Dear Nicaragua...

Dear Nicaragua,

How do you begin the end of a 2 year affair? When I can look back and see the things that have happened in my life (good and bad) because of you, I am overcome with gratefulness, happiness, and pure amazement. When I think back to 2 years ago when I first came, I sometimes have to check if I am the same person. I never imagined what you would do to me!

The first and best lesson you taught me (and showed me) is how big God really is. Many times over the last 2 years, I've had to cling to my faith because it felt like it was literally all I had. BUT, this also made me realize that it was all I need. God is alive, big and active in Nicaragua (and everywhere else), and I am blessed to have seen that and experienced more than I imagined in a lifetime. My greatest fear about leaving you is that I will not have my eyes opened in the States as wide as they are here...I want to bottle this up and take a little swig of it every day so I don't forget.

The second lesson you're taught me is the things are worthless, but people are worth more than I imagined. NEVER would I have thought I would have been so blessed with so many great people and relationships on this journey. When you come here, no matter what your background, skin color, financial status, or anything thing else is stripped away. The only thing we all share is that we love Jesus and want to do what He wants...and that bonds us in a way that is beyond imagination. And....it's more than enough to simply love Him and want to live for Him, no matter where we are.

The third lesson I learned is that I am stronger than I ever gave myself credit for. I have grown up a lot in ways that I needed to. Life lessons learned here are ones that can never be taken away from me. You can do anything, because when God calls you to do something, He equips with all the right things to do HIS work in HIS kingdom, no matter what the zip code is.

The fourth lesson I learned was how to truly love another person. Choosing to morph from selfish to servant is a daily, hourly, even every minute task...but one that I am starting to grasp. I still need lots of room for error, but God knows my heart and how I am truly trying. Forgiving quickly, loving too much, giving freely, and serving others is something that is never wrong, even if you don't always do it in the right way.

So, Nicaragua, I will be eternally grateful for what you have taught me. I hope and pray that I have had a little bit of an impact on you as well. I am leaving a BIG piece of my heart here, and to turn away from it now is one of the most difficult things I've had to do, but this chapter in my life is closing. I can tell you in confidence that I will see you again and until then, will think of you every day and love what we've had.

Until next time....

Angie