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As I was hiking through the mountains of Nicaragua a few days ago with my team of four from the States, Diomedes the pastor we work with in Nicaragua, and some new Nicaraguan friends that impacted me in more ways than I will ever be able to write God chose to revel something to me that that I should of gotten a long time ago.
As we walked to our first of four villages we couldn’t decide if we were walking through the pages of National Geographic or Jurassic Park from the lush green trees, rolling mountains, streams, and waterfalls that we took a little time to stop and swim in. I did my best to etch into my mind the beauty in front of me and marveled at Gods amazing handy work. I’m thinking God smiled when He made Nicaragua.
For three days we lived the life of a Nicaraguan who lives in the mountains. We walked their trails, ate the food they grow, slept on the floor and hammocks, bathed in their streams, listened to the roosters who crowed all night long, and worshiped with them in their small church with the faithful believes whom some walked a couple of hours to get there using a torch for light to get home with after the torrential rain slowed enough not to put out their flame.
As I watched they walked away into the dark night, it hit me. After spending so much time with the poor for 12 years now it took me living with them for a few days for me to realize what it is about them that cause us to feel so bad. It’s not so much that their poor, but the fact that their happy. We know what our lives are like and how empty we are so much of the time and the contrast is a bit perplexing. None of them lost any of their retirement as the stocks came crashing down, they’re not worried about their house payment or what car they are or not driving. They don’t care where their clothes are bought or what tomorrow will bring. They are content, happy, and peaceful for today.
As I left my new mountain friends they gave me a priceless gift which only confirmed what God spoke to my heart that night and challenged me to live. Through God’s grace I hope to be content in today because today has enough worries of its own and despite my failures God really, really loves me. I also will try not worry about tomorrow because God is in control and any control I think I have is just a false illusion. On my desk Monday I will place my new gift to remind me of that night. So don’t think I’m weirder than usual if you see on my desk a bag of beans.
Mike
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Now that I have been home from Uganda a few days I’m doing my best to get acclimated back to life in the states. I’m not yet over my jet lag which means my body clock has yet to adjust to Oklahoma time. I want to sleep when I should be awake and I find [...]
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I never have liked sitting on the bench. I want in the game. I’ve never been able to play games for fun because I always think, “If it doesn’t matter who wins, then why are we keeping score?” Something strange overcomes me when there is a hint of competition. I’m pretty sure I need some [...]
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I’ll never forget the first time I drove down the cobblestone streets of Santo Tomas, Nicaragua. It is a small village town that sits on the side of a mountain with a breathtaking view looking over the border into Honduras. With my physical eyes it looked like any other village in that part of Nicaragua; [...]
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Dear Friends of Wales,
Day Five, March 19th began with the team meeting at 10:00 a.m. and debriefing about what happened yesterday. Our time of worship and teaching followed. Troy taught us the 4th part of the series: after Plowing, Sowing, and Reaping, comes “Vintaging.” Our team did not seem as fatigued today.
Everyone except Deedee went to a [...]
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Another great day of ministry. Your kids have been excited and full of energy despite over 90 degree heat and a lot of activity. There has been no let up in their hearts or their desire to see God at work. They are having Big Kingdom experiences here and this will mature them and be [...]
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I honestly don´t know how to begin talking about this mission trip. God has shown me and all of the rest of the people on this trip some amazing truths and I don´t want to miss any of them! First of all, I have come to realize just in the past couple of days just [...]
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today we went to a village that we have never done any work at all. Our group was the first to share Christ with theses people. We had a great day god really moved in this village and Satan tried his hardest to bring us down but god was by our sides so anything he [...]
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Nic has been such an awesome opportunity! Today was my best day! Sunday was just kinda getting around, driving to somotillo. Monday was the first day for us to share our boards and i was really nervous but it all worked out well! The hardest part was the difference in language. I knew a little [...]
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Wow, what progress we saw today…. Thanks for your prayers. Radio team today was Katie, Haleigh, Brandon, Thomas, and Amanda. Great job and even played a few songs for Nicaragua. Today was a new town and a town that Diomedes is trying to start a church in. The students prayed that we would have spiritual [...]
