Me and another Amigos missionary Steven moved into our new house a few weeks ago. Appropriately, it's called "Casa Rosita". Notice the graffiti out front. When I saw that some of the neighborhood kids were Rock N Roll fans, I knew I was home.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
First Nicaraguan Wedding
We knew we could be late because nothing starts on time here. Twenty minutes really means an hour and 3pm is actually 4pm. We were relieved when we arrived 45 minutes late and the bride was nowhere to be seen. The dust from the dirt road added the missing element to all of our clean clothes.
We patiently waited and she came walking down the road with her groom by her side.
Here we were, at a church in the middle of the woods with a dirt floor.
There was a service in progress that came to a stop when the bride and groom arrived. They marched the two up front and said a few words about marriage.
After the pastor had welcomed everyone and made a special announcement that there were "Gringos" present, the greeting began. One by one, everyone in attendance walked up front and gave both the bride and groom a big hug and a "Felizidades".
We don't need much to make us happy, and these two had found what little it takes. It seems almost everyday I meet another person who is happier and more fulfilled than the last. I am continually encouraged by the simple and humble lives that the people of Nicaragua lead. Stories like that of Belkie and Vanessa from my support video are so frequent. The Lord is refining my heart here.
It's comforting to know that the Lord knew where we would be today.
Acts 17
26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.
All that you see and experience is designed to bring you back to His feet. Embrace and enjoy this truth. He loves us enough to give us what really satisfies us. Himself.
More to come.
Joey
We patiently waited and she came walking down the road with her groom by her side.
Here we were, at a church in the middle of the woods with a dirt floor.
There was a service in progress that came to a stop when the bride and groom arrived. They marched the two up front and said a few words about marriage.
After the pastor had welcomed everyone and made a special announcement that there were "Gringos" present, the greeting began. One by one, everyone in attendance walked up front and gave both the bride and groom a big hug and a "Felizidades".
We don't need much to make us happy, and these two had found what little it takes. It seems almost everyday I meet another person who is happier and more fulfilled than the last. I am continually encouraged by the simple and humble lives that the people of Nicaragua lead. Stories like that of Belkie and Vanessa from my support video are so frequent. The Lord is refining my heart here.
It's comforting to know that the Lord knew where we would be today.
Acts 17
26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.
All that you see and experience is designed to bring you back to His feet. Embrace and enjoy this truth. He loves us enough to give us what really satisfies us. Himself.
More to come.
Joey
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
His light shines on El Chanco
We arrived with a group of eager teachers ready to jump in with games and crafts but no kids were anywhere in sight. Kelly and I took a walk through the village. One by one, kids started running towards us with excitement while their parents waved and smiled in the background. My words are falling short of doing justice to what our visits are like to this rural community. Most of these children, like Belkie and Vanessa from my previous post, have never stood under running water. The water they cook, wash clothes and drink from comes from a large barrel. What little they have has been paid for and walked many kilometers in each direction.
These are parents and children that now know us by name after having worked in their community for over a year and a half. They offer the only plastic chair they have for us to sit and visit with them. Pray that these conversations continue to move from horizontal to vertical; because He first loved us, we are compelled to love others. Very soon we will celebrate having clean running water right outside their doors.
These are parents and children that now know us by name after having worked in their community for over a year and a half. They offer the only plastic chair they have for us to sit and visit with them. Pray that these conversations continue to move from horizontal to vertical; because He first loved us, we are compelled to love others. Very soon we will celebrate having clean running water right outside their doors.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Settling in...
I've been permanently moved to Nicaragua for about 2 and a half weeks now. Just started on my second 2000ml bottle of water for the day, got one more to go to get my usual gallon and a half. It's 92 today. Friends, enjoy your winter.
The first week I was here, me Jeremy and Steven, 2 other full time missionaries down here, went on a cross-country exploration trip. Jeremy heads up a program called Mission Adventures. We were searching new terrain for rock-climbing, camping and other adventurous excursions for future mission groups. It took us 5 days to get across to the east coast and back. Four of those nights were spent at random Nicaraguan's farms along the way. We were sleeping amongst piglets, calves, chickens and ducks al night. It was quite an experience.
We are preparing for our first wave of groups. All of March Casa Blanca will be full of short-term mission groups.
Last night all of the boys cooked a huge valentine's dinner for the girls. It may go down as the best meal in Chinandega ever.
More Soon.
Joey
The first week I was here, me Jeremy and Steven, 2 other full time missionaries down here, went on a cross-country exploration trip. Jeremy heads up a program called Mission Adventures. We were searching new terrain for rock-climbing, camping and other adventurous excursions for future mission groups. It took us 5 days to get across to the east coast and back. Four of those nights were spent at random Nicaraguan's farms along the way. We were sleeping amongst piglets, calves, chickens and ducks al night. It was quite an experience.
We are preparing for our first wave of groups. All of March Casa Blanca will be full of short-term mission groups.
Last night all of the boys cooked a huge valentine's dinner for the girls. It may go down as the best meal in Chinandega ever.
More Soon.
Joey
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
....packing my bags...
I am currently stuffing my life into 2 bags and a carry-on.
See you soon Nica.
See you soon Nica.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
take a look around
"Lift up your eyes on high and see who has created these stars, the One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, not one of them is missing." Isaiah 40:26
We ought to be steadily reminded and encouraged of his great love for us from all that we see. It is clearly evident in the Bible that God created the world to reflect his story for us. The gospel is displayed continuously throughout creation! Jesus taught the gospel in parables with earthly examples about harvesting crops, mercy rising like the sun, flowers blooming and many many others. He had endless creative power when presenting His message of life and the gospel, and he used examples from things that we see all around us. He created this world to reflect Himself. Psalm 19 says that the heavens declare his glory...day after day they pour forth speech, night after night they reveal knowledge! He created this world to reflect Himself. When we stand at the grand canyon and see the massive cuts in the earth stretch farther than our eyes can see, we think of Him and how endless and deep and long and unending his love is for us! The sun rises in the morning and so does his mercy for us (Lamentations 3:23).
His reflection in His creation continues far beyond landscapes and picturesque sunrises. He created in us the many facets of his personality. We were created in His image (Genesis 1:27), so that we might reflect His love to each other. Every good thing you see in your neighbor is a reflection of the one who created you and knows you better than you know yourself.
I have been praying recently that God would uproot the distorted images I have of Him in my mind. I want to see God for who he is, not what I have made Him out to be. If He is a father to the fatherless and a shelter from the storm and our stay and our hope and the ultimate encourager that the Bible says He is, I want to see Him as that. I want to pray to and trust in a God that I truly embrace as a friend, a father and a companion. Through answering my prayer, He has opened my eyes to see His character, love, encouragement, and faithfulness being directly fulfilled by people in my life. His unwavering and unconditional love to me is displayed through his children here on earth. If the whole world was created for His glory, and it reflects His glory, then so do we. We are his love and compassion to each other here on earth.
Lets embrace each other as Christ does us. Love and encourage each other along the way, just as He continuously pursues us.
He loves us regardless of what we've done, and despite what we will do. He doesn't credit His love to us based on what we will become for him someday in the future. This is the kind of love we all seek on earth, because it is the Love that we were created for!
Show your friends and neighbors that unconditional, unwavering, committed, lay down your life kind of love; we will be so positively affected that we will be left with no other options but to surrender daily to what He has been pursuing us with since before we were born. Unending like the heavens and deeper than the oceans is His love for us. Take a look around and embrace what He has done for you. He has displayed himself in all of creation, in the world and in each other.
We ought to be steadily reminded and encouraged of his great love for us from all that we see. It is clearly evident in the Bible that God created the world to reflect his story for us. The gospel is displayed continuously throughout creation! Jesus taught the gospel in parables with earthly examples about harvesting crops, mercy rising like the sun, flowers blooming and many many others. He had endless creative power when presenting His message of life and the gospel, and he used examples from things that we see all around us. He created this world to reflect Himself. Psalm 19 says that the heavens declare his glory...day after day they pour forth speech, night after night they reveal knowledge! He created this world to reflect Himself. When we stand at the grand canyon and see the massive cuts in the earth stretch farther than our eyes can see, we think of Him and how endless and deep and long and unending his love is for us! The sun rises in the morning and so does his mercy for us (Lamentations 3:23).
His reflection in His creation continues far beyond landscapes and picturesque sunrises. He created in us the many facets of his personality. We were created in His image (Genesis 1:27), so that we might reflect His love to each other. Every good thing you see in your neighbor is a reflection of the one who created you and knows you better than you know yourself.
I have been praying recently that God would uproot the distorted images I have of Him in my mind. I want to see God for who he is, not what I have made Him out to be. If He is a father to the fatherless and a shelter from the storm and our stay and our hope and the ultimate encourager that the Bible says He is, I want to see Him as that. I want to pray to and trust in a God that I truly embrace as a friend, a father and a companion. Through answering my prayer, He has opened my eyes to see His character, love, encouragement, and faithfulness being directly fulfilled by people in my life. His unwavering and unconditional love to me is displayed through his children here on earth. If the whole world was created for His glory, and it reflects His glory, then so do we. We are his love and compassion to each other here on earth.
Lets embrace each other as Christ does us. Love and encourage each other along the way, just as He continuously pursues us.
He loves us regardless of what we've done, and despite what we will do. He doesn't credit His love to us based on what we will become for him someday in the future. This is the kind of love we all seek on earth, because it is the Love that we were created for!
Show your friends and neighbors that unconditional, unwavering, committed, lay down your life kind of love; we will be so positively affected that we will be left with no other options but to surrender daily to what He has been pursuing us with since before we were born. Unending like the heavens and deeper than the oceans is His love for us. Take a look around and embrace what He has done for you. He has displayed himself in all of creation, in the world and in each other.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
2 weeks, still need strings!
If you or anyone you know wants to donate guitar strings let me know. That is the last thing we need before I go.
joey@amigosforchrist.org
joey@amigosforchrist.org
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
"...ain't you goin' to Mexico soon?"
The day after my birthday I'll be headed down to Nicaragua for good. Most of you I won't see until September when I come home for our month of fundraising. For those who are coming down to visit and join in with what's going on, I'll be getting your musty beds ready.
I have been praying a very consistent prayer for the next year. I hope you'll join with me.
Colossians 3 has been on my mind and heart for the last year and encompasses what I have been praying for the American missionaries I'll be joining as well as the Nicaraguans we'll be working with. That "...the peace of Christ will rule in our hearts...." I could stop here and have enough to dwell on for the year but the passage goes on. It continues with "...let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom." I can't think of a better place to start. One thing the Lord has confirmed in my heart through the years is the simplicity of what he has called us to do. I often end seasons of life in confusion and evaluation and am often brought back to the simple truths that saved me. That is, He is Lord and He is the only thing that satisfies. So pray with me that we would start and end our days right there. His peace ruling in our hearts is where we need to be focused before any work is done. We are worshipers before we are workers. I pray that all of us find ourselves more often in the role of Mary, sitting at Jesus' feet, seeking our Savior for satisfaction and identity. His design will bring us back to his feet whether we are willing or not. He is jealous for our attention and His glory. Let us walk with Him and surrender our hearts and lives to the satisfaction and meaning that we were created for from the start. That "...His peace would rule in our hearts…", first and foremost. Once the creator has His right place in our hearts the passage goes on to say, "...whatever you do, do it with your whole heart as though you are working for the Lord, not for men."
Father, fill our cups with the endless love and satisfaction of You. That your peace will rule in our hearts in the morning and the evening so that all we do, we do with our whole hearts, working for You.
See y'all across the border.
Joey
I have been praying a very consistent prayer for the next year. I hope you'll join with me.
Colossians 3 has been on my mind and heart for the last year and encompasses what I have been praying for the American missionaries I'll be joining as well as the Nicaraguans we'll be working with. That "...the peace of Christ will rule in our hearts...." I could stop here and have enough to dwell on for the year but the passage goes on. It continues with "...let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom." I can't think of a better place to start. One thing the Lord has confirmed in my heart through the years is the simplicity of what he has called us to do. I often end seasons of life in confusion and evaluation and am often brought back to the simple truths that saved me. That is, He is Lord and He is the only thing that satisfies. So pray with me that we would start and end our days right there. His peace ruling in our hearts is where we need to be focused before any work is done. We are worshipers before we are workers. I pray that all of us find ourselves more often in the role of Mary, sitting at Jesus' feet, seeking our Savior for satisfaction and identity. His design will bring us back to his feet whether we are willing or not. He is jealous for our attention and His glory. Let us walk with Him and surrender our hearts and lives to the satisfaction and meaning that we were created for from the start. That "...His peace would rule in our hearts…", first and foremost. Once the creator has His right place in our hearts the passage goes on to say, "...whatever you do, do it with your whole heart as though you are working for the Lord, not for men."
Father, fill our cups with the endless love and satisfaction of You. That your peace will rule in our hearts in the morning and the evening so that all we do, we do with our whole hearts, working for You.
See y'all across the border.
Joey
Friday, December 10, 2010
Merry Christmas!
Well, it's getting close. I am less than 2 months away from moving to Nicaragua. I have been starting to gather things that I will use over the next year. Someone asked me what I needed other than financial and prayer support. So, I decided it would be a good idea to compile a small list. If you have any of these things or know someone who does, please let me know. I have no budget, other than what is raised for me to live on to buy these things, and we definitely need them.
If you have any questions, send me an email at joey@amigosforchrist.org
We can also work out a tax-deductible receipt for all gifts.
Thanks everyone.
Merry Christmas.
Joey
Needs List
New packs of acoustic guitar strings (30 packs)
Any new/used sound equipment from mics and stands to cables and connectors
Beginner used acoustic guitars for guitar lessons. (up to 10 GUITARS)
9V batteries (10 batteries)
If you have any questions, send me an email at joey@amigosforchrist.org
We can also work out a tax-deductible receipt for all gifts.
Thanks everyone.
Merry Christmas.
Joey
Needs List
New packs of acoustic guitar strings (30 packs)
Any new/used sound equipment from mics and stands to cables and connectors
Beginner used acoustic guitars for guitar lessons. (up to 10 GUITARS)
9V batteries (10 batteries)
Thursday, November 18, 2010
This video says it all
Last week one of my best friends, Matt Giesler, shot a video for me to better articulate what my time in Nicaragua was like and what it's going to be. Please take 15 minutes to watch this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTvAPCuhTOk
Love Y'all.
Joey
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTvAPCuhTOk
Love Y'all.
Joey
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Support info
I need to raise support for my first year in Nicaragua. My goal is $8,000, this will cover my total living expenses and flights for a full year. I will be home over the next few months working hard to pay towards this goal out of my own pocket but will still need a great amount of help.
In addition, I know the Lord will provide the money but please add me to your prayer list over the next year. Specifically you can pray,
That God would open and prepare the hearts of the short term American groups that will come down
That walls will be broken down between different denominations and walks of life in the villages we are planning "worship nights" in, so the body of Christ will worship and grow together as one in Nicaragua.
My support website is amigosforchrist.org/joeymcginn
More to come.
Joey
In addition, I know the Lord will provide the money but please add me to your prayer list over the next year. Specifically you can pray,
That God would open and prepare the hearts of the short term American groups that will come down
That walls will be broken down between different denominations and walks of life in the villages we are planning "worship nights" in, so the body of Christ will worship and grow together as one in Nicaragua.
My support website is amigosforchrist.org/joeymcginn
More to come.
Joey
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Moving to Nicaragua
My second to last post about Belkie and her sister receiving clean water was an answered prayer for me about my future with Amigos for Christ. Let me explain.
Back in January of this year while job hunting, I prayed very specifically for the Lord to open doors for me to lead worship again. All I knew is that the happiest and most fulfilled I had ever been was when I was actively involved in ministry, specifically, leading worship. So my prayer was simply, "Lord, please open these doors again."
Many of you know from reading this blog early on that my former roommate Jeremy Sutton had asked me to come down repeatedly through the years for a visit to see what Amigos for Christ was all about. Finally, my circumstances worked out that I could spend 4 months over the summer in Nicaragua working with Amigos for Christ, LEADING WORSHIP. When I started to fall in love with this place and it's people, I asked the Lord for something that would confirm within me that I was suppossed to take the open offer to move here and work with an amazing organization. That confirmation was the day Belkie and her sister received clean water. Not only was it what I prayed for, but it changed my life forever, as did many other things from my visit. What I experienced this summer, no one could ever have prepared me for. The only way I know how to express in writing is that my life changed forever. I came alive in a different way than I ever had before. This is not an overstatement. The Lord renewed in me a passion to see people hear, receive and be changed by the gospel. This friends, is what we were meant for, and after seeing it on a continual basis over the summer, I knew I wanted more.
This is the simplest way I know how to describe what happened to me. There are stories throughout this blog and that hopefully we will share in person one day that articulate this better but I am content for now by saying that the gospel is changing lives in Nicaragua, both for visiting Americans and Nicaraguans and I want to be here to continue to see it make this place flourish.
So with the treasure I found here, I'm selling what I have left and making this place my home for a while. As far as time goes, I am approaching this as I would a new employer. I have no plans to leave anytime soon. My encouragement for my supporters from this summer is to check out our website to create an awareness of what's going on here and what we do at amigosforchrist.org Also click on follow to the right to follow my blog for updates and read back a few entries to see what it was like for me this summer. The Lord is moving in Chinandega, Nicaragua and I just want to be here to see Him continue to change lives. I'm grateful He's allowing me to do that.
More to come.
Joey
Back in January of this year while job hunting, I prayed very specifically for the Lord to open doors for me to lead worship again. All I knew is that the happiest and most fulfilled I had ever been was when I was actively involved in ministry, specifically, leading worship. So my prayer was simply, "Lord, please open these doors again."
Many of you know from reading this blog early on that my former roommate Jeremy Sutton had asked me to come down repeatedly through the years for a visit to see what Amigos for Christ was all about. Finally, my circumstances worked out that I could spend 4 months over the summer in Nicaragua working with Amigos for Christ, LEADING WORSHIP. When I started to fall in love with this place and it's people, I asked the Lord for something that would confirm within me that I was suppossed to take the open offer to move here and work with an amazing organization. That confirmation was the day Belkie and her sister received clean water. Not only was it what I prayed for, but it changed my life forever, as did many other things from my visit. What I experienced this summer, no one could ever have prepared me for. The only way I know how to express in writing is that my life changed forever. I came alive in a different way than I ever had before. This is not an overstatement. The Lord renewed in me a passion to see people hear, receive and be changed by the gospel. This friends, is what we were meant for, and after seeing it on a continual basis over the summer, I knew I wanted more.
This is the simplest way I know how to describe what happened to me. There are stories throughout this blog and that hopefully we will share in person one day that articulate this better but I am content for now by saying that the gospel is changing lives in Nicaragua, both for visiting Americans and Nicaraguans and I want to be here to continue to see it make this place flourish.
So with the treasure I found here, I'm selling what I have left and making this place my home for a while. As far as time goes, I am approaching this as I would a new employer. I have no plans to leave anytime soon. My encouragement for my supporters from this summer is to check out our website to create an awareness of what's going on here and what we do at amigosforchrist.org Also click on follow to the right to follow my blog for updates and read back a few entries to see what it was like for me this summer. The Lord is moving in Chinandega, Nicaragua and I just want to be here to see Him continue to change lives. I'm grateful He's allowing me to do that.
More to come.
Joey
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Surgical endeavors
A surgical team from Atlanta is here this week. 40 Nicaraguan women will receive OB-GYN related surgeries over the next 3 days, at no cost to them. The doctors were gracious enough to let some of us gown up and sit in on a few operations. One of the cooler things I've ever experienced.
The surgery I witnessed from the initial incision to the stitching up was a hysterectomy. Intense. Here's some pics.
That's an opened abdominal cavity behind me...
More to come.
Joey
The surgery I witnessed from the initial incision to the stitching up was a hysterectomy. Intense. Here's some pics.
That's an opened abdominal cavity behind me...
More to come.
Joey
Location:Chinandega
Friday, August 20, 2010
Como una fuenta
Watch these two short clips before reading below.
The shirtless child is Belkie. She and her younger sister showed up to the school in the village for a craft project we were doing with all the kids. The village is called 'El Chanco' and they have no water access for miles. Belkie and her sister Kristin walked up wearing only underwear and covered in dirt from head to toe. I spent the next hour and a half showing them how to do their crafts. Belkie continually looked up and smiled at me as she leaned on my side while working on our crafts. Towards the end, I noticed Belkie & Kristin eating glue leftover from the crafts. In broken Spanish I promised them real food if they would follow me back to the bus.
I have never been so broken for another person in my entire life. And I almost regret trying to post this because a few sentences will not do justice to describe how overwhelmed and taken I was by these two little girls.
The Lord is at work here. In these people and in all of the hearts of us visiting "gringos". I will never forget today and although a blog post does little justice for something like this, I had to share what God allowed me to experience.
We have recently drilled a well for El Chanco and as soon as the piping is finished, water will be available in the village for the first time. We took a group from
The village out there today to see the well, to see the hope that lies soon ahead. Most of them have never experienced running water, including Belkie and Kristin.
Right after Belkie and Kristin took their first showers ever, we all shared peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that I had packed for lunch.
....with their finished crafts...
Running water!
More to come.
Joey
The shirtless child is Belkie. She and her younger sister showed up to the school in the village for a craft project we were doing with all the kids. The village is called 'El Chanco' and they have no water access for miles. Belkie and her sister Kristin walked up wearing only underwear and covered in dirt from head to toe. I spent the next hour and a half showing them how to do their crafts. Belkie continually looked up and smiled at me as she leaned on my side while working on our crafts. Towards the end, I noticed Belkie & Kristin eating glue leftover from the crafts. In broken Spanish I promised them real food if they would follow me back to the bus.
I have never been so broken for another person in my entire life. And I almost regret trying to post this because a few sentences will not do justice to describe how overwhelmed and taken I was by these two little girls.
The Lord is at work here. In these people and in all of the hearts of us visiting "gringos". I will never forget today and although a blog post does little justice for something like this, I had to share what God allowed me to experience.
We have recently drilled a well for El Chanco and as soon as the piping is finished, water will be available in the village for the first time. We took a group from
The village out there today to see the well, to see the hope that lies soon ahead. Most of them have never experienced running water, including Belkie and Kristin.
Right after Belkie and Kristin took their first showers ever, we all shared peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that I had packed for lunch.
....with their finished crafts...
Running water!
More to come.
Joey
Location:El Chanco
Monday, August 16, 2010
Firecrappers
Home made fireworks that can be purchased from a dude in his living room are always better...
Location:Casa Blanca
Sunday, August 15, 2010
One Body of Christ
I've been practicing with a band that plays at a church in town. This Thursday, we will be hosting a community-wide worship service in the village of Villa Catalina. This is the first time any type of service or worship has been offered to multiple denominations and to people on different levels of their spiritual journey. We are preparing to make it a special event done with excellence.
Please pray Colossians 3:11-12 with us trusting that God will unite believers together.
Col 3:11-12 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
There has been a vision from the Lord in many of our hearts that Villa Catalina would spiritually move forward together as a community, as one body of Christ.
Also, say a prayer for Zach Ivie. He's coming down tomorrow for 10 days and we're trusting the Lord for this to be an incredible trip for him.
I'll post pictures from the worship service soon after.
More soon,
Joey
Please pray Colossians 3:11-12 with us trusting that God will unite believers together.
Col 3:11-12 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
There has been a vision from the Lord in many of our hearts that Villa Catalina would spiritually move forward together as a community, as one body of Christ.
Also, say a prayer for Zach Ivie. He's coming down tomorrow for 10 days and we're trusting the Lord for this to be an incredible trip for him.
I'll post pictures from the worship service soon after.
More soon,
Joey
Location:Chinandega
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Where's my poncho?
The Lord is allowing great things to happen in Nicaragua this summer. Many mission trip participants have given their lives to the Lord. The village of "El Chanco" will be receiving clean water for the first time from the latest well that our well team has drilled. Only 10 houses remain from our goal of 50. These houses will be new homes for people who used to live in the city dump. And when the common room of Casa Blanca floods, we make the most of it.
We have 2 more groups after this week who will come down for short term trips. One of these is a general surgery group. Expect updates from the O.R.
Love Y'all.
More to come,
Joey
Location:Casa Blanca
Monday, July 19, 2010
Pray
¨Casa Blanca¨ is hosting over 80 people this week. Three separate groups from Georgia, Indiana and California are all down for a week trip.
As I’ve posted previously, we are working to convince people to move out of the dump and start a healthier and more promising lifestyle.
The current residents of the dump hold on to security just like we all do. They are used to digging through trash all week to earn $5 just to survive. Literally, this barely allows them to survive.
Pray that this cycle will be broken by the power of the Lord. Sin is persistant. No matter how convincing we may try to be, or how hopeful a future outside of the slums may look, the sin of holding onto simple securities will keep families from moving out of the dump.
We are currently building 50 new houses and the families are ready to move in. We will start on 50 more when those are done in a few months. Pray for the families that will move into the next 50. Pray that the Lord would start moving in their hearts now and that they would be receive the truth of the gospel and start a life of hope and of promise.
As I’ve posted previously, we are working to convince people to move out of the dump and start a healthier and more promising lifestyle.
The current residents of the dump hold on to security just like we all do. They are used to digging through trash all week to earn $5 just to survive. Literally, this barely allows them to survive.
Pray that this cycle will be broken by the power of the Lord. Sin is persistant. No matter how convincing we may try to be, or how hopeful a future outside of the slums may look, the sin of holding onto simple securities will keep families from moving out of the dump.
We are currently building 50 new houses and the families are ready to move in. We will start on 50 more when those are done in a few months. Pray for the families that will move into the next 50. Pray that the Lord would start moving in their hearts now and that they would be receive the truth of the gospel and start a life of hope and of promise.
Location:Chinandega
Friday, July 16, 2010
Serving His Poor
Nicaragua continues to surprise me.
In preparation for my trip, mentally I assumed that stepping off the plane into a 3rd world environment would be much like it was the last time I had done it several years before. My assumptions for this trip were turned upside down.
I have learned a more intense meaning of the last part of Colossians 3 where we are told to work as for the Lord and not for man, not seeking an earthly reward. And if we were to seek our earthly reward, we would receive it in full. Meaning, the short-lived gratification of working for men rather than God would come and go quickly with no lasting satisfaction. A thank you comes and goes in seconds, but wholeness in the Lord is what we were created for.
It becomes natural in our minds, for example, to dig a trench for a water line or mix cement for the foundation of a house and expect and seek gratitude from those directly receiving our efforts. We find that happens very rarely here. We are quickly brought to moments of examination after long days of work in the hot sun, laboring for those in need, with sometimes no thanks or pats on the back. Was I working hard and diligently in the Nicaraguan sun all day for the Lord that he would be pleased with my efforts to love those in need by meeting their basic needs, or, was I seeking special thanks from the soon to be residents of the house we were building? The Lord does provide relationships and conversations from those who are truly grateful for your time and efforts. What I have found for me is that He does it just enough for me to continually be in a place where I have to seek Him for what really will fill my cup. Ha… Just as He designed it. Regardless of how our efforts are received by those in need, we are called to love and serve and give to them either way. This is why Paul told the Colossians not to put their efforts and work directed towards peers, but directed towards heaven. Paul knew very well what service and giving of himself with no thanks or immediate reward was like. He also knew that if we worked to please and be lifted high for our efforts, we would be working for earthly rewards and nothing eternal. We would be left empty. Working for the Lord is what satisfies us. His design always brings us back to Him, back to His feet, seeking Him as our reward.
He is our reward for righteousness. We need not to be looking for blessings in the form of money, security, health, and prosperity. Rather, Him blessing us with Himself. It is, Him satisfying our hearts in Him. This friends is what we were created for. This is what fills our hearts to the brim and overflows to those around us. Him. His very presence in our lives is the only blessing we should be seeking. The rest of what we need will be taken care of.
Seek the Lord because you love Him, not because you expect or need something.
We are not there, so we pray for Him to bring us there.
Pray Colossians 3:23-25 for us. He is teaching us to depend on Him. We need to be reminded daily who we are working for, and as verse 24 says, who we are really serving. Him.
More to come
Joey
In preparation for my trip, mentally I assumed that stepping off the plane into a 3rd world environment would be much like it was the last time I had done it several years before. My assumptions for this trip were turned upside down.
I have learned a more intense meaning of the last part of Colossians 3 where we are told to work as for the Lord and not for man, not seeking an earthly reward. And if we were to seek our earthly reward, we would receive it in full. Meaning, the short-lived gratification of working for men rather than God would come and go quickly with no lasting satisfaction. A thank you comes and goes in seconds, but wholeness in the Lord is what we were created for.
It becomes natural in our minds, for example, to dig a trench for a water line or mix cement for the foundation of a house and expect and seek gratitude from those directly receiving our efforts. We find that happens very rarely here. We are quickly brought to moments of examination after long days of work in the hot sun, laboring for those in need, with sometimes no thanks or pats on the back. Was I working hard and diligently in the Nicaraguan sun all day for the Lord that he would be pleased with my efforts to love those in need by meeting their basic needs, or, was I seeking special thanks from the soon to be residents of the house we were building? The Lord does provide relationships and conversations from those who are truly grateful for your time and efforts. What I have found for me is that He does it just enough for me to continually be in a place where I have to seek Him for what really will fill my cup. Ha… Just as He designed it. Regardless of how our efforts are received by those in need, we are called to love and serve and give to them either way. This is why Paul told the Colossians not to put their efforts and work directed towards peers, but directed towards heaven. Paul knew very well what service and giving of himself with no thanks or immediate reward was like. He also knew that if we worked to please and be lifted high for our efforts, we would be working for earthly rewards and nothing eternal. We would be left empty. Working for the Lord is what satisfies us. His design always brings us back to Him, back to His feet, seeking Him as our reward.
He is our reward for righteousness. We need not to be looking for blessings in the form of money, security, health, and prosperity. Rather, Him blessing us with Himself. It is, Him satisfying our hearts in Him. This friends is what we were created for. This is what fills our hearts to the brim and overflows to those around us. Him. His very presence in our lives is the only blessing we should be seeking. The rest of what we need will be taken care of.
Seek the Lord because you love Him, not because you expect or need something.
We are not there, so we pray for Him to bring us there.
Pray Colossians 3:23-25 for us. He is teaching us to depend on Him. We need to be reminded daily who we are working for, and as verse 24 says, who we are really serving. Him.
More to come
Joey
Location:Chinandega
Friday, July 2, 2010
This lifevest doesn't fit...
We just got home from a rediculous venture. This type of thing is begging for lawsuits in the States. They don't even know what that is down here so if you pay a guide $10, they'll take you to a canyon to float/tube down it no matter how high the water is.
Yours truly couldn't fit in a lifevest so when the tiny Nicaraguan man helped me down the last ledge and ancle deep into the class 3 rapid and said, "¿peude nadar?"....I said, yes, I can swim! And before I could realize what had happened I found myself gasping for air as I was floating down white water rapids, feet first with my stomach to the sky. It was after this quick zip through the water that I demanded an innertube. Yes, an innertube. I didn't want to float down the WHITE WATER RAPIDS without a raft or lifevest so I was given an innertube...an innertube for class 3 rapids! (it was incredible)
A four hour guided trip turned into five and a half because the water was so high. We were continually getting out of the water and hiking along the sides to avoid rapids that looked like they should have been featured in the olympics.
Remind me to tell you more when I see you and we are eating cheese dip together sometime in the near future. This is the most rediculous thing I have ever done.
Not only was this an adventurous trip, but a beautiful one. Did I mention the river was at the bottom of a canyon? There were a few relaxing spots along the way. This was one of them
Everyone had to/(got to) jump off a cliff about 15 feet above the water. We walked up and around a rapid that was too rough to ride and had to jump back in here.
Yeah.
There were many parts of th canyon where the river narrowed to less than 10 feet wide. Keep in mind, this is a stock photo from a Nica travel website. Again, we weren't in rafts, we were in tubes...
I may have swam down this one. I don't know, it's all a blur right now.
All 30 of us made it back safely with just a few minor scratches. What a day.
More to come
Joey
Yours truly couldn't fit in a lifevest so when the tiny Nicaraguan man helped me down the last ledge and ancle deep into the class 3 rapid and said, "¿peude nadar?"....I said, yes, I can swim! And before I could realize what had happened I found myself gasping for air as I was floating down white water rapids, feet first with my stomach to the sky. It was after this quick zip through the water that I demanded an innertube. Yes, an innertube. I didn't want to float down the WHITE WATER RAPIDS without a raft or lifevest so I was given an innertube...an innertube for class 3 rapids! (it was incredible)
A four hour guided trip turned into five and a half because the water was so high. We were continually getting out of the water and hiking along the sides to avoid rapids that looked like they should have been featured in the olympics.
Remind me to tell you more when I see you and we are eating cheese dip together sometime in the near future. This is the most rediculous thing I have ever done.
Not only was this an adventurous trip, but a beautiful one. Did I mention the river was at the bottom of a canyon? There were a few relaxing spots along the way. This was one of them
Everyone had to/(got to) jump off a cliff about 15 feet above the water. We walked up and around a rapid that was too rough to ride and had to jump back in here.
Yeah.
There were many parts of th canyon where the river narrowed to less than 10 feet wide. Keep in mind, this is a stock photo from a Nica travel website. Again, we weren't in rafts, we were in tubes...
I may have swam down this one. I don't know, it's all a blur right now.
All 30 of us made it back safely with just a few minor scratches. What a day.
More to come
Joey
Location:Somoto Canyon
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