Hola!
We know our blogging has been scarce, so buckle up we have a whole awful lot to share with you!!!
First.... Our most exciting report... 84 people decided to give their lives to Christ in the last 7 days!!!! PRAISE HIM AND REJOICE with us that we have new family members!
Some team members are going to share with you...
Bree~
I have had the blessed opportunity to work with the VBS team this Nicaraguan trip. We visited four different schools in the surrounding areas to share the word of God with the children. We started off with some songs and dances, and then told the story of Jonah, with props and audience volunteers of course. Then the kids had the chance to surrender their their life to Jesus before heading to games and crafts. It took a lot of prep to coordinate everything for this VBS, but seeing a child's face transform into a genuine smile made it all worth it.
For I believe that Gof portrays this essence of joy through children. they have an open sincerity, and it is amazing to witness a girl or boy point that sincerity towards Jesus. Several kids gave their life to Christ in VBS and we are praising God for it. My soul is filled knowing that we could provide hope to these schools. I hope and pray that these kids continue to have more opportunities to witness the love of Jesus, and that His presence continues to fill these schools. I thank God for this chance to serve a great Nicaraguan community with a wonderful team. There have been challenges, including rain and sickness, yet people have kept incredible attitudes through it all. Working with such an amazing team has allowed us to better fulfill our mission. I am excited to hear how the church in La Esmerelda will impact the kids and people of the surrounding communities in the future. Pray that go blesses such a glorious church and beautiful people.
Jodie~
My husband and I had the privilege of going on Fox River's first medical mission to Nicaragua and we are completely blessed to be on the second. On Monday, we had a laboring woman walk 2 miles to give birth to her eighth child. To be with her for this experience was priceless. No medications, no air conditioning, a room for her and her baby with four medical personnel the size of a small bathroom and she never made a sound. After the baby was born, she asked us to name her baby. We came up with the name David. Mom was doing great after the birth but the baby had possible/probable muconium aspiration and needed to be seen at the local hospital which is about an hour away. The mother sat in the back seat of a truck with her IV bag held up by the rolled up window. Her mother was to her left holding the newborn baby boy and the doctor was sitting up front. Before they ventured out on their journey through jungled and bumpy roads, our team circled around the mother and baby David and prayed over them in Spanish. Even though we speak different languages, we speak to the one true God. God is so good! All the time! This clinic has done so much for the people. I thought two miles was far to walk laboring, but if this clinic in La Esmeralda was not established, she would have had to walk for hours or may not have went to a hospital at all.
Kevin~
I am once again humbled by the physical hardships of the coffee farmer. A drink that the rest of the world takes or granted causes immense hardships for Nica families whose lives would consist of coffee bean farming.
We had a couple team members who chose that this week was a perfect time to show the world that they are followers... Brittany and Kevin were baptized Tuesday, June 28th at the waterfall in La Esmerelda!!! IT WAS SO AWESOME!!!!
