August 14, 2013
Each Wednesday night my college ministry in Auburn held a prayer service for students. I would typically pray over the service and the students who may attend for the first time, but on this particular night, I could not shake the thought of praying for God’s will. I was still living in my college town with my college roommate, but I had decided to take a semester off. I was unhappy with my major and I needed direction.
“God I really desire to know the plans you have for me.”
…
“I want to walk in your will. I want to be obedient. What do you have for me God?”
…
“I need guidance. I need you to give me something, God. I cannot make this decision alone.”
Nicaragua
“Uhm…”
…
“Hey God, I think I misheard you. It sounded like you said Nicaragua, but that’s not a major… that’s not a place I’ve ever even thought about, so…”
…
“Plus, you know God that if I’m going to be a missionary anywhere it needs to be in Honduras. Remember? I loved it there.”
…
*Insert all the cricket noises here*
When this time of prayer was over, our pastor made some announcements with information for the new semester.
“Okay, our first college service officially starts tomorrow! Also, we have some new mission trips to be looking out for. We will be going to Haiti and the LA Dream Center. We also have one more trip we are looking into. We have never been before and we are not sure if we will actually go, but be looking out for information on Nicaragua!”
Okay, God. Real Funny.
I left church that night frustrated and confused. I had no clue what this meant for my future. The only thing I was sure of was that God had spoken to me. I had never heard His voice so clearly. During the remainder of the semester, God continued to repeat His promise of Nicaragua to me. I worked as a waitress in my college town, and two weeks after the prayer service, a friendly couple sat at my table. We started a conversation about mission work, and they quickly told me that they were missionaries to Nicaragua.
As the weeks and months went on, God continued to confirm His promise. I kept my ears open for any mention of a trip to Nicaragua. I even tried to make it happen a few times with internships or job openings. Fortunately, God knows best and He closed every door I tried to open on my own terms.
February 21, 2017
Three and a half years later, I am sitting here in Nicaragua on God’s terms. If I had come on my own, I would have robbed myself of so many blessings. This month my team and I are on the island of Ometepe, where we are serving at a children’s protection center.
We have witnessed healings, salvations, and rededications. We have prayed alongside people crying out to God on behalf of their families. We have shared messages, songs, and testimonies. We have fallen in love with the twenty-two children living here with us as neighbors. We have watched spiritual chains be broken, and we have prayed for God’s spirit to fall in new ways.
As I sit here reflecting on all that this country has held, I cannot help but laugh. Our Heavenly Father is faithful. I am so blessed to be called a daughter of the King (Hija del Rey). God does not say things just to say them, and He does not make a promise so that He can break it. He is faithful.
Whatever God has promised, God will fulfill. Here’s just a small glimpse of what our month looked like while in this beautiful country!
