Day 39- Finally home!

It has been a very long day!

This morning I woke up at 6:30am. I got a shower which was absolutely freezing but I enjoyed my last cold shower in Nicaragua! I got ready and finished packing everything up. I then had to finish some work for VISEDAL before I left such as writing for their blog. I was able to get everything done that needed to be completed and then sat outside of my room soaking up the morning sun waiting for Esmir and the taxi.

Esmir came with the taxi at around 9:30am to bring me to the airport. I said my goodbyes to Brad and Jessie and was off to the airport to head home. I sat in the taxi just thinking about how blessed I am to have been able to go to Nicaragua and be able to come home to see my family. I thought about all of the good times I had in Nicaragua and thought about every scholar and how I will miss them and how amazing each of them are.

We got to the airport and I said my goodbye to Esmir and thanked him for everything and he walked me in and brought me right to the bag check-in. He has been great, all of the VISEDAL staff has been so great and supportive! I was able to check in my bag and thankfully it was only 44lbs! Not overweight thank goodness! :)

Getting through security in Nicaragua was not a problem. They did stop me to check my book bag because my chargers were setting something off, but not a problem. The one guy who checked my bag asked me how old I was. When I told him I was 19 years old he was so surprised and told me how young I am. I thought about that and yes I am very young and to think that at my age I have been given the opportunity to travel and work like I am is such a blessing and I truly feel honored!

The flight from Managua to Houston left at 12pm and was almost a 3 hour flight but went smoothly. I was able to sleep for the majority of the flight and then read my book, the one in spanish, for the rest of the flight. I landed in Houston at 4pm and I was happy to be back in the States. It was then time to go through customs!

I was very nervous about going through customs because I remember times when I was younger where my family got pulled to the side and had to wait and then had all of our bags and checked bags fully inspected. I prayed that I would go through with no problem. Thankfully God answered my prayer and I went through customs with absolutely no problem and didn't get stopped at all! I was in my home country! It was weird to see english everywhere and not spanish but I was happy to be in familiar territory.

I got through customs in a little over 30 minutes and had an hour and a half of waiting before my next flight to BWI. So I grabbed a sandwich and a banana! I was able to text my friends and family too without having to use wifi! It is crazy the things you miss when you don't have it all the time even if it is something so small. I was also very cold in the airport because of the AC! I missed the heat and the feeling of being hot. It's crazy to think that I miss cold showers and no AC! I never thought that would happen! :)

I got onto my final flight which took a little less than 3 hours and slept the majority of the way and read some more the rest of the way. On the flight there was a church group and when taking off they all raised their hands as if they were on a roller coaster! It was pretty funny and they were a fun group!

The roller coaster plane!

I finally landed in Baltimore, Maryland at 11:20pm. It felt good to be in my home town. I headed towards the baggage claim and right when I passed the security point I was greeted by my mom, dad, and brother with a beautiful arrangement of flowers! It was the sweetest thing! I received big hugs and screaming "Hi Mekaila, Mekaila is home!". It was great! I missed my folks so much and was happy to see them! I finally got home and my mom made me her yummy nachos and am now sitting on my folks bed watching tv and just relaxing.

I just want to share with you all what my intern project was while in Nicaragua. My intern project, thanks to the help of a volunteer Yvy, was about giving the older girls ages 12 and up the encouragement they needed to accomplish their goals as well as helping them understand the importance of making good decisions in their lives. I gave each girl a journal to keep for whatever they wanted it for, but wanted them to also write in it like a diary. I also expressed the importance of not bottling up your feelings, dreams, and goals, but rather sharing them, whether it be on paper or with a friend. Then each friday we had a "Girl Talk" session to show them that they aren't alone in how they feel about certain things in life and also to help give direction. I let the girls know that I would be there for them and that I feel and think like they do. Encouragement, love, and instruction is what I wanted to give these girls. If the girls learned nothing else, I pray that they learned how much I care about and love them, as well as God's love for them. 

It has been such an amazing journey these 5 weeks that I have been here! This most certainly won't be the last time I am here that's for sure! Once you come you can't just come once! It has been a wonderful learning experience for me and I treasure every day that I had here. The VISEDAL staff is incredible and the kids are terrific! I am so blessed and honored to have served as an intern in Nicaragua and worked with this staff and group of kids!

I am happy to be home but I will not forget the kids in Nicaragua nor will I forget the impact that Nicaragua and the kids had on me! I feel truly blessed and thank all of you for supporting me, reading my blogs, and helping me while in Nicaragua!

Well I am exhausted! I am off to bed in my own bed! :) That's all folks! :) Mekaila signing out! 

Until next time, buenas noches