Well, it’s not Thanksgiving anymore, but this isn’t your typical “this is what I am thankful for” blog anyway. We did have a great Thanksgiving here in Nicaragua though. Our team of six, plus our ministry contacts Lisa and Diego, Barbara (more about her later), our friend/worship leader Julio, a short-term team from Atlanta, plus a mass of Peace Core people came together on the beach and were fed a great (North American style) Thanksgiving dinner. This year has/will include many firsts for me, such as eating Thanksgiving dinner in my bathing suit watching the sunset in Nicaragua. It was as great as it sounds. I love my [World Race] family (we have decided to call ourselves a family rather than team) and am truly thankful for them. We have really experienced unity this month and have seen the Lord use us as a team to do the work for His kingdom. This has been so awesome to see, and with two days left in Candelaria I wanted to recap you a little bit on this month.
At the beginning of the month we sat down to discuss a plan of action. We had been here for maybe two days and thought we should have a cookie cutter plan for the month. God had other plans though. Besides helping out around the church, leading the weekly youth Bible studies and planning fun Friday night events, we have tons of freedom in our schedule. Don’t worry that we had a difficult time finding things to do though, because God just wanted to keep the agenda clear until He was ready. I am convinced this month has flown by due to the many different directions our ministry has taken us. Through our individual callings and interests, we have had the ability to learn alot about ourselves, one another, and about effective ministry. You can’t be effective in ministry if your heart isn’t in it, and we have seen that firsthand. When you have the option to do something you love, take it and run with it.
We all decided we wanted to meet the needs of the widows in the community, so we sought out to find some. Day 1 of visiting the widows brought forth Maria Garcia (everyone is named Maria here). God placed this woman on my heart so heavy, which you will be able to read about in my next blog. So . . unexpectedly, my heart has been pulled toward the ministry of widows.
God has used us within the Youth group in many ways this month. This was a huge part of what we came here to do though. Individual relationships between my teammates and the youth have been built, which have been so healthy and fruitful. Some of us have led the weekly Bible studies depending on what God laid on our hearts. We have planned game nights, a bonfire, and have done a whole lot of dancing. The youth are allowed to be on site from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. each day, so the majority of our ministry has been through daily interaction with them. I have learned that daily life is a ministry in itself, and many times the most effective. It has been so awesome to listen to their different stories and to see them growing. The conviction they have is so much stronger than I ever imagined when I was their age. Despite their struggles both individually and as a group, these youth are something special. From ages 14-25ish they willingly come to church almost daily. That’s huge in itself. I love seeing real people worshipping God in their own way, in their own timing, and this is what I see in them. As a majority they love the Lord, but at are many different places in life. They are real teenagers/young adults, with your typical struggles and temptations. I think we can all relate to that. Let’s also add in though the home situations that most of us should say gratefully we can’t relate to. These youth are awesome and I have thoroughly enjoyed experiencing life with them this month.
Us and some of the youth girls at a slumber party.
My first Nicaraguan dance lesson from Abel.
The youth dance team performing at aconference.
On site their is a clinic and a large garden as well. It is the goal of the mission to assist the community in being self-sustaining. One of my teammates Amanda, who is a nurse, not only has assisted in the clinic, but the garden as well! Go Amanda for being all over the place. That’s just an example of how God wants us to enjoy working for Him. He gives us opportunities to do the things we love, if we open our eyes and take them.
I have come to really love the *chanchos*
because they are everywhere.
Most of my team stated we wanted to grow in our prayer lives this month, this year, and indefinitely. Well what do you know, we were given the prayer warrior of all prayer warriors. Meet Rosa, who wakes up at 3:30 each morning to pray for her family and throughout the day visits homes throughout the community. Eight years ago one of her daughters was electrocuted by barbed wire and was pronounced dead by six doctors, for four hours. Rosa believed so strongly that God was not finished with her daughter’s life that she prayed life back into her. She’s a powerful woman. Through praying in homes with Rosa we have had the opportunity to build some cool relationships with families in Candelaria. Some of these have actually begun coming to church which is so exciting. I strive to be half the woman Rosa is someday.
Barbara has been with us for the past two weeks and we have adopted her into our family. She is a 60 year old widow from South Florida who would almost rather be anywhere but here in Nicaragua. Although this is this last place she may want to be, she knows God wants her here, so here she is. Barb had previously come on four short-term mission trips here to Candelaria through her home church before making the move. She gave up all she had, minus four suitcases, and has committed to at least a year long term. My favorite saying of Barb’s, which you will hear in various situations numerous times daily is, “This is real. We are really in Nicaragua”. Yes Barb, you have been in Nicaragua for two weeks now. She has a crazy strong hold of the kindgom vision and also an impeccable ability to relate most all circumstances to God’s faithfulness in our lives. She is a trooper in all ways and we have had so much fun with her. We love her, the youth love her, the entire community of Candelaria and the surrounding area loves her. God totally put Barb in our lives and us in hers through this time of transition. We have learned so much from Barb’s and will miss her so much.
Allan, Tim, Lisa, Cassie, myself, Alex, and Barb
In the back of a cattle truck with Barb on Thanksgiving.
Barb rough housing with some of the boys.
We have managed to have alot of fun thus far and I am so thankful for that. We have been blessed with countless memories which are priceless, and I am convinced there will be tons more of those coming. Also, I think I am finally getting the hang of this race thing, even though it will be tough at times. I feel privileged this is the plan God laid out for me and am thankful for how He has blessed me with awesome people and cool experiences along the way. I am also thankful for my supporters because if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be here.
You will want to read my next blog, I promise.
