It’s been a little over a week since my squad and I arrived in Nicaragua. We spent the first few days in Granada for debrief – a time of relaxation and rejuvenation. On Tuesday we made our way to Chinandega where we will be doing ministry for the month. We are partnering with an organization called Vision Nicaragua that loves on the people and helps out in the villages around the city. This week we have played with kids, built and painted doors, and prayer walked. We will continue to do these things throughout the month, as well as host clinics for the sick and go into schools to talk to the students. This month is also all squad month, meaning all 30+ members of my squad are living and working together with Vision Nicaragua. It is my prayer that God will use us to make an impact in these villages this month and bring glory to His kingdom.
Yesterday we had the opportunity to prayer walk in a small village. Myself, along with two of my teammates, two of our squad leaders, and two local teenagers, walked up to homes asking if we could pray for the people who lived there. Many of the people invited us inside and we were able to ask what they needed prayer for – family, health, jobs, anything. Because of the language barrier, this often proved to be difficult, and many times we found ourselves praying for whatever the Holy Spirit put on our hearts to pray for.
One lady that we met stood out to me, her name was Ashley. As soon as we met Ashley I could see God shining through her. She had a beautiful smile and joy sparkled in her eyes. She invited us inside and told us that she wanted prayer for her and her two young children. When we asked if she had a husband, she began to cry and told us that he had died. We didn’t ask any more questions, we just began to pray.
When we were finished, with tears in our eyes, we hugged her goodbye. As we walked out of her house I wondered how someone that was so broken could still be so full of God’s love. I wondered how someone with so much pain and sadness in their life could still be overflowing with the joy of the Father.
For the rest of the day Ashley was on my mind.
She made me think of a verse from my favorite hymn.
When peace like a river attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, you taught me to say
It is well, it is well with my soul
I want to be like Ashley. I want people to feel the presence of God the second they meet me. I want God to shine though me, even in the hardest of times. I want people to look at me and see Jesus, just like I did when I looked at Ashley.
Whatever my lot…I want to be able to say ‘it is well’ with me.
