Hi friends!
This will be a quick update. I’m working on a longer piece that I’ll post tomorrow. Until then, though, wanted to let you know that we arrived safely at our ministry site in Nicaragua, where we’ll remain until March 5th. We left Granada yesterday morning and traveled via school bus to Vision Nicaragua near Chinandega (a few hours northwest of Granada).
Vision Nicaragua works with a handful of communities here in rural Nicaragua, building homes, assisting with church planting, providing scholarships and sponsorships for children and young people, and serving sick men and their families, some of whom we met and prayed with today. These men work in local sugarcane fields, where the corporations that own them (all Nicaraguan corporations) use pesticides that directly cause kidney disease, eventual failure, and death. It’s been the most infuriating situation I’ve seen thus far on the Race. When I encounter what is clearly preventable suffering, the justice seeker in me fumes. It grips my heart. I know, however, that right here, right now, I need to set aside that anger and frustration in order to do what the Lord has called me to, which is to love and serve these people well. As I learn more about this travesty, I’ll let you know if there is anything to be done on your end. For now, please pray that these corporations miraculously begin using the more expensive pesticides that don’t cause death or that they would be held accountable for their current actions and would be forced to stop. May Amos 5:24 ring true…may justice roll on like a river and righteousness like a never ending stream.
This month we’re coming alongside Vision Nicaragua as a full squad (all thirty something of us) to support them and the communities they serve. As if that’s not exciting enough, we also have bunk beds (no sleeping on the floor this month, which I don’t mind at all, but beds are pretty wonderful) and a view of the San Cristobal Volcano from our front yard. Everytime I glance up at it, I’m reminded of our Creator’s mighty power and vast love for us. His creation drips of His passion and desire for us to marvel at His goodness.
With love + great joy,
E
