Always Something New!

So I’ve lived here for a little over a year, and there are many things that have now become normal to me: seeing a family of 5 on a motorcycle or even bicycle, the constant honking of taxi and bus horns, the window washers and street vendors that I see at stop lights, and the garbage laying in the streets are just a few of those things that are now “normal” to me. But every now and then there is still something that I see that reminds me “I live in Nicaragua”. Dan and I were driving on his motorcycle the other night and we saw a small race in the street, there were three guys who were taking up a whole lane of a main road racing each other… how you might ask? …on foot? …on motorcycle? …in sports cars? …in trucks? … no … in wheelchairs! Who woulda thought?

Welcome to Nicaragua!

Newsletter: 2010 January/February

Here is my Newsletter for January/February enjoy!

2010 January Nicaragua Pictures

I have a lot of pictures that I “stole” from Julie Russell, one of my co-workers down here, I also have a bunch of pictures from the Oriental Market… Dan took these. The Oriental Market is a dangerous market here in Managua. They say you can by anything there. We have a lot of kids who come to our services from this market. To view my pictures, click here.

Who Am I Re-visited

Yesterday in staff meeting Jeremy said something that was along the lines of my previous blog, and struck me just as hard.  He said that as Christians we rarely lack faith or belief that God is big enough to do something.  We know that He parted the Red Sea, He turned water into wine, He rose from the dead!  We know that He is big enough.  But where we often times lack faith is in ourselves.  I know God can do something amazing, but I often don’t think He can do it through me.  I’m not sure if it’s lacking faith in myself, or not seeing myself as God sees me, or really lacking faith in Him and that He truely is able to use anyone and noone to complete His will, but I do know that the way I think has to change so I’ll be able to do what He’s asked me to do!

Who am I?

“I believe the doctrine of election, because I am quite certain that, if God had not chosen me, I should never have chosen Him; and I am sure He chose me before I was born, or else He never would have chosen me afterwards; and He must have elected me for reasons unknown to me, for I never could find any reason in myself why He should have looked upon me with special love“ – Charles Spurgeon

I just read this quote on another blog and it struck me to my core. This is explains so well how I’ve been feeling lately. I’m in this amazing position down here where many people know who I am. Every week I have kids run up to me and give me a hug with huge smiles, there are some girls who don’t want to leave my side. It’s such a humbling position to be in!

I have friends who often tell me that I’m special and thank me for being how I am. Sometimes they tell me that they don’t know how to show how much they appreciate my friendship. I don’t share this because I want to point out how awesome I am, I share it because I don’t understand it. I’m just me, broken before the cross of my Lord and Savior saying “use me, how can I share your love with others?” but not only am I broken, but I’m flawed, I make mistakes all the time!

The other day Jeremy shared a verse from Exodus with the staff and in the verse Moses said to God “Who am I [that I should do this great work for you]?” I hear ya Moses… who am I that God should use me? I’m no one special, and that’s exactly why God is using me! God is using someone who is no one so He will be glorified through the work. I’m just overwhelmed that He chose me to be His servant, that He allows me, with all my faults, to be his ambassador, to be His spokesperson.  I’m so thankful for the grace and mercy that God provides for me, and for all of us, each and every day.  I don’t know where I would be in this life if He hadn’t called me to Him, but thankfully I don’t have to think about that because He did, and after some resistance, I responded.  Now I’m able to walk through life with the assurance that God is with me, He is on myside, and that as long as I’m focused on Him, He will never let me fall.