The Truth IS...

I Needed Them MORE Than They Needed Me.

I hope you have a minute or ten to sit,read, and truly "drink in" my amazing 7 day journey that only our God could have taken me on. I am just NOW finally able to say NICARAGUA without the flood gate of tears rushing through me. My life is truly forever changed because of what I witnessed on my very first mission trip. Why did I wait sooooo long is all I kept asking myself? Then...it hit me like a ton of bricks. It wasn't my time yet until now!

On my plane ride to Nicaragua, my hope and prayer was I hope that I can be a shining light for Jesus to all the men, women, and children I come in contact with. I kept thinking I was prepared for anything that was to come my way. My goodness...I left my hairdryer, my curling iron, hot rollers, and even my wedding ring behind for fear that someone might steal it. I am taking with me some pretty impressive training and skills that will surely be helpful to the Nicaraguans. Like...my college degree from a major state university, my personal knowledge of being a working/stay-at-home mother of 3, the many years of teaching children at church on Sunday mornings, Wednesday nights, and of course my 9 years of Spanish classes, at least I can communicate with them, right? What else more did I need to do to prepare myself?! Boy...did God have another plan for me! Oh...He prepared me with financial support, prayers, a passport that came in just in time, a support group of family and friends back home, and you name it!

However, I had no idea He was to use the beautiful sea of brown eyes, brown hair, brown-skinned people of Nicaragua to show me what it means to be TRULY CONTENT AND TRULY SOULED-OUT for Jesus!

What I mean is that I was truly humbled, sometimes a bit ashamed of myself, but mostly in awe of many of the families that lived in what we would consider unacceptable living conditions. Most of these families had no clean water available,no toilet paper,can anyone say hand-sanitizer?, no electricity, no doors on their homes, no guarantee of 3 hot meals a day, forget about snacks, and the list goes on as you could imagine. Meanwhile, many have smiles on their faces, many were excited, many were grateful to have a Burger King hat, a handful of candy, a toothbrush, toothpaste, school supplies, half of my bag of cookies from one of my 3 hot meals, one of my already used nail polish colors, a plain grey colored T-shirt or JUST A HUG given to them.

So, what is God telling me? Well, He showed me what it means to live for Jesus. He showed me what it means by "it takes a village to raise a child." He showed me that it is not about me, it is about we. He showed me that you don't have to have much but HIM in order to be a true man, woman, or child of God. In the end, nothing we own, we buy, we do, or say will mean a thing unless it is shared with a heart of love. I mean with a love that can only be seen, heard or felt with GOD IN YOUR LIFE. And that is exactly what was seen, heard and felt in Nicaragua by the Nicaraguans and our mission team!

Now...I know God has a plan for each of us. As I am thrown back into the reality of my very much blessed life here in America,I must admit I feel a lot like a fish out of water. At times I just get lost in the memory of it all. Please continue to ask me about my adventures as I always have something new I remember that I want to share! I pray that my heart will continue to soften for the things in this life that are meaningful and honorable to God. I could go on forever about my trip, but I know you all have lives as well so I will close with this: I was told by a fellow life time missionary that "the Betty that left on Saturday October 11, 2008 will no longer be the same Betty that came back Saturday October 18, 2008."

And of course here are just a few pictures of the many people in Nicaragua and from America who stole a piece of my heart and may their faces, burdens, and hearts be forever be burned into my heart and soul!!!