Hey all! Sorry for the long pause in blogging, but traveling certainly makes typing difficult.
Long story short, we left the Island of Ometepe after 2 INCREDIBLE weeks of ministering and sharing God’s love.
We had some difficulties with the church that we were partnering with. The pastor was teaching a gospel message that: we are saved by grace, but our Christian walk is characterized by works, and if we sin, we lose our salvation and need to be saved again (become a Christian again). The pastor and other church leaders kept stressing that we need to strive to be holy (in our own strength, which is impossible). Basically, good works are motivated from a place of fear rather than love for God and security in His love and grace.
I am so grateful for how our leaders and the rest of the team have handled this difficult situation. We contacted the leaders of AIM and the ministry connection that led us to this church in Ometepe, and after much prayer and long conversations with the pastor (with the leaders of El Puente who came from Granada to Ometepe to help figure things out), we decided to try to still work with the church Camino de Santidad and agree to disagree. However, the next day the pastor did not want anything to do with us. It was sad, but freeing because it was difficult to point people we met during door to door ministry to a community that is not filled with grace. Although it was difficult to say goodbye to many deepening relationships, I had great peace after much prayer. I rested in the knowledge that God is a good God, and that He has us in His hands.
After a day of travel, we made it safe and sound to the mission organization El Puente (The Bridge) in the city of Granada, Nicaragua. I love cities, and it has been such fun to experience a different side of Nicaragua and view this country from a more comprehensive perspective. It was also such a blessing to serve with El Puente for one week and see the incredible ministry they are doing in the poor rural neighborhood of El Pantanal or The Swamp. I felt like the Pied Piper with almost 30 little kids trailing behind me as I navigated the sewage-strewn back-alleys of the barrio, gathering children for Vacation Bible School twice a day.
Favorite memories from Granada:
Squishing about 55 people in a 25-person public transit van twice a day to travel to The Pantanal from the bus stop in downtown Granada
Sharing the Gospel in Spanish with about 15 kids, ages 3-13 and a mono (monkey) one morning for Vacation Bible School
Playing game after game of Pato, Pato, Gonso (Duck, Duck, Goose) in Rosa’s clean-swept dirt backyard
After our week-long adventure in Granada, we made it to Managua on Sunday! We will be living and serving here in the capital at the orphanage Casa Betesda for the rest of our journey. The name Bethesda means “house of mercy”. In the Bible, at the Pool of Bethesda, Jesus healed a man who had been lame for 38 years. It is SO fun to live alongside in community with the 30 kids here at the orphanage–every morning I am greeted with big smiles, hugs, and kisses. This past week, we have shared God’s love in an overly-crowded jail, and several schools and community parks. It never ceases to amaze me how hungry people are for our testimonies and stories of God’s transformative power in our hearts and lives. I have enjoyed so much the eagerness with which the high school students open up about their lives, often talking a mile-a-minute!
Two words describe the church services here in Managua: joyful freedom. The little girls from the orphanage and some of the women danced in the front with brightly colored silky flags to the worship music. At one point the girls pulled some of my teammates in the front row up there to dance with them in worship. Standing in the 2nd row, I thought I was safe to just watch. The next thing I knew, however, Maria danced toward me, smiling with her arms outstretched, pulling me into the colored choreography of swirling flags and flying feet. As we danced and sang and cheered, the corners of my eyes started to drip. I have never experienced anything so freeing as dancing in joyful worship at the feet of my king. I am overwhelmed at the childlike faith of the church and Arturo and his family. They truly believe that their Daddy can do ANYTHING for them and would love to give them anything they ask for in His Name.
Praise:
- Safe travels from Ometepe to Granada, and then from Granada to Managua.
- God for opening wide doors of opportunity for ministry and for taking care of all the little details of housing, food, and ministry in Granada and Managua!
Pray:
- Ask God for continued strength and energy for our team as we pass the halfway point of our journey, that we would have times of quiet with Him and greater fullness of His Spirit.
- Ask God for deepness in relationships with the kids here at the orphanage, that their lives would be impacted by God’s love in us.
