Life as a Cross Cultural Worker
Unknown – Mosaic MSC
My forever in Your heart
Your steps I will follow
I put my trust in who You are
Your voice is my arrow
Your steps I will follow
I put my trust in who You are
Your voice is my arrow
And I will walk into the dark
To see how the light breaks through
I will run into Your arms
I will hold on to You
I will lift my eyes to things unseen
To the promise in Your victory
And I will build my life on the mystery
Of where You call me, and I will go
Into the unknown
I can’t be shaken with Your words
Hidden in my heart
I can’t contain what I have seen
Light rising from the dark
I will lift my eyes to things unseen
To the promise in Your victory
And I will build my life on the mystery
Of where You call me, and I will go
Into the unknown
Greater than I could ever dream
Further than I could ever see
Who can compare to the greatest wonder
Higher than I could ever reach
Stronger than I could ever be
Nothing compares to how You love me
Greater than I could ever dream
Further than I could ever see
Who can compare to the greatest wonder
Higher than I could ever reach
Stronger than I could ever be
Nothing compares to how You love me
Greater than I could ever dream
Further than I could ever see
Who can compare to the greatest wonder
Higher than I could ever reach
Stronger than I could ever be
Nothing compares to how You love
I will lift my eyes to things unseen
To the promise in Your victory
And I will build my life on the mystery
Of where You call me, and I will go
I will lift my eyes to things unseen
To the promise in Your victory
And I will build my life on the mystery
Of where You call me, and I will go
Into the unknown
And I will build my life on the mystery
Of where You call me, and I will go
Into the unknown
Every time I hear this song, I am reminded of the promises God has for me and His plans for His Kingdom and where I fit into that. This song is everything exactly what it’s like to live in another culture and live for Jesus.
(life of a foreigner, una extranjera. my viewpoint living in another culture…ok, here I go.)
I would like to share with you all my experience has been like so far living cross culturally. Like the song, living in another culture is so UNKNOWN. Unknown places, food, communication – language & context, teammates, values, experiences, relationally. My plans and timeline are unknown. There is no planning, really. You get an idea and you execute it. Sometimes it works out, and sometimes you have to cancel and move on.
This year and half in Nicaragua has been a year of SURRENDER. I have laid down my career and marriage aspirations all for the glory of God to go to Nicaragua and serve Him and share His gospel. All to chase a dream that was planted in my heart at 17 years old. I waited for so long to get my chance to go and there is something about going with the peace of God; rather than to do something without the peace of God.
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9
Living as a foreigner has its challenges, however, also comes with rewards. Renewing visas every 90 days, navigating culture stress, fighting the pull between two countries and two lives, transitions and saying goodbyes, deep inner work and healing God does, questions galore, and spiritual warfare. Some of the rewards are not feeling anxiety pains in my chest, the feeling of fully being myself, more boldness, and spiritual freedom.
It’s interesting looking back how I tried to insert myself in different aspects of my church in the States, but nothing flourished. And then I come here and plant myself in a community here, and I am just flourishing! What originally planned out to be a year, has already turned into 13 months! (and maybe more, Dios quiere…however he decides to provide). I will continue to live and do life here as God provides and calls me to stay put.
“For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.” 2 Corinthians 5:15
My main responsibilities here are one: myself. I have to make sure I am good and spiritually healthy. I am so thankful I have this time to rest and to learn how to BE with God and not just DO for God. Spiritual disciplines like prayer, fasting, worship and meditation are incorporated in my daily life. My responsibilities here may look different when you think of a missionary. My main ministry responsibilities include teen girls discipleship and providing sports medicine coverage for the local men’s soccer team, Real Granada FC. My role within the ministry of REAP Granada is more of a facilitator/support role. I am a teammate. I am a leader. I am one that is helping mobilize the Nicaraguan community to work myself out of the job and continue to spread the love of Jesus to their neighbors and family. In a community that seems so broken down and behind, then enters Jesus and His disciples to bring His Gospel of hope, love and reconciliation. 
“Teacher, what is the greatest commandment in the law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40
The pace of life here is slow, very relaxed. It’s very easy to make your own schedule. The days here seem long and the weeks and months go by so fast. Being in ministry here is about just doing life with them, encouraging and loving them like Jesus would do if He was physically here. I’m not here to do anything FOR them, rather WITH them. I get the opportunity and partner with our Nicaraguan leaders to preach the Gospel with them, not for them. My Nicaraguan friends teach me so much, one, different perspectives of life, ministry, Gospel, humility and Jesus. But one thing is the same.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” Hebrews 13:8
What is the cost?
Life here is HARD. I hit that point about 11 months in my time here. But, it’s so worth it. Living in a country like this strips me more and more of the entitlements that I have carried for so long. Majority of my life, I have placed all my weight on what I DO, when He just calls me to BE; His daughter and be His light to the world.
The Cost of Following Jesus – Matthew 8:18-22 says “When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”
I may not speak perfect spanish, but I do notice that handshakes, hugs and smiles are universal and cross cultural.
So, at least I got one thing right. 🙃
Fun facts about life in Nicaragua:
- I sweat A LOT
- “beans and rice did not miss her” – the words from that song came back to me when I thought about the weight I feel like I have gained from all the beans and rice I eat. My diet has changed since living in the States, but it’s ok, because the food here is delicious (except for turtle and coagulated pig’s blood) I just have to do better with portion control and exercise.
- I feel like I speak spanglish 90% of the time
- boundaries are important
- faith
- spiritual disciplines
- my clothes seem to never stay clean because I live on a farm with 14 dogs….and I love it!
- culture shock is the norm
- I battle my mind, heart and reasoning almost everyday
- Nicaragua loves sugar (and that’s saying a lot from me….because I’m addicted)
Hope you’ve enjoyed some sweet pictures of my life here in Nicaragua ❤
….to end this blog, I want to leave another powerful song that encourages me so much. Enjoy!
Everything & Nothing less – Chris McClarney
Humbly I stand, an offeringWith open hands, Lord I bring
Everything and nothing lessMy best, my allYou deserve my every breathMy life, my song
I surrender, I surrender allOh, I surrender, I surrender all
Lord take control, I trust YouI’m letting go, to give You
Everything and nothing lessMy best, my allYou deserve my every breathMy life, my song
I surrender, I surrender allOh, I surrender, I surrender all
Everything and nothing less, I give YouEverything and nothing less foreverEverything and nothing lessOh, my life is YoursYours, oh
I surrender, I surrender all Oh, I surrender, I surrender all
Everything and nothing lessMy best, my allYou deserve my every breathMy life, my song
I surrender, I surrender allOh, I surrender, I surrender all
