Hey y’all! I am so excited to tell you about the whirlwind that has been this last month! 🙂 We had limited wifi Month 1 in Honduras, and now in Nicaragua (Month 2) we only have it if we travel to town! Instead of spending time doing that, we have been getting rested on our off days and spending a lot of time with God! A priority for our hosts in Nica is making sure that we are investing our time not just into ministry, but in filling ourselves up with more prayer, more of the Word and learning how to rest well.
I just wanted to use this blog to tell you guys a bit about what our month has looked like so far! We are rounding the corner on start of our second week in Nica! We’re stationed in Granada, and working at the Adventures in Missions base here! It’s called Reap Granada, and the mission is to restore, empower, activate and perpetuate. What they do here is so rad because it’s little bit of everything! They have a farm that’s about 70 acres large, they have bible studies for locals, they host church once a month with other churches in the area, they have a sports day where all the kids AND adults come to play tournaments, they do multiple projects involving jewelry making, planting and harvesting, construction, etc. In doing all of these, they provide so many employment opportunities! They not only go out for community evangelism and prayer walking, but also to the local dump to feed people and share the message of love, to the nursing home to spend time with the sweet people there, and are always lending a hand to local pastors for whatever they may need. The list of what these people accomplish with Christ is so incredible and I could talk for days about what goes on here!
Our first week of ministry has looked like getting up for prayer on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 5-6 AM. We are up every day of the week at 6-7 AM for bible reading. From 7-8 AM we have free time, 8-9AM is typically breakfast. 9AM-12PM is usually our first half of ministry, 12-1 PM is lunch, 1-3:30 PM is our second half of ministry, 3:30-5 PM is team time, 5-6 PM is dinner, and from there on is usually book study, worship or free time for the evening! Being someone who’s typically a night owl, this month has already been a challenge for me. It’s been the push I need to discipline myself in spending the first part of my day with my Father and enjoy the morning in all of it’s newness.
We have spent time this week using rebars and machetes to uproot and cut down plantain trees on the farm so they can plant lemon trees, and yesterday we spent all day filling 903 bags with dirt and manure so that we could plant Moringa seeds in them. Part of ministry for Reap is going to be using the Moringa tree’s leaves and seeds to support the health of the community here. The Moringa is full of nutrients and vitamins that are necessary and often unavailable to families who don’t have a ton of money. One serving (in the form of a capsule or other) is equal to the calcium found in 27 glasses of milk.. how crazy is that?! I absolutely LOVE that this place not only feeds and cares for the spiritual needs here, but supports and strives to help meet the immediate tangible needs of the community.
Outside of those days, we have went prayer walking in the community, getting the opportunity to stop at many houses and evangelize. Here, evangelism is made so simple and sweet – love these people like Jesus and learn their stories. I love this opportunity! We have gone to the nursing home, which is a favorite for me, and to the dump. The dump is the local place where all the trash is taken, and people go there as work to find what they can and sell it. This is how they support their families. It’s humbling to walk into a place like that and realize that this is not something they’re asking you to feel bad about, but that this is their life. This is how they provide for their family. So, we served them through food and a quick message of encouragement! Next, we have done sports ministry – we do a quick devotional before each game and then spend time watching and cheering on the teams!
All in all, I am realizing just how different each month of the Race is going to look. Each one will have it’s quirks and upsides, and in each one I will miss something from the month before. I love the opportunities we have here in Granada, and I miss Honduras, and that’s okay. Moving on from a place that you have planted your heart means that you will always miss it a little. In just a WEEK, I’ll be missing Nica as I move on to Costa Rica.
Thank you guys for reading & for helping me reach God’s people here. It is such a blessing and so unbelievable to remember just how far I’ve come, and how far God has yet to take me.
I’m still fundraising!! I need $2,718 to reach my next deadline, so pray & send + thoughts and share!!
Love you guys!!
Until next time (whenever that is haha),
Alyssa
