A Reflection: Unfinished Business

By Samuel Bolin

Nicaragua is a place that is very near and dear to my heart. My sister Carolina, now 21, is originally from Nicaragua. I love her and I love that at the age of 12, she became a part of our family. When I was in second grade, I made my first trip to Nicaragua to bring Carolina home. I remember many things about that trip, including traveling to the orphanage and seeing all of the kids that were just like me. They loved life to the fullest everyday. Sometimes we think people who live far away, especially kids in a third world country are very, very different from ourselves. In reality, I learned at a young age, that children in other parts of the world are amazing, talented, life-loving people, who just may need a helping hand.

A few years later, I returned to Nicaragua with my mom on a mission trip where we dug trenches and water wells to improve the quality of water at a school called “More Than Conquerors”. It was a time in my life I will never forget.

And now, I am preparing to return to Nicaragua again. In a way, for me, this feels like “unfinished business.” There’s always more to be done. Always more lives to touch. It is my prayer that with In Jesus Name We Play, there is so much that we can do to be a blessing to the children and the community we will serve. There’s always another person to love. There’s always another relationship to make and to build. There’s always another life to change. The funny thing about a mission trip is that the life that may change… may be yours.

Love you all,  Sam