Day 5 - Monday - "Be Fluid"

Today, we are off to a new week filled with excitement and anticipation.  Most are tired but show little of that in their outward appearance as the joy of the Lord is taking hold of our attitudes.  As we gather each morning it is as we are growing more each day in the Lord. I hope and pray that this is a transformation of each one’s heart towards His people and the work He has for us. 

Today was a good example of a Nica day; it started out all good.  We made our way to pastor Jose’s house where team B was dropped to finish up construction. That was all good. (I will let Grace share for Team B)  We (team A)then went in the bus to the new construction site - or so we thought.  However, we found ourselves at pastor Jose’s church with no staff from Project Hope, with no clue what to do or where to go. But we knew we were not in the right place. “Be fluid” was beginning to become our saying for many of the bumps in the road.  Really, I was seeing it as an opportunity to see how God was stretching me and moving to trust His plan. 

So, while we waited for our situation to get straightened out, the family across the street invited us into their home.  We heard the testimony of this family: how they are all Christians; mom is a missionary to the drunk and drug addicted; father is two years in his walk of seeking after Christ’s will. He is raising the family as a construction worker, traveling far for his work. So the family has to be cared for as both parents are gone a lot.  This is such a norm of hardship here in Nicaragua; the difference here is God is the salvation as they go through suffering now.

Okay, so we have a plan now again:  load back up in the bus and head just down the road to the construction site.  Well, this term “just down the road” or “near” is relative in Nica terms!  After another substantial bus ride, we find ourselves on a dusty road with a few houses.  We found the usual sight - poles standing in the air and blocks in the ground for a foundation, a pile of sand and cinder blocks in a neat pile. 

We jumped into full action, hammering nails, backfilling foundation, moving blocks to the center of the house in preparation to start setting the first row of blocks on the foundation.  One problem though… no power to continue with roof construction. I guess a generator would have come in handy.  Welcome to construction in Nicaragua!  But it was time to pack up and head back to team B for lunch anyhow so this was all in God’s timing. It was all good.  I was thanking God because it was so hot and dry, no shade and we had very little water there. 

After lunch with Team B we gathered at pastor Jose’s house to pray with him in his new home.  This is always a special time with emotions of joy and sadness as we say goodbye to new friends. 

 

 Pastor Jose's wife shared her tearful gratitude for  this "dream" house

and how God had answered her prayers of many years.

 

We then loaded up again and headed back to pastor Jose’s church to do VBS with the kids.  This being our third day, it is  becoming a reunion of new found friends God has placed in our lives and hearts as we strive to serve and serve with an attitude to a holy God.  The Nicas make this so easy, though, with their smiles and hugs, young and old.  I was no more than 50 feet down the street we were entering and I had a baby girl reaching out to my arms to be held.  Such a beautiful place God has brought us to serve. Or are we being served? I’m not sure.

VBS was a blast! The kids were great,  parents were trusting and happy to share with us.  The little Nicas ran, and I mean literally ran our kids to exhaustion up and down the dirty streets. 

Pat with Nicole, Marciella and Salita 

 The kids were mesmerized with the Sin Chair drama

The girls show off their craftiness

After a break and some dinner at Tip-Top Pollo (like our Kentucky Fried Chicken), we found ourselves on another hunt to get back to the church again. You can see by now how this can get to be a little edgy for those of us that like to be on time and to those back seat drivers out there.  Remember “ be fluid”,  God is in control.

Back at the church again we found it nearly full for a sermon, music from the Gringos, and the Chains play. Though we were all somewhat nervous about performing,  it went very well, a performance that only God could orchestrate. Gerry shared a message from John with the crowd as well. 

Many lives will never be the same because Bozeman and Nicaragua came together in the dirt streets to share what God’s love and Good News have for them as we all live in Faith.

On a final note -  please continue to pray for the team to find the strength each day to physically and spiritually have the energy to serve Christ, and to search their hearts for what God has for them in the mission trip.  And also to see how He is refining them to further his kingdom now and after we get back to our normal lives.

Thank you and God bless every one of you. We can feel and see your prayers transforming the lives of Team New Beginning Bozeman as God is so faithful.

-Craig

 

 

Team B had less surprises today than team A. As we came together to complete the house for pastor Jose, it was moving. This was our last day with his family and the day they could finally call the house we were building their own home. It was a bitter sweet moment for the whole team as joined together to drop off our gifts to the pastor’s family  and pray with them. Hearing their family thank us and sharing how blessed they were, was very impactful. We were able to see how gracious and happy they were with something we view as so very little. It put into perspective what really matters in life and how we take what we have for granted. I am sure our whole team can agree that we all feel thankful for having this opportunity to be a part of their lives and see their love for God.

At the end of the day we attended pastor Jose’s church, took part in the worship and performed our Chains play for the second time. Again, the play went great and being able to hear the Nica’s worship was an experience to remember. They were so into the music and sang loud even though there was no background music. They were there to worship God and you could see that.

In the end, today was a great day. Despite the unexpected surprises, we all saw God working around us today.

Thank you so much for your prayers and support throughout this trip. We truly appreciate it and are so grateful for you. Please continue to pray for us as out trip is quickly coming to the end, that God will continue to work through us to the Nicas.

 

- Grace