What have I been doing since I've been here??
If you have been following my journey you might know that while I was here I taught English to preschool through 6th grade. I am still doing that along with helping Pastor Marcelo start his church in Pochocuape. I love being part of this brand new ministry. It comes with its own set of struggles but it has been so awesome to see how God works in so many different ways. Wednesday I got to just sit and talk with a couple of the girls on the soccer team and get to know them a bit. It was really a cool time because it was just me and them, no translator to rely on so instead I looked to for something better, someone better. And man did He show up. I don't know about you...but for me one of the biggest ways I see God in my life is when He makes my ears to hear a language I don't fully understand and makes my mouth to speak words I'm not even sure I know. THAT is cool. That is God!
The second day I was hear I got pretty sick...and midway through the day as I am lying in bed one of the two people who I am living with texted me and let me know that they had both been checked for lice and had it. So I promptly got up and showered and started washing everything. I then spent the rest of my day and good portions of the next three to follow picking lice out of their hair. But you know what? That is ministry. It isn't always pretty and it isn't always fun, but when we are called to ministry it means taking the good with the bad. It means getting lice because the kids you spend almost every day with have it and they need love.. they need to be hugged and picked up and tickled and danced with and to play with your hair. So you might just end up with lice. I did not this time ((thank you Lord!)) but I had it just months ago.
I almost forgot to mention that I have had my first hospital experience here in Nicaragua. The story goes like this...I was playing soccer because on of the girls we are really pouring into is trying to learn how to play. So I went to be goalie so that Dawn (who has knowledge about the sport) could watch and coach Sinai. I was playing for all of about ten minutes when I am going to the ball and all of the sudden my knee is going left and my body is going right and I hear snap crackle pop and I somehow end up sumber salting trying to save myself. Well I didn't hahaha! So I started icing it because I was not able to bend it or fully straighten it. We went to the doctor just to make sure I hadn't torn my acl or something but they said all is good and just to rest it. They shot me up with some pain killers and sent me on my way. My whole visit costing less than $100 with xrays, consult, and drugs. Only took two hours as well! :)
I have been able to see a lot of my friends and spend time with a few of them. I know it might shock you but.....I just love it here. This place, these people, the creation, the food....oh my goodness the food, life. I cannot explain it to you in words but there is just a feeling I have when I am here that is so sweet and so distinct and so God. When I am gone I yearn to be back, when I am here I miss my family and friends but there is no place I would rather be here on earth.
Will you pray with me? Pray for the pastors I work with here, that they would be refreshed in new ways and given a new excitement for their church and the ministries within it. For the upcoming pastors who are getting ready to take their own churches. For the missionaries I work with that they would receive wisdom and guidance from our heavenly Father that is unmistakably clear. And for me that I could be and encouragement to those around me and shine the light of Christ in the darkness that looms. Pray this week for us as we have a medical team in three areas (same team that will be moving around). That we would all be filled with the Spirit and are ready to pour it out for the sake of God's Kingdom here on earth. That those who will visit would have hearts softened and ready to receive the good news of Jesus Christ. And that God would receive all the glory and honor and fame! Amen!!! He is a good good good God! I stand in awe of Who he is and all that He has done. May we never loose our wonder!
"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing." 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
