Rebecca Chuckney shares the following story from Nicaragua:
Even after living here for over half a year now, I am constantly discovering new parts of town that make me wish I had longer to live in this city! I was blessed to be able to spend last week with my brother and sister, Mark and Lindsay, as they were here leading a group of their friends on a spring break trip here in Nicaragua.
Part of their week included spending time with eighteen beautiful girls who all live in an orphanage here in Granada. This was my first time even seeing this place and it was such an oasis, housing this group of girls, located off one of the busiest streets. Inside was a peaceful haven where these girls all live together with the three nuns who take care of them.We took all these girls with us on a few excursions, one of which was a day at the beach. I loved watching some run away from the waves, while others dove head first, each girl all smiles.The beach was a blast, but my favorite thing we did with the girls was treating them to a night of royal status. We told them we were taking them out to dinner and when we showed up, they were dressed in their best and finest dresses, each looking like a princess. I’ve seriously never seen a more beautiful group of girls. Their hair was perfect, their shoes were polished the best they could be, and their joy was contagious. We proceeded to the restaurant where we ate delicious food and then we surprised them with a Mariachi band.The dance floor was our home for the next two hours. I’ve never enjoyed sweating so much! These girls could dance circles around us gringas, but we had so much fun, laughing, dancing, and trying to learn new dance moves.Amidst the flurry of twirling dresses, energetic music, and peals of laughter, I had a moment where I almost ended up in tears-joyful tears. I looked around me and all I saw were princesses. I was reminded of how we are each children of the King and that, in his eyes, we are all princes and princesses. These verses in Psalms came to mind and I have been dwelling on them in my quiet times lately, amazed that God sees me as his princess, his beloved daughter, heir to his Kingdom.Sometimes, I guess we need tangible reminders of these kinds of truths…and if it takes taffeta, ruffles, and a Mariachi band to get my attention, so be it.
