La Vie Secrèt de Tubzey

My first mission trip in Nicaragua was to do VBS with the children at 행복넘치는 교홰! Stellar, Grace, Sharon and I quickly set-up a simple but spy academy themed event within several morning hours. It was a great accomplishment for us as our first project. The kids arrived one by one. I was so nervous to meet them, because I am so awkward. When we got started with the music and dancing, it was a tough crowd trying to get them to participate right away. They looked at each other and us with ridicule. Surprising enough, they opened up real quick.

Stellar was in charge of bible study. Grace did journaling. Sharon did crafts. I did games. Games was so frustrating and tiring. I wanted their utmost attention, but so many of them decided that it was funny to see a cranky me. Saturday was so emotional for me that I cried so much in the shower that night. The rest of the team seemed to do well in their jobs except me. I’ve never felt so alone in a foreign country.

The next day (saturday) I fasted, because I was so determined to focus on God, and seek His voice in all the chaos going in my heart and mind. I was mind-blown. I prayed during the lunch, and I sang praises while playing the guitar. The children came in and joined me in song after they ate lunch. They shared with me their passions in life. We saw each other eye to eye. Running the games department was no longer frustrating or tiring. What was I feeling? The children loved me back.

On Sunday, our team went to church, and we finished VBS with the children. We said our goodbyes, which was very bittersweet. I thought I wouldn’t like doing VBS very much with kids, but in one day, God showed me what it meant to open my eyes and heart. That changed my perspective for the rest of my mission trip.

We got to visit Volcano Masaya with our translators: Chan, Ju Hyeong, Elise. It was beautiful and breathtaking! We were lucky that the rain had passed as soon as we arrived there. I felt so much peace being in the presence of nature kept in its natural state. The grasslands that were once so green is covered by hardened obsidian ash rock that spewed from the once-inactive-but-now-dangerous volcano. The hike up the crater of the inactive volcano next to the active one was glorious. God, I bet you sit in those craters like a sofa.

(Above) This lady was from Canada, and she came with her family and daughter-in-law. She had a terrible time since she arrived the day before I took this picture. Her family went into a restaurant, and they left all their belongings with their taxi driver. Next thing you know, their luggage is gone with their taxi. They left for Canada the very next day after I talked to her. She told me to be brave and never be disheartened in misfortunes, for there will always be better and good moments as well. A moment with a stranger in a foreign land can speak more to your heart than the comfort of people you’ve always surrounded yourself with.

Our driver was awesome. We called him “mi amigo” as it was hard to keep up with all Spanish names we came across everyday. Every drive to and from the villages was peaceful but filled with prayer. I prayed over the land as we drove on.

Looking out from the bus, I saw this man laying, covered in oil or some liquid, in the blazing sun. People would just walk over him. The pastors told us not to give the children money (only food) because giving money encouraged parents to pull their children out of school to beg on the streets. We gave them candy for the time being.

This was the breakfast that our hotel, Don Carmelo served us. It was simple, yet so delicious. Their coffee is the best. Nicaraguan coffee.

After VBS, we ate here for Korean food. It was interesting to taste such delicious Korean food in Nicaragua. The pastor wanted to bless us with food from here. Bless us, he did.

A huge cola truck drove by our bus, and its door swung open, and all the crates tumbled out. They stopped their truck to the side, and they began recollecting everything. It was pouring rain. Side note: the drivers in Nicaragua are very reckless and apparently pedestrians have no right of way. If you get hit, you get hit.

I would say more, but this would be a book. Nicaragua is always another home for my heart, and will remember them as the land of butterflies.