Well first off I just want to say I am sorry this is a week late, I quickly became consumed with business last week and never got a chance to post a blog. So everything in this blog is not from this past week but the week before it, hope you enjoy!
“Choco Banano” is a phrase I quickly learned from the children in Betel and after purchasing this amazing snack for just about 10 cents in USD, I realized that I will come to love this phrase even more. So I start out my blog stating that I am thankful for the very small things here in Nicaragua like being able to eat a frozen banana dipped in chocolate on a hot afternoon with my little amigos. Although some small things like that is what I am falling in love with about this culture and lifestyle, I also am thankful for the HUGE things that God is teaching my teammates and myself. The lesson God repeatedly is teaching me is how to truly rest and trust in Him. He is showing me that His way is so simple; I just have to obey and have a willing heart. Then with that I must believe that he really will use me. I can see the ways that God us teaching me and preparing me for His plans, how all I must do is reply with a simple “yes”. So please continue to pray for both my teammates and myself that we choose to be obedient to God, and that we believe without a doubt that anything is possible with God.
“Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the drivers seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade for your soul for?”
-Matthew 16:24-26 (MSG)
“Because you’re not yet taking God seriously,” said Jesus. “The simple truth is that if you had a mere kernel of faith, a poppy seed, say, you would tell this mountain, ‘Move!’ and it would move. There is nothing you wouldn’t be able to tackle.
-Matthew 17:20 (MSG)
As far as what we have been up to this past week:
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: Worked on building a house for Estella, a cook that works for Mission Nicaragua.
Tuesday and Thursday: Bible Study and Spanish lesson as a team in the morning, and visit to Betel in the afternoons to build relationships with the Nicaraguan people.
Saturday: We took our first trip to the market; it was a very enjoyable experience. I purchased a headband and elephant stud earrings, along with many tasty treats along the street.
Sunday: We had our team bible study/church in the morning. Then went to a local church in the evening. It was absolutely incredible to see these people worshipping God in their own language. The preacher spoke on having confidence in Christ and about the new covenant. At the end they had us line up at the front of the church, every member came up to greet us with a hug and we spent the rest of the night dancing and jumping around celebrating with our new friends and brothers and sisters in Christ. It was by far the greatest church service I have ever attended.
God has truly started to make Nicaragua my home, and I am loving getting to know the people here and becoming a part of the Familia de Nicaragua!
