Sorry for the Delay...Thoughts from Drew

Hello faithful blog readers! So sorry for the missed post yesterday, we had one ready for you but when I went to upload it, internet had been turned off for the day. Sometimes Nicaragua throws a curve ball at you and you just run with it...so for day you get two posts! First I'll share thoughts from a senior on our trip, Drew Teora-Sexton. She wrote this for you from yesterday... Hello everyone from Nicaragua! As a senior member of the team, this is my third trip to Nicaragua and I am always amazed at how my life is changed each year. There is never enough time to spend with the children, never enough time to reflect on everything we see, and never a moment I feel at a loss of emotion or awe. Today, both the Spring Branch and Trinity teams took a tour around the capital building of Managua, learning all about the history of Nicaragua, from its humble beginnings until now. Coming straight from someone who has lived and breathed Nicaragua their entire life, the passion and pride emoted from his speech gave me an insight on the country I had never had before. After our tour, we headed straight to Nueva Vida, to have our last feeding day and final VBS. Our theme for the day was “No matter what happens in life, you can trust God.” This simple phrase went along with the story of Jesus’ resurrection, the most important story ever told to these children, or anyone for that matter. Today was an important day. As we arrived at the Guillermo’s church, I couldn’t help but feeling a layer of sadness over my heart. The three girls I had come to know and love over the past two years, Karen, Maria, and Naxta, had moved from the small village we would be serving and I was informed that they would not be attending the VBS today. As I walked out of the bus, I was attacked by three small children and nearly brought to the ground. It was the girls! The pastor of the church informed me that the girls had walked from their new home, many towns away, just to see me that day. In that moment, I was struck by God’s grace and love. It was these girls who had made me who I am today and I was beyond thrilled that I could teach them the most important story the world has ever heard. After a long day of skits, new songs, feeding hungry children, and dancing inside of Guillermo’s small church, our team spent about 20 minutes praying for the kids, Guillermo and his church, and the community of Neuva Vida. We all took time to pray for the kids who had touched our hearts the most and reflect on what opportunities the week had presented to us. As I walked down the road to the bus, my three girls trailing close behind, I realized how blessed I was to even have had the chance to know the children of Nicaragua. For us in America, the world is at our fingertips. When we come down here, even for just a week, I feel as though we get the chance to give the world back to those kids. I know that three years won’t be enough for me. If I can, I have to do more for them. Andrew Farthing challenged me on my first trip to use the tension we feel in Nicaragua for the greater good. I will do my best to do just that…for Maria and her sisters, for Guillermo and his church, and for the beautiful country of Nicaragua, who will forever have my heart. Until tomorrow, Drew Teora-Sexton