Day 5

This morning was a rough morning for me. I woke up at 6 am because my stomach was a mess! I think my body is still adjusting to the food here. I was given some stuff to help calm it and felt better instantly. At around 7am I got up to shower and get ready for the day. The water, of course, was cold. I don't know if I'll be able to get used to the cold showers for a month but its not too bad. Definitely manageable.

Brad, the co-founder of VISEDAL, led the morning meeting today as a closing for the volunteers. What he had to say was almost as if he was inside my head. He talked about going home in freedom with no guilt. I had definitely posted last night how it was difficult for me to live the way I do when I see how these kids live and suffer each day. He told us we can't control where we were born into and he is right, we just need to trust in God. You see, God allows people to be put in certain situations, because He has plans to use each of us where we are at. As sad and difficult as it may be, we have to understand that everything works out for the good and that if we can just believe in God and trust His plan, even if we don't understand why, it will work out and just letting Him use you in whatever circumstance and whatever situation you may be in.

He continued to talk about how easy it is to love those kids because we don't expect anything in return but that it is more difficult to love those who have let us down. He encouraged us to love more when we get home because that is the difficult type of love. When we can love those who have disappointed us or hurt us, that is the real testament.

After the morning meeting we said goodbye to the volunteers and a group of us got on a 2hr bus ride to San Juan del Sur(SJDS). We will stay here until Thursday to take some time to relax after a very hectic week. Once we got to SJDS we got to our hostels and then went to the beach. I was able to play soccer on the beach with 3 other people from VISEDAL and a great amount of kids from Nicaragua. It was a lot of fun. I got extremely dirty and messed up my toenail too. Hopefully in the morning the pain will subside. It was fun though. We then had dinner and just time to hang out with each other and relax before the internship officially begins for me. I will officially start working on Monday.

Even though I am able to relax here for a few days my mind is still with the kids. I keep thinking about their smiles, their love, their struggles, and their lives. My heart will forever be with them. The last thing Brad had talked about this morning was never forgetting what has happened down here and what will happen. I couldn't forget even if I tried. Who knows Nicaragua may become my home one day ;) (Calm down it was just a joke) But don't worry I'm not relying on what I want but where God wants to take me. :)

I am off to bed because I have an early day tomorrow! Buenos noches.