Today is day 17 of being in Nicaragua! It has gone by a lot faster than I expected. The days tend to go by kind of slow but looking back, the trip as a whole has been going by super fast! I have been challenged in ways that I never thought I’d be challenged before and I’ve had to step out of my comfort zone more than I though I would have.
Every week we go to a town called Bethel to teach them some bible stories and just hang out with the kids. Normally I am drawn to little babies, but this trip I have been drawn to the boys. Every time we go, I normally end up playing soccer and hanging out with them. The boys that play soccer are between about 10 and 16 years old and they all absolutely love the sport! I obviously have never really played soccer before, so they are patient with me and try and teach me while I try and play. They have also helped me a ton with my Spanish! The only Spanish I know is from the 3 years I took in high school, which I don’t really remember much of. I speak the little Spanish I know and then what I don’t know, I try and motion, and they tell me the Spanish word for what I’m trying to say. It has been so fun and cool to get to know them more and have them teach me about all different kinds of things!
I never in a million years thought that I would’ve been drawn to these group of kids. This is such a crucial time in a guys life where they are tempted in so many different areas, but also have the opportunity to get to know who God is and how to become a man of God. In this village a lot of them are already the men of the household because their dad’s either aren’t present or are super sick from a kidney disease from working in the sugar cane plantation. At this young of an age they already have the pressure to be the men of the household. It is so sad to see, but they step into that position willingly and lead to the best of their ability.
My prayer for them is that they grow into Godly men that will lead their families and their household now as well as in the future. I am so blessed to have the opportunity to pour into these boys every week and to see how they grow over the next 3 months while I am here. God has taught me more than I could ever imagine through them, and I am so excited to see what else he has to teach me! I love you and miss you all and thank you for your continued prayers!
With love abounding,
Kate
