Ladalia Rehab visit

Today Pablo and I visited a different drug rehab center in a town called Ladalia. It's actually the rehab center that our mission group had visited this summer, but it got shut down and is now being run by different people. Praise God that after only a couple months they already have 180 people that have begun rehabilitation. Although in a lot of ways this is the most difficult part of many of these people's lives, as they've hit rock bottom, it is a blessing for them to more openly receive the message of Christ. Today I shared with them how difficult it is to draw near to God in our own pride. The thing that always has and always will draw people nearer to God is a humble heart. And while every individual in that rehab facility has struggled with different sufferings, the bible makes it clear that our suffering doesn't have to be in vain. Whether the struggles of these people has arisen from their own poor decisions, from circumstances outside their control, or a mix of both makes no difference. We have all made mistakes in the past, and we all struggle with different burdens. Christianity isn't a self help program. It is a process of burying our old lives and starting anew in Jesus Christ. A common misconception is that the cross is a symbol of hope, when in fact it is a symbol of death. While many reading this and many who listened to Pablo and I in Ladalia today have most definitely experienced "unfair" circumstance, the only human to walk the earth who was truly deserving of anything spent his life in servitude, only to end in death on a cross. And if the history of Jesus ended there, Christians would be without any hope at all. But Jesus raised from the dead, by the power of God. While the cross meant death to Jesus, it also means death to our sinful lives, and while Jesus rose from the grave, so anyone who has truly been filled with Christ has risen to a new life in him. New life in Christ doesn't mean we become free from suffering though. As in the case of the Apostles, it often means the opposite. But as the apostle Paul wrote, "If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied."  Even Christians often forget that Jesus promised that in this life we will have troubles. But we are to be confident, because Jesus overcame the world. While sufferings don't commonly appeal to people, it is in our weakness that God's power is perfected in us. The miracles you see in the bible occur amidst the greatest trials, unspeakable hardships, and impossible odds. After all, if we think we can make it on our own why would we need God? But we do need God, and thus, out of love, he allows great hardships to occur in our lives. As I spoke to a room full of broken people today, I didn't sugar coat anything. I know they've had it rough, and I know there will be trials to come, just as in anyone's life. But because of Jesus we do have hope, an eternal hope. Being a follower of Christ doesn't often entail great physical blessing, but I know of no greater joy, no greater peace, no greater hope and no greater contentment. Personally I have found far less satisfaction in 20 years of physical blessing than in 4 months of serving in a third world country. Because of Jesus I can honestly say as Paul did, "for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

1/20 Nicaragua Pictures and updates

We met this little guy at the trash dump,wearing a tarp as a cape to shield the sun as he dug through trash.

 If you look closely at the pocket of the young man on the  right you see a gray bottle. Those are the bottles that a lot of young men his age use to sniff glue. We spoke to the young man with his mouth full on the left, Erling, as we've been able to talk with him many times before. He's 17 years old and he's been addicted to sniffing glue for quite some time. He has told us many times of his desire to quit, and we are trying to arrange to take him to one of the rehab centers in the area. Please pray for Erling and his future with Jesus, apart from a life of drugs.

 This young family is always the most appreciative of any we serve food to in the trash dumps. It's always humbling to see how grateful they are to get a plate of food.

 The iphone camera doesn't quite do it justice but there has been almost no cloud cover the last week, leaving an open sky to see the full moon and stars

 This little guy, Estefan, is one of the kids who begs in the streets. There are always a few begging here at this gas station at the entrance of town. It's been great to be able to speak and pray with these kids, as we give them a meal to eat.

Carlos, the young kid on the left, is the kid I wrote about in my blog post last week. He's always really friendly and grateful when we come around. We got photobombed by Estefan haha

 We were grateful to be able to speak to more than 60 people at the Mataguas drug rehab center again this week. It's always a great experience and a blessing to be able to praise God as the sun sets over top the trees in the background.

 At the end, everyone lined up to get pop and some homemade stuff from the bakery that we brought. One of the guys told Ater, one of the leaders, "I'm alright. I don't drink pop. It's bad for you." Ater quickly responded, "It's the drugs and alcohol that are killing you." The guy laughed, and I think took a glass of pop. I guess we'll have to bring orange juice next time.

 There hasn't been more than one or two women the last times we've visited the rehab center, but this time there were four, one young girl in her teens who was eager to let us pray for her.

 There are so many kids up in El Delirio that we get new ones coming every Friday. I've never seen this guy before, and apparently he's never seen a white person before either

 Pablo playing games with some of the kids

 My little buddy Miguel always shows up for some cookies on Fridays. It's tough to get him to smile when you take pictures though

 I sat down with little Francis while everyone colored and listened to her for a bit. God only knows what she was saying, but we still had a good time haha

 My goal is to make this kid smile one of these days. We're O for 2 so far, but it's gonna happen. He's not a happy camper

I promise they smile when I'm not taking pictures. 

As I brushed my teeth before we left to El Delirio Friday  I decided it would be a good idea to bring all these kids (who have teeth) toothbrushes and some tooth paste. It's the least we could do since we bring them cookies and pop every week. 

Another blessed week in Nicaragua

God blessed Pablo and I with another great week to serve him and to enjoy this beautiful country. At the beginning of this past week we were able to take a struggling young man to spend a couple months in a drug rehab center in San Marco. Praise God this young man had the humility at the age of 18 to recognize his struggle and be willing to allow for help. Keep the San Marco drug/alcohol rehab center in your prayers as they help dozens of addicted Nicaraguans get back on their feet with the help of developing a relationship with God and disciplined habits.

We again were able to spend two days serving food to kids and adults on the streets, as well as to many people at a separate trash dump than we normally serve at. It was good to be able to see the smiles on some new faces, as they weren't expecting anything of the sort. The dump we normally serve at was vacant, allowing us the chance to serve elsewhere for the day. There's a particular kid, named Carlos, we've been able to meet up with and give food to multiple times over the last couple months. He spends most of his time begging at a local gas station next to the main highway. Not everyone is always appreciative when we bring them food or offer to pray for them, but this kid is a different story all together. He's always excited to see us and to allow us to pray for him. He mentioned to us recently that many of his little friends put a lot of pressure on him to sniff glue with them, but that he hasn't done it. Of course we gave him the obvious affirmation that, at age 11 (or any for that matter), he made the right choice. I've spent much time praying for Carlos, as I would encourage anyone reading to do the same. His little sister often begs with him, and I just pray that the Lord gives him the self discipline to avoid a life of addiction and to be a positive influence to his sister.

We took the long motorcycle ride to Matiguas to visit the drug rehab center we've been visiting the last month or so. Along with sharing a message from God's word and spending some time in worship with the 60 or so people packed in the room, we stopped at the local bakery to bring them all sorts of delicious looking gluten that I can't eat haha. I've mentioned it before, but talk about a room of soft-(or maybe more likely broken) hearted people. There were four women and the rest men, all whom showed great excitement at our visit, were attentive as we spoke, and very thankful for the food and drinks. Although it's not the reason I do it, I can't tell you how fulfilling it is to be appreciated by these people, and even more importantly that they respond so positively to the word we speak from the bible. Many are eager to renew or begin a relationship with Jesus, allowing us the opportunity to pray for several individuals. I'm praying and hoping that the door will open these next couple weeks for us to baptize some of these individuals, baptizing symbolizing the death to our old lives and the resurrection to a new life of hope in Christ. Freedom and renewal are greatly desired among these people who have lived most of their lives enslaved to different addictions.

Our time in El Delirio this week was once again spent with the kids, as there are only a few adults left in the village during the working hours of coffee season. We brought up our friend Pancho, who's 18, to come and help us with the kids. One thing that took me a while to gather, but makes much since is that a majority of Nicaraguans don't get the privilege of leaving their hometown very often, if at all. Another of Pancho's friends was giving Pancho a hard time the other day because when he was asked to travel to Managua, he said that he couldn't because he didn't have a passport (Managua being the capitol of Nicaragua about a two hour drive from Matagalpa). I'm always glad to be able to bring different people along to serve with us. We enjoyed another good time with the kids and I have some new pictures of them all posted below.

Saturday classes in Tres M  and Monday/Tuesday classes in Lucidia Mantilla continue to go steady. We've lost a couple students in all of our classes, making it necessary to combine two classes in our Saturday session in Tres M. It actually turned out to work really well as the kids tend to be more attentive and active when there are more than just a few students. I guess the gringo makes them feel a little uncomfortable when we're in a small group setting. All of the classes are in the middle of learning a variety of verbs, a long subject to teach. Lord willing, they will retain some of that.

The talks of the water project continue to be back and forth. Marvin, Tres M's community leader, has been inactive the last week or so, as his usual caretaker is out of town. We are planning to get a new letter sent to the City Hall that Pablo and I may stand before a board and explain everything thoroughly.

Anyone wanting to help financially in any of  these ministries is welcome to donate through the donation link on the sidebar or by sending checks to the Laurel, Mt church of Christ earmarked for this Nicaragua ministry. A big thanks to all those who continue to support prayerfully and financially! God bless!

 View of the rainclouds and mountains over top of El Delirio

 Carrying around her little bro who is practically her size

 One of our student's little sisters showed up to class and fell in love with Pablo

Little Eduardo, with Pablo, at the end of his 7th straight day of waking up at 4AM to pray & worship with the Fresca Uncion Church

Friday visit to El Delirio

"See the Sovereign Lord comes with power... He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young." -Isaiah 40:10-11

It felt good to be back visiting in El Delirio Friday, as we arrived there for the first time since we dropped presents off a few weeks ago. Once again most of the adults were out picking coffee beans, leaving 40 or 50 unattended kids in the village. It just blows my mind to see several kids that can't be older than 6 or 7 taking care of babies while their parents are gone. We spent some time coloring and singing songs with all the kids that got together in their little community building. The kids vary from ages "color between the lines" to "eating crayons" they're supposed to be using to color. All in all I think they enjoyed it. They love to sing the bible songs that Pablo and Livon share. (Livon is a young man that sometimes comes up to help us with the kids.) They never get tired of us bringing them pop and cookies, and I never get tired of seeing their excitement when we bring out the snacks. I can't get over how blessed I am to be here doing this. Thank you all so much for supporting this ministry. I was able to take a few better pictures this time around that I've attached below.

 I love this little guy. He's always so happy

 All the kids holding up their "Noah's ark" coloring sheets

Pablo getting ready to feed him cookies

A tribute to Papa

As I was woken up the other morning with the news that my grandpa had passed away, I decided to read psalm 103, a psalm I've always liked. It wasn't until I'd read the chapter several times through throughout the day, that I paid close attention to verse 17 which reads, "But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord ’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children." If you're all as slow as me, "children's children" means grandchildren. How fitting that the grandchild of a God-fearing man was to read that particular verse the morning of his grandfather's death. God's timing continues to bring great comfort to me in all aspects of life.

The last several months, while living in Nicaragua, I've had countless flashbacks to times on Flaming Gorge Reservoir, the place I've had the best memories with Papa. I've been taking those memories as a time to pray for my grandpa's health as well as for God's comfort in both he and my grandma's lives. Now as I sit here, I am blessed with the opportunity to reflect. A majority of the trips we took to Flaming Gorge, it was Papa, my dad, my brother Jake and I that went, occasionally graced by the presence of our cousin Jackson. Those early mornings staying in a cheap motel, we'd wake up to Papa yelling "Reveille, Reveille, all hands hit the deck. Sweepers, sweepers, man your brooms..." While I hated it then, it has become a good memory. I think the one time I can recall him not waking us up to that chant was when he was busy yelling to my dad, "look, Jake and Isaac are spooning!" Jake had opened the room window the night before, only to leave Papa finding the two of us in a huddled mass the next morning.

Time on the lake was the best, as Jake would sleep and watch movies at the front of the boat while the three of us fished. Papa gave me an earful when I would join Jake to take a nap when things weren't happening on the fishing end. I've never been proud to be known as the "sleepingest kid he ever met", but I took it the best I could, knowing he only slept four hours a night.
We would spend the whole day out there on the lake. And I'll never get the picture out of my head of Papa holding his fishing pole with one hand and either a sand which, a donut, a cup of coffee or a fistful of twizzlers in the other. He knew full well Mac fishing was a two handed job. Needless to say he missed a few extra hits in his old age, but I've forgiven him for it.
I know I said the time on the lake was the best, but the evenings were the best too. Papa would grill us something on the two-legged charcoal grill that was supposed to be a tripod. It still cracks me up thinking of the time it fell over and he was hollering at jake and I to pick up the coals. Jake and I ran out there with spoons to grab the coals, as Papa was bare-handing them like they were ice cubes. Goodness that man had tough hands... maybe one of the reasons they called him "knucks" in the old days ;).
After a great meal came unending games of scrabble, 42 and cards. Given Papa wasn't a great loser, we rarely got to bed before midnight. I guess that's where I get it from.
Eventually we'd get to sleep, only to do it all over again the next morning, with hopes that we would out fish the local guide, Jim Williams. If Papa were still alive today, he'd love to tell you that his son Keith is as good o' fishing guide as anyone on the Gorge.

I got to see Papa one last time as I visited family in Utah over Christmas. The first day I got to talk to him a couple weeks ago, he sat barely conscious in his wheelchair. Although he could hear everything we said, he didn't respond much, if any. As we were about to leave I said, "Hey Papa. Remember when you, my dad and I tripled up on the Gorge." As a huge smile covered his face in response, I knew he'd been reminiscing many of those same memories I just wrote about. Two days later I visited him for the last time. He was in much better shape and was able to talk to us a little. I made him a promise that no matter where I was in the world, I'd be telling people about Jesus, so we could all be rejoicing eternally with our Savior when all this pain had passed. He liked that. Makes me think of years ago, when he was in good health and we were together singing "wring it out" in the nursing home Sunday nights. I love my grandpa like crazy, and I intend to keep my promise to him. So while I'd like to be at his funeral, I'll be here in Nicaragua, telling folks about the hope we have in Jesus.

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day, and not only me, but all who have longed for his appearing." -2 Timothy 4:7-8