Abundant Life

With our English Partners and the Vida Joven team

This post is extremely late getting up, so I apologize.

As you may or may not know, I recently(ish) went to Managua, Nicaragua on a mission trip with my Ministry and Missions class.

I'm trying to process the trip still. I'm really not sure where to start. There're so many aspects of it, and in hindsight it's all choppy and fragmented and I will leave things out, so I'm sorry.

It was beautiful
exhausting
refreshing
hilarious
draining
fulfilling
hot
fun
surprising
emotional
enlightening.

It so full of joy and wonderful people and good food and lessons learned and deep conversations and awkward moments.

No sleep. Hammocks. Swimming. Frisbee. Tight pants. Amazing people. Sweat. Dancing. Ridiculous skits. Best friends. Joy. Laughter. Jesus. Volcanoes. Lizards. Scorpions. Ella. Gilbert. Dito. Pratt. Eliezar.  Steysy. Ashley. Adda. Bonfires. Stargazing. Girl talks. Yelling until we lost our voices. Bus rides. "Self-discovery." Spanish. Taylor Swift. Folklore. Christ in Culture. Will's guitar. Relationships. Fruit. Plantains. Good, deep conversations.

One or two of the classes we worked with.

I just... I didn't expect it to be quite as fun as it was. It was so very uplifting and encouraging. I learned so, so much, and I was exhausted every night, but I was so refreshed, too.

I'm trying to put this all into words, so bear with me.

God taught me a lot about love and joy and about meeting people where they are. He taught me about finding rest and fulfillment in him. He taught me about healthy, true, positive relationships. He taught me that He is the same God working in a university in Managua as in Wichita as in Bangalore as in New York City and as large as the world is, He is infinitely bigger. It was such a good time to be reminded of that, at least for me. Everything changes in the next four, five, six months for most of us. Less time than that for Kaleigh and Pablo. But God doesn't change, whether we're in Asia or Hawaii or Chicago or Texas or New York or Kansas. And that's so very comforting.

We spent our days teaching, talking, being ridiculous, drawing people in, connecting students to Vida Joven. It doesn't sound like much, but coming up with conversation topics to last hours is super hard, not to mention tiring. Every day was a roller coaster of energy. It would be sky-high at one moment and crashing the next. Vida Joven itself is so high-energy and relational that there were moments when I, as an introvert, wanted to curl up by myself and sleep. But God gave us all energy every time we needed it.

It was like being on stage sometimes. Not that we were acting or performing (although sometimes we were), but in the sense that the actors feed off the audience's energy and vice versa. We fed off the Nicas enthusiasm and energy, and they did the same with us. It was a huge give and take.

And in the evenings, when most of us went and stargazed, there were times when I just sat on my bed/laid in my hammock to process/journal/pray/ just be alone.

There was one night where all eleven of us were in hammocks just chilling/journaling/listening to music. We weren't really talking to each other, there were soft murmured conversations and "Can you pass me that pen?" and such, but it was mostly just Matt Corby or Ben Howard or hymns and us each with our thoughts. Stargazing nights were good too. We'd lay out blankets and towels and sprawl out after swimming and dinner, a tangle of wet hair and dirty feet. We talked about the past, the present, the future. We were serious. We were silly. There were so many little moments of bonding.

But our days were so much better. Nicaragua, like most hot-climate cultures, is very, very relational. We could meet people and be best friends with them twenty minutes later. It was crazy. Everyone was full of boundless energy, whether it was midnight and they were greeting us at the airport or nine a.m. when we were in class.

The classes were really fun. We acted out the Wizard of Oz, line danced, had an Easter Egg hunt, listened to one of the most talented violinists I've ever heard, created dozens of skits, talked about ourselves, about the States, about God, about the Nicas.

This was right before an Easter Egg hunt

On Friday, the Vida Joven team came to the camp where were staying to hang out with us -- swim, hammock, eat dinner, pray, etc. -- and on the bus, I got to hang out with several of them. We bonded over music, my limited Spanish, magic tricks, and trying to draw on David's face as he slept. There were all sorts of times like that. I got to hear "Sorry" by Justin Bieber in Spanish because I heard it playing from another building and started dancing. (Guys, Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift are international. And One Direction.) Another time, I said my dog's name was Oakley and one of the guys asked if it was after Tyler Oakley. And then after that we were friends.

In one of the very first classes we were in, we acted out The Wizard of Oz. This was tricky, as few -- if any -- of the Nicas had seen it. Despite this, one of the girls in my group did a perfect Wicked Witch impression, just from my vague description. It was amazing.

Dancing. Makes. Friends. We showed them swing dancing, they showed us Nicaraguan folklore dances, and we all line danced and shimmied and nae-nae-d (is that even a word?) together. It was so cool. So stinking cool.

Don't doubt the power of weird questions or wearing wigs or breaking tables.

I think part of what I loved about the trip was how natural it felt. It never felt forced. We just naturally became friends and naturally talked about God and naturally cried when we left. I think that has a lot, a lot to do with Nicaraguan culture, but I also think we got a little at living life on mission on the trip. I also loved that even when we were just discussing Guardians of the Galaxy or the Intern, we still had a purpose. Everything felt intentional, while still natural. I don't know if I'm describing this well, but I'm sure it was because of the Vida Joven team's planning. Something else that was really well done, in my humble opinion, was the fact that we connected people to the team who is permanently in Managua, at UCA. Many of them went to Vida Joven club after we left. They sent us a video. I can't tell you how excited we were to see them and pick out faces we knew.

The people we met... I hope we blessed them a fraction of how much as they blessed us. Ella, Eliezar, Steysy, Pratt, and Gilbert were our main group. They were with us basically 24/7 and they taught us soooo much. Ella was a huge encouragement to us girls, as a young, single, white girl in a foreign country alone. Steysy was overwhelming kind and patient with us, and I am so grateful to her. All the Vida Joven people were so cool and kind and helpful. And our English partners were amazing and I could talk for hours about each person, but I won't.

"White shadow!" we stage-whispered

We got to explore a lot of the city of Managua -- the hill, the lakeshore, the cathedrals. We also went to a market in Masaya, stayed at a pineapple farm, and swam in a volcanic crater. I really appreciated all the different aspects of Nicaragua we got to see, even though we were only there for a week. The area around the cathedrals had vendors selling ice cream on the street, and kids running after us asking for money. In stark contrast, the volcano beach was the most touristy place we went. There were a couple of other groups of Americans there, and every time they talked we got super confused. We were so used to knowing everyone with an American accent that it seriously threw us off.

I'm sorry, I still feel like I'm not doing the trip and the people justice, but this is the best I can express it. And sorry, it's like a month late. Oops.

This is Alex. He had us sign his shirt after we painted tables before we said good-bye on Saturday. 

Kaleigh and her English partners, Angie, Fabiola, and Cassandra

Will and William the violinist

Jenifers, Sarah, and Fernanda

Andres, T-Pa, and Devin

Bielka, Lauren, Marvin, and Allison

John, Carlos, Andres, David, Nefi, Marcos, and Alvaro

Cinthia, Julia, Scarleth, and Sahara

Team Mangos! Me, David, Elise, Pratt in the background on the phone, and the one and only Gilbert!

Gabriella with Maria Alejandra, Elise, Arianne, and Maria Gabriella

Devin and Marcos

****All photo credit to Paul, aka my hero. Seriously, knowing that someone else is photographing every second of the trip -- and photographing it well -- is so freeing. Thank you, Paul!! You're the best****

Senior Year and Stuff

First, I solemnly promise to post the last part of the Road Trip Series really, really soon.

Second, school has started.

And I really like it.

Not all of it. I do not like Personal Finance in the slightest, and staying awake through English on block days is one of the most challenging things ever, but...

For the most part, I'm very, very happy at school.

There are so many wonderful people at school, and so many wonderful things to learn, and experiences to be had and conversations to be held and every morning just seems so optimistic.

It's weird.

But golly, the past two weeks have been almost completely golden.

So. Many. Fun. Classes.

Ministry and Missions, Systematic Theology, Concert Choir and Madrigals, Music Theory, College English, even Government is kind of interesting. And AP Statistics is... bearable.

And there's so many people to talk to!

We had three days of school before leaving on senior trip. And senior trip was surprisingly fun. I really think the only thing most people got out of it was closer/new friendships, but I also know that some people were very much impacted by it. I just really loved hanging out with my friends, and with people who weren't really my friends before the trip. We did flips off diving boards, ziplined, jumped off the high dive, did the barn swing dozens of times, talked and worshiped and "bonded." And it was great.

The ride home, however... well, let's just say that 7+ hours on a bus with over forty other girls does not bring out the best in people. I mostly hid under a blanket fort with Ellen and listened to music.

But I liked the trip for the most part. There were too many athletic activities and too much segregation between the guys and girls, but overall, I had a lot of fun. And we came up with some bomb-awesome ideas for making senior year rock, several of which we have already implemented. Also, worship with that group? A-freaking-mazing. So many kids in our class are musically talented, and when everyone is channeling that towards God, it's so so so so cool.

This week has been mostly us figuring out school, since we barely had time last week. I've learned that we will get very, very little done it Stats, and get a heck of a lot done in music theory.

Music theory is just me and two guys (whom I like very much) and we are, um, a little competitive. Which is great, because we gets loads done very quickly and we're pushing each other to get better. But, it's also a wee bit scary because there are days when I think Oh gosh, we will not all make it out as friends. Let's just say we are all very smart and very used to being the smartest. At least it keeps things interesting, and if we make it out alive, I think we will all be better for this healthy competition.

Thursday afternoon, several senior girls stayed after school and covered the mirrors in two of the bathrooms with brown paper. We then proceeded to write on the paper. We wrote verses, song lyrics, quotes, all sorts of random things. Some were heartfelt, some were funny, but they all celebrated beauty that goes beyond what someone looks like. We wrote about being a strong woman, about being made in the image of God, of being wonderful and loved and valued. And I think it may have been more meaningful for us seniors who made it than any of the underclassmen who saw it.

Thursday was also Sonic's annual $0.50 corn dog day, so before we started working, Sofia and I drove to Sonic and got fifteen corn-dogs. It was glorious, and we thought it was hilarious. The guy who took our order was a little surprised by how many we wanted. They were delicious corn dogs, too.

Friday night absolutely wonderful. It was Final Friday, so Holly and I dropped by R Coffee Shop to see Maddie's artwork before it was moved/sold. It was amazing art, and an adorable shop, and really good coffee. Then we went to Sonic, got kids' grilled cheeses with tots, and headed to Trinity for the soccer game. We saw about twenty minutes of the game before it stopped for lightning. My dearest Laura was at the game, as Trinity was playing her school, so I chatted with her as we waited to find out what everyone else was going to do. We decided to head to someone's house for swing dancing. Well, we decide this, and suddenly it's pouring. Buckets of rain fall from the sky, and we are drenched in seconds. And obviously we have to sprint to our car, which about as far away as we could have parked, and everyone is screaming with delighted shock and we're running through puddles, avoiding cars, cheering and gasping and feeling suddenly, exquisitely vibrant and young. So we run, and Laura ends up in our car and we're shaking with cold and blasting the Black Keys and trying to find her parents. We find their car and drop her off and yell goodbye and exchange phone numbers with the promise to hang out soon.

Then Holly and I drive to the swing dancing party. It was a small party, really just us, five boys and six-ish other girls. But it was lovely. We played music and danced in the backyard on the basketball court and ate Chex Mix with M&Ms. I was getting fairly decent at it by the end of the evening. There is something so fun about swing dancing. It's so fast, and takes so much energy, and I mess up so much (sorry, Devin and Ethan), but it's so fun and relaxed. My goal is to be fairly competent by Barn Dance.

As the night wore on, we all got exhausted, and wound up sitting around a fire pit singing. Isaac brought his violin, Will had his guitar, and Ethan had his ukulele and an impromptu jam session happened. Will sang Untitled by Matt Corby and... wow. The feels.

Holly and I stayed until a little after midnight, singing and talking and dancing. It was really, really great. I was kind of surprised how much fun I had, since none of my "usual" friends were there. But it was nice to branch out, and amazing to get to practice dancing all night, and the jam/worship session at the end was just... Mmm. Yas. It was a good, good night.

So all in all? I'm so optimistic about this year. I have been blessed with someone wonderful friends and fabulous teachers, and I get to learn about things I actually care about.

Senior year, let's go.

Oh Sweet Freedom

I survived Chemistry. Hallelujah.
And now I'm going to read. Adios, amigos.

Ah, Life

There are moments when I just take a deep breath and love life.
Things that make me happy to be alive:
> Sophie and I browsing Barnes and Noble and criticizing book covers.
> A bunch of CYT kids sitting in the hallway in various stages of makeup and costume and singing worship songs with a guitar, a guitar case, and two drumsticks.
> Laughing at something Joel texted me.
> Passing Stephen, who's sticking his entire torso out of the car and waving his arms, still in full makeup.
> The Apologetics girls all yelling at movie characters to kiss already. x)
> Isaac playing the violin right when I walk into the theatre.
> The windows open and it actually feels warm for once.
> Beautiful, beautiful books. (latest being I Am the Messenger, by Markus Zusak. Another gritty, not-polite, gorgeous, lifelike, lesson-teaching book.)
> Music that I love (Michael Buble, Mumford and Sons, Disney, whatever is currently on Hipster Barbecue Radio or Jared's "Does This Make Me Cultured?" playlist.)
> Seeing the little fairies and lost boys performing and my heart wants to burst because they're so cute and wonderful and happy.
> Poetry.
> Glow sticks
> Dancing
> Flowers
> Candles that smell good
> Skirts I can twirl in.
> Road trips!
> Ice cream
> Crying because I miss/will miss someone so much. (This makes me sad, in a sad-is-happy-for-deep-people way. Because it's beautiful that you can love someone so much that the thought of them gone makes you cry.)
> The fact that summer is coming.
That's all I can think of for now.
Farewell. Enjoy life. 

TECH WEEK!!!!!!

Ahhhh!!!!! Almost to the most chaotic, epic, fun, crazy week!! I'm so excited!!

Purple tights, curls, dancing, spotlights, backstage, late nights, friends, music...

I love Tech Week. 

This show is really different from anything I've done before, and I really like it. The audience votes for the ending, so even though we know more than they think we know, there's still a lot of mystery. Also, this show is more challenging. It's not a little kid's show, which I like. 

Like there's a lot of things kids won't really understand, because it's a murder mystery/love story. I'm really excited. 

:D

OH OH OH I FOUND DOCTOR WHO SEASON 7 PART 2 ON THE INTERNET. PINTEREST I LOVE YOU. :D 

Okay, I'm calm. Yeah. Totally. 

Anywho. I have to go. 

Busy, busy, busy.

Okay, I just need to sit and write for a few minutes. My homework is waiting, and it's a really bad idea to put it off, but seriously. I need to get some words out of me.

Where to start??

Well, Kensi has now been ten for a whole week. I don't know why, but this thought FREAKS ME OUT. I feel old, and I kinda understand mi madre crying when I started high school. I'm not about to start crying, but still. Kensi's sick now, with strep. Holly had strep last weekend, but she's doing a lot better. :)

Homecoming is a week from Saturday!!! AHHHH I'M SOO EXCITED!! :D Spirit week is all next week, and it'll be sooo much fun.
Yes, I got asked to homecoming. ;] My friend Silas asked me Tuesday. Him and like 5 or 6 of our friends went to the office, asked the people who worked in there to ask me to come to the office, and then hid. So when I walked in, they all jumped out and yelled, "SURPRISE!!" and I got the very pretty flowers in the picture and he asked me. It was really cute. :D

(Sorry it's not a very good picture. iPods aren't the best for photography.)

Hmm... Stories are kind of on pause right now, because of Spirit Week. They're having meetings like every other night, and I have Fiddler rehearsal on the other nights, plus homework, sooo I'm kinda swamped. :P It's hectic right now.

I have a rather long to do list wqaiting for me, so I need to go.

Adios,
Addi Grace