In the past, one of the favorite ways for our leaders to sort of "check in" with each us when we have limited time has been to ask "How are you doing physically, emotionally, and spiritually?" So...

     Physically -  I'm a little worn down. I still don't have a nailed-down schedule of any sort and the uncertainty of that can take it's toll on you after a while. Thankfully I have not been really sick here though I think I'm on the up-swing of a head cold which has gotten passed around the team. Um.. and I'm a little bit hungry, but that's normal. :)

     Emotionally - The time is flying by so quickly - we're to the end of January already! - and I don't feel like I've caught up yet. This whole idea of living in community with so many people who (like me) are not perfect at times is frustrating BUT God is so good and so faithful, and I'm learning how to better give others grace when they fail and how to accept grace when I have failed my team. Right now though, I am just exploding with joy because...

     Spiritually - I am LOVED with an everlasting love. God is blessing me (and making me aware of those blessings). This past weekend was a conference on spiritual leadership and the vision of the Church in general, in partnership with Calvary Chapel.. of Pennsylvania! There were nearly 100 people from both Nicaragua and the States who came Friday-Sunday to El Puente and we had such an awesome time worshiping and praising God together, sharing meals together, and studying our effectiveness as the people of God and how we can better serve each other and the world. Though at times we hated sitting (like ALLL day Saturday), I wouldn't have traded it for the world. This conference played a huge part in renewing my passion this week for the upcoming ministries as well as my focus on Christ as opposed to the events and circumstances I see around me.

 

     Now for the story part! Yesterday a group of us kids/"young adults" went to a little spot on Lake Nicaragua for a little swimming and hanging out. The guys rode bikes up and the girls took taxis because we didn't have enough bikes. We had two taxis, and the driver that left first got halfway there and realized he didn't know where he was going.. so he tried to turn around and the car almost got stuck in the middle of the road (which was small enough that 'normally' wouldn't fit two cars but hey, it's Nicaragua). After a few tries and a little bit of confusion regarding how much the first driver was going to get paid, we arrived at the beach area and had a time swimming and of course fishing. One of the guys on my team who came with us, Baker, was fishing and somehow ended up hooking his own head which as you can imagine caused quite the commotion and made for an interesting afternoon! It was a good time to get to know more kids our age, especially for me since I am not involved in YoungLife here. The kids that came along were really nice, and as always so were Jener and Oneida, the couple who lead YoungLife and who planned the trip for us.

     The way back also proved interesting because, being out so far along the lake, there weren't any taxis to bring the girls BACK. We ended up riding back on the guy's bikes "Nica-style" - and this is a bit what it looked like...

 

 

 

...except instead of two people on the bike I was riding, there were three; and I don't think we looked that happy! Our smiles were more like grimaces of pain. I don't know how they do it, but riding Nica-style is not for me!

     I hope you all have an awesome week, and I will do my best to post on Saturday! God is blessing you, do you see it?