Reflections

Back in Managua at the beautiful hotel where we began this adventure. We dropped off the crew from Grapevine for their flight and are resting up for our EARLY morning flight back to Texas. We got to spend a few hours touring a volcano near Managua with the help of one of our brothers who lives near here and drove one of the airport bound vehicles down. We had an enjoyable time with him--it was great to just talk and reflect.

Jonathan had the funniest experience as we were waiting to leave Jinotega. The first day of the eyeglass mission in Jinotega, we had been giving away some stuffed animals that had been donated to the mission. Understandably, they went fast. A boy came in during the afternoon and asked for a ¨"pluchara" (stuffed toy). Jonathan told him there were no more, but he was unconvinced. Finally Jonathan showed him the empty box they had been in saying "See, no more stuffed toys." The boy said, " Can I have the box?" Jonathan handed it to him and he left just tickled to death with the big empty cardboard box. This morning, a tiny little boy saw us standing near the mission and asked for a gift. Jonathan said, "I´m sorry, but all the toys are gone." The boy asked, "Can I have a box?"

We giggled and giggled about it--but isn´t it striking? We often think that we have no more gifts to give, when maybe all someone wants is "the box". We were struck with how often we may overlook how much we have to offer. How often we may not value, may not realize, that we have something that is worth sharing. For all of you who have shared your strength and encouragement with us--who may have thought you were only giving an empty box--we hope you know how grateful we are for your role in this week. We hope you know how humbled we have been to see God´s people in action. We hope you know how encouraged your brothers and sisters in Nicaragua are--knowing that you are mindful of them, and praying for them, and sharing in the grace of our one saviour.  We hope God gives you eyes to see how coveted a box can be. That God will reveal to you how many gifts you have to use in his service that you might not esteem--but He can use.

Thank you for your prayers, we look forward to seeing many of you again soon!

Love from Nicaragua,

Jonathan and Sheila