So many firsts

My first time…
1.      Eating fresh, not steroid infested Papaya, Banana, Mango, Watermelon, and Pineapple
2.      Seeing Tarantulas
3.      Killing a Scorpion
4.      Legit preaching a church service
5.      Fasting in another country
6.      Considering myself clean if I’m not dripping with sweat
7.      Washing my clothes with a washboard
8.      Catching a Sompopo
9.      Eating rice and beans for every meal, including breakfast
10.  Asking for directions to town in another language
 
An explanation…
I got to eat fresh fruit on multiple occasions. It’s all SO delicious here and the bananas are way smaller than the ones in the States but they are so tasty. On the weekend we all look forward to going to town to get fruit because we haven’t really had much here at the orphanage, but we can get so much in the cafés. My favorites so far have been the pineapple (which is white here) and the smoothies. The smoothies are special because not only do they use fresh fruit but they are cold. At Cicrin, the orphanage we are at for two more weeks, we don’t get ice so the water is a bit warm all the time. Going to town is a treat.
So when we were moving rocks to the edge of the island so they will protect the land against waves during storms, we saw two Tarantulas. Then, on Wednesday I saw two Scorpions and poked a stick at the one, killing it. Now I can say I killed a Scorpion and it sounds pretty tough.
I also got to preach on Sunday! It was so much fun preaching with Natalia, our translator who is an amazing woman of God who has gone through so much more than I have ever known one person to go through. I preached on Galatians chapter one and kept thinking, “This is so much fun. I’m preaching in Nicaragua!” It was definitely a few steps out of my comfort zone. We were told by our leaders that someone on our team would be preaching at church so we were to spend time in prayer to see if God was placing that on our hearts. I thought about it for a second and then quickly dismissed the idea, thinking, “Someone else will be better at this than me,” and took a nap. The next day during worship time I felt God tugging my heart to volunteer when the leaders asked the group who would want to preach, but I wasn’t having it. I had never led a Bible study or anything of the sort, let alone preach to a congregation. After arguing I eventually submitted and said that I would preach but God had to present the opportunity for me to say yes. I asked Him to silence my teammates hearts IF I was the one who was suppose to preach. When this opportunity arose, I said yes. Immediately afterward I was so terrified because I feel like I don’t even know the Bible as well as my teammates and I was nervous, but I had peace too because I KNEW it was God working through me and not something that I desired.
On Thursday we fasted with the director, workers, and children of Cicrin, praying for support and direction for the orphanage. When I woke up and went to el Rancho (A large hut-like thing that is open and overlooks the lake) the workers and some of the older kids were worshipping and crying out to God. It was a beautiful sight. Also, God provided everything they were praying for two hours after lunchtime. God is so good. 
Haha, it’s so hot here that it’s impossible to not sweat. It’s literally normal to think we aren’t dirty if sweat isn’t dripping from us. This could be due partially to the fact that we’ve had to go without running water when the water runs out at the orphanage. Kyla and I have gone four days without showering because the water ran out twice. Oh the life of a missionary.
I liked washing my clothes with a washboard but it makes me thankful for a washer and dryer back home. I really don’t mind washing like this though. It could also be the fact that the temperature gets to 100+ degrees with high humidity.
SOM-PO-PO *Nica team one would understand
We eat rice and beans for every meal, and after fasting while working outside all day I am so much more thankful for those rice and beans. One thing I did wish I brought more of is cookies, Sour Patch Watermelons, and granola bars. Earlier this week our team was craving sweets though because there isn’t much variety of flavors in rice and beans. That’s also why going to town is such a treat. I am grateful for the rice and beans though because they aren’t meat. I would struggle if we were given meat every meal. Sometimes when we do have meat I give it to my teammates—I’ll try almost anything except when you’re talking about meats.
Last weekend we went to town via walking (not recommended as it’s FOREVER far away). Nonetheless it was an experience that is ridiculous and fun to think about, but I had to ask where the town was in Spanish. We got there so I guess I did alright.
There are so many first time experiences that I have encountered so far. All of them have opened my eyes and made me more thankful for what we do have in the States, some have made me more frustrated with American society, and some have made me fall in love with Nicaragua.