Nicaragua is beautiful! Our Father must of used endless
paintbrushes on this land. It has luscious fields in many shades of green. Beautiful
flowers in more colors than I can name decorate the fields. Even the plants in green
are breathtaking. They is every shade of green with a hint of purple or pink on
them. The trees are extra high and wide. Some expand to several yards.
Needless to say, I was excited as we drove to meet our host
in Nicaragua. We rode in a mini bus from Managua to San Bernardo. We looked a
bit like sardines. Yet, that didn’t get to me. My excitement was too big for
that to bring me down.
Our host gave us the warmest welcome. They were on the side
of the road with huge smiles waiting for us. As our packs were unloaded a man
quickly brought our packs inside our new home.
A sweet and humble pastor traveled from a nearby town to play his guitar
and sing hymns while we ate. Speaking of eating, the table was set, balloons
hanged from the ceiling, and the food was better than a restaurant. But the
best part was our host’s smiles and their kind words towards us.
At our first meal I thought the meal was a “big” meal as a
hearty welcome. I have discovered that every meal is a hearty one. We are
served authentic Nicaraguan food each mealtime. We also have a sweet grandpa who
sits and watches us eat. If our actions even show a hint of us needing
something he quickly gets up and wants to meet our need. His sweet wife
continually has a smile on her face and embraces us with loving arms at every
opportunity.
Our host, Eva, is a strong godly woman. She walks with such
an authority in her God given inheritance. She calls us her children and most definitely
treats us as her own. She makes sure we have what we enjoy our meals, our needs
are met and we get plenty of rest.
We are lodging in a small house. It offers privacy for our
team especially during our team time. The restroom/bathroom is in the main
room. It really doesn’t have walls that
go all the way to the ceiling to keep “noise” inside that area. We quickly
found a solution for that by playing music in my small speaker while its being
used.
Our mornings begin with a team workout. I am learning to be
disciplined in all areas, including taking care of my physical body. After
eating breakfast we go to a local school. There we teach English and end our
time by singing several songs. The young girls have invited me to join them in several
games. All has been fun!
Afterwards we come home to lunch prepared and ready for
us. We rest for a while and prepare
ourselves for our afternoon ministry. This involves going to various homes in
which we sing songs, give words from Father God, and pray over the homes and the
people. We have also given a seminar at a local church in which many lives were
touched by Father God’s love.. The following day a woman shared how the Lord
brought healing to her body after we prayed for her that day.
I am having a blast sharing Father God’s love with the world
and seeing Him move in the midst of us and through us. Yet, this blog wouldn’t
be completely honest if I didn’t share the challenges and victories I have
faced personally.
The humidity is thick, thicker than Texas! My skin
constantly feels sticky. We were told water would be available in the mornings
and evenings. There have been days with limited water in which we have had to
forgo a bath.
Our shower situation is interesting. We first must make sure
there is plenty of water for toilet use since our toilet doesn’t flush. We must
pour a bucket of water after each use. We have a rule to conserve water “yellow
let it mellow, brown flush it down”. A challenge for me, a big one! Did I
forget to mention there is no warm water?
Wait there is more. The ceilings and walls of the house
don’t meet. Meaning there is a gap big enough to let small friends in, the ones
with four legs, or eight legs. One evening we were chatting when a huge frog
decided to hop on in and join us. Rest
assured some of us were screaming like little girls.
Then we have many bugs. Let me share specifically about some
tiny bugs. These are not flies. The first week they bit me as if there was no
one else in the room to bite. My legs looked as if I had chicken pox. I have
finally gotten past the itching part and the bites are just scars. But the bugs
continue to bite at all times.
Flies are everywhere we go and at all times: meal times,
bedtime, prayer time, laundry time, literally all the time.
But the cake topper was when a boa was found in front of our
house!!! Yes, I said a boa!! It was longer than 5 feet. That means it was
taller than me. Wait…now that number has gone up. Another boa was just caught.
I was experiencing two weeks of challenges that were testing
me. Unknown to me they were influencing my attitude for the day. As I spoke to
Father God he began to show me my heart. I repented for having such a selfish
view. I was becoming more concerned with my comfort level than what Father God
was showing me. I realized that I was
depending on my own abilities to over come all the challenges when He wanted to
teach me to fully depend on Him at all times.
Being in my insignificant bubble of comfort is meaningless. It’s a sad
place to be at and still expect God to show His greatness.
Through out these two weeks God continues to stretch me into
greatness. Its the uncomfortable times that make way for personal spiritual
growth, Father God to teach full dependence on Him and His reign to grow in my
heart.
