Thanks so much to all of you who prayed for the Nicaragua mission trip team that traveled from Bozeman March 10-19 - we were able to build two homes, encourage pastors in the villages, do children's ministry, door to door evangelism, visit the feeding center at the city dump and Furia Santa (a men's rehabilitation center) and share the gospel with hundreds of people throughout our time there. God is faithful and there is power in the name of Jesus!
Here is a link to a video with pictures of the trip if you are interested!
https://youtu.be/XewqVTWhelY
Also - here is the blog link where the team posted updates throughout our time there!
2nica2serve.blogspot.com. I was assigned the last day of the team blog and am re-posting what I wrote below...
"Being in the
trenches for Christ isn't a glamorous job, but there is no better place to
be."
Sawdust falling off
boards as they are nailed to the houses, dust flying from parachute games,
sewer water running, sweating incessantly, dirt everywhere, seemingly endless
hours on a bus ... Kids smiling, running and playing, houses completed, prayers
answered, testimonies shared, the gospel proclaimed, lives transformed,
inexplicable joy...
Temporary discomforts
for seeing lives changed for eternity make every single minute oh, so very
worth it. May we be able to say the same of our lives as Paul did of his: "I
have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save
some." -1 Cor. 9:22
I saw the power of
Christ displayed throughout the week by God specifically gifting each person on
the team to serve together in unity...
Gerry's leadership,
Pat's behind the scenes work, Craig's spiritual insight, Kristi's heart as we
prayed together nightly and then watched expectantly throughout the week as God
answered, Eli's incredible work ethic and attitude at the job sight, Vale's
building skills, Konnor's growing desire to use soccer as a gift for His glory,
Quinton and McKinlee instantly connecting with kids in each village, Tricia
doing door to door evangelism and having conversations like she has known the
people for years, Dore's constant smile and laughter, Grace's genuine desire to
serve, Tim stepping out of his comfort zone in obedience, Joanna being so
intentional in constantly looking out for the interests of others, Macy's love for
the children, and Vikki's ability to clearly communicate the gospel ... The
Lord knew who was needed to complete His work this week. Our prayer each day
was that the Nicas wouldn't see us, but instead see Christ in us.
We will never forget
the smiles of the children, the gratitude of the pastors, the testimonies we
were privileged to hear and the opportunity to see lives transformed by the
power of the gospel as many were invited to surrender their lives to Him.
On this trip I was
reminded of the importance of God's vision in ministry as Eduardo shared how
God called Him to start a preschool in Mateare that would be a beacon of light
for Christ and "he had no budget but trusted in faith that God would provide."
And He has provided in
ways abundantly beyond what he could have imagined.
I saw hope being given
at the dump, where three years ago police escorts were needed to even enter and
now over 100 children are fed daily and, at least for a little while, they are
given the opportunity to play and actually be kids.
Their smiles and
laughter as we shared in games with them will forever be imprinted on our
hearts.
We saw the importance
of pastoral training so the Word of God is handled accurately in the villages
in which He has called each of them to serve.
We saw that “poverty
isn’t the absence of material things, but the absence of hope.” No matter the
amount of money in someone’s bank account, apart from Christ we are all
spiritually bankrupt.
God's ways are higher
than ours and His plans far bigger.
He put it on the
hearts of us in Montana to travel thousands of miles to help be the answer to
years of prayer of Nicaraguan pastors and their families for provision and
encouragement and a home so they could continue on in doing His work.
This trip also brought
many answered prayers personally ...
I had been praying
since before I moved to Bozeman that New Beginnings Church (formerly
Kirkwood) would become missions minded and send a team to take the gospel to
the nations.
And for over three
years for the May family to have the opportunity to serve together on the
mission field.
Also, for discipleship
opportunities in leading and encouraging and equipping others to go and serve.
Lastly, for seeing
people realize there is a God who loves them enough to have sent Jesus to die
on the cross for their sin so that they could be reconciled to Him and seeing
them repent, place their faith in Christ and fully surrender everything to Him.
We serve a God who is
good, who is faithful, who provides and who calls us to be on mission with Him.
It also made me think
then ...What happens when we are not obedient to His calling? ...
"God calls every
Christian to live with a missionary heart... The Bible is perfectly clear: In
the gospel is power for salvation. Without it, no one can be saved. The nations
must hear. Jesus has commanded us to reach and teach the lost with the gospel
so ...the question for us to answer is not, "Am I called to go?" but
instead "can I show sufficient cause for not going?"... The one who
says, "Yes, Lord but..." is the one who is fiercely ready but never
goes." -David Sills
As we return home
today, our lives are forever changed ... Our encouragement to you is to
consider the plans God has for your own life. Where is He calling you to step
out in obedience? Don't wait another minute!
Thank you for the
prayers so many of you lifted up on behalf of our team - we know nothing can
happen apart from His power and we are so thankful for each of you being a part
of this trip with us!
