I am here with my team in Candelaria, Nicaragua, a small village about 45 minutes outside of Leon. We are living and working here in the village. Candelaria is an amazing picture of the Church. There is a small church that meets on the grounds. There is also a large community garden and a soon-to-be-completed medical clinic and bakery. The community lives, works, and worships together. Everyone is gaining from the community and everyone has something to offer. The community may give one family goats in order to make a living, but then they are expected to give back by planting, harvesting, or selling vegetables in the garden.
This is a month that is really going to challenge me in so many ways.
- I am challenged in my time. Time alone is nonexistent here. We are living in the community where we
are working and it is a community of open doors and open hearts. There are constantly people stopping by our house. Even as I type this, there are three small children peering through the windows. I love community life, but here we really have to fight for time as a team and I have to fight for time alone with the Lord. Some days it’s really difficult when I really want to retreat and there is nowhere to go.
- I am challenged in my comforts. Yesterday I spent 3 ½ hours standing in a river that has human and animal feces floating in it. We were trying to cross the river to enter a neighboring village when our truck got stuck in the mud. We spent the next three hours trying to
push the truck out. I was grossed out and worried about getting my feet clean enough. Then I saw a little grandma come to the waters edge and without hesitation she removed her shoes and began walking across with her bags in hand. That’s when reality set in that there are people who walk this river everyday, who drink a mixture of sewage water from the river and poisonous ground water contaminated by pesticides used in the sugar cane fields, and they are dying at alarming rates. Father forgive me for being more concerned with the cleanliness of my feet than with Your children.
- I am challenged to love more. The people here, especially the children, are so hungry for love and affection. I have been challenged to love more. To pour out more of the Father’s love to them. There are two kids in particular that have caught my attention. Carla, a 9 year old girl, showers us with beauty- literally throwing rose petals on our heads and surprising us with gifts of flowers. She is longing for affection always holding our hands and hugging us at every moment. Another boy, 8-year-old Arial, has
become my friend. He falls into my arms every time he sees me and yesterday even ran across the grounds to come and hug me as I stood in line for the bathroom. Lord help me to always be pouring out Your love. To not hold back, but to give all that You have lavished upon me.
- I am challenged to greater intimacy with the Lord. Yesterday I met a 15-year-old girl named Itzel, who challenged me to greater intimacy with the Lord. She has only been a Christian for one month, but her face radiates joy. She is glowing. We were talking just about our lives and she asked if any of our team had boyfriends or husbands (a very common question in Central America). I said no. Then her face broke into a big smile as she responded, “Oh, I see. Only God is your boyfriend. He is mine too. Oh, I love Him so much! Jesus gives me many kisses every day.� Her deep and intimate love for the Lord took me aback. Jesus help me to find greater intimacy with You.
- I am challenged in greater faith. The people in this community are filled with faith. They need the Lord to come through in order for them to survive and they pray expecting Him to show up. I met a woman my first day in Candaloria who stood in the hospital room as the doctor proclaimed that there was nothing more to be done and as her child was pronounced dead. She firmly stood her ground and exclaimed, “I refuse death. In the name of Jesus Christ I speak into you life and health. You will not die; you will live in the name of Jesus.� She prayed and watched as the Lord miraculously restored life to her daughter. Lord my faith is so small. Increase my faith this month.
This is a month of big challenges for me, but I say, “Lord, bring it on! I know it’s difficult, but it is only in the hard places that I am changed into more of the image of Your Son. I want You. I want You more than comforts, more than anything. Change me Father.�
