One item to note:
It’s hot in Nicaragua. Regardless of what you do, you will be sticky, sweaty, and stinky.
On that thought, after any day on the field, you will be what? Sticky, Sweaty, and Stinky.
Think about getting home around 10:30 after a long day of:
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jumping around with kids
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walking around on a sandy beach
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worshiping in an uncirculated church
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dancing during outreach, and
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sitting on a bus (or in my case, lying on the floor in the aisle) built for 40 with about 60 people.
You get home, and you’re likely what? You got it – Sticky, Sweaty, and Stinky. We get home at about 10:30pm and what sounds like the most incredible thing before sleep? Showering. Or, at least that used to be the case.
Within this past week, our team of girls was moved into a different section of the orphanage. We are now all snuggled together in their Psychologist’s office, sharing our space with mice (one of which we named Edwardo) and, of course, some amigo ants. Due to this transition, we have gained the opportunity to use a different restroom facility.
This restroom is without light, without a shower, and without a working toilet. It does, however, have a bucket filled with water and an empty milk jug to use as a bucket shower AND it also has a functional spout that squirts out extremely cold water. We are blessed.
Needless to say, our daily adventures have undoubtedly been heightened (for the girls at least) with the ultimate questions of “Do I really need to shower?” and “Is it really worth it?” A few of us, admittedly myself, have gone 3-4 days without showers on this mission as the difficulty in actually bathing is quite surprising. The thoughts of “Am I cleaner now than I was before I showered?” is a question I feel that I ask myself after every shower.
On a related topic, I’d like you to note that:
Many of us have become unaware of the definition of ‘hand-washing.’ It is a rare find to encounter a sink with soap. And you’d bet that when one is found, it’s essentially a bath for some of us. I will also admit, that I am thoroughly entertained when teams come in with hand sanitizer and share their excitement to shower after a day of ministry.
Here is a picture of our new accommodations:
