Nicaragua was quite the month, which in all honestly felt like about 2-3 months with the amount of times we moved and changed locations throughout the country. But while this month was hard at times, the amount of growth that God did in my life, in the lives of my teammates, and in the ministries we got to partner with, it made every challenge absolutely worth it!
I’ll start off by talking about our time in Bluefields, Nicaragua. My team and I saw God leading us to go to Bluefields in so many crazy ways through him putting it on one of our teammates hearts, giving the rest of our team peace that it was where we needed to be, and then affirming it through outside sources who suggested Bluefields to us without even knowing that it was where we believed God was leading us. Needless to say, God was making it very clear to us that we needed to go to Bluefields.
Something to know about Bluefields, Nicaragua is that is a very spiritually heavy place because of all of the witchcraft that is taking place among the town. So this heaviness was really hard to break through, but brought awareness to us of how important it was that we were praying and interceding on their behalf for freedom and light to come over this down. Our ministry while we were their looked like door to door evangelism, street evangelism, teaching at a youth group, painting a church, and playing with kids. But if I’m honest, I think that God brought us specifically to Bluefields to work on us and to bring awareness to how much darkness there is in this world that we need to be praying for and bringing light too. Because we have the Lord, his light shines bright in the dark places. So with that being said, it’s important that at all times we are walking in intimacy with Him because the more intimacy we walk in with God, the brighter our light will shine!
After Bluefields, Following up a mini debrief for our squad in Granada, Nicaragua, we had the opportunity to go to Palacaguina and serve along side the ministry that my family and church helped plant and has been serving with for over 20 years!
This week was absolutely incredible and amazing for me, and not just because it felt like being back at home for a week, but because God worked and moved so much in such a short time of us being there. In this time we got to bring hope and blow wind on people’s fire for the Lord by reminded them of the hope that they have in Christ and the ways that God still is there and how he still cares and wants a deep intimate relationship with them. I often asked people the question, “How is your relationship with God?”, and a common response that I would get was, “a lot better before the pandemic”. My heart breaks for the people in Palacaguina because of the circumstances they have been through that has lead to it being extremely hard to see and remember that there is hope in Christ.
In our week we got to do construction on the new youth building, but also we got to host a Youth night, lead a church service, lead multiple kids service, and we had an incredible opportunity of hosting separate mens and women’s events to pour into them separately. At our women’s event, we had the honor of reminding the women of their worth and identity in the Lord and then washing their feet to serve them and remind them of how much God loves them. This night was so powerful and humbling in so many ways and I know that so many women left that night being reminded of their worth and their identity in Christ.
Palacaguina was also super cool for me because it was where I met World Racers, found out about the race, and knew that God was calling me to do it someday. So getting the opportunity to go back with my team was an honor and a privilege that I never imagined could happen. God is so good and he has a plan and a purpose in everything!!
We ended our month in Nicaragua with our big month 4 debrief where we then changed teams, changed roles, and very last minute found out that we had a total route change do to COVID restrictions in South America. So now we are on our way to Albania and will be (most likely) spending our next 4 months in Europe!!
This month has been challenging. A lot of change, a lot of crazy things God has asked us into in partnering with him, a lot of tough news that was tough to swallow, but also a lot of growth. God grows us the most when we are being crushed and pressed and if we are faithful to seek him in the Challenges, he is faithful to grow us and bring us peace. It’s been a challenging, yet amazing first 4 months and I can’t wait to see what God continues to from here!
So beautifully written Maria you are an inspiration to so many and a blessing to me. I am praying for you and I pray for the next next 7 months to be good and that you will be safe and that you will bring the lost to Christ. The Lord has your life planned out for you now and when you get home, He will lead the way, “one day at a time” you are loved xo????
I’m so glad you got to go to your Nicaraguan church family! Talk about coming full circle ?? keep sharing your light & growing in Albania. ????Merry merry Christmas ?? to you & your whole team??
Reliving the passions of our childhood is often hard to obtain and yet God has given you the joy of experiencing these blessing once again. I can see you there in Palacaguina along with your team, refreshing the lives of our extended family and friends with Christ’s love. Now you have taken that love abroad, followed along with our prayers. You are loved and cared for daily.
So excited to have been able to see transformation along the way, and how you have grown in resilience, passion, and humility amidst the crushing and pressing. Excited for how the Lord will grow you in this next season of leading and loving with a servant’s heart. Know I’m here if you ever need a friend, a prayer, or an ear.