New House, New Home...New Everything

Three weeks down. We tend to think the work of God can be set aside for you to transition and get settled and learn a little of the language and culture, but our God is not a God of this world, and for that I am truly happy, whether uncomfortable at times or not.

Last we checked in, we shared how God was already answering our prayers for discipleship and protection and good health and for a strong ministry to join in serving Nicaragua. God, always faithful, continued on by capturing my heart in the most unlikely way: challenges. I have to be absolutely honest and say that the last 3 weeks have been hard.
As I’ve shared with some, we have come face to face with the reality of God and have already been challenged and stretched spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. God has not been waiting around to answer our pleas to grow deeper with him, to be more genuine, to fear him, to be urgent with the gospel, and to trust in him at all times.  Our weeks have consisted of serving the ministry wherever possible, which for me is primarily through the Jicaro Project (www.thebridgegranada.org/ministries/the-jicaro-project) and for Don, a variety of Bible studies and projects. One activity that we have enjoyed being a part of together are the Small Group Leaders meetings and the small group that we are helping get off the ground at a private technical high school, Intecna, that is here in Granada. Blanca (a new dear friend) and I are heading up the girl’s group, and Don and Pepe (our roommate) are leading the guys. We are going into our 3^rd week there this Wednesday and would appreciate a lot of prayer over this work. We will share more as the adventure unfolds before us!  We have also been enjoying the Bible studies and groups that occur almost 5 times a week, challenging us in a variety of ways over the past couple weeks. God has really been pressing on my heart the urgency and necessity of the Gospel, indwelling a fear and reverence for Him like I’ve never known before. Like I said, I feel that we have come face to face with the reality of God and are incapable of turning our heads to the side and remaining untouched or unchanged by what has been challenged. I’m excited to see what work will come of His refining of our hearts and their attitudes toward Him.

We are excited to share that though we do not have a direct leading as to our specific purpose here, we have been brought to a place of humility to be willing and ready to serve wherever needed. Though this has been challenging and has brought a lot of hesitation so as to not get overloaded and ineffective, we feel that it is God at work, again, in refining our hearts and directing them toward Him. We have become servants without limits. We’ll report back with how that’s working out!

As for life in general, the city has been a bit of a change from the more rural lifestyle we lived last summer in Jinotepe. Granada, rumor has it, numbers from 120,000-140,000 and serves a population of Nicaraguans from all social classes, Americans, and Europeans, both residents and tourists. It’s a typical tourist city scene, which makes for interesting walks across town, always guessing whether an outsider by appearance actually lives up the street and speaks fluent (Nicaraguan) Spanish or is just in town for the weekend. Surrounding Parque Central and the tourist scene are streets upon streets of people from many different places in life. El Puente, the ministry we are serving, has grown into a community that welcomes addicts, troubled youth, kids living on the streets, and families facing financial and relational difficulties. The beauty of the matter is that this is our community, our church, the land of lost toys as they like to say, and the church at its finest, reaching out to the least of these and bearing much fruit. We are delighting to share in the process and see so many answers to our prayers for genuine ministry and the church at work. We are facing the challenge of building brand new relationships and are realizing the need and power of prayer in all circumstances. It’s a whole new ball game this time around, and we are deeply appreciating every ounce of prayer that is lifted up on our behalf.

We have been deeply blessed by a beautiful home that is more than we could have asked for and a roommate who bears with our questions about Spanish and our transition to Nica life. He and Don have grown close and are enjoying P90X workouts and Nica BBQ (fried chicken bought off the street) and the usual banter that happens around our dinner table. We hope to gain 2 more roommates in January, but we will be praying for what God has planned for us in that. Otherwise we are alive, awake, alert, enthusiastic, and ready for another week in the life. Hope you enjoy the pictures on the blog page!

Praying for your hearts and your work in the Lord all over the world,

Don and Jacque.