Goodbye California!

Starting a new year has never been so exciting for me - with much anticipation and some trepidation I am thinking forward on all of the opportunities that this year holds and only two weeks into it I am already overwhelmed by the kindness and graciousness of God in my life. Everything that God has given me and done in my life prepares me for today and tomorrow - and so too, this last year of experiences; my first year doing missions, it is a building block in God's blueprint - both for my life, and the lives of others, and so I am excited and thankful to be a part of His plan - to know that it is both individual and global - and to move forward into what He has for me adelante.

Although it was only a short time, my visit in California was both beautiful, refreshing, and character-testing. The stress of preparing to leave the country for a years time is something that admittedly, I wasn't prepared for, and so it really challenged me in a deep way. The under riding constant to the whole thing was that, without being surprised, God knew what a challenge it would be for me, and was faithful in dealing with me throughout. And so, my last week in California was the richest in both experience and growth, and when I awoke on Monday the 4th in Costa Mesa I saw this beautiful sunrise waiting for me - and so I took the picture, knowing that God was trying to show me something.

My flight, my finances - nothing went as I had planned it, but never the less I hopped onto my first plane. From Los Angeles to Denver, from Denver to San Jose, Costa Rica, and from San Jose, a bus to Diriamba, Nicaragua. So here I am now, beautiful, poor, hot Nicaragua. The plan - to teach in an elementary school for at-risk children. Love the students. Minister to their families. Preach the Word, Share the Gospel. Because if there is one thing that has brought hope and meaning into my life, strength and compassion into my heart, its the Gospel - the payment on the cross for my sins by God Himself as an act of love and reconciliation. This is what Nicaragua needs, and needs to recognize, and so all my problems and failures aside, this why I am here.

Goodbye California y ¡Buenos Días America Latina!