What an amazing month! Nicaragua, how I will miss you. By far you have been my favorite. Let me explain why. I’ll walk you through a typical day on the farm on Reap, Granada.
First off Reap Granada was the organization we partnered with this last month and my do they have an amazing ministry set up. Scott and Jenn are some of the most beautiful people I’ve met on the race, amazing hosts, and very fellowship based.
Weeks looked a little different, our week days were Wednesday through Sunday. Off days were Monday and Tuesday.
Anyways, mornings, Monday(optional), Wednesday and Friday. Start off with 5am prayer, this is a really awesome way to start your day completely focusing on the Lord and speaking life over your friends, family and self.
Every week day at 6am we had devotionals. Then from 6 to about 7:30 we would do what we needed to do. Spend time with Jesus, shower, and prep for the day.
Once breakfast was done we usually got instructions on who needed to be where at what time.
By 9 everyone was either prayer walking or working on the farm. On special days we might even go feed people at the dump, feeding program offered by Reap or going to the hospital to pray.
Prayer walking was one of my favorite things to do while with Reap. Breaking up into teams with one leader and one translator (provided by Reap) we went out into our designated neighborhood for the day and did “house visits”. Wow, wow, wow. I love praying over people, getting to know their stories, and loving like Jesus does. God did some crazy cool things throughout the month of prayer walking at least once a day.
Between that lunch would happen.
Farm work was, well, probably what you could imagine it being in a third world country. All manual labor, and to be completely honest this was so much fun for me. Seeing the giant weeds and roots we pulled up with our pickaxes, watching the weeds and trees be trimmed back with our machetes. To see how far we had come from the beginning of our work was worth every blister and sunburn.
The Dump, I got to go to once and I still think about it often. The Dump is literally what it sounds like. Trash trucks come and drop off tons of it every day. Amber Smith describes it in the best way possible “In Nicaragua the dump is a place of work for many people. Making less then $10 a week men, women, and even children come here to gather anything they can for resale and recycle. By the time the trucks get to the dump each day, they have been sifted through twice. This means that the people who work countless hours get a third pick of everything. Through a feeding program we get the chance to be in community with them and share a meal every week…” Humbling and so very heart breaking to see people digging through trash just to keep food on the table for their families.
I also got the opportunity to help with other teams from the states. We went to an art class and just messed around with kiddos. I got paint everywhere that day. Giving blood was also part of ministry which wasn’t my favorite but I did it!
Most nights ended in worship or some sort of other activity once dinner was over.
There was a lot of community based, just loving people, kind of ministry and it was awesome. I am super blessed and thankful for all the friendships I made. I really hope that the Lord allows me to go back again some day.
