Most Ministries at Our Redeemer
Most Ministries is an affiliate organization of the Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod that recruits, trains, and leads congregational members in short-term ministries, both in the US and abroad. For the past three years, members of Our Redeemer have been involved in mission opportunities in Nicaragua and Mexico.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Yesterday was a very emotionally exhausting day for all of us. Our sick were on the mend, so we had a group prayer of thanks to God for His blessings. We began our day at the mission site yesterday with 18 of our 20 members. We were greeted with a celebration. Pastor Claudio and several students gave emotional addresses thanking us and thanking God for sending us to them. One of our students attends a dance school and performed traditional folk dances in our honor. We were all gifted with a pin or key chain with either the Nicaraguan flag or national symbol. Pastor Claudio gifted our congregation and his gift will be displayed when we return.
We ahd 65 students in the morning. Class time was short, but was well spent as we said our last goodbyes to our students. At lunch, Viktor visited for the last time. He shared his knowledge of Shakespeare and Michael W. Smith and other contemporary Christian musicians with us, singing songs and laughing with us. We lost another team member, but remained ready for our afternoon.
God is good. We had 99 students with us, and our teachers were up to the tasks God placed before them. More than anything, we wanted to be sure our students knew that Jesus loves them so much He died and rose again for them. As Darcy Zent shared, "We may not see you again this side of heaven, but we will meet at Jesus' feet."
These people have impacted our lives. They came to us just as they live. Some were cleaned, pressed, dressed in their best, others came to us filthy and in rags, but all came with smiles and arms open wide for hugging and loving. We loved them all. We had no choice. These precious people found a place in our hearts. They are our brothers and sisters in Christ.
We will fly home tomorrow. A sizeable part of each of us wishes to stay. God has changed each of us on this trip. He doesn't call the equipped--He equips the called. I personally saw a side of each of the people on this mission trip that I might never have seen. God has placed in each of us gifts He charges us to find and then use in His kingdom to His glory.
We have worked here. It has been hard work in unbelievably hot conditions with little or no comforts save the love of the people here. We don't change people's hearts, but the Holy Spirit does. He has sent us, but it is God who has really done the work. We are, as a team and as individuals, thankful that He found in us what was needed to be His hands and feet among the people of Chinandega. Thank you for being His hands and feet in our lives as you surrounded us in prayer and were partners with us here in Nicaragua. We can't wait to share our experience with you. God bless you all. To Him be the glory!
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
We awoke to another HOT day here in Chinandega. The heat index yesterday was 110, so we knew we were in for another scorcher. Sweat is good for your pores, they say. As we gathered for breakfast, we learned two of our team members succumbed to traveler´s intestinal disruptions during the night. They are troopers and committed to joining us on site. We began the day with Pastor Claudio´s prayer and reading of the scripture lesson, which was Jesus´death and resurrection. The students joined us in singing "Father, I Adore You" once again. They sound great! Classes began with 61 smiling students in their seats. By lunch, we sent two team members back to the hotel and five more were feeling ill. Viktor visited again over lunch and spent time talking with Alex Harris. We will really miss his animated discussions.
Our afternoon found us filled to capacity. We greeted 98 students! Sue Halkola and Alex Harris took top honors again , with 35 students. All teachers were phenomenal! Hector Islas went above and beyond, spending time in each class today, translating and lending a hand wherever needed. Mindy Weissenborn has been wearing every hat on this trip, and wore them all today. Kirsten Willer and Laura Patterson spent time helping wherever they could. We made it through the day! Dinner was attended by 15 of our 20 team members, and we ate at the hotel. After dinner, we immediately met for devotions, as we are dropping like flies. George led us in The Lord´s Prayer and had words of comfort and encouragement. We just love that George Mack from Iowa! God knew we needed him to be here!
Our prescription fairy, Chris Demski, visitied the sick, dispensing Cippro and Imodium, tucking in the weak and turning off lights on the sleeping. We are grateful God is in control. He proves to us daily that we NEED Him, and that times of trouble are times to call upon Him. He is faithful to deliver us and we give Him all thanks and praise. At lights out (for those not already out), all team members vowed to rise to the occasion tomorrow. Yes, they are all troopers.
We can´t believe our last class day is tomorrow. We just really got to know these amazing people. As Darcy Zent shared, on her first mission trip when saying good-bye, amidst all the hugging and crying, a woman said to her,"I know I won´t see you again on earth, but I will see you again at Jesus´feet." Wow! We know these wonderful, eager, engaging, humble, generous people will forever have a special place in our hearts. God has blessed and grown us through our experience with the people of Chinandega. We want you to visit the verses Laura McOlash shared with us in devotions tonight, for Philippians 1:3-11 bring you to mind. Please read them and know we heard them today thinking of all of you. God bless and keep you!
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
What a great day! We arrived to students already in their seats anxiously awaiting our appearance. Pastor Claudio opened with prayer and our scripture lesson for the day, which was the feeding of the 5000. We taught the students "Jesus, I Adore You" in English and it gave us goosebumps to hear them sing! Lessons went so well--these teachers are so perfectly matched to their students. We had lunch on site and time to visti with Viktor, a 28-year-old who comes to us on his lunch hour to practice his conversational English. He shared his faith with us today, talking about the Triune God. He asked Lori Gatewood and Scott Asbach to write a "dedication" in his Bible. God has been working through them to encourage Viktor. Students were on site for the afternoon before our lunch even arrived. They are so anxious to be in class! We surpassed yesterday´s numbers, with 66 in the a.m. and 90, yes 90!, in the p.m. Top honors go to Alex Harris and Sue Halkola who had 32! in their beginner´s class. Alex had them rocking the house! It was yet another extreme day weather wise. It must have hit 95 with humidity near the same number. A huge thunderstorm hit as class wound down and as we left, we jumped the river running in the muddy street to get into the van.
We are more and more amazed at the reception we receive each day. The people here are so humble and so gracious, so loving and so giving of all that they have. They love you the minute they meet you. We pray that you will join us in loving them back. Please keep them in your prayers. They are amazing people. God bless and keep you all!
Monday, August 6, 2007
We have been very busy! When we scheduled our trip to Nicaragua, the pastor down here, Pastor Claudio, believed we would work with 125 people. 65 people arrived this morning and we had an awesome session sharing our faith and listening as they shared theirs. After a wonderful lunch, we were surprised to find we would be teaching not the 60 people we believed would be there, but 86! We actually had to (sadly) close the gates because we couldn´t fit any more students in the room. We find that we have run out of some of our supplies, but as Lori Gatewood said, it´s a good-bad thing. How awesome to share the love of Jesus with more and more people!
We are humbled by the reception we receive each time we meet with our students and the people of the church. They are so happy we are here and just want to hug and be with us. Hector Islas and Scott Asbach got a rousing game of soccer going in the street with some of the young boys. It was heart-breaking to watch little children run barefoot in the muddy streets littered with broken glass and dead rats. We found out today that the children have taken to picking through our lunches after we have thrown them out. Yet, God is so good.
As we work with the people here, what we have learned is that each and every one of us was chosen by God to be here because we each have a gift or talent that God has already put to use. Our team is only as strong as each individual member, but each member is as strong as our team. We are so blessed to be chosen to be here doing the Lord´s work among His lambs in Chinandega.
Thank you all for your prayers and for all the ways you supported us and helped us to be here. Know that the people here thank you as well. You are a part of our team and we are grateful for all of you. God bless you!
August 4, 2007
Hola from Nicaragua. We arrived late Friday evening at the airport in Managua, and walked across the street to our hotel. We only lost one wheel in the process. This morning we had breakfast and left shortly after for Chinandega which allowed us to see some of the beautiful country side. After arriving in our hotel and making sure all our air conditionin was in service we went to the Central America´s head quarters of the Lutheran church of Canada for lunch. It was exciting to see the church being built next door. Then we went on to the church where we starting testing the students. To our surprise very few spoke any english. We tested about 57 students and will test another 58 after church tomorrow. We all are very excited to continue our mission and thank all of you for your prayers.