About a year ago my perspective on missions and different cultures completely changed in an instant. One cold fall day i was watching a biography on Will Tant, a professional surfer. In his biography he goes to Nicaragua with one of my favorite bands dispatch, and put on a concert in the middle of a trash dump where this impoverished community lives on. It blew my mind that with hardly anything, struggling even to feed themselves, they were so happy and very quick to flash a smile. Later in the biography hes takes kids from a local orphanage and teaches them how to surf. After watching this, i was touched. I was emotional, and somewhat confused. See i haven't felt right with God in a long time, so i wasn't sure if this was a phase or a calling. When i get excited about something i tend to tell people about whats going on. Yet i felt this was something sacred, something delicate i didn't want to interrupt. i kept it in my heart, Respecting how this had changed me.
About two years ago after the 3rd service i noticed a guy wearing a Pro-Taper shirt. Pro-Taper is a very well-known motocross brand. I contemplated saying hi. Next thing i knew, i introduced myself. He introduced himself and his wife as Patrick and Jessica Blalock. We started talking about motocross and exchanged numbers. Little did i know this couple i just met would dramatically change my life over a two year span of time. My dad had no time anymore to take me riding so Patrick took me out riding pretty much any time he went. He would teach me skills and help me with maintenance, on top of giving me motivation and advise on challenges in life. Just a few months ago, i was helping Patrick and Jessica fix up their house to sell. Jessica's brother Jeff Mora and his wife Sue were also helping them with the house. I noticed Sue wasn't from the states. Later after they left i asked Jessica where Sue was from. When Jessica replied "Nicaragua" i felt relieved. This was the very first connection i reached with the silent love i feel for this country. As my face lit up i explained to Patrick and Jessica the whole story above. Seeming just as inspired as i, they started explaining how Sues parents own hotel/bed and breakfast in Perlas Laguna Nicaragua on the Atlantic side. They were like "yeah they'd let you stay there for free and as long as you'd need to." I was astonished on how big of a door that was just opened for me.
This brings me to a week ago. October 2nd i went over to Jeff and Sues for dinner to talk with them about Nicaragua. Patrick and Jessica were there also. We started dinner around eight with them talking about what its like there. I explained to them my story of how i am really into going to Nicaragua, and how i wasn't sure of what I'd do there. They explained to me how through her parents and uncle, I'd go there to teach students how to play the guitar, or anything else they would need me to do. They suggested for me to go with them for a week or two before i go there to work with the community. After amazing conversation and fellowship, we had yet to realize that it was 12:30am.
Now, i am here. In the present. Still stunned in awe of how far this has come in one year. This that God has given me is absolutely incredible. Diligent prayer and trust is key right now. To where God is taking this i don't know, nor would ever wish to put limits on for how inspiring He has beheld this.
