Ah, Construction! It’s the reason why I went to Puerto Cabezas during February. Why? I
don’t know exactly. It’s not like I have
a long resume in constructing things, unless you include the things I fixed
around my house in Minnesota or the many construction projects that I’ve done
on the World Race. I guess I just was
really looking forward to seeing physical progress. But once again, God knew the real reason why
He called me to this key ministry:
Relationships.
During our first week in Puerto, men from Arizona came down
to help build houses in Bertanna, a nearby town that was totally wiped out from Hurricane Felix in the fall of 2007, a category 5 storm for which the locals
had no warning (no TV’s, etc). These
skilled American and Nicaraguan men were very kind and patient, teaching me new
skills, treating me with respect, not looking down on me because I’m a girl. I cut lumber and nailed up siding for a couple houses. While waiting for their houses, the local
Miskito people had make-shift houses, scavenging lumber and metal from after
the storm. Almost all the temporary
houses had USAid tarps as their roofs.
I’ve been
told that the USA is the only 
country helping this remote area
in Nicaragua. (The house with the tarp pictured on the right is a “nice” make-shift house. The one pictured on the left is the house we built [in progress] to replace that make-shift house. The group of men pictured are the construction guys I worked with. It was the day we left, thus I was wearing a skirt. The kids below will be living in these new houses.)
I loved my time in that town! My favorite part was meeting the families
affected by the hurricanes. They were
all very grateful for our help. Although
they only spoke Miskito, I was able to pray with many of the people, asking for
God’s blessing on their families and their houses. I could tell they really appreciated the
prayers. I loved playing with the
kids! 
They thrived on the
attention. I loved singing songs to
them. Yes, I took “play” breaks. Hey, ministry is not solely about pounding
nails; it’s about God working in people’s hearts. In one family, five kids were watching us
work. All morning they looked. They were particularly excited to see me working
and smiling at them. And I loved
watching them show off their sliding skills.
They used their roof (the USAid tarp) as a slide. After all, it was only about 6 feet tall,
very enticing to a kid in need of entertainment. I’d
run over and give them Hi-5’s every once in a while. In the afternoon, I sat with them and tried
to communicate with them via charades.
It’s amazing what you can communicate without words. After I while, as the kids were talking, I
bent over the littlest one and began to pray for her and her family. All of a sudden, I noticed how quiet the
“roof” had gotten. As I finished up,
saying Amen, I looked up and saw five little heads bent over folded hands, and
heard five little voices echo my “Amen!” God’s language of love is not limited to
words.
The next couple of weeks, after the American men left, we
worked on the pastor’s campus. I spent
most of my time making/mixing cement, laying cinder blocks, filling in cement,
making and tying metal structures,
etc. We were laying the foundation to a
new guest house on the campus. The
Nicaraguan men are amazing. Most are
Miskito. All spoke Spanish. Only a few spoke English. So these men began to teach me Miskito. Each day I would learn a few new words. I found out that Miskito and English have a
few common or similar words. Most
importantly, I had deep conversations with many of these men. We talked about their pasts, their often broken
and hurting families, their lives now, their goals in life, etc. I encouraged them to seek the Lord, reading
His Word daily, talking and listening to Him always. The relationships I made during construction
work was more important than any house that was built or foundation that was
laid. God’s planting seeds in these
men’s lives. I pray these seeds are
deeply rooted and grow mightily for Him.
I consider the sincere, deep love that God has given me, for
the kids at the orphanage and schools, the men working construction, the
Miskito families in the village. And
then I remember the deep love that God has given me for other people: families in the Philippines, neighborhood
kids in Cambodia, Alabanza residents in South Africa, and so many others. His love never runs out. 
Each country I ask Him for more. Each country He gives me more. As I wonder
about this, seeing how much love God has poured into me, just so that I can
pour His love into other people, I think “Wow, God has a bunch of love to go
around!” Then it hits me. I am beginning to understand just a taste of
the love of God. After all, God loves
everyone. Everyone! And not just a little bit. He loves each person so much that He sent His
only Son to die for each person individually.
Now that’s sincere, deep love. That makes me understand how He can continue
to fill me up with such a deep love for so many people. He’s giving me a glimpse of what His True
Love looks like.
Many times this month during my time with God, I have sung
the sweet hymn, “How deep the Father’s love for us, how vast beyond all
measure, that He would give His only Son, to make a wretch His treasure.” Thanks God for Your deep, undeserved love!
