Speak to me

I apologize for the short interruption for my update on the girls day.  This is my last post on the trip with Fox River.

We had a couple of team members that wanted to get baptized so one of the days after we had finished up at the clinic and at VBS we headed down to the waterfall.  I love watching people make this public declaration of their faith and taking that next step into what God is calling them.  As I watched Kevin and Brittany get baptized I remember thinking about the power in saying "yes" to God in whatever it is He might be calling of us.  It is hard sometimes to do the things He asks. I love the song "In the River" by Jesus Culture.  This day, when they got baptized it really felt like life was all around.  God was bringing new energy and new excitement into these lives, all of our lives as we allowed it! 

Fox River always takes a day to reflect and remember what God has done in the week.  We take some time to just hang out and have some fun with our friends and ministry partners.  This year we went to the beach!  It was so fun and so painful at the same time!! haha!  The waves were brutal that day.  It was most of the Nicas first time at the beach and sharing in that experience with them was super fun!  As we ventured out into the water we clung to each other, hoping that we would not be taken down by the waves.  We stood our ground some of the time...and other times our feet were swept out from under us! As I write this now I think that is a perfect depiction of how the Church is supposed to be.  United against the waves in this life, but also in times of struggle when we are knocked down and being there with those who are to help them back up. But I digress, it was refreshing to be able to take these moments of time together.

After lunch we had some time of sharing what God had done in our own lives, and what He was asking of us coming out of the week.  This is one of my very favorite times of the entire week because we get to come around each other and lift each other up.  We get to share some of our struggles and know that we will not be judged, but that those we share with will be praying for us.  It is such a sweet time of trust and love.  These are the moments I truly feel like we are one in the body of Christ.  After our time of sharing we took some time to look upward.  To talk with God about what He has asked of us.

As I listened for what God would say to me I stood on the beach and watched the waves.  They would roll in and crash together creating something so beautiful and fierce.  The longer I looked out on the ocean the smaller I felt.  I thought about how big our God is and how detailed He is in creation, I thought about how intricately placed all things are.  And I wondered why He chose me.  In all of the world and all of the people...why me?  And I couldn't stand anymore.  The longer I thought about it the more humbled I became.  God revealed to me that though I had given myself to Him, there were still things I was holding onto that I needed to let go of.  If I was going to truly serve Him to the extent  He has called me I needed to let it all go.  God asked me a long time ago to follow Him into the unknown, the deep, the dark, the scary.  Where the wind and waves threaten to take me over.  Where I can't see whats in front of me, or where I am going.  Where I don't know what is out there with me... and I thought I had, maybe I did at the time.  But I have picked up new fears and struggles along the way and have begun holding on to these things. Some things that may not be bad but because I put them above Him have become a hurdle for me. I struggled with God for I don't know how long that day.  I know it has become really cliche in the christian realm, but the song that kept rolling through my head was Oceans, by Hillsong, "Spirit lead me where my trust is without boarders". As I watched the waves build and roll and diminish I decided it was time I stopped letting them push me around.  I would step out in confidence of what my Father has told me. There is no place I can go where He won't find me. When I keep my eyes locked on Him my steps become clearer and I don't have to fear what I can't see because He sees.  I have to keep my focus on Him.

Choosing to focus on Him is a daily choice.  It is sometimes an hourly choice.  To say no to whatever threatens to distract and keep looking to God.  Some people might think that spending the summer serving Him would make this easier...but I am here to tell you that no matter the amount of ministry you do there will always be something that is trying to take your focus.  We have to stand strong and fight together against the distractions of this world.  God has given us everything we need and it starts with prayer.  Prayer for ourselves and prayer for each other.

Would you pray, that my focus would be continually on God and what He is asking of me?  For the moments I let my focus stray that I would be brought back to Him.  Praise Him for the people He has placed in my life to remind me to let the little things go and remain in Him!

 "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

Ella Es...Pochocuape Edition

Yesterday I had my first young women's event at the church in Pochocuape.  I was blessed to have a great group of ladies to help me make this day possible.  The five of us were able to speak and show and be Christs love to thirty-five girls and it is our prayer that they felt it.  It is my desire that these girls are able to understand that they are so much more than this world tells them.  Some of them are starting to have children at the extremely young age of twelve and are told that if they aren't married and starting a family by 18 that they are worthless.  They are told they are useless and ugly and unwanted, the list could go on and on.  That is why I chose to take a day and try to help them they are loved, chosen, and blessed.  I pray that they would be defined by that instead of the worldly standards! 

We broke the day up into three different sessions.  A session contained worship, a message, and some small group time to discuss. We played some games to start the day.  Between the sessions we had some activities for them to do.  They got to paint a canvas, we painted their nails for them, and we did a photo shoot.  They all really enjoyed painting the canvas and getting to make it their own, we had written "Loved, Chosen, and Blessed" on all of them so that they would have a daily reminder of these truths.  Nobody here really has many pictures of themselves so we took some single shots and some group shots for them.  And who doesn't love to be pampered a little?!  They really like bright colors so most of them left with neon nails!  We had a great lunch made by a woman named Kathy, she is a fantastic cook! 

God blessed the day and gave it to us without rain!  We don't have a building in Pochocuape yet so rain would have given us some great difficulty.  They seemed to really enjoy the day and I pray they did.  Not everything went as planned, but nothing ever does and I learned from it!  I will have two more days in different communities with the same goal of showing them they are loved.  I ask that you would start praying now for those days.  For the girls who will come, for the women who will help, for the churches they will be held in.  Pray that God would start softening hearts and opening ears.  I know that God will use these days.  Thank you in advance!  Will you praise God with me for what He did yesterday??!!  And is doing each and everyday of our lives!  

"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

Kids and Clinics

On Monday we had our first VBS in the church.  It was a rainy day and that always means a smaller crowd, but we had so much fun.  Music, games, craft, story, and snack who wouldn't have fun?!  This year we did the story of Jonah and played it out with the kids which was pretty funny because we literally swallowed someone up in a whale. The kids all left the day laughing and smiling. 

The medical group had clinic all day.  We always eat lunch together and after lunch we take some time to do devotional.  This year we read through Mark and discussed what God was teaching each of us through it.  This is such a sweet time of sharing and learning and worshiping together. Later that day we were supposed to have a field day...but the rains came and decided not to stop!  So we played some card games under the pavilion and got to have some fun that way.  It was nice to have some down time with our friends and just sit and chat and play some games.

Tuesday we had VBS all day and the medical team had clinic all day.  When we got to the place we were doing our first VBS of the day everyone got off the bus and I was the last on off.  As I was stepping down the first step of the bus I slipped and ended up falling hard down the rest of the steps and hitting my back pretty hard.  Which meant I was unable to do much at the VBS and had to hand over the lead roll with the music to Marissa ((who did awesome)).  Since I was a little unable to move my back I didn't get to do very much this day.  But I took it as a gift, I love to sometimes just step back and watch.  Because when I do that it is almost like you can see God's hand in it all.  As we sing the songs and do the silly dances and then as we share the story and play the games and make the craft, God is there in the midst of it all.  He always is and I think it is important to make sure we don't miss that, even in the small seemingly insignificant things.  He is using it all, our failure and our successes, our joy and our sadness, our little bits of silliness and our times of seriousness,  there is never a moment that God is not at work. 

This boy is almost completely deaf and has captured my heart

Later that day and Wednesday morning I got to work in the medical clinic and help with the check in and taking height, weight, blood pressure ((not me)), and then get a general idea of why they came.  It was so so cool getting to see how this part of our ministry works.  I have had a lot of opportunity to see the community and do the outreach there but I have never been able to really see what we do in the clinic.  It was a powerful feeling in there those days, knowing that once they got checked in they were headed to the back to hear the Gospel and hopefully be able understand what Christ had done for them.  Then to be treated for their physical ailments.  God was at work this week in the clinic moving in the hearts of those who came to be treated.  When they came that day they had no idea how much their life was going to be impacted.  SEVENTY-FOUR people received salvation while at the clinic!!!!  That is just while Fox River was there. We saw 649 patients.  Gave out 1703 prescriptions and de-parasited 246 people. There is no greater gift in life than to know the love of Christ Jesus.  To understand what He has done for you and to receive the freedom that he brings.

Do you ever have a hard time seeing God at work in your own life?  If so I challenge you to take some time and slow down and take a look at the thingss in your life.  Are there moments when you just haven't seen Him?  Are there some things that are maybe hindering you from seeing what God is doing, or being able to experience it?  Something that I have been learning while I am here is taking the time to slow down.  Take a beat and just rest in knowing that God has it under control and I don't always have to.

 "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

Celebrate Good Times!

I forgot to tell you that at the clinic on Friday 25 received Christ!  I had the extreme honor and privilege of helping tally up numbers and I literally jumped for joy when I saw that one!!!  Praise God for Jeremias who was evangelizing for this trip!

Friday night we had a movie night at the church.  It was really fun to be able to provide a different experience for families to come and have.  We watched Inside Out and ate popcorn.  Saturday morning the clinic was open and we also had a women's event at the church.  The boys watched the kids while us ladies got to minister and have a good time with the women.  We played some games, had music, Karen gave a great message, and we did some fun crafts.  They got to plant some flowers, get their nails done, and paint a tote bag.  I pray those women left the morning feeling loved and restored.  Feeling important and valued, that they are so dear to God and also to us.

I stole a baby!!!  A three-ish week old!!! :)

In the afternoon we had some time to rest and then do some things to prepare for the celebration on Sunday.  I got to spend some time with Tania (one of the Nicas who translated for us) and just talk and get to know each other a bit.  She is one of the sweetest gifts God has given me in Nicaragua.  I know that He brought us together for His purpose and I love that we get to continue this path together. I have no doubt that Tania will be my friend forever, and then forever more! Okay, moving on from Tania ((I could talk about how great she is for the rest of the day)).  Saturday night was youth group, Fox River was in charge and we did a glow night!  We lit the church up with balloons filled with flashing lights and glow sticks and glow bubbles!  It was so fun!  I think the Nicas had a good time playing the games and watching the skit.  Pastor Rob gave a message and we had some group time as well!  I love being part of youth group up in La Esmeralda!

Sunday we celebrated 5 years of the clinic being open.  We woke up super early to get everything ready and decorated before the event.  Once we got the clinic and outside ready, we all ran to change our clothes and get ready ourselves.  It was so great to be part of the celebration and hear about some of the impact it has had over the years.  God has done so much through the clinic and continues to today.  I cannot wait to see what the next years hold for this particular place in La Esmeralda!

 

"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

Together we Do.

This year coming to Nicaragua has been a very different experience for me than usual.  I have had the privilege of coming before Fox River and getting to help prepare for the team.  It was really cool to get to see all the things that go into preparing for a team and being part of that.  There is so much more work than I ever knew or cared to think about, the Nicas work many many hours getting La Esmeralda and the houses we stay in ready for us, and Donna runs around the country getting all the things together for us so that the team will be comfortable while they stay.

 I waited for the team anxiously at the airport and then finally got to hug them as they walked through the doors!  After they had some time to eat we headed for Selva Negra where we would stay for a night.  Then the next morning we made the rest of the trip to La Esmeralda and then got settled and a little organized.  We built the hygiene packs while the medical people had a little orientation and got settled in the clinic.  Those of us making the packs had a little too much fun in the Marena house hahaha!  It was so good to get there and spend time with good friends and meet some new ones!  Then we went to church Fox River put on a skit that moved many of the Nicas.  It was to the song of Oceans and portrayed how the world is constantly trying to distract us from the path God is calling us to. And how our fear sometimes gets the best of us and we don’t take the steps God has asked of us.  But in the end if we trust God and keep our focus on Him the things of the world don’t seem as great and the things that look scary don’t hold a flame to His power! 

 

 God worked this week.  We had two different groups in our team this year, the ones in the clinic and the ones going out into the communities.  I got to be part of both sides and I can honestly say that both work extremely hard to accomplish whatever task God has given them on this trip.  This year since we had separate groups that meant we had less translators…which meant I was a translator this time.  Friday the medical people had their first clinic and saw [] patients and 25 saved!! The community group went out into Las Nubes and La Esmeralda to hand out hygiene packs Fox River donated.  We broke up into three groups and headed off in different directions.  As we walked around to the houses and started to share these gifts it opened the door for us to invite them to the events we would be having that week, and also to share about the hope we have in Christ and the love He has given us.  This is always one of my favorite parts of the trip, and this year was no different. I love this part because even though I don’t know much Spanish I can still communicate to the people that they are loved.

 

 I somehow always end up with Jorvin (youth pastor) and he takes [as I call it] the road less traveled; which means some serious hiking. It also means that we go to houses and people who do not have many visitors if any at all.   My friend Enmanuel and I teamed up, we kind of made one translator with the Spanish I know and the English he knows, as we walked around the communities to do hygiene packs.  It was really fun being able to do that because it really shows the need for one another in being able to accomplish what God has called us to do.  This is something I struggle with if I am being honest.  I often feel like things would be easier if I could just do it myself and not have to depend on others.  I do not like needing people, but God is teaching me through this chapter in my life that it is impossible to complete His plan for my life without the Body of Christ.  It is a hard lesson to learn but I am learning that it is so much sweeter when we come together for the same purpose  
     

                                                                                                                                            
Something that I love so much about being with a team in Nicaragua is the unity we find fulfilling God's will for our lives that week.  No matter where you come from or what language you speak unity comes by Christs blood.  Though physically we don't share blood, spiritually we do and I would argue that the blood that binds us spiritually is a lot thicker and stronger than physical...but that is just me.  To me these are some of the best relationships in the world, the ones that are not restrained by conversation and need to always be saying something to relate to the other.  Coming together and getting to do ministry in this environment is always fruitful.  I believe it is because there is no way we could communicate without God's power, and there is no way that some of the things we do would ever be possible without Him on our side.  This is what the Body of Christ is supposed to look like.
 
I will post multiple posts about this last week because there are just so many things to talk about!  Stay tuned for more!  

"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

Praise and Prep!

Sunday was the second official Sunday at the new Pochocuape church.  I lead the children's class along side Donna and Ashley.  My responsibility is the music, we worship to a few songs by singing and dancing!  We are training some of the young men of the church so that they can take it over at the end of the summer.  I am so excited to be part of the beginnings of this church!  It is so cool to see something new be born in Jesus' name!  I can already see God working in this church and in the hearts of some of the people there.  There is no doubt in my mind that this church will do great things  in the name of Jesus.
 

Childrens

Pastor Marcelo leading on Sunday

After church we went to lunch with Pastor Marcelo, Luis, and a missionary couple that are joining Familia Avance in the next year or so.  It was a really sweet time of fellowship and laughter.  The food was good too ;)  We had a bit of time to rest and then we headed to church in Masaya.  I really enjoyed being in Masaya and getting to meet most of the people in that church. The people there really welcome you with open arms and want to know you!  It was so good to be able to talk with some of them and share a bit about ourselves with each other, I truly feel like I have some new friends.  God is working in this church as well, they have had 6 men give their lives to Christ over the last few weeks in their homeless ministry.

Enjoying some time to sit in Gods creation

Today we did some more shopping and preparing for the group to get here on Wednesday. As we only have a day left til they get here there are a bunch of last minute details that we are ironing out and picking up! We bought some Bibles for one of the churches which was fun to do, we are literally putting the Word into peoples hands!  I had some time to work on some planning for the girls event that I will be having on July 8th and I got a little help from my friend Angel on some graphics for it!  Hahaha. It has been a busy week since I have gotten here but I couldn't be happier. The way I feel while I am here is not explainable, I believe it is a result of living in obedience to what God is asking of me.  I miss my family, I miss my friends, I miss my so loved kiddos....but there is no place I would rather be!  Oh! And I went to Walmart today!  It looks a lot like Walmart's in the States, just a bit smaller and some different offerings.

The invitation for the girls day. ((Thank you, Angel))

Pray that God would continue to work in Pochocuape and that we would get to see the evidence of His power.  For my continued focus on why I am here and who I am here with.  That as I am immersed in spanish it would become more clear to me each day.  Pray for the Nicas as they are busy and hard at work getting ready for Fox River to come and the clinic celebration on Sunday.  That they would have a clear focus on who all the glory belongs and who they are serving as they are preparing. Praise God for the working in Pochocuape and Masaya!  Praise Him for the breeze He brings in just the right moment, what a sweet gift that is! 

"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

Go(o)d Gifts

The last two days have been amazing!  Yesterday we got up at 4:30 to leave the house at 5am.  We ran around picking up the things we had bought the day before and buy a few more things at the market.  Then we started our journey to La Esmeralda.  We got there and unloaded the truck and then loaded the fridge. One of the bests parts of the day for me was being able to see me friends up there.  My heart just about jumped out of my chest when I saw them, I hadn't realized just how much I had missed them.  I cannot explain the joy of seeing these sweet sweet friends that God has given me and created the bonds within them.  I got to spend some time catching up with them and hug them and just be with them, it was such a blessing to me!

 After we were finished getting some things together and having some conversations in La Esmeralda we headed to Jinotega.  Where Donna, Denis, and myself went to the lawyers office to sign some documents.  There were two pieces of land that they were there to sign; one for the land the Las Nubes church will be built on and the other is for some land that Fox river has bought for Denis and Karen.  The Las Nubes land is important because the church there is growing in strides and ready for a building so they can really establish what God is doing there.  For Denis and Karen to have this land means that they can start providing for themselves for the future and for right now as well.  Both of these things are just more proof of God's working in this community!  I cannot wait to see what God does with this!  It was really cool to sit in on the end of this process and get to hear the hearts of these guys who are selling their land.  We didn't get back to the house until almost 9.  Needless to say we were all exhausted, but God had blessed the day.

Today we went to the oriental market, which is the largest open air market in Central America and it is two miles long, getting children chairs for the new church in Pochocaupe.  That was a fun experience and we took along with us Sergio who had driven with us to La Esmeralda.  Then we headed up to have youth group there, in Pochocuape.  We had a lot of fun and laughs!  As always in ministry things don't go as planned sometimes and tonight was one of those, but God knows what He is doing and He is able to work in ways we don't understand! 

Pray that God would do a work in the church tomorrow morning!  Pray that as we continue to prepare for Fox River that our focus would not be taken off of God.  For continued understand of the language and boldness to use what I do know!  Praise God for the joy He brings to us, for His love that translates through language and cultural barriers, for how He gives us just what we need exactly when we need it.  He is a good good Father!  He loves us!  Amen! 

"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