It’s so easy for us to post all the beauty that goes into ministry, but what about the hard times that come with it? I have loved ministry and all that it has been, but ministry has been a walk in the park. Last week my dad sent me a message (I’m 110% calling you out old man, yes) that said “dang looks like more of a vacation than anything”. And I completely get it, and if I was on the outside looking in, I would probably say the same thing. It is so easy for us to post the pictures of kids smiling while we are running around with them, the pictures from adventure days, or the beautiful view we have here on Ometepe. However, there is so much more than what we let the world see. Ministry isn’t always beautiful and ministry isn’t always easy.
If you don’t mind, I would like to share with you some of my experiences with ministry here in Nicaragua…
Over the last 2 weeks I have found myself painting rooms in 85 degree weather with no air flow/ac, and then having to re-paint over and over because the paint won’t stick. I have found myself being covered in paint that will only come off with paint thinner which burned my skin. Ministry has involved hot, sunny, humid days building fences out of tree branches, barbed wire, and trees filled with thorns- I’m sure you can imagine the types of cuts and scratches that we had after that one. It has been mopping, sweeping, and raking the same places over, and over, and over again every single day causing painful blisters. I could go on and on, but I’m sure you get it.
Ministry here in Nicaragua has been so hard, but I have loved every single second of it, and I wouldn’t change a single thing. Being able to sacrifice the things that make me comfortable has opened up many doors and opportunities for some lessons from the Lord. The hard times we have faced your short few weeks of ministry has been an invitation for all of us to grow closer to each other in community, it has allowed us to enter into a special relationship with the Lord, and it has opened the door to many new relationships within our squad and the staff at Cicrin. To me, my sufferings have allowed me to enter into a special time of reflection and understanding of the pain that Christ endured for me. Although I will never be able to fully comprehend what He did, I am able to offer up my pain and uncomfortableness (is that even a word…?) for Him and for others. My experiences have reminded me of a verse that is close to my heart. I’m sure a lot of you will know and understand it. It comes from John 12:24, and states, “Amen, amen I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.” In other words, “Die so that others may live.” If you know me and where I come from, then you know where my heart stands with this verse. Christ died for me so that I could live, and now it is my turn to die to myself in order to improve the lives of those around me.With long days followed with ministry comes a lack of energy that a lot of us are facing right now. However, this has been an invitation from the Lord to turn to Him and rely on His strength instead of our own. Matthew 11:28, “come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” Guys!!! We can’t rely on our own strength to push through the hard times… we MUST rely on His.
I really argued with the Lord this week when He put this blog on my heart. I didn’t want people thinking I was complaining about the work I was doing, but after many conversations with my squad and the Lord, I decided that it was a blog that needed to be shared. It is important for people to know that ministry is hard, but it is so beautiful and so worth it.
Next week is our last week of ministry here on Ometepe before our squad splits in two and we go our separate ways for awhile :,( It will be a week will be full of ministry, parties, birthdays (ayeee!!!), s’mores, and so much more! Please continue to keep myself, my squad, and our mission in your prayers as we walk into another week of ministry here at Cicrin Orphanage.
I love and miss you all tons!!!!
