So...Nicaragua was overall an amazing trip. It definitely opened my eyes to the fact that life isn't really what the United States makes it out to be. I had tons of fun making new friendships with those on my team and with some of the children we hung out with, but I also learned several huge lessons. Trip details can be found here...or you can just ask me about it some time and I'd love to share about Nicaragua's impact on my life.
Last summer I came across a word that really struck me: Perdition.
Dictionary.com defines perdition as 1) a state of final spiritual ruin; loss of the soul; damnation; 2) utter destruction or ruin. The wheels in my brain churned some back then, but in Nicaragua the word came back to me and everything started to click. I have determined that there are two forms of perdition: materialistic perdition and spiritual perdition. Godly perdition and worldly perdition. Nicaragua perdition and United States perdition. It's all the same- in one form, you lose your material riches, while in the other, you lose your soul. Let's look at Nicaragua- materialistic perdition does not even begin to explain it. The places my team traveled to in order to serve blew my mind. We saw people living in a garbage dump. 6 year olds holding their baby brothers and sisters along with a couple cracked plates and cups waiting in line at a feeding center for what was probably their only meal of the day (consisting of two spoonfuls of rice, one spoonful of beans, about a tablespoon of diced tomatoes, and a quarter of a breadstick). Families living in shacks that could easily fit inside my bedroom. Women standing outside of restaurants begging for our leftovers. Children lining up by the hundreds to get a voucher for a school uniform and a small box containing a few school supplies. In the eyes of an American, disaster. Let's look at the United States- neighborhoods full of multi-million dollar houses. Lakes that are not doubling as garbage dumps. Tables with copious amounts of food at every single meal (and also tons of choices for snacks in between meals waiting in the pantry). Most families have at least two cars. Education opportunities for everyone-regardless of financial status. Let's revisit "Nicaragua" (by this I mean materialistic perdition), this time in God's eyes. "Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours. God blesses you who are hungry now, for you will be satisfied. God blesses you who weep now, for in due time you will laugh" (Luke 6:20-21). Now, the "U.S." (by this I mean spiritual perdition). "What sorrow awaits you hwo are rich, for you have your only happiness now. What sorrow awaits you who are fat and prosperous now, for a time of awful hunger awaits you. What sorrow awaits you who laugh now, for your laughing will turn to mourning and sorrow. What sorrow awaits you who are praised by the crowds, for their ancestors also praised false prophets." (Luke 6:24-26).
Mark 8:36 asks, "For what does it profit a man to gain the world, yet lose his soul?" I look around and realize that I'm not really winning here. I realize that in this day and age, it's incredibly hard to stay tender-hearted towards the Lord. It's so difficult to not let the world shape me and harden the heart God is working to make beautiful in his eyes. I realize that the people I met in Nicaragua are incredibly well-off. Yes, those waiting in line at the feeding centers have the sweet life. They know what's important. They may not have the world, but they have their souls and life to the fullest. They have true joy because of their dependance on the Lord. They have meaningful relationships- relationships that are more important than their wallets. They have community. The church services I attended in Nicaragua were amazing. People let loose- they don't have their guards up. They celebrate the love of the Lord their God. Their offering plates bear almost nothing, yet their hands and hearts opened up to God mean more than any amount of money. They have true freedom. During my time in Nica, I had a song by the War stuck in my head- Freedom is a Song. One of the lines says, "freedom is a song that everyone can sing." Originally, I looked at it as my team taking freedom to Nicaragua. However, I quickly realized that they are the free ones. They aren't chained down by bank accounts- they have faith that God will provide for them. And he always does.
Materialistic perdition isn't really perdition- it gives one the opportunity to be a spiritual billionaire. esto es vida- this is life.
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