NICARAGUA//PVT//& VIDEO
- Jordan LeeAnn Schaeffer
- Aug 6, 2018
- 3 min read
Granada Nicaragua, at the farm, fighting against the wind to set up our tents and hammocks, awaiting anxiously for our parents to come down the long dirt driveway. After 179 days of waiting, March 11th, at 11am, the moment FINALLY ARRIVED, in the distance I saw white buses coming near, suitcases strapped to the top. Excitement filling every bone in my body, I felt like a little kid, bubbling over with joy. I spot my parents bright blue suitcase, then at the crescendo of it all I see them step onto the soil, I run into my dads arms, like when I was a little girl and he arrived home from work and embraced my mom so tightly, not taking a moment of this for granted.
When they visited me in Chicago the combination of a 12 hour time change, a 15 hour flight, and the culture shock made it feel almost like a dream. Them being in the space and place that I feel at home was so beautiful, and knowing I had more than just 6 short hours to spend with them was incredible.
Our first day was spent sitting around on the farm, enjoying the surrounding beauty and each others company. Not worrying about what to do, but relishing in each others presence. Walking through the plantain and lemon fields at sunset, sitting on the porch and just talking.
The week flew by but was oh so sweet. We spent time in the soccer field filling in the cracks that seemingly went to the center of the earth. We also built andirondack chairs, Shared meals and laughter. We walked house to house, encouraging and praying for people we encountered along the way. We met a 7th day Adventist, a woman whose daughter was addicted to drugs, a youth pastor who was losing numbers and confidence in his work, we met the sweetest little old lady named Maria who proudly showed us her certificate of baptism from July 10th 2016, along with the photos of her family covering the walls. She spoke so much truth over us and was radiant with joy. Next door we met another woman named Maria, who was addicted to drugs and felt God couldn’t possibly love her. We were given the privilege to speak truth and pray for her. We prayed for two girls selling fruit on the street corner and for a man selling ice-cream, for a group of men waiting on the streets for work, and for multiple families and mothers. It sounds crazy, it feels crazy, in all honestly it is crazy, to walk up to someones door, a complete stranger, and be welcomed in as though you were a close friend or family. To hear their hurts and their heart, to love, laugh, cry together, to lift up their needs before the father, full of faith. It obviously isn’t my first choice to do this, but I am not called to be comfortable I am called to share hope and light, to ask boldly, seek boldly, knock boldly.
“And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” (Luke 11:9)
Doors were opened, and not just physical doors, because we were turned away by some, but doors of conversation, doors of vulnerability, doors that lead straight to the Fathers heart.
One morning was spent in the dump, where, amidst the smoke from all the burning trash, people spend their days working, picking through the trash for metals and plastic, making next to nothing. All the workers emerged from the smoke and ashes, holding out their tins cans awaiting rice, chicken, and beans. While this was happening I got to watch my mom share from Isaiah 61, which was SO COOL because we had no clue they would be burning the trash that day and it says…
“TO ALL WHO MOURN HE WILL GIVE A CROWN OF BEAUTY FOR ASHES”
Other parts of our week were spent zip-lining, going on a boat ride going past many of the islands on the lake and feeding some monkeys potato chips along the way, we spent time in worship, had smore’s, and jumping off a 24 foot dock into a lake. This week was truly incredible and I am so thankful for every second we got to spend growing, laughing, learning, serving, and seeking the Fathers heart together.
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