AACS Nicaragua Trip 2017

Today we continued many of the construction projects around the plantation and in the town that we started yesterday. My group has been doing a lot of heavy lifting while putting in a sidewalk to access a new tool shed that is being built. It was been incredibly difficult work digging trenches, moving dirt, mixing concrete, replacing pipes, cutting out tree roots, hauling wheelbarrows and doing anything else that needs to be done to finish this project. While the work has been difficult, it has been a joy to work with a couple other members of our team along with Angel and Carlos who are on staff here at the plantation. Even though we do not speak the same language and have only known each other for a couple days, we have already been joking around with each other and having a great time like we're old friends. My favorite moment was when it started raining so hard that the trenches we were digging started filling up with water and we had to stop working and seek shelter. Although ...

Exploring God's beautifully amazing creation on our Jungle Walk (aka Walk through the farm). Monday, June 19, 2017

Today we completed lots of manual labor around the farm and within the community. There were two groups who went to English class with Bethany, who is a missionary here. In reflecting on the class, Christiana mentioned that it was the first time she was able to really connect with someone here. She feels like that's why she came - to enjoy being with the Nicaraguan people! We ended the day by celebrating Grace's quinceañera (15th birthday) and Melissa's 16th birthday. We ate yummy cake and broke piñatas that looked like the girls. God is answering prayer... we were able to bless those around us and He's keeping us safe! Thanks for continuing to lift us up in prayer.

Today I made many friends. I woke up fairly grumpy because I hadn’t slept too well and my lotion had exploded and my suitcase was wet and the bathrooms weren’t quite what I wanted. But then the pastor who spoke to us this morning reminded me why I love this so much. Later in the day we went and did home visits which was quite the experience considering the vehicle and the roads and the soccer goals hanging off the back of the tiny pickup. But we reached our first destination and left the goals in the church and in there we met with the first family and immediately I began translating despite the fact that we had a translator standing a few feet away from me. From that point on I was translating for the rest of the day, not by necessity but because of the pure joy that it brought me and it made me feel at home. The father from the first house and one of the 9 year old girls walked us to the second house. On the walk down we talked to these two becoming friends and when we arrived at th...

Today’s experiences were incredible (to say the least). One thing that stood out during our home visits was how hopeful and thankful these families were. Both families I met with were persistent that our Lord has a plan for their life and that they relied fully on Him. One lady in particular was single with 6 children; she was out of work and she poured out the joy of Christ in her words. It was inspiring to see how much she loved the Lord. These ladies were strong women of the Lord and it was inspiring. 

The first full day of camp is officially done, and I could not be more proud and full of joy. Today I met a sweet old women who we believe is over 97 years old. We are not sure of her exact age because she does not know how to read or write. Even with her age, her mind was sharp. She was able to recite Psalm 91 to us by memory because someone had cared enough in the past to help her memorize it. Every time she said a word, she would look at all of us. She looked us straight in the eye. In her eyes I saw more joy then I could imagine. Though she was an old frail woman, she was full of joy and compassion that I had never seen before. God was truly able to bless me and show me how He can work in so many ways in so many different situations. 

On Saturday, June 17th, the team will board a plane for Nicaragua!  We have been preparing in morning meetings for the past several months and doing lots of last minute planning over the past few days to be ready for the trip and we are very excited to see what God has in store as we finally head out.