Yesterday I shared a bit about the special places in my heart. Today I’ll finish with sharing a little about Nicaragua.
My first mission trip to Nicaragua was when I was a freshman in college, and ever since God has woven it into the fabric of my life. I am profoundly grateful.
That first trip, in my broken Spanish I proudly told every local who would listen that we were with Living Water International, and that we were going to drill a well that would change their lives.
And wow, were they excited! We quickly understood the magnitude of what we were doing — we were confronted with the devastating effects of the severe drought and the limited supply of contaminated water.
Two-year-olds would beg for a drink from our water bottles, and would chug a full liter of water, until they were sick from drinking so fast.
One woman brought her small son to our health clinic, begging for a cure to his strange skin disease that caused deep brown splotches all over his body. Upon examination, it became apparent that the mysterious splotches were merely caked-on dirt.
You see, many families make the choice every day between drinking water or taking a bath. Between dehydration …
for the father — who works long hours in the fields and who provides today’s food
or
for the baby – who might not make it another day and who provides hope for future
I was proud indeed to declare that (literal) salvation was upon them, and we were bringing it. I was as eager as they to see pure water gushing out of their well.
On day four, we discovered that there was no water. The aquifer had run dry. Days of drilling, of desperate prayer, and all we could offer in the end was our broken-hearted hugs and shameful apologies.
Out of Isaiah 43:19, God convicted us.
“I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
He provides clean water. The community of La Concha was His. HE knew their plight long before us, and HE would bring them water – the literal water needed to sustain life, and the living water of Jesus Christ.
((I was humbled.))
We said tearful goodbyes and returned home, downtrodden and confused. How could God let this happen? We were reminded that we came to love – that above all, that was the most important thing. We tried to be okay with just love. It was so difficult when we wanted to solve the problem, to provide.
Our team finally came to a place of submitting the fate of this beloved community to God.
Four weeks later, I was in my Psychology class, bored. I got an email – those same precious children, splashing around in the clear, pure water gushing out of their well. It had not come by MY hand – and it no longer mattered.
Tears ran freely down my face as I wept with joy.
As I excused myself from class, my professor remarked, “My lecture on neurons does not usually cause such an emotional response.”
The class chuckled – and it didn't matter. They didn't get it.
A dawn was breaking in my heart, ushering in a new era of my life.
Living Water International had returned! They had not abandoned the community, they had not given up!
And God had honored their humble service. After four frustrating dry wells, God provided the water.
“My word that goes from my mouth will not return empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
~Isaiah 55:11
I was absolutely addicted. To Nicaragua. To the beauty of life in Latin America. To Living Water International, who had physically demonstrated their love and commitment in an incredible way. Most of all, I was addicted to drilling wells while begging God to provide clean water where it is desperately needed.
Six years and many trips later, and I'm in Nicaragua again. I now serve full-time at LWI as the Mission Trip Coordinator for Nicaragua. I fill my days with facilitating the mission trip experience for others, eagerly anticipating how their lives will be changed.
This week, eight people are on Nicaraguan soil for the first time. I will journey with them throughout their week here.
I will seek to serve them – as storyteller. As encourager. As a witness to God’s faithfulness. As a helper, when they have questions or needs.
I will process with them through their experiences, so often echoes of my own struggles, questions, impressions from past trips.
Who knows what God will do this week?
I sure don’t, but I’m expecting great things – stay posted, I can’t wait to share with you what happens.
My time with Living Water, my time working in Nicaragua, has been nothing short of incredible. I will deeply miss filling my days with this ministry, and I hope to return one day.
As the sun sets on this era of my life, a new dawn is breaking – I can barely see it peeking over the horizon.
In the next year, I will set my foot on the soil of 11 new countries – each waiting to share their story of God’s faithfulness. I will serve wonderful and varied ministries – all with the common goal of bringing God’s hope and redemption.
What a gift!
What a crazy/beautiful/challenging journey it will be.
It’s going to be amazing … so come with me!
I’ll share on this blog – check back to hear more stories of God at work across the world.
Become one of my financial partners – and help me experience all God has to show me this year, so I can bring back more stories of his faithfulness.
And please, commit to pray with me … I’ll need my community when it seems like the well has run dry.
