camp.

Every December, Central America Young Life has a training camp in Nicaragua where all the top leaders of the different countries come together for a week to learn, laugh and grow in Jesus together. We take anywhere from 4 - 5 classes throughout the week, with a Young Life club each night, followed by reflexion and a fun night time activity. Keep in mind - this is all in Spanish. Last year, I had just arrived on a 13 hour bus ride to Nica, woke up the next day and went to training camp. Needless to say I was exhausted - mentally, spiritually and physically. I literally think I sleep my way through camp...my friends all still remember how tired I was! But this year, by God's grace, I made it through the week without feeling totally and completely overwhelmed. In fact, I really enjoyed my time there: Learning about topics such as prayer, discipleship and giving Young Life talks. Meeting people from Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama. Laughing and laughing and laughing with my Nica friends (generally at my expense). Bonding with the girl leaders in Managua Central by sharing a (very small, cold) room. It was a wonderful way to end 2014 in Nicaragua. And tomorrow, I'm off to South Carolina to celebrate Christmas with friends and family! Feliz Navidad!

festive.

So I'm kind of a Grinch when it comes to Christmas. It's just not my favorite holiday. (GASP - I know. Someone call the Christmas police.) I think it comes from this incessant need I have to root for the underdog. And in my mind, the underdog in this case is Thanksgiving. So it bothers me that this most amazing holiday of Thanksgiving gets so completely overlooked by the massive green and red whirlwind of Christmas. But here's the thing...in Nicaragua, there is no such thing as Thanksgiving! So I can't even be mad about Christmas decorations going up mid-October or Christmas music being played in November because Thanksgiving { sadly } isn't even a thought! (Although, surprisingly enough, many stores still do Black Friday deals...) Anyways, I have been to more Christmas celebrations in the past month then I would like to admit. But I am going to admit them to you because { shhh - don't tell anyone this...} but they were actually really fun!

It all started with a "cena de gracias" (dinner of thanks) with all the coordinators (team leaders) of the different Vida Joven clubs in Managua. It was a sweet night of having so many key leaders from Managua in one place, giving thanks for all God has done this year in the ministry and dreaming big dreams for 2015!

Coordinators from Managua Central

Managua North, Managua South and Managua Central coordinators

Every Thursday, we have a coordinator meeting for Managua central and one week we spent that time preparing for our Christmas Leadership party. We were like little Christmas elves, decorating Christmas cookies and making Christmas decorations!

Me, Gilbert and Karina

Elsa and I

 Later that week, we had the actual Christmas Leadership party with all the Vida Joven leaders in Managua Central! Somehow, I got roped into running games...dressed as the Grinch with my friend Narcisso as "Santa Nica". Don't worry though...in the end, the Grinch still got a bigger heart and fell in love with Christmas!

Santa Nica and the Grinch

Managua Central leaders

Ada and I...I promise she loved the hat!

Gil and I

I also got to enjoy a fun, dress up night for our Bible study Christmas dinner. I know we look really serious in these pics, but I promise you, this night was spent completing truth or dare challenges, eating amazing gelato and lots of laughter!

Family Christmas card pic?

Ruth, Sarah, Leah, me, Jen, Katie, Amanda and Kelly.

Then came our annual Christmas Party with our amazing student leaders in the International Schools club. Complete with Christmas carols, white elephant gift exchange and a round of Christmas charades.

{ from left to right }
Top: Nicole, Ramiro, Jen, Golda, Adriana and Anamaria.
Bottom: Carlos, Mariana, Ashley, Pratt (& Ada), Nate and I.

We love our student leaders!

 And lastly, to celebrate our last Cabin Time of 2014, the girls came over to decorate Christmas cookies! 

Maria Valeria and her sister 

{ from left to right }
Top: Me, Adriana, Laura, Teresina, Maria Valeria, Ana Paula and Anamaria
Bottom: Francis, Agustina, Denisse, Mariana

Francis, Teresina, Laura, Denisse, Maria Valeria, Ana Paula and I

Adriana, Mariana and Anamaria cutting out some delicious cookies

The final round of the most creative cookie!

So there you have it. Look at me, being all festive with Christmas this year. Who knows, next year I may even start listening to Christmas music...

hope.

Hope. Something I could always use more of. Something that isn't always so readily seen. Something that can so effortlessly get lost between the roaring { sometimes drowning } waves of life.

Hope, I'm learning, isn't just a word that may about bring happy feelings. Hope is what we must hold on to in order to fully live. Because if we live the way we should, the way we were created to { if we let ourselves fully feel and fully experience all that life brings our way } we must hold onto hope. We must seek, grasp, pursue this thing that perches on our souls.

Without it all is - quite literally - lost.

Because while hope is easily found in times of joy and bliss, it is just as easily lost in times of hurt and disappointment. Those times when we need it the most, hope suddenly seemingly cannot be found - and all feels dark and dreary and hopeless.

So this hope - I want to learn to seek it. Especially in this season - when behind all the frills and flash, hearts are still breaking and tears are still coming and hope is still needed. Lights and trees and sweets may bring me a counterfeit kind of hope. But when they fade away on the first of January, I need something real I can hold on it.

We need this real kind of Hope that never lets us go. This soul reviving kind of Hope.

Hope is what wraps around and peels back the numbness. Hope is what picks us up when we can't get off the floor. Hope is what spreads smiles and laughter. Hope is what strengthens the ever fainting heart. Hope is what allows us to see in seasons of darkness. Hope is what warms the cold, frail soul. Hope is what shines the way when we don't know where else to go. Hope is what gives true life.

Hope is the thing with feathers

That perches on the soul,

And sings the tune - without the words,

And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;

And sore must be the storm

That could abash the little bird

That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land,

And on the strangest sea;

Yet, never, in extremity,

It asked a crumb of me.

-Emily Dickinson