It’s been less than 48 hours since my last blog, and already the list of amazing things that have happened is growing! We arrived at the ranch yesterday in the afternoon to a very excited woman named Sam. After settling in, we were off to the local dump where their was a concert going on…that’s right, a concert! The lead singer of the band Dispatch was giving a free concert in the dumps, and when we got there, we were really surprised to see 200 American college students running around, chasing and playing with the local kids.
Apparently 4 colleges from Virginia, including UVA and Virginia Tech, have been coming to Nicaragua on their spring break for years to work with a group called OrphanNet. It was incredible to see so many young adults from America hanging out with little Nicaraguan children in the dumps! Some of them aren’t even Christians, which was a huge wake up call for us!
When we were driving home from the concert, we had an awesome prayer experience with this one lady…Beth blogged about it, so I will let her speak for all of us!
After a relaxing morning and afternoon horseback ride today (which was one of my goals for this month!), we went and ate lunch, then came back and went hiking through the hills outside of Greg and Sam’s home. It is gorgeous out here…rolling hills as far as the eye can see, with a view of the Pacific Ocean in the distance. We ascended this little knoll, and were admiring the scenery when Sam came up, carrying a shofar. For those of you who don’t know what that is, it is a ram’s horn that was used by the Israelites in the Old Testament as an instrument to be blown to signify a battle or victory. It is what the Israelites blew on the 7th day to bring down the walls of Jericho. It is very symbolic of the Lord’s power and might.
All 5 of us stood there, transfixed, as Sam expertly gave it a good hard blow and the most amazing sound came out and echoed across the hills. There is nothing like the sound of a shofar! She turned to us, holding it out with a smile of invitation, and I stepped up to take my place. It took a few tries (ok, more than a few) to get my mouth position right, but then I hit a note and held it and sent it out into the heavens. No one can convince me that angels don’t stand up straighter at that sound! We each had a turn, and it was awesome to hear the different ways each one of us played it.
After awhile, the group dispersed, leaving Heather, Julie and I to sit with the Lord for probably one of the best sunsets I have seen all year, which is saying a lot! Then Tiffany, Sam’s 11 year old daughter, and 4 of her friends came bounding up the knoll. Sam followed close behind, and the scene that unfolded was something I won’t soon forget. The young girls all took a turn on the shofar, and some of them blew it in such a way that sent chills down my spine. Heaven was listening. Sam gave it a go, and then we each had another try. The echo was long-lasting, and the sunset was mesmerizing…a hot pink that faded to a fiery red.
Sam mentioned in passing that we are three generations of women who love the Lord. That thought made me slow my pace and shake my head. Three generations of women blowing the shofar out over Nicaragua, commanding the attention of the great armies of Heaven. It was a fun time, but there was also something in the air that was sobering and yet exciting. There is definitely a reason the Lord chose that instrument to herald His victory in battles thousands of years ago. Blowing that shofar tonight, I realized that not much has changed from Old Testament times to now.
About 36 hours into this adventure and nothing is normal or mundane. We stand in awe of Him.
(check out the new pics…)
