Nicaragua

This past week we spent about 6 days in Diriamba, Nicaragua doing a short outreach. That country absolutely blew my mind! It’s definitely 3rd world, I can’t believe the need there. I greatly enjoyed seeing that country; the scenery is beautiful and so are the people. We did several different types of ministry while there. Our first full day, we spent the morning walking around the town praying for different things. We did children’s ministry at the YWAM base. We spent several hours at La Chureca, or the city dump. A pastor and his wife have been called to serve there and so they spend a great deal of time ministering to nearly 1000 families living within the dump. We did a short children’s program and also walked around and prayed with some of the families living there. It was absolutely heart-breaking. One of the things that stuck out to me the most was when a little girl told us that her grandmother lived on one side of the dump, her other grandmother on the other side, and she and her family in yet another area. This only told me that the family has been living this way for generations and I wonder what hope of a better life this beautiful little girl might have? They have literally made their own community amongst all of the garbage. There are streets and fences made of metal sheets. The houses are constructed of wood, cinder blocks, metal sheets, and/or tarp. Generally, each home has some sort of fence constructed and they have what is meant to be a yard, though all it is is dirt and mud for the children to play in. We went into one of the houses to pray for a woman and I tried to take it all in without looking disrespectful. What I saw was three rooms: a kitchen, living area, and bedroom where several beds were constructed. They had an old bench-style car seat for a couch and what looked like plastic potato sacks hanging on the walls. I just can’t even begin to fathom living in those conditions, it was absolutely filthy and the smell horrendous throughout the entire dump. Another day we went to the city library, which is fully funded and run by a missionary. We had the opportunity to do crafts with the children, which was such a blessing. They are so precious and all they want is love and attention. Later that evening, I had the privilege of being part of a group that taught English to some of the young adults living in the barrio. That was probably my favorite ministry during the entire week. Many of them seemed so eager to learn and my hope is that they will continue trying so that they are able to get farther ahead in life. We also had a big part in running a church service in the barrio on Sunday night. We taught them about missions and I had the chance to share my testimony in being called to serve in missions, along with two other girls. The most challenging part of the week was putting on a school assembly for children at risk. It was so frustrating because the kids did not want to listen. Finally, the principal sent them all back to their classes because they were out of control. He allowed us to still speak to the youngest ones, which turned out well. I was shocked at the conditions of the school and the lack of discipline. I wonder what chance they have in life when they are growing up in such a way. I wish I could go in and change everything there, from the visual aspect of the school grounds all the way through the systems in place for education and discipline. My heart breaks for the people of Nicaragua. I have never seen a place so in need, you would think they have been completely forgotten by the rest of the world. One thing I loved was the way they seem to have so much love for each other. But another thing that came to my mind while riding through town one evening was that it seems like a place with no order. They seem to have no traffic laws. There are animals everywhere; cows, dogs, horses, chickens, etc. The people seem to do anything and everything for any reason…or for no reason at all. I can’t really explain, but it’s as if they all live for the moment with no thought of the future. I wonder what’s going on in their minds. Do they have any hope? I wonder what they think as they stare at all of us ‘gringo tourists’ walking through town. Do they hate us or do they find hope through us? Many of them didn’t smile at all. Many of them have such an empty look in their eyes. They are a desperate people and my heart is desperately broken for them. Pray for them. Consider going there to serve them. Look at my pictures on facebook and just imagine living there.