For the past 2 weeks I have been the point person for the “dump ministry”. When we first arrived in Nicaragua and I was on crutches my team and I had the pleasure of going to the dump on our first official day of ministry. During the short time there God was working in my heart, although at the time I didn’t know He was.
My job as the point person for the dump is to get volunteers from my squad who would like to serve at the dump on Wednesdays and Fridays. What does this ministry look like? Well, we leave our host site at 8am, drive to pick up freshly made tortillas, drive to a different location to pick up the food that was prepared that morning for people working at the dump. Then we would drive about 20-30mins to the dump, set up the table and unload the truck. If by chance we have people that had never been to the dump before they would stay back with the translator while he explained why people choose to work at the dump, while the rest of us would walk up the hills to go get the families and workers and let them know we’re ready for them.
Once all of the workers have arrived someone on the team would give a 5-10min devotion, we would pray over the food, and then serve until the food is gone. We never left with food.
The families who work at the dump are trying to support their families in anyway possible. My first time going to the dump my heart was breaking for the families working there. On the drive back our translator informed us that the meal we had just served them could potentially be the only meal the workers had that day. Upon hearing those words my heart broke into a million pieces and I was silent for rest for the drive home. During those 10-15mins God revealed to me that He has a heart for those hurting, and that this ministry where His placed me in on day 1 is where I need to be to start my own healing.
Throughout the last 2 weeks and having stepped into the leadership role for the dump and having led a devotional, my own healing process truly began and it has been a painfully beautiful process. Several squad mates have asked me why I love the dump so much and the answer I had been giving them is that we, as a team, are actually being the hands and feet of God. We are intentionally stepping into this role, that I normally forget about, and are seeing hope in the eyes of the families who work there. People are being prayed for healing is happening in ways that I never would have experienced back home because I had blinders on. God has taken those blinders off and has opened my eyes and heart to those around me. 
Being apart of this ministry over the past month and especially for the last 2 weeks has been a blessing. So far, this ministry has been my favorite. Not because I was the point person, but because I have seen so much growth in myself and in those that have come alongside me to the dump. Our eyes are open. Our hearts have been changed to show compassion and freely give it away.
As we leave Nicaragua my heart breaks for the friendships I have formed with those at the dump. I pray that whoever comes in behind us will be able to continue to love and support these wonderful families that have been so welcoming and willing to share their stories with us. Please keep these wonderful people in your prayers, as well as my team as we get ready to head out to our second country in Costa Rica. We will be transitioning to teams not squad for the next 2 months. So I pray for unity amongst us and for all of our fundraising endeavors.
Thanks for reading. Love you guys!
