If you had told me a year ago that I was going to be right on Lake Nicaragua working at an children’s home that grows their own food in their garden and raises their own animals I would have said that sounds sweet. If you had told me that this place also has ten million fireflies, 6 hammocks, breathtaking sunsets, and really sweet people I would have told you only in my dreams would that happen. Well pinch me because I must be dreaming.
Nine of us girls share a dorm. We have a small kitchen, four rooms, and two bathrooms with real toilets and cool showers. We have the option of working in the garden and with the animals, working in the kitchen, or helping to watch the two youngest girls. I have chose to work in the garden every day. It’s all by hand and it is so relaxing. We made beds for squash, weeded, planted, moved baby chicks, herded goats, and watered it all.
Our days start at 7 AM for breakfast, but I jave been trying to wake up before then to do devos. After breakfast we have a time for prayer and Jesus Calling with both teams. From there we head off to work, which, lasts until around noon. We have already been told that we are working to hard or we needed to stop working because it was too hot out. After lunch its free time, which means we can do laundry, nap, read, write blogs, play with kids that are done with school, or whatever our heart desires. Dinner is at 5 and after that we usually play with the kids, have feedback, and go to bed whenever we want. One of my favorite things to do is lay in a hammock and watch the sunset. This place and this month is so refreshing after last month. I needed this and I thank God that he has answered my prayers.
Ompetepe is a place where I can find rest; spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Sure it’s a bit difficult to get to know the kids because of the language barrier and the fact that they are almost all teens and are too cool for you, but God is moving here. Sunday’s church service was awesome and the Holy Spirit really helped me understand what was being preached.
No matter how much God is moving here the Devil is trying to get a foothold. The Nicaraguan government wants to close this place because they would rather have the children live with distant relatives. The kids don’t want to go because they have never met them and they really do like it here. Some of the kids at this place are orphans while others are here because their families can’t take care of them. CICRIN is such a beautiful place and they provide the kids with education with a christian focus and teach them work ethic by giving them daily chores. Helen the lady in charge has a meeting with the government on Wednesday about keeping the place open and having the kids stay. Please pray for her and for this whole situation.
