Week 3 Update!

Week 3:                                                                                    (1/17/2012)

Another week in the books… This week has been an overall good week filled with exploring towns and personal examination.  God has convicted me about staying positive even in trying times.  It’s a struggle sometimes, but I’m on a journey to find the best in every situation.  My time in Nica has been and will continue to be a life changing experience for me.  God is showing himself faithful and is teaching me more than I ever could have imagined.

I recently finished a devotion called Sun Stand Still by Steven Furtick, a pastor out of Charlotte, NC.  This book was all about having audacious faith and expecting God to do the impossible.  My favorite line from the book is, “If the size of your vision isn’t intimidating to you, there’s a good chance it is insulting to God!”  I’m currently working on putting together my favorite parts of the book into one brief devotion.  I will post it in the next coming weeks in hope that it may be a blessing to you all as well.

Being in Nica makes me:

1.     Grateful for all I have in USA

2.     Slow down my lifestyle a lot

3.     Contemplate my past, present, & future

4.     Rely on God on a daily basis

5.     Figure out unconventional ways to live

6.     Forget about the name-brand items..I’m in a land of no judgement, (so nice!)

I’ve learned a ton here, but I still have an up-hill battle.  I am meeting with a lady tomorrow about the current sports situation here in Limon and Las Salinas.  I’m not sure what to expect, but excited to see how I can serve the community.  I am also praying about a potential opportunity I might have here in Nica in the future.  I will update you on that in the future if it is God’s Will to happen!

God Bless!  

Beauty of Nicaragua

View from Clinic door.
Where I usually use the internet, blog, & skype

La Playa Guasacate...On the other side of this rock is my favorite
place in Nica!...There's a tide pool there with the best views!

While I hate most the animals here, this toro is a beast! 

This is the book I've been walking through...more info to come!

Manuelito, my favorite 7 year old!

Tiger pride in Nica!!!

Week 2 Update

Week 2:                                                                                               1/10/12

I’ve now been in Nicaragua for 2 full weeks.  The initial shock has worn off and now I’m starting to soak it all in.  My Spanish in coming along…slowly but steady.  My family loves teaching me and Yanerra at the clinic loves when I practice with her. 

God’s timing is perfect!  He knows what I need at exactly the right time.  Last week I was extremely lonely and discouraged.  To my surprise, we had a visitor at the house this week.  Sophia, a past intern that lived in the room I’m living in, was coming down for a week to visit the family.  She was a God-send!!!  Throughout the week Sophia encouraged me and explained to me everything about the culture and family here.  She probably got tired of all my questions, but she will never know how thankful I was to have her here this week.

This week has been full of new experiences:

1)    I tried surfing for the 1^st time (not too good at that)

2)    1^st bike crash here in Nica (I’m sure it wont be the last)

3)    1^st hour long bike rides at night by myself to watch NCAA football games

4)    1^st sunset on beach

5)    1^st week working at the clinic

6)    1^st encounter with special needs kids (1 with Down Syndrome, 1 with C.P)

7)    1^st sunburn of trip (1^st of many…I’m determined to come back darker)

Work has officially started at the clinic.  The group from Rutgers has come and gone.  We got a new group here from University of Texas yesterday.  Most weeks when groups are here I will be helping out with them, but on off weeks, I will be working on my projects.  Caroline and I finally sat down and talked about potential projects, which will probably include:

1)    I will be working with a lady in the community to organize and start a sports program in the town.  We will set up soccer and softball leagues for the kids to become active in during the next couple of months.  Katie, a previous intern, somewhat began planning with the lady at the biblioteca, but Katie only stayed in Nica for a month.  This is something that will be sustainable even when I am gone.

2)    Caroline and I also want to start a “youth group” here as well.  We will be going into the schools (once they are back in from summer break) and seeking out the most responsible kids.  We will work with these kids to become role models for the other kids in order for them to go back and teach them as well.  Caroline and I will come up with a curriculum for the program and figure out how to implement it.  The curriculum will of course be health related and encourage them to make smart choices in order to maximize their future. 

These projects are still in the beginning stages.  I know in some way I will incorporate sex ed (HIV prevention and pregnancy prevention) as well as helping kids with special needs.  I will have plenty of time next week to think about my projects and figure out how to implement them.

This week has been a soul-searching week.  God is showing me how truly strong and independent I truly am.  I often think how comfortable I could be at home, in my comfort zone (that thought has crossed my mind so much this past week).  I happened to stumble upon a quote by Perry Noble that said,   

“A person who always backs down from challenging situations will never step into the “greater things” that God has for them.”

Since I’ve been here I’ve said “yes” to every opportunity that has come my way.  I am putting myself out there and just letting things happen.  I’m gonna live up this experience and get as much out of this as possible.  This will be a life-changing experience!!!

“There is no one like our God.  For Greater things have yet to come…Greater things are still to be done in this city” –Lyrics from “God of this City” by Chris Tomlin-

God Bless!

My Prayer for 2012

I follow NewSprings' Perry Noble's Blog...This post hit me to the core, so I hope it challenges you as well!  Make 2012 a year to remember!  God Bless

-Matt-

Top Ten Reasons 2012 Is Going To Be Your Best Ministry Year Ever

January 4, 2012    www.perrynoble.com

#1 – You are going to spend more time on your face before God than on facebook, blogs and twitter…and in doing so are going to hear God’s voice and do what He says!

#2 – You are going to be less critical of other people who don’t think just like you and actually see what you can learn from them.

#3 – You are going to stop listening to people who want to do nothing but attack you and tear you down but actually care nothing about you, your family or your church.

#4 – You are going to start listening to people who love Jesus, love your church and love you…and when they push back on you in love you are not going to label them as “disloyal” but rather open yourself to the possibility that Jesus may be using them to speak to you.

#5 – You are going to start loving your people rather than demanding that they love you.

#6 – You are going to take bigger steps of faith than you have ever take before…understanding that when you begin to celebrate the past more than you anticipate the future, it’s OVER!

#7 – You are going to quit looking for handouts and drop the entitlement mindset and actually pay the price both personally and as a church to grow in your understanding of leadership.

#8 – You are going to quit trying to pray away what God has directly told you to deal with.

#9 – You are going to stop complaining about all of the staff and resources that you do not have and START being grateful to God for what He has given you…and then doing your best to honor Him!

#10 – You are going to stop comparing yourself to others and actually find your identity in the fact that Jesus saved you, called you, equipped you and is using you rather than how many people showed up to your church this past Sunday!

Mi Casa de Las Salinas, Nicaragua

Mi Casa de Nicaragua

View from the front porch

Mi cama

Salon 

Cocina

La Playa

Week 1 Update

Week 1:                                                                                                           1/3/2012

Well I’ve been in Nicaragua for one week now.  This has been an extremely challenging week.  I’ve been dropped in the middle of a third world country where I essentially know nothing about the people, their language, and their culture.  I have spent my first 7 days learning as much as I can.  I am studying Spanish for many hours everyday and simply observing as much as possible.  Once I learn the language, my day-to-day life will be much easier.

The family I am staying with is awesome.  I live with Marcia, her four kids, Adolfo, Eveling, Yoiseling, and Karen, her daughter’s boyfriend, Julio and their 2 children, Manuelito and baby Joel.  It’s a lot for now, but all the kids are home from their University in Managua because of summer break.  They go back to school in March.  Julio speaks a little English, so that her been very helpful as well.  I have my on room in their house.  It’s not big and fancy, but it is sufficient for my needs.  I have a mosquito net over my bed, but the bugs still seem to get me.  I have more bug bites than I can count.  Marcia is a great cook, but I’m having to adjust to the food here.  A lot of the time, I have no clue what I am eating.  I’m eating a lot of rice and beans, and am quickly becoming a coffee drinker.

I finally started work yesterday (Monday).  A group from Rutgers University is here, so they were painting in the clinic.  I’m excited to finally be doing something.  I also met most of the people I will be working with.  It’s so relieving meeting people that understand English and can help me with my Spanish.  I’m ready to get into a routine and have a day-to-day schedule. 

So far this has probably been the hardest week of my life.  This is by far the most challenging thing I have ever experienced thus far in my life.  I know God has a perfect plan and has a very specific purpose for me being here.  I struggle often with “why am I here?” and “is this too hard for me?” but I know life will get much easier here. 

This week I am clinging to one Bible verse and one motivational quote from Louie Giglioou to help me through. They say….

“Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

“I promise you, no matter what comes in this lifetime, no matter how difficult the road, or how dark the night, I will hold onto you, and I will literally hold you together and carry you through any and every circumstance that comes your way.  That’s the promise of God.”  Louie Giglioou

God Bless!