Gabe, Jenny, Jane, Erick (our guitar player/teacher, translator, friend and brother) and I spent last month traveling around Nicaragua worshiping the Lord through music. We played and sang in many churches and parks throughout the month. I had a hard time blogging while we were constantly on the run so I thought I’d do a little “month in review” for you.
We started the month with a couple days in Granada practicing and learning new songs. For our first gig we arranged to play at a high school in town. It wasn’t our best performance by far (always, always remember to tune the guitars before a performance…) but I spoke about finding our satisfaction and worth in God, not in others, and I think at least one student paid attention.
The next day we grabbed a cab and several buses before landing ourselves in Ocotal, up in northern Nicaragua near the Honduras border. It’s a gorgeous little city stashed away in the mountains and filled with simple people loving our simple God.
We stayed busy the 3 days we were there spending our mornings doing door-to-door ministry, our afternoons praying for church members in their homes and playing in 3 different churches at night. I really felt the Lord working in that place and although we left exhausted I know we did what the Lord wanted.
Special thanks to our contact Orlando who took us for a drive through the mountains to see the amazing scenery and visit a coffee plantation!
After arriving back in Granada we led worship at El Puente (The Bridge) church. One night that week just us girls grabbed the guitars and walked to a church in the barrios where we had been asked to lead worship. It was one of the tiniest yet loudest churches I’ve ever been in. We led worship and then Jane preached in Spanish. Way to go Jane!!!
And we were off again, heading this time to San Jose on the island of Ometepe. The island is made up of 2 volcanoes, one active and one not. Our contacts run a preschool and sewing class and let us crash there while we were there.
We played at a local church on Good Friday and I spoke, this time about Jesus’ teachings after his resurrection. We spent Easter on the island having a picnic, kayaking, and swimming on the beach and then worshiping around a bonfire on the beach that night.
We left Ometepe and went to Rivas where our contacts that owned the preschool live and run an orphanage. We weren’t able to work with the kids but were there to pray for our contacts and their ministry as they were undergoing some serious trials. From there we got a cab and drove down to Costa Rica. We spent a couple days there practicing and playing in the local park before going back to Granada.
Thanks David for letting us stay in your garage! (first pic above)
We took a day that next week to visit Casa Esperanza (House of Hope), a prostitution recovery ministry in Managua. They provide jobs making cards to enable women to support themselves outside of prostitution. The woman gather once a week to have a service and make cards. Jane had the women come up and read God promises from the Bible. Gabe and Jenny shared a few verses that were special to them and then I played one of the songs I wrote. Afterwards, we helped by making cards and entertaining their children.
Our last 3 days in Granada were as busy as ever as we played somewhere different each day. Friday night we partnered with a local church who wanted to do something to bring more young people into their body. We jammed out with electric guitars, keyboard and drums (thanks Lester and Valentin!!!) in the middle of the local park and the dance team from Torre Fuerte (another local church) also performed. It was so much fun! Definitely my favorite show of the month.
On Saturday night we played at a youth service in Masaya (about 30 minutes away) and on Sunday morning we led worship again at El Puente.
It was a crazy and exhausting month but one of my favorites on the Race. It wasn’t without its share of drama and rough times but in the end I hated to leave. Although we didn’t get to see much fruit from our labor I know the Lord was right there with us and that we followed His voice all over the country. Nicaragua has a special place in my heart, as do each of my fellow Cinco-che members. I love you guys and will miss the music we shared. Don’t forget about our reunion- November 23rd, 2011!
Extra special thanks to Ezekiel and his family for housing us in Granada all month. You guys took us in and made us part of your family. I’ll miss our crazy family dinners!
