Thursday, April 29, 2010

Nicaragua!


I'm back!
It's been a while since I posted anything so I wanted to give and overview of my one of a kind trip to Managua and Matagalpa, Nicaragua. This was my most recent adventure. There are many more to come :)
My trip to Nicaragua was life changing. I was with a team from my school and we ministered in different parts of Nicaragua for 9 days. The people there are beautiful. Every single one of them, that I can remember, smiled when we said hello. We went to a drug rehab center where we ministered to about 150 guys, 8 women, and 10 kids. About 80 of them were saved and many encountered the love of God and their broken hearts began to heal. At the end of the service we did a fire tunnel that became a hug tunnel. The men, women, and children went through and hugged each one of us. The smiles on their faces and brightness in their eyes.. I won't forget it. Those were beautiful moments.
Another highlight for me was going to the garbage dump in Managua, the biggest city in Nicaragua. When we pulled into the dump I thought, "my dreams are coming true." Being with the poorest and dirty people, being in a dump and just loving on them - wow! I held a baby boy and within minutes he was fast asleep. I felt the joy of the Lord as I held him. Seeing Jesus in the one, in a baby boy, it filled me with joy.
For me personally, the trip was about falling more in love with the Jesus. He encountered me like never before with His love (being filled with more joy: image on right). I believe that that was the reason why I went to Nicaragua, to be in the bed of a truck for an hours or so crying and laughing. It made me realize, once again, that ministry is not about doing but about being. I continue to enjoy this journey He has me on, discovering more of who He is and who I am in HIM.
p.s. the mangoes are REALLY good in Nicaragua.