I’m sitting at our connection in Miami in anxious anticipation of what will happen in Jinotepe, Nicaragua this summer. That nation, too, waits in ANXIOUS EXPECTATION. Why? Because the victory has already been won! My heart can’t stop smiling at what I (creepily) read when the girl in front of me was texting. “I just sat on a flight with a bunch of college students heading to spreading the name of God to Nicaragua. It’s so great to see youth in love with Jesus!” That’s not at all what I pictured someone in an airport with a bunch of students practically yelling every word (Tim-could you get any more Italian? Haha), running the wrong way down the fast walking thing, attempting to read children’s bible stories aloud in Spanish and lighting fries (cigarettes) with caramel. God, please work through me, in spite of me. When I got to training camp, I kept praying to be released from my chains—to embrace freedom—LIBERTAD! I wasn’t exactly sure from what, but I knew that God didn’t hold the key to my chains. The people who’ve hurt me in the past don’t hold the key to my chains. I hold the key in my own hands. There is no reason to hold back. I need to be a warrior because the war is already won! There is already victory! We already know the end of the story! We began to sing the word “freedom” over and over and Amy, my leader, came running across the chairs and grabbed my arm. She said, “Brittney, you are free and you need to know that you are free.” Then it made sense. I am free from the responsibility of my family’s salvation. I am free from other’s thoughts about me. I am free from my memory problems. I am free from what my body looks like. I am free from my grades. I am free from the plans for my life. I will embrace my FREEDOM that has ALREADY been given to me this summer in Nicaragua and in that, in my actions, in my own joy, in my LIBERTAD, the face of JESUS will be seen! They. Will. See. Jesus. (insert Rob Bell dramatic pauses). They will rejoice in Heaven with me. I can’t deny it because I have seen it. “Isn’t this the best birthday present ever!?” Amy yelled. Heck yeah. The rest of the night was filled with frolicking through the meadow hand-in-hand with my teammates per my “birthday present request” and star trippin’ (aka looking at the stars while you spin around until you feel like death, someone flashing a light in your face and then you falling around like a drunk while everyone laughs (yourself included)). Is it better than “the hill” in Galveston? Yes. A feliz cumpleanos, indeed! Please continue to pray for the preparation of the Nicaraguan’s hearts and for our voices to be strong and courageous! For God to TEAR DOWN THE WALLS.
