It's never too late to come to Nicaragua and be used by God in a way that ministers to so many. This is exactly what I witnessed when a Michigan AIM Team had a last minute switch from Mexico to Nicaragua. When I found out that a team from Michigan changed their plans and were going to be working with Convoy of Hope and Latin America Child Care (LACC) in Nicaragua, I made sure I was available. I called the director and asked if I could be of any help and the very next day, I was on my way to the airport to pick up the team with one of LACC's buses.As the team and I were making our way back to the place where they would be sleeping that week, I was hoping that the team was really getting a good sense of what the country was like. Then, to my surprise, the team really did get introduced to missions. Around one hundred meters from one of the markets in Managua, the front left tire caught on fire. It turne
d out that the brake line starting leaking and caused the fire. Everyone got out of the bus and was fine. Actually, they all loved the experience of having so many Nicaraguans run over and help put out the fire and drawing a huge crowd because they stopped traffic on one of the main roads in Managua. Honestly, I had something else in mind when I said I wanted them to get introduced to missions, but I guess that did the job.
Their week of ministry was incredible. The first half consisted of doing a "make-over" for one of the LACC schools. I don't know what the team was thinking, but I had my doubts on what the team could get done in the 48 hours they had designated to the job before the students returned back to school. I can honestly tell you that I am so proud of that Michigan team and all their hard work. They were able to completely prep each classroom, bathroom, and all the metal bars for painting, get them primed with paint, and finish them all off with the f
inal coat within the 48 hours. The students and school were so grateful for the team and all their hard work, that they had a presentation assembly and fed them brunch (That is a "huge thank you" from them). It was great watching the team try to figure out if the sandwich they received was peanut butter or some kind of chicken salad.
The second half of the week consisted of Convoy of Hope prep-work for a four-site distribution outreach. We h
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ling and praying over 1,600 bags of food and clothing, that were going to extremely needy families. For some, this will be the only food they will have this month to survive on. We split the team into four smaller teams and traveled to four different locations. These locations ranged from 3 hours to 6 hours outside Managua (capital of Nicaragua). Once the teams got to their church location, they had the opportunity to really see
how God was using them that week. Each team had people sharing testimonies and each were personally involved in giving the food and clothes out to the families. They even had the opportunity to take the kids out and do a mini-program especially for them. I had the honor of translating for the Michigan team during the kids program. I was very thankful that they were kids!
I still can't get over the fact that God loves us so much, that he will have a team, last minute, come to a country and be His hands and feet, to bless a person they have never met. This team did not just minister to people for that week, but the ripple effects of Christ's Love that flowed out of them continues to be felt long after they returned to Michigan on that airplane. It's amazing how God will put you directly in the right place at directly the right time. Kendra and I have already started praying now for the 2010 Michigan AIM team that we will be hosting. It will be incredible! Also, if your youth group, district or church would like to come down and serve for a week in Nicargaua we would love to host you. We are planning now for 2010 and believing God for great things here in Nicaragua!
