I just want to take a second to thank everyone who has prayed, supported, made dresses, provided transporatation and followed us on this trip. God used YOU in a wonderful way to get us here this week. Kids have been loved, rooms cleaned, skits done, songs sung, children clothed, people fed and prayers prayed, gardens planted because you were faithful in giving. I also appreciate your comments and posts this week. It really feels like we are connected to everyone during the week through your comments and posts.
This Journal
It's funny, I can't seem to get a solid journal time going when I am back at home, but put me in Nicaragua and I'll do this every day. I'm glad it works. I really enjoy telling everyone about tthe trip.
Done cleaning
Well, praise God, after three full shovelfulls of dirt, I am done cleaning out that work room area. What I wouldn't have done for a shop-vac! ;-) It really was wonderful to finish such a small task, but know that it would help Coburn. I know it's probably already starting to get dusty in there again today, but it's a lot better than it was. :-)
More dresses
The rest of the dresses (150 of them!) played out in two parts today. Kim was able to go through the town and give out more, which was her heart to do this trip, and the second part was that we are leaving a big stack of them with Coburn to hand out as needed. Again, I like the fact that we did immediate ministry and we are leaving behind something that can continue. We also started seeing a bunch of the little girls today in their dresses aroudn town. Now THAT was awesome!
Growing
It's wonderful how trips like this help us grow. About half our team has been here before and half have not. This is the very first mission trip for one of us. And even with the different pasts that have brough us here God still grows each of us, personally, in neat ways. The sharing during our daily "debrief time" was short at the beginning of the week. Last night it was open, honest and wonderful. People shared what God was teaching them and how He was changing their lives this week. Pulling people out of their comfot zones and showing them that they could do more than they thought. He showed some their limits, some how to rely on others and some were able to make a piece of faith their own. PLEASE ASK EVERYONE ABOUT THEIR TRIP WHEN THEY GET HOME! invite them to dinner or lunch and let them share everything with you. (It will be worth it!)
Maracas
Kim Stewart somehow figured out how to make maracas out of plastic spoons, beads and plastic Easter eggs. It was too much fun to have the kids singing and shaking them. Music is such a universal tool to bring us together. Next year I'm figuring out a way to incorporate more music into the trip. Ideas??
Tito and school
I've told you about Tito and how he is on my personal prayer list; how he really needs to be in school and has been given many chances, but has been kicked out because he won't come every day or work hard. Well, I don't know what God has in store for him, but a very small step may have occured yesterday. Every day I ask Tito if he is going to talk to Coburn (Carlos) about getting back in school. He says, "yes", but I think he is just playing the game with me. Anyway, I asked him again today and Lisette and Luis overheard a bit of the conversation. A couple of minutes later they were talking to him. I didnt hear all of what was said, but I know it was about school and I could see the wheels turning in Tito's head. I really hope he can make a go of it again and stick it out. He reminds me a lot of my daughter. Very smart, very adept at reading people, a "survivor", but lazy to a fault when they don't want to work. ;-) His intire life could hinge on whether or not he gets that 6th grade education - and it's right in his back yard every day!! I'll keep praying.
Josue
OK. Cool time with Josue today. I'll have to sum up because it would take hours to write it all down. Ask any of us later and we can give you the full story, but here is the Readers Digest version. Josue is the brand new Christian in the ministry here. His heart and passion are as big as they can get. He wants nothing more than to read God's word, pray for others and tell others about Christ every day. It's wonderful and contagious!
Kim Strader noticed today that Josue had been sitting with us for about an hour during lunch, right in the middle of everyone aned thought it was interesting because he doesn't speak a word of English, but just wanted to 'be' there with us. So, she got up, came over to him and asked me if we could pray for him and if I would translate. OF COURSE! :-) Kim asked him "What can we pray for you about?". What followed was very interesting. Josue asked that everyone would know Christ, that his family would know Christ, that the ministry would grow and reach people. All of that sounds wonderful, but something stuck in my own spirit as I translated, so told him, "That's great stuff to pray about, and we will, but what can we pray for YOU!?". Again, his requests were all external to himself. Now, I was trying to use some discernment because for me I can get wrapped aroudn the axle in praying ONLY for myself and my needs sometimes, so hearing him ask only for others really did sound like a great thing - but - there was something going on here. He couldn't ask for anything for himself in prayer. I dug deeper and kept stopping him when his requests went external each time. I said, "No, what do YOU need?", "How can we pray for YOU?" It took quite a while. We talked about how it is good to share your needs within the Christian family and pray for each other, how it is good to make your needs known. Well, he finally coughed up a single prayer for himself. That he would know God's Word, and have more wisdom and understanding. :-) Could there be a better request???
We all gathered around and a few of us took turns praying for him. Well, the water works turned on and he started crying while we were praying. My own heart started to beat for him. So, after translating for a few people I prayed myself. I felt like God was showing me that this young man was having a crisis of worth in his own life. I praed that he would be strong, that God would strengthen him, that his testimony would be the power of God to others and show them a way to God. That was it! His testimony, his past. The tears continued. After we prayed he started sharing. How he didn't want to talk about his past, he didn't want to go "back there". He didn't wan't to dwell on what "was" and only wanted to move forward. I could hear the pain in his voice about his past and it really hurt. Me, Hallie and Terry were stuck close by and began to speak into his life. Talking about how wonderful it was that he was so focused on growht and the present and future. How he wanted nothing more than "more God" in his life. But, we all chimed in that he shouldn't forget his past. That his testimony could and would be a very powerful tool for him in HIS OWN ministry and life. What was then uncovered was the fact that this young man of God had absolutely no self worth and value in himself. He felt horrible about himself and was trying desperatly to hide behind God to keep from facing his past and seeing who he now was in Christ. Well, I guess if you are going to hide, hiding behind God is the best place to do so. We werent hard on him by any stretch. We tried to love him, show him his worth as a new creature - all things new. Hopefully he will grow and see himself with new eyes - through the eyes of Christ. Please pray for Josue!
Mickey
On a lighter note, Luis got a dog. It's this cute little furball of a puppy. His name is Mickey, but some of us like the name Mika and keep calling the dog by the wrong name. ;-) It's nice because the puppy bring a smile to everyone who sees him and anything that brings a smile here is a good thing. Life can be tough! It's neat to see how God uses the little things.
Getting Well Again
Just a quick update that almost all of us down here are getting better. Coburn said last night that he is back to about 75%. He had a heck of a night though. Sick, vomiting, weak, it was really bad. Most of the rest just had one of those colds that knocks you off your feet for a day or so. But, God is good and health seems to be returning. Thanks for your prayers!
Mike and Sue
Mike and Sue Buzbee run the 'compound' here where we stay. I 'really' like Mike and Sue and had asked them if I could come by to catch up with all that had happened in my own life over the past year. Last night was our time to do that. I'm not going to go into the details because much of what I shared was really only for them, but I can tell you that sometimes it is really, really good to look back. And then, with the past clearly seen, to turn aroudn and look forward. Their encouragement was warmth to my soul and my story back to them seemed like a great encouragement as well. I think their lives must be a whirlwind at times and I wanted to let them hear about how God during Nicaragua 2013 had carried me forward to today.
Last day
Well, it's hard to believe - and a HUGE bummer, but today is our last full day. It should be a busy day though. The plan is to go to Ruby's house this morning (oh boy), to the market around lunch time and back to Los Braisilies to say goodbye to everyone in the afternoon. :-( The last day is always hard. I actually talked to Lisette a bit about it today. Asking if Monday was always wonderful as new teams acame and Friday was always hard as they left. She said it was a bit hard, but that it was also encouraging because of how many people wanted to come and help. I'm was glad for her perspective and it helps to leave a bit less sad.
Well, I'm off to breakfast (I journal for the previous day each morning in case you hadn't noticed) :-). The coffee was good again, the breeze today is great. The sun is shining. I'm nervously looking forward to Ruby's house, but also to a great time of prayer. The market is always fun. And then, all the hugs, crying and goodbye's to the kids and our friends at Los Braisiles. We are bringing this ministry home to BEP this time. I can't wait to see who we continue to partner with them THROUGHOUT the year this year. The relationships are growing and I see God working here. It's going to be fun to be a part of it!
Prayer requests:
- that our tears and sadness for leaving wouldn't hurt too much
- that the groups that come after us would hug and love twice as much as we did
- for full health for everyone, especially Coburn and his team
- for clarity of vision for Coburn as he prays about the next year
- for continued love for these kids and ministry from BEP once we return
- for Nicaragua as a whole - that God would move in this country. IT would be incredible to see a revival here
Nos Vemos Pronto!
Matt
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