Stepping into the property here at Nueva Vida (New Life) in Jinotepe, Nicaragua I knew and felt God was going to do big things here. It was the consensus with the whole group. Ok so Lord we’re ready to be the hands and feet and the hearts You’re calling us to be here. We’re living on the property with the family here. I love it! Bonnie our contact and our mom for the month is great because you can see the Lord in her eyes and hear Him in her voice. She’s such a genuine person who keeps it real and is such a great mother to her Nicaraguan teenage boys. Oh and did I mention she cooks soooo dang good! Yeah we had family night on Thursday, which I love that we are family here, and she cooked some fried chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, cole slaw and wait for it…….we had cake and coffee for dessert. Mmmmmm so good
Our ministry will be switched off weekly with the other girls team so we all get to do everything. Yeah I said another girls team, so 14 girls sharing one room and one shower and one toilet. It feels like the sorority I never was in during my college years. Well with less make-up and more talk about bodily functions. So my teams first week was spent in a pre-school. Hmm I’m comfortable in classrooms but I enjoy it when the kids are at least as tall as me or in most cases a lot taller than me. Not hard to do when I’m only 5ft. There was a little getting used to each other and having Grace with some of the girls who have never been in a classroom before and letting them get used to being the “teacher”. Apparently they spoke over me to be a pre-school teacher because I did great with the kids…..ummm yeah I’m not sure on receiving that yet, maybe just the teacher part;) Any who I really enjoyed it and working with the teacher, Hazel. You know she has a heart for the kids and really cares. But she definitely needs help with 18 kids ranging from 2-6. In our pre-schools it’s 1-4kid ration, yeah not here, so our presence was definitely appreciated.
Prayer walking through the barrios of the community is an almost daily activity. I was nervous at first, because when you think about it letting a group of North American strangers into your home is not a natural occurrence at least not where I’m from. But I have really enjoyed it and speaking with the people. They are such a grateful and faithful people. They are a blessing to me and I’m learning from them and not the other way around. I love the community of people in the barrios and the church family. It’s totally “it takes a village to raise a child” that’s the mentality here. Its great how giving and involved and the desire to become a stronger community in Christ together they have here.
That’s a smidge of our lives here so far. And yes I blend in here easily and get asked often if I’m from here, but now they also call me Mexico, that’s fine too
Team Oil & Sanctified:31 with Johnny and our new just fallen from the tree pet Iguana;)
