Training camp:
I could try to briefly describe what training camp is like, but I think it would paint an inaccurate picture. I would say things like, we have been camping in the rain for a week straight and everything I own seems to be wet. We only shower with buckets of water accompanied by mosquitoes and wasps… Yet, somehow those seem like only small details in what the Lord has been teaching us. We have been here in training camp with our squad of 36 of us for about a week and a half, but it seems as if we all have known each other for months. We have had training on: How the Kingdom is now, Intimacy-community-mission, life is ministry, healthy feedback, cultural training and how the gospel reaches all people groups, and gifts of the Holy Spirit. I would love to talk about each topic so feel free to comment of direct message me if you would like to hear more detail. The Lord used this time to build up our squad to grow us together as a moving body of Christ.
My team and our roles within the squad:
Justin: Squad leader/Team leader
Zane: team leader in the works
Jeffery: Story teller (inspires our team to tell and articulate our stories)
Nick: Worship Leader
Erik: Treasurer (Team budget)
Myself: Logistics Coordinator
Week one in Nicaragua!
We arrived in Granada, Nicaragua on the 14th with our whole squad. We are working with a ministry called REAP Granada. We are located on an incredibly beautiful 70 acre farm that is right at the base of the mombacho volcano. They also have soccer fields and basketball courts where they host weekly league games. I absolutely love the heart behind the ministry that is being done here and glad our team gets to be a part of it for our first month. Over the years, God has used REAP Granada in so many to make known His presence all over this city. Just a handful of things being done on a weekly basis are: using sports to create harmony between rival gangs, serve hundreds of meals, prison ministry, hospital/nursing home ministry, and prayer walks (which includes sending teams out into all different neighborhoods developing relationships and praying healing and safety over the people.)
God is at work here. People are receptive because they see and experience the power the Gospel brings. It is life altering and brings healing and security in tangible ways. Every day He is revealing more of Himself to me through the works of the Holy Spirit. I’m learning how to first accept the love of God so it can overflow out of me without being forced. For me, accepting the doctrine and truths about God’s grace and forgiveness has caused me to not focus of my performance. Before I had a focus on doing the right things and looking the right way so I could fit in between the lines of people’s view of a “mission worker.” I now am able to focus not on my performance but on how I can show the gift of God’s love to the people surrounding me.
Prayer Requests:
- For the health of our team as several have gotten sick
- That the locals hearts will be open and receptive to the gospel
- There is spiritual warfare happening on base so please pray that the Lord will cast out all fear and all lies from the enemy
- Praise that many people have welcomed the truth of God and have experienced supernatural spiritual and physical healing and restoration
- Pray for our logistics team as we are learning how to navigate our squad though the different countries
