Strange things are happening here in Masatepe- the smoke and steam from the volcano are blowing in the opposite direction, I have been using my “heavy” blanket at night because it is “cold”, and I am writing a blog!
So let me introduce you to a lady I met this week- I was going for my morning walk, and came upon a lady I had not seen before, walking with a cane and a dog. As I walked by, I did the customary, “Adios”, and she responded with “Good Morning”.
It took me a few more steps before I realized that she had responded in English. I turned around, and said something profound to her, “Do you speak more English?”
She said, “yes”, and then told me that she was originally from Masatepe, but moved to San Francisco about 60 years ago. Her husband passed away 3 years ago, so she has returned to Masatepe to retire because she has family here. She also told me that it has been REALLY hard to adjust to being back here. Her short story is that she is really lonely, bored, and that getting used to the climate here has been difficult.
We exchanged information, I petted her fat and friendly golden lab, and then we went our separate ways.
For the rest of this week, our “chance” meeting came to mind often. I completely understood her feelings of loneliness and challenge in a community that is not my own. I feel more connected now than I ever have here in Nicaragua, but still loneliness and feeling like a foreigner rises up at times and reminds me of my struggles over the years.
This morning when I went walking again, I went by her house, and noticed the door was open. When she saw me, she was so thrilled. She invited me in, showed me around (This is a house that I have been hoping to see on the inside), and then we settled into the living room. She seemed to be having a particularly hard time with the negativeness of living alone and in a foreign land.
She asked me if it is hard for me to be here. I told her, that I like the work I do with people, but the environment is hard for me, and that I have had a lot of loneliness here, too! We talked about family, work, and church. She tearfully told me about struggles in her family, and we took time to pray about it. She asked me about our church, and then asked if she could come with us on Sunday.
She came to church with us the next day, and I think there was a spiritual struggle going on in her. I can’t explain it in any other way. I don’t know what God’s plans are for her, but I will continue to reach out to her. Satan can be strong, but God in me is stronger!