I moved back from Nicaragua exactly one year ago today. This is a crazy thought to me, but I can’t
quite decide why. Maybe it’s because I
feel like so much has happened in just one year, or maybe it’s because I still
feel so connected to Nicaragua and can’t imagine that it’s been a whole year. Who knows.
I took some time tonight to reflect on the past year, and
the more I thought about it, the more I felt an inexpressible sense of gratitude. I have been amazingly blessed in the past year,
and I have grown a lot. I am a homeowner
of a beautiful house which has truly become a home to me. I have a job that I truly love, where I work
with amazing coworkers on work that I feel is relevant and exciting. Next year, I’ll have completed my
certification and will be working on console in Mission Control for the
International Space Station. I am truly living
my dreams, and I am constantly in awe of the privilege and responsibility of my
job.
But beyond those obvious areas of growing up, I have been blessed with some amazing new friends who support me and challenge me, and the chance to grow in relationship with old friends as well. I have read books that have taught me and expanded my knowledge. I have worked with some amazing teens at church, and within the next few weeks will see the kids that were freshman when I moved to Houston graduate from high school.
It’s easy to ignore the growth or learning opportunities
that are present in our everyday lives.
During my year in Nicaragua, I was hypersensitive to what I was learning
about myself and others – since I was in a new environment where I felt like I
would learn a lot, I was almost artificially aware of my growth. Over this past year, more than anything, I’ve
learned to recognize and embrace growth opportunities in the “mundane” details
of normal life. I may not be as keenly
aware of my own growth on a daily basis, but I have been blown away by how I
have grown in joy, confidence, and understanding in the past year.
Somewhere throughout all of that, Nicaragua has remained a
huge part of my life. I have had the
opportunity to visit twice, and it has been amazing to reconnect with the
people I love in Cedro Galan and La Chureca.
Speaking of growth, all the families who formerly lived in the trash
dump of la Chureca are now living in nice brick houses in a nearby
neighborhood, Villa Guadalupe. It was
heartwarming to have them proudly show me their new houses when I visited last
month. Whether it be through a phone
call, Facebook conversation, the photos from Nicaragua around my house and
office, or just a memory that makes me smile, Nicaragua is on my mind and in my
heart every day. The lessons I learned
there have helped mold me into who I am today, and for that I will be forever
grateful.
I’ve also realized in the past year that my connection to
Nicaragua and to Manna Project isn’t over.
Although I loved my year in Nica, I learned while there that it wasn’t something
I was called to do for longer. I
struggled to reconcile that with the strong, strong connection I felt to the
people and communities and my desire to serve.
I’m still uncovering what all that means for me, but I now see that I
can remain involved and invested in these communities even from far away, and
my actions here can continue to benefit Cedro Galan, la Chureca/Villa
Guadalupe, and Manna Project. It’s been
a wild ride, and I know it’s far from over.
Here’s to another year of learning, growing, giving back, and being
thankful.
