Juntos


Juntos is something we say a lot around here.  It’s on the tshirts groups that are arriving wear as they enter Nicaragua, it’s on the shirts Amigos staff members wear as we climb the volcano - Cerro Negro, it’s on stickers you can buy to put on your water bottle… and JUNTOS means “TOGETHER”. 

On Saturday this week we began with three distinct groups.  The first called themselves Wholey Spirit - because it was a mixed bag of girls from New Orleans, who had been here before as part of a group from Sacred Heart school, and loved their experience so much that they’d come back - even though some had graduated.

 

The second group was a family of 5:  Grandoarents Bernie and Lynn who had been 10 times before and had fundraised over $50k for the organization by hosting annual motorcycle rides.  Their daughter, who had been many times with her husband (who graciously agreed to stay home this trip to take care of the animals), along with  her two daughters - ages 8 and 12.

 

Then there was a pastor of a mega-church in Florida, here with his daughter, both of whom had been many years before.

 

And added to that we had 5 new interns who came this week and were “getting their feet wet” as they learned/relearned their roles, along with the hard working staff that lives here year round and makes this place run.

 

And what I noticed was that after 3 days of being together - working shoulder to shoulder and sharing stories and life, something cool has happened… 3 groups (plus) has become ONE.  And today as I watched the one group, play games, watch a sunset at the beach, enjoy a traditional Nicaraguan meal, take in some cultural Nicaraguan dancing, and then participate in an amazing night of karaoke, mariachi bands, and dancing,  I thought - JUNTOS SOMOS MÁS - together we are more.

 

We were made to be in community with one another because God knows that He has gifted us with unique gifts and talents - but no one is the “complete package”.  When we work together as one, letting each person leverage their gifts, we are better than we ever could be working by ourselves.  The Bible talks about this in Ecclesiastes 4:9-11 which says  “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:  If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.  But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them.”

 

Juntos somos más!


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