I once again had the opportunity to travel south to Nicaragua in March. This year I embarked with a class provided at my high school called Ministry and Missions. The purpose of the trip was to be an English partner to university students who would practice their English with us. Our other purpose for going was to connect the students to the Young Life on campus and pray they would hear the gospel through Young Life down the road. This trip was very different from the first in many ways but I still learned many things.
Highlights:
- Being able to see a different side of my peers from school was a blessing. The Lord is doing mighty things in their lives and I loved seeing a part of that on the trip.
- The leaders from back home were amazing on the trip. Not only were they incredibly intentional with the team, they were very passionate about the things we were doing which helped us get excited as well
- The Young Life leaders in Nicaragua were some of the most passionate, kind, people I have ever met. They loved Jesus so much and so well and it shined through everything they did from picking us up at the airport in goofy costumes, to sharing their testimonies, to dancing and singing with the University students.
- It was incredible to be back in a place so dear to my heart and reflect on everything the Lord has done in my life in less than a year.
Stories:
- While we were riding on a bus my friend from school asked me more about my testimony from last year. As I shared with her, across the bus my other friend was sharing her testimony from last year as well. These two stories happened to intertwine. While we both shared about the brokenness we experienced in our relationship, but then the healing the Lord provided through forgiveness we were all brought to tears at the Lord's faithfulness.
- One of my English partners (in purple dress) was a very strong believer. The first day she asked me if I believed in anything and I instantly knew the Lord was throwing the door wide open. To be able to share my faith and receive inspiration and encouragement from a sister who lives so far away was a pretty cool experience.
- One of the girls on my team was really struggling with doubts that week. The devil had been trying to get at her and we could tangibly see the spiritual warfare. Later that night, a group of girls went to talk to her. I had the opportunity to have the Lord speak through me about the simple message of the gospel and how we can know without doubt that Jesus is for real. I broke down into the simplest form how we could know there was a creator and why we know he loves us. It was powerful for me to even hear from struggling with my own doubts.
Lessons Learned:
- Jesus is our only strength. I found it very hard to carve out time to spend one on one with Jesus. If we did have free time we were running for soccer, or bonding in the pool, thus my time with Jesus was slim. Because of this I was relying on my own strength and I failed myself. Many break downs happened one included crying about a pillow I had forgotten at our first location. I truly believe the Lord could have worked in much mightier ways through me if I had been more vigilant about taking time to spend with him.
- I have a naturally comparison heart and without the Lord it will overtake my soul and ruin relationships
- I love beans and rice and white pineapple and could eat it everyday
- My love for Nicaragua and the beautiful people living there will forever increase
- Jesus has not only called me to missions but everyone in his family. But, it was again confirmed the Lord has more plans with me and international missions in my future which makes me ecstatic
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