3 months after I stepped onto a plane that was headed towards Guatemala, I am sitting here on the stoop of a church in Nicaragua reflecting on what has happened the last three month.
Where has the time gone?
Month one, in Guatemala, I was still unsure of how this whole ‘missions field’ looked like. Sometimes I felt like I wasn’t doing enough. That month we painted a hospital for 3 weeks straight. Every time I would think I wasn’t doing ‘enough’ for the Kingdom, the smile on the hospital director’s face made me realize otherwise. She was so excited to have a fresh coat of mint green in the ER room, you couldn’t wipe the smile off her face. Macario, the malnourished 3 year old, was so excited to see us every time we went into his room. The progress he made that month was a completely testimony to God’s faithfulness in prayer.
Month two, in Honduras, the form of ministry changed drastically. Instead of painting walls and holding babies, we were hanging out with street kids and playing soccer in the dump. I never, in my own strength, could have been comfortable in holding a conversation (in another language) with someone who was using drugs right in front of me. But with God, anything is possible! Within minutes I was more comfortable that I have ever been, we talked about life, and shared stories about our past. God taught me a whole new level of trust that month. Trust that He would give me the words to speak, that He would protect me in some very unsafe places.
Month three, in Nicaragua, my team was put by ourselves, secluded away in a small town in the heart of the country. We were partnered with a host family, a Pastor, his wife and kids. We have been diving into the community here. Ministry looks different on a daily basis; construction, nursing home ministry, daycare ministry, cleaning, youth events, preaching, etc. I feel like we have been added to this wonderful family, they treat us like their children, always making sure we are well taken care of.
These last three months in Central America have been a roller coaster of learning to live in community, diving into ministry, learning to go with flow and not always having a schedule, and learning to love like Jesus.
God has had His hand all over these last three months, in every situation possible, the presence of God has been tangible.
From the smile of a kid who hasn’t had a real meal in who knows how long when you hand him a cup of noodles.
Or the tears of a mother when you pray healing over her child.
And the memorable moments you build with your team, through the tough times, you learn to become a family and it feels good to be surrounded by other Godly people, striving to get closer to God, just like you are.
Central America you have been good to me, but it’s off the Asia now!
