Te Amo Nicaragua!!!

We have safely returned from an amazing trip to Nicaragua. Along with 17 members of our church, we partnered with the Nicaraguan Resource Network, a group of Christians devoted to loving and serving the people of Nicaragua. These believers have firmly planted themselves in the heart of a third world country and are truly acting as the hands and feet of Jesus. It is inspiring to watch them work but even more humbling to be a small part of their efforts.

During our time there, we visited a little village known as "Hidden Treasure." We hiked down a hill to get to a paved area in the center of the village, where 50-100 people were waiting for us.

We sang songs, acted out the Christmas story, watched a dance, broke pinatas, distributed gifts, and prayed with the families. What a joy it was to hear prayers being offered in Spanish and English simultaneously. And what a reminder it was of how BIG our God is that he can understand all languages and all people (even at the very same time!)

Before leaving, we offered the villagers bags of beans, rice, oil, sugar, and soap and then helped them carry their bags back up the hill. At one point, a tearful mom ran over to Kelsey and gave her a hug. She pointed to her little girl and then Kelsey remembered. Last summer she had met the mom and the little girl. The girl had had a terrible gash on her leg. It was dangerously infected so Kels and another teenager had gotten out the youth group's first aid kit and doctored it up. They had left the mom with some medicine and shown her how to continue treating the cut. Now the mom was pointing to the little girl's leg. Though it was visibly scarred, the infection was healed! You couldn't miss the love of that mother and the deep gratitude she had for a sweet American teenager who had helped her care for her child. It was only our first day in Nicaragua, and my heart was already full. This is a picture of the little girl with Kelsey and Jack.

Later we visited La Chureca, an enormous trash dump on the shores of Lake Managua. In every direction, we saw trash and burning refuse. In the midst of all this garbage, some very poor Nicaraguans make their homes. They live in little lean-tos (picture large Texas deer stands), and they spend their days gathering trash to recycle or sell. Some of the "people at the dump" (as they are called) live their entire lives there.

We met a wonderful pastor and his wife who are committed to serving the people who call the dump home. They offer church services and have started a women's group and a small youth group. They also offer a little daycare just outside the dump so that 25 (or so) mothers can bring their kids out of the dump every day. We prayed with the pastor of this church as he stood in front of a group of "homes," and we watched as a man with tears in his eyes fell on his knees and gave his life to Christ. A little girl who came with us took a wooden cross off her neck and placed it on the neck of a Nicaraguan girl who happened to be standing nearby. No words were exchanged, but the Nicaraguan girl touched the cross, smiled, ran off, and then returned with a flower she had picked for her new American friend. (It was really more of a weed, but it was clear that she was making an attempt to say thank you.)

On the next day, the men in our group hosted a retreat for the pastors and disciples from a little community called Los Brasiles. The group went to a "retreat center" in the mountains, where the beds were hard, the showers were cold, the food was simple, and communication was challenging. But no one complained! Our men came back renewed, and it was clear to us all that they had been in the presence of the living God.

While the men were "retreating," the rest of our group spent time at the orphanage and two of the schools that NRN supports. All afternoon, Kelsey and I got to love on sweet kids, including the ones we sponsor.

And then it was our last day in Nicaragua. We had lunch with some recent graduates of Joshua 1:8, a school that is supported by NRN. These 17- and 18-year olds have grown up in dire poverty (in fact, many live in Hogar de Fe, the orphanage that NRN supports). And yet because of the generosity of some American Christians, they have graduated from high school and have big dreams for the future.

When asked to talk about their aspirations, they spoke of becoming doctors, lawyers, accountants, engineers, and teachers. As rare as hope is in their culture, many finally believe that the words of Jeremiah 29:11 apply to them, too:

"For you know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."

I could tell you so much more, but I'll end with a heartfelt thank you!!! I would never have made this trip (nor embraced it so fully) if not for your fervent prayers. Thank you for being a Godly friend, brother, sister, son, daughter, niece, or nephew. I am blessed to have you in my life. Please give me the honor of "standing in the gap" for you someday.