Friends



(written on 6/25)

I love people, and I have many in my life who I consider friends.  This past week, I made a few new friends…

Heather, Matt and Emmett are from Austin, Texas.  Emmett plays baseball.  This year, in lieu of spending the money to go to a big baseball tournament in Florida, they decided to spend the money to come here to Nicaragua.  Heather had googled Baseball Service Trips – and found Amigos for Christ, because in addition to water systems, and building bathrooms and schools, they host a baseball academy for young men living here.

Heather’s family was hard working and kind.  Back in the states she runs her own environmental landscape business – Regenerative Environmental Design, and though while at the academy she took a line drive to the arm, leaving her with a tremendous bruise – this picture shows her lugging 20 lb buckets of fertilizer for the pitaya plants – continuously encouraging us all.

At night, while they were here – Heather would lead a group of tired and sore people in a yoga class to release tightened muscles. 

Heather quickly made friends with Leydin.  A local Nicaraguan woman who is employed by Amigos, and whose laughter, work ethic and love of God make her one of those people that people miss when they leave Nicaragua.  I love Leydin too, and we stay in touch even when I’m not here.  This year her mom has been suffering some health issues, and Heather kindly offered help if needed.

Then, before she left – Heather found out that my son, Max, is currently in Austin.  Heather said to give him her number, and to let him know if he needed anything – she’d be there for him.  She offered tips on live music and fun things he could do while in Austin and she told me if I needed her to check on him – she would.  She was serious.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 

Heather was very good at building people up – at seeing their needs, and working to fill them.  And, as I watched her, I realized I am often too “inwardly focused” to see the needs of those around me.  Today – as we go to climb Cerro Negro (that darned black volcano) once again I’ll try to notice more, and to look for opportunities to encourage those who might need it!

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