Timing Is Everything

Our team's flight was delayed yesterday, so they arrived here at nine last night. Jennifer and I drove to El Cañon earlier yesterday morning to visit a little girl she knows. We spent a little time there and then went back to the mission house to eat lunch. After lunch we went back to El Cañon and everyone was already gathered around the television ready to watch Argentina and Holanda. 

Some of the girls would be in and out of the room during the game, but towards the end of the match every person was in there waiting to see who would win. When it came down to a penalty shoot out it was hilarious to watch them. There was another television in the next room and it was seconds earlier than this one. We would hear screams or silence in the other room and three seconds later the same reaction in this room. We knew from the other room's reaction whether Argentina scored or Holanda missed. 

We picked up Emily and Tristan from the airport after making a stop at Palí (grocery store) and the mission house for dinner. They were exhausted so we all went to bed shortly after getting back to the mission house. 

Most of the day today was spent at El Cañon with the kids. In the morning Emily, Tristan, and Jennifer helped paint the outside of the kitchen while I helped some of the girls who live there sort donated clothes. 

Emily, Tristan, and Jennifer painting the outside of the kitchen bright green. 

Sorting all the clothes donated to the orphanage. 

By the time we were all finished it was time for lunch, which meant back to the mission house. After lunch we drove back to El Cañon and spent a lot of the time playing with the kids. 

The little ones had a big pile of toys they played with. 

Franklin found a puddle and kept adding toys and saying to me, "Let's find other one. You-come!" He and Leo speak English very well for only being six years old. 

Then I got to play and watch ping pong with a couple older kids and the music teacher who was a ping pong champ once upon a time. 

The music teacher is on the right and Laila is on the left. We had a lot of fun and it got competitive once we were keeping score. 

Jennifer brought a couple felt story boards for the kids and we all sat in the small classroom listening to her teach. 

After the story we went over to the playground and spent the rest of our time playing. The older boys had a soccer game going while the little ones kicked a ball and played on the swings. We all had such a good time and I hated leaving when it was time to go. 

Leo tried to hide his smile for the picture, but I got him to smile by tickling him:)

Those kids are so joyful and I would love nothing more than to play with them every day just to see them smile like this. Nothing makes me happier:) 

For dinner tonight we met with two missionaries, Carl and Kathy, who have lived here in Nicaragua for about 16 years. We went to a tiny Greek restaurant and they told us their story while we sat and ate gyros. Their story of how they ended up in Nicaragua was great and I enjoyed hearing them talk about it. It's too long for me to type out, but it was very interesting and encouraging. We continued our night at a coffee shop called Càfecito with dessert and coffee. It was a great ending to our day being able to talk with Carl and Kathy. They had some wise things to say and I especially loved talking to them about their work as missionaries. 

I'll end this post with something Carl said tonight that stuck with me: "To God, time is nothing, but timing is everything". God can make anything happen at the snap of his fingers, time is nothing to him. But everything he does, everything he allows to happen, is part of his great plan for our lives.