So let me give you an update on what I have been doing this past month. Kinda left it to the last week as we are about to move from Nicaragua to Panama.
This month we have been working with an organisation called CICRIN it stands for Centro Infantil Christiano Nicaraguense it use to been a orphanage but more recently it has been developed into a prevention and protection centre for the community and kids that live in the area.
The area that we have been staying in is actually an island which is pretty sweet, it’s called Ometepe it’s situation between two volcanoes, one called conception and the other Maderas.
This month was also all squad month so all 20 of us we staying together on site! It was really cool to be all together.
FIRST WEEK
first week of ministry, my team were on grounds keeper duties. This looked like washing and drying dishes, cleaning the kitchen, setting tables before meals and general tidy up. We also did some sweeping of pathways, raked some leaves, mopped and swept the patio. It doesn’t sound like much but to Hellen who runs the centre it makes all the difference – every little helps 🙂
This is the kitchen
These are the kitchen ladies who cooked the entire month for us, they were the sweetest.
Pictures of our cleaning and raking antics
There was also another team from Maine helping to build some things at the school this first week, at the end of their trip the kids who stay at the centre put on a party with games and they did a very cool dance routine which you’ll see pictures of.
On our adventure day the first week we all went zip lining, was a lot of fun if not just a tad scary, you may have seen my video or social media put I’ll put up a picture for now. On the sunday we went to church, which was pretty cool, worship was amazing and the pastor talked about purpose and how wants to use us (very appropriate).
This was church
SECOND WEEK
the second week we rotated with the other teams and we went to the school. The school is on site and there is roughly 50-70 kids between the age of 4-14 that go there. They get taught the same style of education as we do.
The first couple of days we cleaned out the classrooms and library, sweeping, mopping and backing paperback books. On one of the days we had an opportunity to make lime juice for the kids with the help of the kitchen lady, who was incredibly kind and did also try and teach us some more Spanish too.
As this week it was thanksgiving, at the school we started to help with the kids make Christmas decorations lots of fun.
We also got to have some one on one time with Hellen who runs CICRIN, hear her journey and heart behind why and what she does. She is an incredible woman of faith and perseverance, she had literally helped to keep this place running, and she is also planning for future developments to CICRIN, more to the school, conference centre, and renovations to existing buildings. She has also adopted two of the children from CICRIN as her own! Honestly what this lady did. If you would like to see and find more info about her and CICRIN check the link below or on facebook at Friends of CICRIN.
Myself and a few of the other girls in my team (shout out to Melissa and Mary-Beth) cooked and prepped dinner for thanksgiving, it went really well and we had SO MUCH FOOD! I also made cake and had ice cream for afters, and we talked about what we were thankful for, for me it was being with these guys, enjoying good food and being in Nicaragua, it is honestly so stunning. God never ceases to amaze me in creativity.
SO MUCH FOOD!!!
My highlight from this week definitely has to be interacting with the children at the school and CICRIN, between piggyback rides, spinning, playing with our hair, doing our hair with flowers, playing football, the list was endless but it was such a joy to just let the kids be kids. There was however one particular girl who loved to just sit with me, wear my glasses and do my hair, her name is Naomi. She has such the sweetest nature and is super affectionate, she won my heart for sure.
This is Bisma
This is Raquel 🙂
This is Christina she is very cute!
Me and Naomi <3
Please continue to pray for these kids, for protection over them, that they continue to be a part of all the good things CICRIN is doing and that the LORD will move and use them in powerful ways.
On our off day we went to Ojo de Agua, it was a beautiful little lagoon hidden away in the forest, super chill they had a rope swing into the pool, the water was so clear and the whole team had a good day chilling, got some nice food too.
These are my team mates Tessa and Hannah 🙂
LAST WEEK
The last week at CICRIN, we did prayer ministry as a team, the mornings were spent on prayer as a team, cultivating thankfulness, soaking, creative painting, listening prayer and in the afternoon there was more practical outreaches. We went to town and got to pray for some of the locals, prayer waking through different parts of CICRIN, prayed the fruits of the spirit of different areas and on the last day we prayed against any oppression and declared Gods truth over where were have been staying.
One of our many team times 🙂
We also made an unlikely friend… this is Jerry or maybe Kyle, one of the many peleguay’s we encountered living on site
Our last weekend was spent travelling to Granada, another city where most of the team went volcano sledding, I however did not 😉 I took this opportunity to rest and explore the city a little bit and so was very thankful for some down time; I will however show you some my teams picutres from their volcano adventure!
This month for me hasn’t been in the easiest, I have been feeling overwhelmed at times, I had opportunities to share my story with my team which was a BIG thing and so trying to process that and where I’m at in this journey has been slow but I know that the LORD has me where he wants me to be and I can trust in that alone.
Please continue to pray for me, I’m still trying to fundraise to reach my next goals and again it hasn’t been easy, but again I know the LORD is in this; speaking and using my story for his glory.
Pray for our ministry in Panama and what we get to do! It’s so exciting if not a little strange to be in a hot country for Christmas!
If would like to donate towards my next goal as you read this, you can do that at the top of my page where it says donate.
I am £1000 pounds from my $13,000 goal, every little helps and so if you would like to give even if it is £10/$10 I would be incredibly blessed and thankful for your generosity.
