(Mombacho – the mountain overshadowing Granada)
Wow. What a crazy month April was. Our team was stationed in Granada with the Esposito family and their ministry Reap Granada.
I began to really learn what relational ministry looked like, and I grew attached to the children, teenagers, and adults we were working with.
Jail Ministry – During visiting hours on Thursday mornings, we would usually do a bible study followed by little arts and crafts, nail painting, and hanging out and talking. I’m glad to have been able to get to know the ladies over the four weeks we were there. They were always kind, generous, and happy to see us.
On our last day there Amanda and Mel Jo brought their guitars and we sang worship with them.
Feeding Programs – We had two feeding programs to go to – one here with a lady named Ernestina and another in a neighborhood called Fortin. Aftrwards at Ernestinas we would do a bible study with the adults. We got to talk and hang out with many of these kids throughout the week. It was hard to say goodbye to all of them (young and old) at the end of the month.
Boys’ Day – One of the days shortly after arriving we helped put on a fun day for the boys in the neighborhood that involved a carnival-minigame tournament. (Girl’s Day had been earlier).
Games included a dizzybat relay, a hula-hoop relay, and a sling-shot contest.
Towards the end of the month we held a women’s kickball tournament.
The neighborhoods we were in had their own women’s kickball league, and our host sponsors 3 of the 6 teams. In return for team shirts and shoes, the teams do weekly bible studies.
Saturday mornings we would head out to the field with other local missionaries and teenagers and adults from the area to play handball, softball, or a bit of futbol.
There was also the weekly Backyard Bible Study for young kids that was hosted by another missionary couple that we were invited to participate in.
Journey (the Esposito’s daughter) started her own bit of ministry with volleyball pratice followed by a bible lesson on Sunday evenings.
Nicaragua was a busy month, filled with lots of love, laughter, and new friends. I began to learn a lot more about what it means to live in community and to give your love and attention to others (even when you’re exhausted and really don’t want to). This was definitely my most favorite month of ministry yet.
PS – I am a little under $3000 away from meeting my final funraising deadline by July 1st. If I don’t make the deadline I risk leaving the field early. If you would like to help me meet this deadline and stay on the race, follow the Support Me! tab to the left or email me at [email protected] for more information.
