Nicaragua

Happy Valentine's Day sweet people! You are worthwhile, you are loved, and you are not alone.

"I'm not at all an 'in my head' person.' I'm a blood and guts and body person, a dirt and berries and trees person. I'm a smell and taste and feel and grasp-between-my-fingers person..."

- Shauna Niequist, "Present over Perfect"

Above are excerpts from Nicaragua, a trip I went on in 2011. Over the course of my life I have had the chance to travel to several places in the US and abroad, both for pleasure and philanthropy. 

The purpose of this journey was to clothe the young and come along side a church in the capital city of Managua. When I travel it always becomes about the people, in their context, as they live and breathe and move. I believe that is a huge part of why we are here on this planet - God isn't done with us yet, and He has provided His people to love one another and as well as the vulnerable and voiceless. 

"When we know Christ, we always know how things are going to go - always for our good and always for His glory. Somehow Love can lodge light into wounds."

- Ann Voskamp, "The Broken Way"

We are not alone in this world. I am a broken thing. Jagged, with rough edges. I have a temper, I am prideful, and I somehow think I know best more often than not. But that is where Christ steps in. He peels back the broken layers and Loves right along beside and in them. 

Traveling to remote places has of way of re-centering. A slow down that reminds you there are people everywhere, at home, in your neighborhood, as well as the family living in the landfill in central America who need to know love. 

In shattered places, with broken people, we are most near the broken heart of Christ

This is a reminder to love at your best and at your worst today. I don't know how you feel on Valentine's Day, but remember you are worthwhile and remember are able to love and be loved.

Three things:

- Who will you love today?

- Who will you go out of your way to love this week?

- Who will you plan to visit this spring as you bring love with you?