What I learned from an Australian woman (and others) in Nicaragua

I'm starting to think of people I meet as characters from a movie or novel. Everyone with their own special quirks or appearance. Everyone saying some line or doing some action to drive the plot that is my life forward. I realize this sounds self-centered. It is. But it also makes meeting new people incredibly more interesting. Last Thursday, August 11 around 7 pm, during my first evening here in Nicaragua, I met a new character named Aly. She was a Australian woman with big, tanned arms and thin, dark blonde hair. She talked with confidence and a charming accent. She intimidated me with her various adventure stories and legs so full of bug bites, she might as well be covered in splotchy red freckles. Insecure and wondering what in the world I was doing here in this strange, ugly city all alone, Aly made me feel weak and ridiculous. Just by her presence alone, I could tell she was strong. And there I was on my first night in Managua, never feeling weaker. 

Aly told me about spending weeks sleeping in hammocks in the Nicaraguan jungle, waking up with mysterious insects crawling up her neck, and riding for hour on public buses so over-crowded with passengers that she could hardly breathe. Aly's stories first shocked, but later inspired me. She was a woman ready for an adventure. "How can I be more like that?" I asked myself. How can I be a character worth meeting? Worth remembering? I started my week in Managua feeling out of my league. The streets are dirty, the homes are small, amenities are sparse if not entirely unavailable, and despite my best efforts to learn Spanish, even the language is foreign. I never admitted once on my trip but now that it’s over, I'll admit it...I was scared. However, the incredible example of Aly the Adventurer, inspired me to woman up. Past my insecurities and fragilities was a good experience waiting for me to enjoy! 

My days in Nicaragua mostly included accompanying my friend (and my only original contact there) in her ministry, during which she would conduct bible studies with locals that came from the coast. I was able to meet several new people that sacrificed their comfortable lives back in the States to pursue a life in full time ministry. Renouncing modern amenities for a life of mosquito spray and uncomfortable sleeping mattresses suddenly sounded oddly appealing. If these young people are doing it, why can’t I? Seeing the examples of people my own age making sacrifices for something greater for themselves, and seemingly loving every minute of it, made me reflect on what is truly important in life. 

I entered Nicaragua feeling lonely, intimidated, and frankly, disgusted. I left feeling refreshed, loved, and eager to plan my trip back. 

I’m learning that every day is another page of our own individual autobiographies. Every moment, every thought, every day holds opportunities to create an interesting story. Perhaps even a best-seller. 

What I learned from an Australian woman (and others) in Nicaragua

I'm starting to think of people I meet as characters from a movie or novel. Everyone with their own special quirks or appearance. Everyone saying some line or doing some action to drive the plot that is my life forward. I realize this sounds self-centered. It is. But it also makes meeting new people incredibly more interesting. Last Thursday, August 11 around 7 pm, during my first evening here in Nicaragua, I met a new character named Aly. She was a Australian woman with big, tanned arms and thin, dark blonde hair. She talked with confidence and a charming accent. She intimidated me with her various adventure stories and legs so full of bug bites, she might as well be covered in splotchy red freckles. Insecure and wondering what in the world I was doing here in this strange, ugly city all alone, Aly made me feel weak and ridiculous. Just by her presence alone, I could tell she was strong. And there I was on my first night in Managua, never feeling weaker. 

Aly told me about spending weeks sleeping in hammocks in the Nicaraguan jungle, waking up with mysterious insects crawling up her neck, and riding for hour on public buses so over-crowded with passengers that she could hardly breathe. Aly's stories first shocked, but later inspired me. She was a woman ready for an adventure. "How can I be more like that?" I asked myself. How can I be a character worth meeting? Worth remembering? I started my week in Managua feeling out of my league. The streets are dirty, the homes are small, amenities are sparse if not entirely unavailable, and despite my best efforts to learn Spanish, even the language is foreign. I never admitted once on my trip but now that it’s over, I'll admit it...I was scared. However, the incredible example of Aly the Adventurer, inspired me to woman up. Past my insecurities and fragilities was a good experience waiting for me to enjoy! 

My days in Nicaragua mostly included accompanying my friend (and my only original contact there) in her ministry, during which she would conduct bible studies with locals that came from the coast. I was able to meet several new people that sacrificed their comfortable lives back in the States to pursue a life in full time ministry. Renouncing modern amenities for a life of mosquito spray and uncomfortable sleeping mattresses suddenly sounded oddly appealing. If these young people are doing it, why can’t I? Seeing the examples of people my own age making sacrifices for something greater for themselves, and seemingly loving every minute of it, made me reflect on what is truly important in life. 

I entered Nicaragua feeling lonely, intimidated, and frankly, disgusted. I left feeling refreshed, loved, and eager to plan my trip back. 

I’m learning that every day is another page of our own individual autobiographies. Every moment, every thought, every day holds opportunities to create an interesting story. Perhaps even a best-seller. 

Summer 2016

What an amazing summer this has been! It all started with the marriage of my beautiful cousin and her one true love. This was the event that set the rest all into motion. Just days after the ceremony, I was whisked away to a small Mexican island off the shore of Cancun. The island is called Isla Mujeres and there I met an abundance of spiritual brothers and sisters that, with their happiness and zeal for God and for life, changed my perspective on my own life. I would like to thank the Pate family (again) for including me on that trip. Ah! What an experience! My 10 days in Isla Mujeres ended too quickly as from there I traveled back to the States to meet my mom and stepfather in Dallas and watch my stepbrother graduate from his university. Congrats G!! Only hours later, we left for Maui, which filled my heart with nostalgic memories of my childhood. For 10 years, I had spent every winter in Maui, and finally, as a young adult, there I was again. After my invigorating experience in Mexico, my excited outlook on the future meshed inspiringly with the nostalgic beach setting. That trip, too, came to a quick end... Only to return home to boring Ol' Oklahoma for four days and pack for my next adventure--ITALY! I had never been so emotional leaving the country before. Suddenly, the hard realization that I would be on my own in this venture made me even doubt my decision to go. I cried! But this was my DREAM! Ever since my first trip to Europe as a little girl, I knew in my heart I would return on my own one day and live as a local. The opportunity to study my favorite subject, Art History, in my favorite country, Italia, was literally a dream come true. The four weeks I spent there went by too fast. I was sad to leave, but my next destination proved to be worth the departure. I arrived in Arnhem, Netherlands one rainy summer day, sad and depressed from leaving my dreamland of Florence. My mood quickly changed to optimistic when I began making friends with locals and spending time with the lovely Holwerda family (thank you Lauren for everything! You are amazing!). I left Europe for good on July 4th, just in time for our 2016 Regional Convention which was so beautiful and touching! The following Friday, I met up with my beautiful cousin Jayden and tagged along with her family road-trip to Sante Fe, New Mexico. We made some new friends from the local congregation who made us laugh and forced us out of our comfort zone while hiking Tent Rocks. In Riudoso, New Mexico, we were reminded of the healing powers of nature and how sometimes, getting lost out in the mountains during a rainstorm can actually be a lot of fun. I returned home, refusing to unpack, and prepared for my next trip: St. Petersburg, Florida. There I spent time with my lovely father and his wife and their two naked cats. I also learned a little Bosnian and Bulgarian and how make it very clear to your High Tea waiter that you do not belong at High Tea. Leaving Florida was harder than I expected. I found myself uncharacteristically missing home... Stability... My own bed and my dog, even. This was a weird feeling for me. I remember a get together at my home in May, just after coming home from Maui, and saying these words to some friends: "I could easily move to another country. I don't have any attachments that would keep me from leaving." As I boarded my flight to Nicaragua just yesterday, I began to realize how wrong I truly was with that statement. I miss my home! My family! My friends! My mom and her cooking! Thinking of my loved ones made my heart swell with sentiment and actually made me regret taking this next adventure. I highly recommend NOT thinking these things when boarding a flight to a third-world country. It just makes adapting to the lack of modern luxuries (hot water, comfortable bed, air-conditioning, language barriers) that much harder! I am writing this on the second day of my week here in Nicaragua and thankfully my attitude is already shifting back to the initial excitement I felt while booking the trip. Like every trip I find myself on, I'm so happy I am here and so ready for the adventure. So, here's to more experiences ahead! And to always exploring! Ciao (: