So another month has come and gone… its hard to believe I´ve been gone four months already! Being in Nicaragua has been both draining and also refreshing, but overall an amazing time of ministry. We have been staying in a town called Jinotepe, which is a little under an hours drive south of the capital, Managua. It has been a huge blessing as our home has been a hotel called Casa Mateo. Casa Mateo is a really cool old building that has been converted into a hotel for travellers, and now is operated by an American couple who use it also for hosting short-term missions teams.
The ministry here has differed considerably from the last couple months, and has largely consisted of evangelism in various forms. Going out into the barios, (neighbourhoods) talking and getting to know the people, going to the hospital praying for the sick, talking to men at a rehab center, and visiting an old-folks home has kept us considerably busy for most of the time. Although it has been tiring, it has been very rewarding. Getting to know the people on a more personal level, and experiencing how God is moving throughout Nicaragua has been great!
The population is mostly people under thirty, and unemployment is very high. People want hope, and therefore for the most part are open and receptive to the Gospel. It is not uncommon to see them accept Christ! However, being Central America, nearly everyone claims to be Catholic, and yet most do not have a relationship with the Lord. With that being said God is definitely at work in the hearts of the people. The Bible says that “the fields are ripe for the harvest, but the workers are few” and is particularily true of Nicaragua.
People here are looking for God and it has been awesome to see God working in, around, and through us! There have been many opportunities to pray for people, and it is during these times that we see God at work. An example of this is when we have gone to the hospital. We go with Manuel, a local pastor who is very passionate for the Lord. He will tell us to go and pray over the patients, and all of a sudden while we are praying he will get fired up and start preaching the word of God. The whole room listens to what says, and then God starts touching lives! It has been encouraging to see his passion for Christ, the faith he has, and how God has used us in instances such as this.
So overall for a country that I wasnt necessarily crazy about before we arrived has turned out to be a great experience. Tomorrow we leave for El Salvador, and while on one hand it is hard to say goodbye to the friends weve become close with here, we look forward to what else God has in store. Continue to pray for Nicaruagua that God would continue to work here, and that he will raise up and bring workers from other countries, and also that he would raise up people from within. Pray for our local contact Manuel, as he is having surgery in the next few days, also pray for the church that he is leading as it is just being planted. Pray also for our team that God would continue to use us and shape us daily into the image of Christ. Thanks again everyone for your prayer and support!
Blessings in Christ,
Justin
