Nicaragua Fall 2011 Day Four

Today was bittersweet.  I mentioned yesterday that I knew it would be rough, and sure enough it was.  No matter how hard I try to describe this experience, I fear I will never find the words to do so.

Class began as usual at 8:30am, and before I knew it, it was 4:00pm.  As I prepared to make my last statement, I briefly reflected upon the moment in my mind and then it was over.  We all stood together as one of the young men closed our class with a prayer.  My teaching time with the students of the Bible Institute of Central America had come to an end.  After the prayer was concluded, I received a hug from each of the thirty-two students one after another.  My heart grew warmer with each embrace.  Several made encouraging comments, while others spoke a couple of the only English words they knew… thank you.

I feel truly blessed to have had this experience with these extraordinary students of God’s Word.  I am not sure if I could have listened to myself for eight hours a day, but these students were attentive from the opening prayer to the closing.  To hear how each of the students planned to use the information to the benefit of God’s Kingdom in their communities was more encouraging than I can describe.  I pray that I will someday have the zeal that these Christians have in their hearts.

Reflecting back on this week, I can confidently say my life has been enriched once more by God’s amazing love.  Tomorrow we will spend the day “scoping-out” a community where we plan to plant a congregation in March.  We have a few other children to visit and pass clothes and food out to as well.  Thank you God for allowing me this opportunity to serve You!

- Jake

Nicaragua Fall 2011 Day Three

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates” (Dt. 6:4-9).

Today’s classes were focussed around this passage from Deuteronomy. From it, we studied three different applications. 1) Parents must build relationships with their children. 2) Families would do well to establish traditions which reflect God’s will in their homes. 3) Parents must teach their children God’s Word.

Today seemed to be very beneficial. The students minds were in tune with what was being taught. Over the past two day I have split them into geographical groups. I wanted them to be able to brainstorm with those whose communities were most alike. I have been thrilled with the outcome. During the lecture times I have provided them with many examples to “jump-start” their thinking. However, in their groups they have developed suggestions that I have never thought of. For that matter, I have never heard others think of some of their ideas. I know I sound like a broken record, but it amazes me each passing hour in class when I see the devotion of these men. They understand the importance of passing God’s Word from generation to generation. Even better, they are already developing plans for the congregations they work with. I attended a youth devotional at the Jinotepe Central Church of Christ tonight. A group of the students from B.I.C.A. put to use some of the things we have talked about this week. The outcome was awesome to witness. There are not many times as a minister when you get to see the things you have taught put to practice firsthand, but tonight I was blessed with the opportunity to see just that!

Tomorrow is my last day of teaching as there are a few other matters I have to tend to before leaving. I have to admit I can already tell it is going to be hard to say goodbye. While the 8hrs. of teaching is rather exhausting, it is extremely encouraging. This is such an amazing thing to be a part of, and an amazing culture to be surrounded by. Each time I come to Nicaragua I fall in love with the people and the culture more and more. I am truly blessed to call these people brothers and sisters!

Nicaragua Fall 2011 Day Two

I woke up this morning to a rather unique alarm clock. It sounded as if a pack of dogs were fighting several roosters! Ahh… the wonderful sounds of everyday life in Nicaragua. Once again I treated myself to a couple of cups of Nicaraguan coffee as I prepared my materials for the first day of class. I was rather anxious, mainly due to the fact I wasn’t quite sure how well I would speak having to allow time for a translator. For those of you who don’t know me as well, I tend to get “into the zone” as I teach. The result is a lot of information at a high rate of speed. This is usually okay when the audience speaks the same language, however here I feared this would be an issue. Come to find out, it wasn’t bad at all.

Erick picked me up about ten till 8:00, and we drove across town to the school. Upon our arrival I was personally greeted by each of the 32 students currently enrolled. It was a wonderful start to what became a day I will never forget. Our morning focused around two main topics. 1) Why do we minister in the first place? 2) Why is ministering to youth so important? I had originally prepared a third lesson, however, due to the interaction of the students we were only able to get through these two. I have personally never taught a group of individuals so passionate and involved in a class. These young preachers have zeal unlike anything I have ever experienced before. Honestly, the idea of teaching eight hours a day seemed like it would make for a long day. However, it seemed as though the morning was over in the blink of an eye. It was as if I couldn’t “feed” them fast enough!

As I sit here tonight reflection back on the day, I am realizing how much time I spent today thanking God for this opportunity. I feel so blessed to be here with these students. I realize that I am technically their teacher for the week, but I feel as though their example is teaching me. My soul is feeding off their energy, and the truth of the matter is I don’t even have the words to describe the feelings I am left with tonight. Perhaps it is all summed up in one simple statement, “God is good!”

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10 NIV).

Nicaragua Fall 2011 Day One

I was woken up this morning by the sunlight pouring through the window of my room. I had a brief moment of panic thinking I had overslept on the very first day. I quickly reached for my phone only to discover it was just 5:30am. You see, coming to Nicaragua we lose Daylight Saving’s, and as a result my internal clock is “out of whack”! Thankfully I was able to coax my mind back to sleep for a couple more hours. After waking for the day, I spent the next hour taking in the beauty of this country (while enjoying a few cups of my favorite local coffee of course). It was wonderful to see the luscious green foliage especially since we have been in the middle of a drought back home for some time now. The ground was soaked from the down-poor of rain all night, and the smell of the rain still lingered in the air. It truly was a beautiful Nicaraguan morning. I love the purity of this country.

After having breakfast with the crew we headed out, along
- Jakewith Kayla, to pick up several children around town who used to live at Children of the King. We then headed to Tip Top Chicken to get a meal to take to several of the children who are now living at another home, NPH. While waiting, I was able to enjoy an American delicacy, a caramel frap (come on, I can’t give up everything)! Next, we were off to the children’s home to enjoy some fried chicken with the kids. While there we also passed out the clothes several members of 7th & Beech had gathered and Joy Curtis had packed (I may also mention she gathered much as well, thanks Joy). It was wonderful to see them trying on their gifts, much like the feeling of watching my own children on Christmas morning. Their hugs are so much appreciated, and their smiles will warm any heart. It is always hard to leave them when it is time to go.

We then headed to Managua to take Kayla home. We were disappointed to learn that she would not be able to stay the week with us as she had last time. However, I am very proud of her reason for being unable to do so. She has recently enrolled in some online courses teaching her how to use Microsoft Office, and she plans to get a job soon using the skills she is now learning. Once again, it was very hard to drop her off at the home she is now living in with her aunt. It is in a very poor and dangerous neighborhood outside of Managua. The home is pieced together by several scrap pieces of tin, and during the raining season I would imagine the inside stays rather moist. She left us all with a caring embrace and broken hearts. It is through the eyes of such innocence I feel I see Christ the most in this world.

The rest of the day was leisure time as we stopped at the market to pick up a few “necessities” (Dr. Pepper to be exact). We made the long drive back to Jinotepe, and enjoyed a “feast” of papooses. I wonderful tasting creation I might add! I ended the day talking ministry in the living room of Erick Garcia who is the director of the preaching school I am to begin teaching at tomorrow. I look forward to what the rest of the week holds! I would like to end each of these post with a “verse of the day”. It will be a verse that I personally have reflected on throughout the day. Today’s verse is from Psalm 46…
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging… 10 “Be still, and know that I am God” (vv. 1-3, 10 NIV).

B.I.C.A. Class Jinotepe, Nicaragua

The time has come to “catch” a plane down south once again!  It has been 6 months since my last trip to Nicaragua, and tomorrow 2 others and myself will be heading that way.  In March I was invited to teach a one week class over youth work in the Church at the Bible Institute of Central America (B.I.C.A.) in Jinotepe, Nicaragua.  After much (and I mean much) preparation, the time has finally come.  My two travel companions are Crystal Heitz and Kassy Gammon (one of our college students).  They will be joining Dale and Gail Goad for the week to help with a few different humanitarian efforts (food distribution, clothing distribution, etc.).  I will do my best to record each day’s events during our stay.  I will actually have the means to do so this time!  I plan on uploading each day as a separate post upon our return.  I ask for each of you to pray for the work taking place this next week.  Please pray for our safety, as well as our efforts to be fruitful.  Thank you all in advance for your prayers, encouragement, and love.  May God continue to bless each of you!

- Jake

Jesus Prayed for Me

The scene was the upper room. Jesus was spending His final night with His beloved apostles. He knew that His ministry was quickly coming to an end and that He soon would be taken, unjustly judged, crucified, buried, raised from the dead and returned to heaven, leaving His precious apostles behind. Before He left, what should He say to them, what should He teach them, and of what should He warn them?

 In John 13-16, you can see that He spoke to them about having confident faith, trusting in Him and God, loving one another, and serving others. He assured them that they would not be alone for He would send another comforter, the Holy Spirit; and they could ask for and receive whatever they needed. He also reassured them that He would come back, but first he must prepare a place for them.

 After Jesus had shared with His disciples these final words of encouragement, warning and assurance, He looked toward heaven and prayed. In this dynamic prayer (John 17), He prayed for Himself, His apostles, and the disciples yet to be taught and converted. But, have you notice where He was when He prayed? He was still in the upper room in the presence of His apostles. He was in their midst praying for them. That’s how John is able to record this spectacular prayer. He was an eyewitness, or you may say an “earwitness.” 

 Can you imagine Jesus right beside you praying for you – The Son of God, speaking to His Heavenly Father in your behalf; Your Master beseeching the Almighty God for your benefit? What a touching and powerful thought. As you listen to His prayer, what would that mean to you? Would you not be thinking, “He really knows who I am. He cares about me. He loves me enough to pray for me. He knows what I’m facing. He knows my circumstances. He wants me (yes, me) to be one with Him in heaven.”

 Well, remember, even though we were not present in the upper room on that dark night, Jesus also prayed for us. He prayed for His twenty-first century disciples, as well as His first century apostles. And, His pray for us should open our eyes to the fact that He loves us, He knows what we are facing and He wants us to be one with Him and the Father in heaven forever.

 May the Lord provide us with a desire to respond to His precious love with a life of faith and trust in Him. May we abide in Him so that we can live forever with Him.

 ~ John