When something is familiar, you usually tend to gravitate towards it. Even though we may like to try new things, new restaurants, new hairstyles, new paint colors…we usually have our familiar staples and things we always go back to, cause, well, they are familiar.
And so as we settled in and starting looking for a church to call ours, we were conflicted. We wanted to try something new and attend a small church, but we also wanted the familiar. So we started small. I’m talking small small. Like right down the street from us, in our neighborhood, about 30 people. It was kinda awkward, and  we could tell just from that Sunday it wasn’t the place for us. I don’t think we could then- and even still-put our finger on it, but it just didn’t feel like the spot for us.

So we went to another church, one that we heard of from a neighbor who lives right around the corner from us. We met them the first weekend we moved here! Another small church. And I’m not 100% sure we would have gone and tried another small church, other than the fact that the couple that invited us were both heading to Haiti this summer, and with an organization we love-Heartline. (You may remember me posting about them-I sold the jewelry their ladies made in our guesthouse up in Cap Haitian, and they are the ones we got our dear Penny from!). They are a rock solid organization that after having been in Haiti a long time, still very much love the Lord and the people they serve. So, we thought, if these people are connected with Heartline, we can give their church a try. And off we went. And it was kinda great. Awkward too? Of course. You walk in and it’s so obvious you the new people cause when there are only like 50 people, it’s clear who is new! This church meets in a high school, so it’s got the unassuming, we are casual and not overdoing it without even trying.The worship was good, the kids section was impressive for knowing that they bring everything in and set it up that day, and the people were genuinely kind and welcoming. So we went back the next week, and a few people remembered our names. And that week they had a new comers lunch, and I’m not kidding, almost the whole church came! We gathered around 3 tables, got to meet so many people, hear about their church and their story and then shared a little bit of ours. We were so blown away that so many people would come to lunch simply to make us feel welcomed. And at that lunch, a few girls got my phone number-and actually called me! They invited me to a play date at the park with all the kids. Oh, it was such a simple act and yet so huge for my heart.

Next we tried a larger church. Very North Coast like (our old church in CA). Not nearly as big, but nonetheless, familiar. You could walk in, know where to get some coffee, they had cute kids classes, a nice sanctuary with fancy lights, schnazzy music, bulletins with the classic fill in the blanks, etc. And while we got a few smiles and hand shakes and people were of course friendly (I mean, hello, we are in church!) we noticed that we weren’t noticed. We just blended right in. And, as we later talked through picking one of these churches, that was one of the deciding factors right there.

We don’t want to blend in. We want people to notice when we are gone. We are craving accountability and community… and we’re craving it now. Not something that will take months to find, months be welcomed and accepted, and months to actually start sharing life. Who has time for that?! We decided, we don’t.

So we are embracing the awkward. I mean, my goodness, we joke our life is just one big awkward moment anyway! A small church, when you have very little experience with one as we do, can be awkward. Yes, they have a normal starting time, an itinerary that they stick to, but it’s still unpredictable. You can’t really sneak in late and sit in the back cause it’s not dark and there really isn’t a “back” when there are only like 5 rows of seats. And you actually have to pay attention to people’s names because you will in fact see them next week and look them in the eye. (Which consequently I am getting much better at remembering names-I mean, how many times can you say ‘tell me your name ooooooone more time??”

And so we’re in. We are both feet in. We joined a small group that meets at someones house, we signed up to start serving and helping. We are officially calling this church our home and we couldn’t be happier.

I miss writing. I do. For those of you who could barely eek out a one page essay in college might find this laughable, but it’s true. So even though I’m not sure what the heck I’m going to write about, I have decided that I just wanted to start doing it. So feel free to come here for a read. A good read? I can’t commit to that. A funny read? Not sure about that either. Ramblings? Yes. Thoughts and comments about this very strange land I am living in? Yes. New recipes perhaps interlaced cause I’m tired of making the same things? Sure, why not. I might even share a few things God is teaching me along with way!! And maybe even a few pictures because, let’s be honest, sometimes a photo really does say it all. (like the one I couldn’t get of the man at the grocery story with a giant Texas tattoo on his arm) I mean, really-when was the last time you saw someone with a California state tattoo?! Um, never.

So, stay tuned.

We had some sweet friends come and visit. But they aren’t just any ol’ friends. Meet Christine and her daughter Haley.

Christine and her husband Rich came on a trip with Living Water to Haiti, about two years ago.  And the connection was instant-like many of you who we have had the pleasure of meeting along our journey. And they kept in touch over the years, and have been so kind, encouraging, and loving towards us in such big and little ways. In fact, their church in New Jersey is the one I wrote about a while back too. A church that just blew us away with how much they serve others, care about missions, and especially the cause of clean water. It’s incredible really. If you have a few moments, feel free to check out their website http://www.liquidchurch.com/serve/clean-water/.
Anywhoo, Christine and Rich wanted their daughter Haley to come and visit. To see life outside of the US of A,to experience how others live, what they do, how life works in a third world context. They wanted her to see what service looks like, and missions, and all that stuff too. So the ladies braved the traveling all on their own, and came and stayed with us for a week. The really cool part was, since they wanted to see Nicaragua and the different ways people are serving and helping here, we got to do whatever we wanted with them for the week! I have to admit, at first I was a bit intimidated, not sure where to take them, or what to show them. But I got creative and came up with some new things!

We have some friends here who are doing some pretty cool things, and so we asked them if the three of us could tag along and see what they do. When you live here, and meet other people here, one of the first things you learn is what they/why there are here. Of course, things in Nicaragua are a bit different than Haiti, as we have met foreigners who live here for so many different reasons. Haiti it was only ever two kinds of folks really. Those told by God to be there, and those running from something/trying to do penance for something they had done. So, bizarrely, in Nicaragua, people are here for fun! For the sheer pleasure and beauty. Some are retiring here. Some have started business, hotels, bed & breakfast, or work for to help the poor, for for non profits, and of course missionaries.

Of course we know what our friends do. But when was the last time you went to your friends place of work? Or where they do ministry? Or helped them with something they volunteer at? So I just loved that our friends were willing to let us come and check it out.

The first thing we did was go with a friend, Summer, to visit a school they work with. Summer and her husband Ryan are here working with multiple churches and one school. They do all different things within that context.So we spent the day visiting the school. Afterwards, we went into the community and visited some of the school kids homes, and met their families.

(These are all great photos Christine took. She is so talented!! Thanks for giving me all these photos!)

We of course took them out to see what Living Water was up to that week. We went into a community that was drilling, and they got to see the whole process, help out with hygiene lessons, and visit homes in the community.

 

 

Another cool thing we did was hang out with a friend, Bethany, and they helped teach the English class she does with a group of teenage girls. Bethany has invited these girls into her house three times a week, in order to help them learn English and in turn help give them even more opportunities in the future. She loves on them, shares God’s love with them, and you can tell the girls love the class and appreciate the time she gives to them. So Haley and Christine taught the class all week! It was of course hard for them to talk slow and use simple words (things anyone appreciates when learning a new language, myself included!!) And they even brought stuff to have a little birthday party for one of the girls who had a birthday that week!

 

What a fun week we had together. Those two were such great guests, so easy to take along with us, and loved simply seeing and being a part of every day life here. I loved hearing thoughts and opinions from Haley, only twelve years old, and yet she saw and processed so many things. Things that many adults have a hard time seeing and trying to comprehend. She loved seeing and experiencing new things, and had such a great attitude about it. I was impressed for sure! And I can’t wait to see what God was doing, is doing, and will continue to do in her heart as she process what she saw, felt, and experienced that week.