The team of 26 left Nicaragua with a great sense of the Father's pleasure. We worked really hard and saw God move in amazing ways. This journey had the most variety of activities of any we have done. Each day started with some of the team going to the local Christian radio station to do a one hour broadcast. These included testimonies, teaching and call-in prayer requests. We did six medical clinics and although we only had two nurses on the team, we were joined by local doctors every day, making it possible to treat all who needed it. As always when Jon Mikkelsen is with us, the glasses dispensary was very popular. One of the clinics was in San Francisco, several hours away in the mountains. Two mornings were spent at local high schools, one private and one public. What an awesome experience to be able to share the gospel through worship, drama, dance, testimonies and preaching. Particularly at the private school many students accepted Jesus for the first time. In one barrio a team renewed a sports court at a local school and followed it up with a volleyball game on the new court. We also shared the gospel for the first time publicly at the local maximum security prison, plus fed the 1,000 prisoners and left gifts of recreational equipment and writing supplies. Another first for this trip was a two afternoon youth seminar and a morning women's seminar, gathering leaders from different churches for teaching and ministry. Of course we did the evening campaigns, where many were healed and saved. On the last ministry day some of the team worked at the local farm, using machetes to help clear land. As you can see, we had a lot going on all the time!
I think I have two favorite moments from this trip, both from evening campaigns. The first was when a woman came and took me by the hand, requesting through the translator that I come with her to meet her daughter. She told me that last year I had prayed for her daughter, who had never been able to conceive. She is about to deliver her first baby! The soon-to-be grandma said that I would be the honorary auntie. We see lots of immediate healings, but often we don't know that God has answered our prayers because the results are not immediately known. It was a delight to see the evidence of God's faithfulness.
My other favorite moment was the look on the community leader's face when it was announced that our team would provide the funds for the pipes to bring city water to her barrio. She immediately started to cry, and later told me that she has been waiting for three years for this to happen. We collected over $200, bought and presented the pipes the night before we left town. Again she was crying with joy and thanksgiving. She had local volunteers who would begin to install the pipes immediately. Such a small thing on our part, yet we left a lasting legacy to permanently change a village. What a privilege.
Thanks you to all who participated; the Canadian team, the El Shaddai team, the local doctors and community leaders. We all worked together as one and blessed the communities around Chinandega, Nicaragua.
For those of you who missed out, we are returning in August with another group. Come join us!
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