We have now been at our host’s site in Jinotepe for a week and we’re getting a feel for what ministry looks like with Pastor Cairo. He and his wife have a Baptist Church and have services most nights of the week.
Sunday morning, our team split up into 4 groups and went with locals to teach a short children’s church around different neighborhoods. The kids here seem to be the same as kids everywhere we’ve gone — normal kids. We sang a few songs, did a small Bible lesson and then drew on coloring sheets.
After children’s church, and again in the evening, there are services for adults. Tuesday and Thursday evenings are other services. Friday is a Seminary-type class where they are going through Numbers. Saturday is a youth service.
During the days we have been replanting banana trees, scrubbing the inside and outside of the church, washing the iron rod windows and painting them, and passing out tracts from our neighborhood to the town square of Jinotepe. This was the most fun we’ve had passing out tracts — people riding by on bikes or motorcycles would put out their hands to grab one as they flew by us on the street. We even had a whole line of cars stop and ask for them from us! I generally see people read what we hand them, which is encouraging. And the only person who refused to take one looked very much American — go figure.
We’re here in the “winter” (rainy season) of Central America but here in Nicaragua has been unseasonably dry. The farmers are having a hard time keeping crops because of the lack of water, and the rest of the residents are having a hard time buying the staple foods they normally eat. One pound of beans right now costs about 30 Córdobas. While that’s just over $1, they are used to paying only 10 Córdobas (3x increase) and the prices are expected to go up even more.
The first few days here, it was very dry and we welcomed that coming from a very wet month in Costa Rica. However, the last few days we have had rain!
When is not raining, it’s still pretty dry, so please pray for rain to come to Nicaragua! Pray for good crops! Pray that the Nicaragüenses can afford their food!
