I in the back of the truck!

Lunch was great and during lunch we talked with Rocío about our schedule with the kids and how often she is to have them and when we can have them etc. So we got a good deal of stuff discussed and established today. We are going to meet with some of the moms tomorrow to talk this over with them so they are in on it as well. It looks as if everything will officially start on Monday, August 4th! We are so excited but nervous about taking on the difficulties of having an office space. But overall we are excited and praying that we are ready for this next step!

After the lunch meeting we headed back to the house got our ideas together and then headed back out to a supplies store. Jessie and I had to buy supplies for our project ideas to work with the kids. Jessie will be working with the little kids, ages 13 and under, and I will be working with the older girls, ages 13 and up, while Brad will work with the older boys, ages 13 and up. It is pretty exciting that we each have our different strengths and passions and how they work well tougher as well. I truly thank God for Brad and Jessie, I think we work well together.

So at the store it was like a teachers dream! There were so many books and a little coffee shop connected to it and then their were the office supplies and the crafts and school supplies! It was a pretty awesome sight to see. It's almost like being a college student and walking into the Container Store! So exciting! :) Anyways, I picked up these beautiful journals, pens, and colored pencils, so far. We will most likely go bad when I can fully develop my plan and what exactly my project will look like. Thankfully I have the week to work on this. That is the reason I haven't shared what my project is, because I want to wait until it is fully developed before sharing with an audience such as yourselves. So thank you for your patience! :)

Once we left we had the evening to ourselves. We watched a couple of movies on our laptops and then it was dinner time. Brad had gone out to a meeting and had already eaten dinner so I made dinner for Jessie and I. I made fried rice with vegetables. It was my first time cooking rice that didn't come in a box and without any instructions! I cooked it all by myself! I was pretty impressed with myself too! It was exciting learning these new things when you have to. So thankfully dinner for Jessie and I turned out well! I might have to make some for my family or friends back at school, well that's if they will let me. It's a pretty simple meal to make. So I look forward to more things I can learn here in the very small and difficult to cook in kitchen. :)

Well I am off to bed!

Until next time, buenas noches

Day 18

I have come to appreciate the weekends so much more after a long week of work!!

Today was nice, having another day of relaxation! Brad and I went to church this morning. Service started at 11am. The church's name is 'Elevate' which is neat because it's spelled the same way in spanish just pronounced differently but it means the same thing. This church is a spanish-english church. They have english services in the morning at 9am and spanish services at 11am.

So Brad and I left the hostel at around 10:50, we wanted to leave at 10:40 because it is about a 15-20 minute walk but unfortunately Brad had a rough night. You see that concert event that I mentioned that was happening yesterday played all throughout the night until 12pm today! They played nonstop throughout the night so both Jessie and Brad, poor things, got almost no sleep last night. I felt bad. Although it was weird because I slept like a baby! I think it's because I am so used to falling asleep to noise anyways that it didn't really bother me, but I felt so bad for Brad and Jessie. But hopefully tonight they will be able to get more sleep!

Anyways, we left sand headed to the church and I was so excited! I greatly enjoyed the worship service! Today was different then their usual service because their pastor was out of the country so they had an evangelist from the US come and preach. So today their were a couple songs in english and then the rest were in spanish. The evangelist that came spoke english so they had a translator for him. I have to be honest, I wasn't too pleased with this evangelist. Let's just say I'm glad he isn't the pastor there. His message was very all over the place and hard to follow and very little was related back to scripture and there was a lot that I didn't agree with and I could point out in scripture where he was inaccurate. But other than that it was very neat. The people at the church were so welcoming and very nice! Again, I loved the worship service, but I always love worshiping God anyways! :) But I can't wait to see what there regular services look like and to hear from their pastor. Until next sunday! :)

The service ended a little after 1pm and Brad and I headed back to the hostel. For lunch we made quesadillas again, which it's always a great and easy food! You should try my quesadillas, they are very delicious! :) After lunch we were supposed to go play frisbee with a missionary group at 3pm but we got a huge rainstorm and it lasted about 15 minutes and it was too late to go try and find them. The place was about an hour away and we figured it wasn't worth it because we didn't even know if they would be out there after the rain. So no ultimate frisbee this sunday but maybe next sunday! We basically watched movies on our laptops and hung out the rest of the day. For dinner we just had a 'fend for yourself' night, so I made myself scrambled eggs with cheese and tortillas. It was pretty good!

It has just been a very relaxed day and really nice to lay back and put my feet up before our week starts and we get back to work! I am definitely excited to start getting equipment for our new office space and start scheduling the kids' times to come and spend time with us and for our intern projects to be put to use! :) It's going to be an exciting and possibly stressful week! We shall see!!

So yesterday I completely forgot to mention that my mom's side of the family got together in New Hampshire to surprise my grandparents with a party for their 50th wedding anniversary! I was able to FaceTime in and say hi to my grandparent and other family members who I haven't seen in over 10 years! It was really nice! So shout out to my grandparents! Happy 50th Wedding Anniversary Grandma and Poppa! My grandparents are so loving and are definitely tremendous examples of not only a loving couple but of such Godly and anointed couple! I love them both so much and am so grateful to God that they are in my life and that He has allowed them to be together for 50 years! I love how my grandma will always tell me that they are still on their honeymoon, they never left! :) It's so sweet! I pray that one day I will find that one man who I can spend the rest of my life with and a man who is crazy about God and who loves me. I am just so grateful to have such wonderful role models of godly men and women in my life like my grandparents and my parents as well! Yea my parents will be married for 24 years this year in October! :) I love it! Thank you God for my parents and my grandparents. Their love and support has always been there in my life and I pray that I can make them proud and hope that they see my love for them as much as I see their love for me! :)

Ok just had to rant a little about the family! Family is very important! Appreciate your family! Don't wait until their gone to appreciate them in your life, appreciate them now while you still can and if they are no longer with you then thank God for the time you had with them!

Grandparents' 50th Wedding Anniversary cake

I had to post at least one picture! So I figured why not this one especially because this beautiful cake was made by my mother! Yea that's right my parents are pretty much AWESOME!! :) She did a good job! Oh and my dad made his homemade lasagna(sorry don't have a picture) but it is so good and I'm so sad I missed it! If you haven't tried it you are missing out big time! Again my parents are so AMAZING!! :) Well anyways, enough of my craziness tonight, I have had a lot of Oreos tonight so I've had a lot of sugar! :) Ok well thanks for reading in spite of my craziness tonight!

Until next time, buenas noches

Day 17

A day off!!

Today was so nice! Brad gave Jessie and I the day off today! It was really great! We were told we could go explore Nicaragua especially Granada, but Jessie and I both wanted to just sleep and relax and also we didn't really want to go explore by ourselves. Two american girls, one who doesn't know spanish and the other who does but sounds like a 'gringo', yea we weren't too comfortable with that. So we got to sleep in and just lay around.

My body naturally woke me up this morning at 6am again but I just laid in bed and thought and was able to fall back asleep but then woke up at 8:30am and just laid in bed until 9:15ish and got a bowl of cereal, yummy Trix. When I came back to the room Jessie had just woke up and we talked for a little bit and then laid in bed until 1:30pm! It was great! I got to listen to music and read some! We haven't had a day to just relax in 2 weeks, so today was definitely nice.

We decided to go get lunch at our usual place right around the corner and got something different this time too, well only because they had run out of what we usually eat since we went so late. We tried this chicken and it was quite delicious! We then headed back to the hostel and Jessie and I watched a movie together on netflix on her laptop. We enjoyed each other's company today. After the movie, I took a shower and Jessie took one shortly after.

Brad had gone out to go meet up with a friend so Jessie and I decided to stay in and cook dinner tonight. I made Jessie quesadillas and I made myself a quesadilla and some stir fry noodles. Dinner was quite delicious, not to toot my own horn or anything but one of the best dinners we've made so far! :) So now Jessie and I are just relaxing in the room and both on our laptops. It's just been a very relaxed day.

Myself and Jessie relaxing after dinner

So all day today since 10am this morning, across the street there has been an event where there has been preaching and worship music all day and is still going on now and it is 10pm. It's crazy but it's been pretty awesome to listen to the music and a lot of the worship songs I knew in english so I was able to sing a long in my head. Also it's been great to listen to the speakers just talking about the goodness of God and giving glory to God-"Gloria a Dios"-they would say. It has just been great while I have been in the hostel almost all day to have in the background preaching and worship music all day nonstop! 

They played this one song, in spanish of course, but its called 'How He Loves' by David Crowder Band. It is one of my favorite songs! It just talks about the love of God and one verse says, "He is jealous for me, loves like a hurricane I am a tree bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy, when all of a sudden I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory and I realize just how beautiful you are and how great your affections are for me. Oh how He loves oh, Oh how He loves us, How He loves us oh." And it goes on you should look it up if you have time its a great song, I am actually listening to it now. 

But anyways, just listening to the song and then sitting in my bed and singing along to the song and worshipping God earlier was so great. This song brings me to tears to think about how He loves us! I am here on this trip to show these kids that I love them but also to show them the love of God. To think about His love and how incredible it is, it just really breaks me down. When I think about how He demonstrates His love by dying on the cross and taking our sins from us on His perfect vessel. How every day we push Him to the side and do wrong and sin and yet He still takes us back! I can't think of a greater love! No one can one me like my God. Jesus in all His holiness loves us so much that He hears our cries and searches for us, we didn't find God but He found us! Have you really just thought about that, the God of the heaven and the earth, King of kings and Lord of lords, Jehovah Jireh and Jehovah Shalom, Alpha and Omega, looked for you, He came to where you were to take you out and love you. He didn't expect us to become perfect to go to Him but He became imperfect so He could come to us. 

It's just so incredible to think of His love. My favorite scripture that really demonstrates His love to me is Psalms 40:1-3. It just talks about Jesus coming off of His heavenly throne into the muck and mire of our own filth to set us on Him and establish our goings and to hear our cries and put a new song in us! Just Jesus' love for us is incredible! But today just really got me thinking about How much God loves these kids and how much He wants them to know that. I want to show them God's love because it is so flawless, eternal, and there is no greater love than Christ's love for us. These kids and everyone should know that the love of God is stronger than any addiction, any wrong doing in their life, any chain holding them bound, and everything! It is a love that forgives, a love that breaks the captives free, a love that heals all wounds and mends all broken hearts! He is listening and cares so much! Just let Him in and I promise your life will never be the same!

So as I sat in bed and even now listening to that song, just thinking about how great it is to be at the feet of Jesus. Then thinking about the hike up to the statue of Jesus and how when we reached the top and looked up to see the statue of Jesus right in front of us was so incredible. To be in the presence of the Almighty is amazing! I never want to leave His presence. 

I am so excited about going to church tomorrow! I am excited for the experience of a spanish speaking service but also just to go into the house of the Lord and worship Him is so exciting! Ah I'm just so in awe of God right now and have no more words to say other then Jesus I love you and thank you for your love!

Well until next time, buenas noches and Dios te bendiga(God bless you)

Day 9 Photos

Arriving at the volcano

Our volcano boarding group

Hiking up the volcano

Almost at the top of the volcano

Made it to the top of the volcano

Myself, Greg, and Esmir at the top of the volcano

The crater of the volcano

Me falling into the crater of the volcano!

Volcano boarding

Leaving the volcano

Day 7 & 8 Photos

Day 7-The view before zip lining

Day 7-Yvy and myself excited about zip lining

Day 7-Me and the sunset

Day 7-The sky after the sunset

Day 8-Jessie and my room

Day 8-Jessie and my bathroom

Day 6 Photos

The moving bridge 

The hike up to Jesus

Hiking up to Jesus

At the feet of the statue of Jesus

My surfboard

Watching the sunset

Day 4 & 5 Photos

Day 4-Loading the bus for food distribution

Day 4-Bus getting full of food for food distribution

Day 4-The scholars leading the food distribution

Day 4-Lunch and watching the World Cup 

Day 5-San Juan del Sur

Day 5-San Juan del Sur

Day 3 Photos

Jessie, myself, and Ana on our way to the laguna

The laguna

Waiting for lunch at the laguna

Having fun after swimming

Bus broke down

Playing games after bus broke down

Day 2 Photos

Kitchen in one of the scholar's house

Bathroom/washroom at one of the scholar's house

Visiting the kids' school

Girl time

Some more girl time

One of the scholar's baby