El Salvador

So I've been back in El Salvador since Sunday and i'm finally back with my team. This week has been awesome and sadly tomorrow is our last ministry day. It's weird to think that I will be leaving here on Saturday. I'm not ready to leave yet. We have been working around the lake doing programs and packing food for the feeding program tomorrow. We're going up the mountain to Portoriellos in a flatbed truck. Our team is doing well and we finish our week by going to the beach. I miss you guys! I'll be back soon.

Rio Blanco

So my last week in Nicaragua is coming to an end. I'm on a nine hour bus ride, currently in Honduras, on my way to El Salvador. This week started off with a 7 hour bus ride to Rio Blanco. We made it pretty late and we stayed at a hostel. I'm pretty sure our room was the only one with out running water and electricity. In the morning we headed out into the mountains of Wilicon where the people have never seen gringos in person before. We drew a lot of attention to say the least. We stayed on top of a two story concrete platform. There was a roof over our heads but the walls were open to the outside. I slept on a bench and I'm happy to say I did not get devoured by the Mosquitos. This is where we rode horses and went down to the massive white river. It was so beautiful. We did programs and church services all through out the area. The kids were awesome. I think it was one of the poorest areas I have seen so far. Many of the kids had bloated stomachs and streaks of malnutrition through their hair. There were a ton of kids that came out even in the rain. On our way back from Rio Blanco our bus tire blew. Our bus trip took even longer! We were in the middle of nowhere with cows all around us. We had to make it to the closest town to try and find some parts. We finally made it back and finished off with our last program. We had a bunch of kids and we played games, gave out candy and balloons, and ended our stressful day with a touching program. It was a good week! Now I'm excited to see my Mom in El Salvador along with my home team. I miss you guys! 

Prayer

I need prayer. This Monday we have a team coming in from Kentucky and we're headed up into the mountains. We will be around 5 hours away from Managua in a little town called Rio Blanco. There has been a lot of talk about how rough this trip will be and I need prayer. God designated me to be on this trip so I know we will be in his hands. I'm here for a reason so please don't worry about me. I love you guys so much and I can't wait to see you all when I get home safely.
Acts 4:31
and when they had prayed the place in which they gathered together was shaken and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness

Orphanage

We just boarded the bus after leaving an orphanage. I'm writing to you through tears right now. There were 15 kids and they plan on shutting it down soon because they can't get funding. The woman who is running the place told us she came in to replace the owner who was abusing the kids. When we walked in and introduced ourselves we knew it wasn't like any other program. One of the girls on our team went up to a litle girl around 3-4 years old and said hi and touched her knee as she said it. The little girl instantly pushed her hand  away and was scared. These kids were abused on all levels and they weren't just kids there were teenage girls too. You can't deny the presence of abuse. The kids seem lifeless. We did a program and prayed for them. There wasn't a dry eye in the place. The girl that I was praying for was named Marianna and she was 11. She was so beautiful. She cried her eyes out while I was holding her. I told her that Jesus loves her and that they werent just words but that he will always be there with open arms no matter what her situation may be and no matter what she has been through. It's the hardest thing in the world to say good bye and walk away. I hope I never become immune to this reality. 

A notable sign

I'm sorry I haven't been able to write in a while, all of our power went out and I couldn't get reception anywhere. I'm good, not as sick anymore. It has rained everyday. We have done programs in the pouring rain and have seen hundreds of kids. Nicaragua is extremely poor compared to El Salvador. There are street kids everywhere. Even though El Salv has more gangs than Nicaragua, I think I have seen them at the majority of the programs here. During one of the programs we prayed for a little girl who was deformed from birth. As we were praying her originally scrunched up arms, hands, and legs started to straighten. It was incredible! This whole week has been awesome.

Acts 4:14-22 
But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.
But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another,
saying, "What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.
But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name."
So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge,
for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard."
And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened.

Mega Dia

Everything has been going well. We got here a couple nights ago. A taranchula welcomed us into our room and my mattress is infested with bed bugs but at least I have one. Yesterday was "The Big Day" here in Nicaragua. They went out and picked up a bunch of kids from different areas to come and have a day of fun. We had over 700 kids come to the campus and we had a massive field full of games. So they don't exactly have lawn mowers in nicaragua because they use machetes. The missionaries own one but the lawn keeper used car oil and flooded out the filter with primer everytime it stopped, which was about every 7 minutes. But dad you would be proud I cut the field and 4 hours later ended up in a thunderstorm running with the mower for cover. I ended up showering outside because that's how much it poured. Yesterday was incredible there were kids absolutely everywhere. I ran the water volleyball court. The kids had so much fun. I talked to a group of girls for hours and that's a big deal because I can't speak Spanish! They were teaching me different words and games. We took the team that is here from Georgia out for ice cream last night which was awesome but our bus got stuck trying to pull into the place...3rd time. We had to get out and push lol Well happy 4th to everyone at home! I can't wait to see y'all. I love you guys!

Nicaragua

I made it to Nicaragua. We just made it past the border and we have a couple hours until we reach our final destination. It's down time like this that brings you to reality. I am in a foreign country thousands of miles away from home going through mountains and villages that many gringos will never get to see. My friends and family are home living everyday life and I'm on my way further away from civilization. I thank God for everyday that I am here. When I'm here I feel desperate for God, desperate for a change, desperate for the lost and broken hearted. In a desperate situation all you have to rely on is God. I think that our western religion focuses too much on what God can do for us when we have more than enough. It's a place like this that shows the simplicity of life. Basic needs aren't met and a simple hug can change a childs life. At home we focus on making ourselves greater by making more money, buying a bigger home, and selfishly building our image. We work our whole lives to build a sense of stability but once you have it, then what?  I rather be in the face of injustice rather than sitting back in a pew hearing about the ones who decided to do something about it. Life isn't measured by length but by worth. I can honestly say right now my life is worth living.