Pulling into Leon, Nicaragua on a mini-bus, we knew the Lord wanted us here. But why? Teaching English was laid on our hearts in Granada (see One Step at a Time). How? God put all the little “puzzle piece” details together for His glory. I’ll share with you His blessings in the unknown.
When we disembarked the bus that brought us to Leon, I asked a few people (including the bus driver) our location on the skeleton city map I had. Unbeknown to us, the locals told me the wrong location. No wonder we never could seem to find the hostel. Mark, Tamara, and I walked about an hour around town, looking for the hostel, weighted down with our backpacks, day-bags, and other belongings. Every street looks the same. Every building a similar coloring and structure. Street signs were rare and in Spanish. During our journey around town, we passed by a building with lettering painted in English reading “Jesus Centered Ministries.” Immediately I felt drawn to this building. Hot and sweaty, we decided to come back to this building the next day. After all, it was Saturday afternoon. We finally found a hostel, thanks to a tourist from England whom God dropped in our path.
On Sunday, we prayed God would guide us to a church. We passed a few, some had already started, one church was scheduled to start in an hour. So we searched for “that Jesus building we passed” in the meantime. The search ended up being a time of prayer-walking. Later we found out this area we walked is bound by work-based religious tradition, the most needed area for prayer-walking in the whole town. A lady ushered us into her store (opening just for us), serving us papya juice. I chatted (in broken Spanish) with her and a couple other locals who stopped in for juice, telling them about our worldwide journeys and work last month in Puerto. Upon leaving, the lady insisted that we turn right, where we had come from. On our way back, we found a evangelical church who welcomed us.
We stuck out at church, the only foreigners there. The message (in Spanish) focused on Jesus being our Passover Lamb (Exodus 12). After the service, Carlos, a brave kindhearted English major, introduced himself. Something you should know about me: I hate asking for things. My quick prayer: “God, let Carlos invite us to the university if this is where you want us.” But God gently reminded me: “How will they know your heart if you don’t tell them?” So I told Carlos my desire for teaching English and sharing Jesus at a local university. He excitedly introduced me to his professor, the head of the English department at his university, who also attends that church. Once again, God prompted me to share my heart. In response, Professor Francisco invited us to his office that next day to discuss teaching opportunities. God led us to this church for more than just the message. He wanted us to meet Carlos and Professor Francisco.
Talking with Professor Francisco on Monday, I quickly discovered his passion for the Lord. After setting up dates for teaching, Tamara, Mark and I finally found the Jesus Centered Ministries. Guess what? The juice place on Sunday was literally 150 feet or less from JCM, if we had only turned left. But God’s timing is best; they were in Managua that weekend. I knocked on the door, and found Cheryl and Brooke from Knoxville, Tennessee, just a couple hours from where my parents live. Cheryl has been living in Nicaragua for four years, running JCM to help kids who need medical attention get the proper tests and surgeries they need, whether here in Nicaragua or in the United States. Cheryl also fosters five children; the JCM building is actually their house.
I knew God led us to this building to help. When we offered, they excitedly asked us to paint a large room. They showed us this huge room filled with beds, and another room just like it, which they use to house short-term teams. My heart started pounding. I began praying, “God, is this the Christian woman?” You see, in Granada God told me to ask Him for a Christian woman to house us. I told Mark and Tamara about it while we were still in Granada. Monday morning before we met Cheryl, God told me to make my prayer more bold, asking that this Christian woman also feed us. Standing at JCM, my prayer: “God, may you have Cheryl offer the place to us?” God’s response: “Esther, why don’t you just ask her?” When I asked, Cheryl welcomed us with open arms. She offered beds, food, wireless internet access, a place to call home for our stay in Leon. (We will give them a financial love offering as a thank you.) Who could have imagined what God has provided? Thank God for His timing, His way, His provision. And thank you for your continued prayers for Him to guide and use us for His glory.
