WARNING: this blog may be longer than usual but it’s worth the read. I promise. I’ve been handcuffed. Handcuffed to people. People that have made mistakes, people that have pasts, people that have been set up, people who lost hope, people in prison. A little fact about me, I’m passionate and have a heart for a whole lot of things. One of those things includes people that are at the lowest of their lives, the ones who are shunned and hated. Alcoholics, street kids, prisoners, thieves, prostitutes, drug dealers, liars, homeless, and cripple. The ones that are walked past and forgotten. Prisoners are some of just that, here in Nicaragua if you’re brought into prison or jail you aren’t fed, clothed, or washed if your family doesn’t bring you anything. They are treated like animals. You don’t eat unless your family brings you food. And some people’s families don’t even live near the town the prison is located. You don’t get new clothes unless you’re brought clothes. You don’t get to be clean unless you are brought shampoo/conditioner/ soap. They don’t get toilet paper or anything unless their families bring it to them. There can get up to 16 men in one small dark cell, where they sleep, eat, pee and poop in. If you know what fumigation is, they fumigate while the prisoners are in the cell. This poisonous, cancerous, diesel, white fog of a gas bomb is sprayed often and they have to deal with it in their tiny cell. Horrible unimaginable. Last Friday I was there and we had to evacuate very quickly so that we were not there when it happened. There’s some back story of the prisons in Nicaragua. The past couple of Friday’s I’ve had the opportunity to join Straight Street Ministry, which are my friends from Knoxville that are missionaries here in Nicaragua! Absolutely incredible group of people. I plan on coming back to do ministry with them in the near future. Story time!!! —> Last Friday I went and we worshipped in Spanish, (and let me tell you how powerful it is to be in a prison where men are shouting and singing and clapping with their arms hanging out of the cell worshipping to Jesus, there is power and so much beauty in that)!! I looked to my right and there was a man in the cell next to me sitting and crying, during worship I prayed for God to work in His heart, for Him to see Jesus that day. We had to leave early because of fumigation but I was able to give him a sandwich, cookies and toilet paper just so he’d know my face. Today we went back and y’all this is me soooo out of my comfort zone, this was me living fearless. I led them in worship today, (which if you know me I’m a back in the choir singer), and also gave them a short word about fighting battles and how God is right there by their sides day and night no matter what they’ve done & no matter where they go or where they are at. They aren’t alone & Gods got a plan, sometimes it just takes time.. After worship I went right back to that cell and was able to hear his story; come to find out he was a Christian and involved with church but he “let the world take him over” and he asked Jesus to come back into his heart!!!!! IF THAT DOESNT MAKE YOU JUMP FOR JOY! This is just proof that God hears your prayers, Gods been at work all week in his heart, he said he was moved by the song and words, & knows Jesus has a plan for his life, He knows without Jesus he’s nothing. Last Friday God started to work in his heart and a week later ILL NOW GET TO SEE THIS BROTHER IN HEAVEN!! Thank you Jesus for restoring. Just some encouragement, God is with you day to day you don’t have to let the weight of the world chain you down, live in freedom knowing you aren’t alone and that you are over the top blessed. Live knowing Gods got a plan for your life even if you can’t see it yet or you think there’s no hope, sometimes He wants you to go through a rough patch just so you can come out stronger. Be grateful today for what you have, big or small. I’ve been handcuffed, we all are handcuffed in some way. Whether it’s something of the world or something that just grabs your heart, these people have me handcuffed. Just a praise report of what Gods doing in Nica!!
