When I reflect on my time in Nicaragua, I can immediately feel my heart ache with a deep sense of longing and gratitude. These couple of months were no doubt some of the sweetest moments of this year. In Nicaragua, my entire squad (the thirty-four of us) lived together on a farm, and this is where it all began. We spent hours on hours sharing meals, playing games, worshipping, and doing ministry together. There was always something happening on that farm. Countless memories were made, like: eating egg soup on 90-degree days, riding horses in open fields, singing One Direction with our taxi drivers, eating way too many loaves of banana bread, and several other shared experiences. So many of these memories I will never forget, but my heart breaks to admit that I probably already have forgotten some.
One unforgettable memory from this season was a specific rhythm my squad had in Nicaragua. Each morning, we would wake up at five and have two uninterrupted hours alone with the Lord. It was incredible. I would sit with Him and watch the sun rise over Mount Mombacho every day and it never got old. These mornings will always hold a tender spot in my heart. That time with the Lord shaped each day and ultimately shaped that season of my life. It was within those hours spent devoted to Him that He molded my heart to be what it is today. Not a single moment was wasted in that place with Him, and I’m overwhelmed with gratitude.
Now that I’ve covered what being poured into what was like, what was pouring out/ ministry like?
Nicaragua is a predominantly Christian/ Catholic country, which meant we got to focus on discipleship and community-centered ministry.
I spent a lot of my time here getting to visit local believers and pray over people in the community. This was hands down some of my favorite ministry over the entire race. It was in the homes of these humble believers that I got to witness healings, salvations, and some of the most loyal followers of Jesus that I’ve ever met. I distinctly remember these house visits being marked by the Nicaraguans’ overwhelming hospitality and warm personalities. I fell in love with this aspect of their culture.
Another side of ministry we got to be a part of was helping take care of the farm we lived on. Oh, what a joy days spent working on the farm were! We spent hours laughing, sweating, and learning Spanish from all of the kids and workers who were on the farm with us. This also includes us being able to help prepare our meals with the kitchen staff. Almost all of the people who worked on the farm (and the kids who ran around) were related in one way or another. By the end of our time there, L-squad was a part of that family.
We also got the opportunity to go to a local dump to host a feeding program where we would share the Word. Another ministry we were a part of was going to a local hospital and praying for healing over the sick. It’s within the walls of that hospital where the Lord broke my heart- not for the physical depravity- but for the deep spiritual depravity. It tore me to pieces and yet drew me into a new level of compassion that I had never experienced before (Matthew 9:36).
Lastly, my team and weekly went to what we called “micro church”, which was essentially just a house church. One delightful detail of my team’s house church was that it was the only one that was composed completely of children. Two mothers who worked at the farm hosted this weekly service for the kids in the surrounding neighborhood. It was such a joy. Two important things were sparked as a result of our micro-church. The first is that my team and I truly began to connect over serving these kids together, and the second thing was the Lord shifting my heart towards kids’ ministry.
This blog is just a glimpse into what Nicaragua was like for me and my squad. From the natural beauty that Nicaragua holds, the simplicity of life there, and especially the hearts of the people we met, it was altogether beautiful. I’m grateful for this place and all that the Lord started within me and my squad. What a deep joy it is to look back now and to see where we started compared to all He’s walked us through since then.
I’ve attached pictures from our time that I hope help bring my time in this country to life for you!!
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