Prayer, Relationships, Rice and Beans - Explore Archived World Race Alumni Blogs

This month as been really good. It has been challenging but it has been really neat because of that. Last month we did a lot of manual labor. At the end of each day we had something physical we could look at, something we knew we accomplished that day.This month as been a lot about prayer. Which was really challenging at first. The other team, Rhema, and ours, 180, came to Jinotepe and entered a ministry that is $25,000 in debt. The ministry runs a hotel that houses ministry teams that come to Nicaragua. The hotel is only full 4 months out of the year March and April for spring break mission trips and June and July for summer mission trips. Those 4 months normally pay the bills for the rest of the year. But due to the bad economy this year they have gotten behind on bills. They normally use the hotel to fund their real purpose here “The Quinta” a house for teenage kids without families. The Nicaraguan government doesn’t like white people so they closed down all the orphanages in the country because they were mostly run by whites. This left thousands of kids out on the street. Lynn and Glenn came down here with no money and started the ministry. They have brought many kids through the program allowing them to finish school and be taught in the ministry. On top of their normal schooling they have english classes, Bible classes, and classes on how to give sermons. They lead youth churches all over the Barrios (slums) surrounding Jinotepe.

We have spent a lot of time in corporate prayer for Lynn, Glenn and Casa Mateo (the hotel). We have prayed over them personally that this financial situation does not become a personal attach on them and that God brings in the resources to pay their debt.They have a contract for the rent of the hotel until next August but have recently found a better location. The property is 8 acres of land, that used to be a chicken farm, that would be absolutely perfect for their ministry. It has all the buildings necessary already built. They would be able to house over a hundred missionaries during the busy months still bringing in the income they need to run the Quinta but it has room to run a community center on it year round as well. They would have a sports ministry, vocational school (auto repair) and english classes. The whole 8 acres only costs $500 a month to rent. This is a much more sustainable ministry for them than the hotel but they need prayer to get out of their current debt.

This month has also been a lot about relationships. We have spent many days at the Quinta interacting with the kids. They know enough english to have basic conversations and they love to play games! They have church services 3 times a week which we have helped run. We have preached the sermons, given testimonies, lead worship and put on dramas. The kids get excited every time we show up. I love that aspect of this month. I love being able to love on these kids that have grown up without the love that we have received from our parents.

We have also visited several other ministries including playing soccer with an alcohol and drug rehab center, visited a old folks home, and helped with countless childrens services in the Barrios around town.