Nicaragua, my country.

  It has been three weeks since our return from this precious land. For a person of words, I find myself lacking when trying to capture the essence of the trip, the country, and the people I walked it with. I had never flown before. I knew not a soul on the team. And without fail, God proved Himself stronger. I didn't just survive - I glowed. I didn't want to come home. From my thank you letter...

"Dear friends and family, 
     Where to begin. I'm afraid words fail me when trying to adequately encapsulate my nine days in the beautiful country of Nicaragua. The best summary is that God took a nervous, inexperienced traveler and went above and beyond to prove Himself mighty and good. To give you an idea...
     On July 9^th at about 2 am, I was seriously questioning my judgment in choosing to do such a big, new thing all on my own. We were about to leave for the airport, and I was feeling foolish. However, I know beyond shadow of a doubt that He will never leave or forsake His own, and regardless of how the ensuing days unfolded, I was in good hands. Lo and behold, He allowed the team I served with to be the tangible expression of that promise. Turns out, I love flying, the forty strangers soon felt like family, and all glory goes to Him.

     Through our four clinic days in the village of Los Laureles, we saw 939 medical and 179 dental patients, dispensed 3,173 prescriptions and 279 pairs of glasses, entertained and witnessed to 225 children, saw 16 people recommit their lives to Christ, and rejoiced as 82 individuals chose eternal life for the first time. The statistics are impressive, but pale in comparison to the reality of being there firsthand – there's truly nothing like it. One can't really describe the delight of a mother about to see her unborn child on an ultrasound screen, something we take for granted in the US, or the amazement of a patient when told I could check his blood sugar right there, a task so easy and routine at hospitals here at home. As I write, there is such a longing to be back two time zones away, serving the physical needs of such a welcoming people, bearing witness to the One who sent us.

    The first day of clinic, we had three nurses (including myself) in triage to assess patients, and the lines were long. A med student graciously offered to come help, but we didn't have an extra translator for him to be paired with, so that night we prayed for just one more. The next morning, that one more arrived, ironically named Angel. Eighteen people became believers that day in triage, all of which made that choice at Nick and Angel's table, the one we almost didn't have. I love how God blows our expectations and desires out of the water, with gifts far beyond what we imagined or thought to ask. We spent the beginning and end of each day praising Him, with songs and prayers and stories of great things He has done. On Sunday and Wednesday evening, we attended church with the villagers, an experience one truly couldn't describe. Suffice it to say, Nicaraguans can sing and they know how to praise God! The first moments brought me nearly to tears, soaking in such incredible zeal in a language I do not know. On Wednesday, one of our very musically gifted translators talked me and another team member into singing before these hundreds of eternal companions, and it was incredible. Someone filmed a clip of the three of us – enjoy the small glimpse of why I miss Nicaragua so, though it fails to capture the best part: the sea of faces behind the camera. www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-y1mk7unSg. That night ended with an outstanding presentation of the gospel by a team member, that led to one of our pharmacy students accepting Christ as her Savior. Praise Him. The hymn we sang fit the week well.

     
   Serving as His ambassadors on Nicaraguan soil was a gift. We went to serve, and came away most vividly blessed ourselves. Through sickness and joy, cold showers and beautiful downpours, and ever so many bus rides, we became a team in His service. Goodbyes were incredibly difficult, especially to those so many states away – how mindboggling to think of these friends having been so recently strangers. The day before our departure, I stood overlooking Volcano Mombacho's foggy crater, surrounded by rainforest, 11,000 feet in the air, as a dear companion began to hum the melody “Our God is an awesome God...” - and I was yet again bowled over by His watchful care. He is awesome indeed. THANK YOU for the part you played in making this dream possible!"

   When I chose this summer to embark on a missions journey, it was with the thought that once an RN, it would be more difficult to do, so now was my chance. Funny what a few days of such a spiritually rich and welcoming environment can do to one's plans.. Now my thought is "Okay, how soon can I squeeze this in again?" because this trip most definitely will not be the last. What a privilege it has been thus far, and with Him as commander, I know such ventures will continue to be. Thank you!