Our first week in Nicaragua has been so incredible. The Lord has been pulling things out in me that are so so hard but it’s so beautiful. This month our whole squad is together and will be together until the end of Costa Rica also! It’s been a blessing to be altogether again. For this blog, I want to talk about what our ministry has looked like this week because it’s been a bit different than Honduras.
On Tuesdays, we have Sabbath. Which means we do not go into town, do ministry or much of anything else. The primary focus of this day is to spend time with the Lord. We give Him our whole day and just rest in Him. Wednesday morning, my team started our day by working on the farm. We were the first team to start uprooting these plantain trees that are going to be replaced with lemon trees. It’s hard work but we had a great system down and got a good bit accomplished! In the afternoon, we went prayer walking/evangelizing. We basically just walk the village streets and go into homes to pray for the people. We have a couple locals with us and a translator. This is one of my favorite things to do because we get to see the community and meet the people in the community. Thursday, we started our morning again on the farm uprooting the plantain trees and in the afternoon prayer walking. Friday, was the day that my world was turned upside down.
Friday morning, we started our day by going to “The Dump” as they call it. It’s literally the trash dump where people go to dig through the trash to find things to sell to feed their family. Our purpose in going to the dump was to feed them and pray for them. When we get there, it smells like what you think a trash dump would smell like. It’s pretty windy here in Nicaragua so the wind is blowing and carrying dirt with it. We bless the food and start serving the people. I’m just standing there in awe of what is taking place before my eyes. Adults, teenagers, young adults and kids coming through the line with Enfamil cans that still have formula in them to put their food in even though we offer them a plate. These people walk to the dump 7 days a week to dig through other peoples trash to find enough valuable things to sell to feed their family. KIDS are doing this. If you know me, you know I have a strong passion for kids. I love kids! The last person to get food was maybe a 9 or 10 year old boy. Devastated was an understatement. I can’t describe how I felt leaving there. I was just blown away that this was real life for anyone.
That afternoon, we go to the nursing home. Going in to this afternoon, I was nervous because I haven’t stepped foot in a nursing home since my great grandma AKA Grandma passed away last year. Being there was really hard for me because it reminded me so much of Grandma. We were best friends and I miss her so much daily. I’m not sure I grieved her passing. I had never lost someone so close to me before. I’m seeking the Lord in that, so pray for me.
That leads me into the last part of our day. Around a bonfire eating dinner and s’mores, one of squad leaders, Jon, shared his testimony. His testimony reminded me of my ex-boyfriend Andy. Their stories are similar and I believe the Lord brought him to mind for a reason. Andy passed away two weeks before Grandma did last year. Even though Andy and I only dated for two months, it doesn’t make it easier that he passed. Since he passed two weeks before Grandma, I didn’t take much time to process him passing. It was sudden and tragic but I didn’t address how I felt about it. I don’t think I really grieved his passing either.
My point of telling you these stories is to let you know that the Lord is bringing up things that I have avoided by staying busy at home. I finally am slowing down enough for the Lord to really speak to me. Please keep me in your prayers as I continue to process these things with the Lord and continue doing ministry that is bringing up these things.
The Lord is uprooting things in me just like we uprooted those plantain trees day one. Maybe that was a prophecy into what month two was going to look like. If you have any questions or want to talk about what the Lord is doing, please message me and I’ll respond when I can!
