Month four: Nicaragua
Mission: Ask The Lord (ATL)
Ministry contact: Undefined
Ministry: Wherever, whatever and whoever the Spirit leads us to
Fruit of the Spirit: Joy
“If you want to see God provide, you need to put yourselves in a place of needing his provision.” This month has been an incredible opportunity to witness his provision time and time again when we most need it and when we least expect it.
At the conclusion of our time in Honduras we discovered our ministry contact for Nicaragua was unable to take us in for the month. As an alternative ministry opportunity our team was offered to spend this month serving as “ATL” (Ask The Lord). Which means we came to Nicaragua without a contact, without a ministry, without a place to go and without any specific plans. Our aim this month is to do whatever and go wherever the Holy Spirit leads.
Delicious street food we found when seeking the Spirit in Granada
We spent our first few nights in Nicaragua in the town of Granada praying about where God was calling us to go. This also happened to be the week of Semana Santa, Holy Week. In the US we celebrate Good Friday and Easter Sunday but most Latin American countries celebrate the entire week prior to Easter Sunday, Holy Week. While it possesses an honorable name, most of what happens during this vacation week for locals involves a lot of alcohol, drugs and partying. And San Juan Del Sur (SJDS), the port town on the Atlantic side of the country, is a hot spot for this celebration. It was also the exact location God wanted us to stay for this month.
When we mentioned SJDS to locals or other missionaries we met during our time in Granada we were advised not to go during Holy Week. “Wait a few days,” or “It’s a little crazy and unsafe for foreigners, especially during Semana Santa.” We could have chosen to hold back out of human advice and warning. Or chosen to hold back out of fear. But this was the place and this was the time God was calling us to so we obediently booked a van and headed on south.
While we don’t have a specific “to do” ministry list this month and are blessed to stay in a hostel overlooking the beach, month four has been one of the most challenging months of all on the race. From day one our team has faced a lot of conflict. I’ve discovered just how annoying each of my teammates can be. But I’ve also discovered just how much of a blessing each one is to me. We’ve had many conversations where anger and frustration, tension and disagreement were so thick you could cut it with a knife. But instead we chose joy.
Amongst team challenges, I also faced a personal struggle when my wallet was stolen in the first week. In a month where I could have sat at our hostel and believe the lie that I’m an inconvenience to my teammates (because I couldn’t pay my own way), I’ve chosen to accept their generosity and blessings that come in the form of cups of coffee and brownie dates.
When we talk about what ministry looks like for that day there is always a struggle of finding a balance between “doing” and just “being” and finding peace knowing that God can still be working in hearts through a simple conversation. Some days it is ministering to our team through a Bible study at our favorite coffee shop. Other days it might be handing out water bottles to people picking up trash on the beach. Sometimes it’s just having an amazing worship session in the lobby of your hostel for all to hear. Or just taking the time to ask the woman you buy your eggs from what her name is, getting to know her, acknowledging her importance and our gratitude for her service.
I’ve convicted that even in these small actions they are the spark, the beginning of something greater and more beautiful than we could have ever imagined. And these little flames that have been lit are a direct result of putting myself, ourselves, in a place where we need God to provide. And he does.
