Every year, my favorite part of Nicaragua is going to church because of the diversity that we experience. Singing with one voice in three different languages is such an amazing experience- there are honestly no words to describe the feeling. Singing to our God as one is heartwarming beyond words. Every year I am ecstatic to go and experience this.
When we sit in church every year, it astounds me when it is time to give the offering, it makes me realize how greedy Americans really are. When Pastor Earl asks for the offering, the poverty stricken people of Nicaragua automatically give as much as they possibly can to help their beloved church. This hits me hard every time I see it and leaves me with a feeling of regret because I did not give to them or my own church. This feeling was apparent when I woke up that Sunday morning this year. My mind flashed back to the last two years where I longed to donate. In that moment, I got up and put all of the Nicaragua money I had in my Bible plus $5. I was so excited that I was finally going to give a small donation to the church, but nervous because I did not want any focus on me when I gave money.
It was finally time to walk to church. When we walked in, we started filing into the rows, all of us Americans together. I saw a young Nicaraguan girl sitting by herself, so I decided to sit by her, and Taylor and Krista sat with us. As we were waiting for church to begin, I was looking around at all of the children, oh how I longed just to play with them. Each one made me smile because of their anxious attitudes to go to church, but at the same time acting the same way kids around the world act that are their age. I soon caught the eye of one young boy who was sitting with his mother- he was maybe four or five years old. I was making faces at him and he was giggling, then his mom gave him a little push on his butt and this little boy came running to me, he got the approval he was looking for. He sat on my lap for the beginning of church, quietly playing with my hands as we listened to all that was going on. It was time to worship, so we stood up and I had my little buddy right in front of me. He clapped to the music using my hands, and it warmed my heart. I loved the happiness this boy expressed being with a complete stranger- but maybe he knew I loved him, even though we just met. Maybe he understood that Jesus provides us with these moments to warm our hearts, maybe he knew that he was making my day. I loved having my little buddy with me throughout the worship portion of church.Then, it was time. The offering. My heart was beating so fast and I got more nervous then I can express. I took out my money and at the moment Krista looked over, "Man, I forgot mine. I do this every year!" In my mind this was a good thing, now the attention does not have to be put on me. I handed Krista the Cordoba's and felt better that I was not going up by myself. Then the little boy looked at me, curious as to what I was preparing to do, again I was excited because less attention would be on me. I handed him the five dollars and guided him up to the front to put the money in. He was so excited to put the money in the basket, and I loved living through him. I felt ecstatic because I was able to give to the church, with all the focus on loving others.
The kids had to go to their class, so this little boy had to leave me. I sat through church, hanging on every word that Ted shared. Towards the end, I was sad because I did not get my picture with my church buddy. So I kept an eye on his mother, and as soon as the kids came back went to take a picture with him. I loved meeting this little boy and fell in love with him. He had such a great personality and I was happy to be able to experience his company on this trip.
Sundays, my favorite days. The day that I am reminded to give God the glory and further my relationship with Christ. The days that I step out of my introvert circle and love on everyone that I come in contact with. The days I meet new friends and worship my God. Although I love every Sunday, my buddy made this one one of the top Sundays.
