(The Pastor and his family)
Maybe it’s just me, but I find it
harder and harder to write blogs as I pass through more countries… further
into our 11 month journey. There are so many experiences and thoughts that
cross my mind daily that I can’t begin to convey them in written or even spoken
word. It doesn’t help that I’m pretty sure my writing ability is deteriorating
each mile we travel along this voyage. In two months and three days I will be
back to the real world. Ha, by the “real world” I mean returning to the world
that I’ve been born into and raised in (While I’ve seen much of the real world
– in the greatest and truest sense of the word- I’ve still been in the bubble
of being an American that knows at the end of the day I’ll never have to deal
with life in the Real World).
(Looking through the new Bibles with the Nacho y su amigo)
I’m excited to be back, to see
family and friends, and to find the next place God will have me while on this
earth. I feel a sense of freedom like I would have never imagined. If the world
was a mansion, I feel like all doors are open to me. I’m trying not to
concentrate too much on the future, but instead focus on the present to take
advantage of two months of direct ministry to the poor, the widowed, the
orphaned, the sick, the hungry…Trying to live out what I read in the Bible with
zeal while finding where I fit into life’s equation. All this while living with
anywhere from six to forty individuals that want to truly live out Luke 9:23, “deny himself and take up his
cross daily and follow me”.
(Serving lunch)
I’ve still have really enjoyed
living in Nicaragua. One of my favorite days was our visit to Pastor Manuel’s
barrio (basically a slum neighborhood). A little background…Pastor Manuel felt
called to build a church and started praying 23 years ago that God would
provide him the place and the funds necessary to see his vision to completion.
In the meantime he labored with all types of odd jobs saving up money brick by
brick to build the church. He has partnered with a family from North Carolina
and will have the roof completed next month.
(The church in the barrio)
We had visited “his” barrio a few
times a week; praying for people and letting them know about the church that
will hopefully be a centerpiece of the neighborhood in the coming months. Then
on Sunday we had a local woman prepare soup for all of the families and
gathered together to share a message, hand out Bibles, sing songs, do children
activities and play soccer. A couple days ago the Pastor had a group of nurses from
Maryland check out the families in the area. It’s been cool to be a part of
something that will have the ability to impact so many families physically and
spiritually.
(soccer after church- church in background)
