God has it all in His hands.

“This girl is absolutely crazy. I would never be able to do this for that long. How is she living here?”

That was the thought going through my head when I first came to Nicaragua in the summer of 2009. I was here on a month long mission trip. I was having a conversation with a missionary I had met who was living here. I thought she was insane for having moved to a different country and leaving the States and giving up everything she’d ever known. God brought this memory to mind last night and reminded me of His great power and how He has changed my heart. Literally, if you would have told me two years ago that I would be living in Nicaragua, I probably would have just laughed it off, or secretly thought you were crazy. Not because I didn’t admire missionaries or think that what they do is amazing, but because I thought that I would never have the strength to do it, and because I loved my life in the States. God is so powerful and He has totally changed my heart. I have become that “crazy missionary” because of His great power and love for me.

I am so grateful for a God who is in control. For a God who has all the power.  For the One Who has done so much, is doing so much, and will continue to do so much. For a Loving Father who cares so deeply about each of His children. For a Lord who hears my prayers and always answers them, even if it’s not in the way I wanted, but that He always knows what’s best for me. I am so thankful that when I pray it is ALL in His hands and that I need to worry no longer. That God has it all in hands. That He gives strength to the weary. That He does things through us to show His mighty power and loving hand. That He can make much out of nothing. That He is our constant joy and strength. That He loves us. That He loves us so.

As for things happening around here, I had the opportunity to co-lead a group of 30 kids from the dump and train station to go to camp last weekend, and that was such a blessing that I was so grateful for. Natalia, Julio, and I started out early Friday afternoon on the bus with prayer before we picked most of the kids up. We were all so excited to have the chance to spend quality time with these children. It was so great to be able to spend continuous time with them and love on them for almost three days straight. God graced me with the opportunity and time to have some much needed conversations with some of the girls from the train station, and that was so good. It was a rich blessing to be able to talk to them, and for them be able to open up about things that are hard for them to discuss and talk about when we’re in Granada. We were also eating three meals a day, which is something most of them do not get at home. It was a wonderful weekend full of crafts, games, science, reading, swimming, sports, and other fun activities, and most importantly, learning more about who Jesus is, what He has done for them, how to have a relationship with Him, and what He calls us to in our lives.

We also had a team of eight nursing students here at El Puente, the mission base, last week and they were an incredible group of girls, and so fun to work with. I love seeing how God works with all different kinds of people and groups to bring glory to Him. When they were here, we worked at Home of the Ancients, did VBS at Luz Del Mundo, volunteered at the girls orphanage and special needs school, and did some activities with the kids down at the train station. From now until August, we have about 22 teams coming through El Puente, so prayers for that would be much appreciated.

Something else that I’m involved with is planning for the Vida Joven 5k in May. This is the 3rd annual 5k to raise money for Vida Joven in Granada. You can read more about that here ---> http://www.5kgranada.blogspot.com/

“Work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.” –Romans 12:11-13

Please keep me updated on your lives also:) and if you have any questions about what I’ve talked about in this blog, or other things that I’m involved with here, please please please do not hesitate to ask.

God bless!  You all are in my thoughts and prayers always.

God is Faithful.

First off, let me start with saying that I am so incredibly sorry it has taken me so long to blog! It's hard to believe I have been back in Nicaragua for over a month already. Let me share with you some of my thoughts before I returned here...

I think this is the first time in my life that I am completely giving up everything that I’ve ever wanted, and that I am trusting completely and fully in whatever the Lord leads me to. I was reading in Colossians the other day as to how we are to set our minds on things above, and not on things of this earth. I am striving and seeking after the Lord with all of my heart and trying to take the call of Christ in and on my life more seriously than anything else. He is truly all that I desire, and I can't say that enough. Every action and choice in my life should be sharpening me and making me more useful for Him to use for His kingdom. Full obedience to Him is what I need to do, what I am called to do. To some people, I may be throwing my life away, or not making a wise decision, but I know, and from what I read in scripture, God does not call us to live a normal lifestyle or fit in with everyone else. He calls us to listen to His voice, and follow Him always. We're supposed to be different, we're supposed to be radical. Most importantly, we're supposed to live like Jesus, a simple carpenter, God's son, who died for us and our sins.

God works in ways much bigger than we can understand. I am really learning that. Sometimes He calls us to do illogical things and things that don't make sense others. But like in Matthew, we must seek first the Kingdom, and like His disciples did, drop our nets, and go follow Christ, even if it hurts, or even if it means leaving “home”, or what we may have wanted in the past. But we must pray that His desires become our desires. My sole purpose on this earth is to bring glory and honor to His good and perfect name, because He alone is good, and it is all for His sake and His Kingdom. He is always good and constantly working things together for our good. This is His promise to us. Lean on Him and He will give you strength. He is faithful and good, and so much better than anything else in this world.

So, I am back. Back in Nicaragua. Back in the place where my heart was longing and yearning to be. But if I were to say this has been an easy transition, I would be lying through my teeth. This is also probably one of the reasons why it has taken me so long to blog. This has been one of the hardest and most challenging times of my life. But God is faithful. He is always, always, always faithful. And He has been giving me strength and sustaining me in ways I didn't know were possible. It has been so hard, and it is still hard, but God is always good and I know that I am supposed to be here. He is teaching me more and more of His deep and incredible faithfulness and how He is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. I am learning more and more that this earth has nothing I desire besides Him (Psalm 73:25-26). Every morning I wake up and know that I must go to Him for strength to get through the day, that I must cling to Him, and that I must walk by faith, for that is all I have, but that is more than enough.

So, since I arrived, I have had the opportunity to be involved in a variety of things, such as...
-The Jicaro project, which is a jewelry business that El Puente, the church I work with here, started to provide jobs for the youth and single mothers of the community.
-Hogar de Ancianos, or "Home of the Ancients", which is a place I go to clean, cook, and spend time with the abandoned elderly people of Granada. These people are so dear to my heart and I always thoroughly enjoy my time there.
-Children's Church, helping to plan and lead the Children's Church programs at Church on Sundays.
-Planning and preparing to start teaching an English class in mid March.
-Singing with the Praise Band at Church.
-The Train Station, spending time with and loving on the children in one of the poorest barrios/neighborhoods in Granada.
-Planning and checking out new and different ministry options for the short term teams we have coming this spring and summer.
-Attending Bible Studies and Church, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
-The Dump, going to the dump and doing a bible study and feeding program for the children and adults who work there.

As I sit here and think about what the Lord is doing, it is completely humbling that I have a chance to be a small part of the ministries here. All glory to God for all that He is doing here:)

I am so grateful that we serve a God who is more faithful than the morning, and who always, always, always sustains us, even when we feel we have nothing left. He is our strength and our portion. We are not here for us and our comfort. We are here to bring glory to His name alone and to serve Him. It is far from easy, but He brings joy to our souls, comfort to our loneliness, and peace to our confusion. Thank you, Lord.

I promise to try and post more often =) I hope everything is going well for everyone at home and please let me know if there's anything I can be praying for! If you have any specific questions about other things I am involved here, please feel free to ask!

Dios te bendiga:)