On an Island

    The past month my team got to work with a ministry called CICRIN. It is a child protection center located on Ometepe Island in Nicaragua. Nine children live at the center and many others go to the school that is located on the compound. The days were sweet and long but so worth it. It’s crazy how the Lord can change so many things in just three weeks. In reality He can change things in a split second but this time He chose to show me so many things in three weeks. 

    Our days at CICRIN looked a little different each day. Here’s a glimpse into a day in ministry:

    – In the morning we would have breakfast at 7:30 and start work at 8. Most mornings for me consisted of working in the garden, helping in the kitchen, cleaning and racking around the property. Some mornings I got to help in the English class at the school! 

    – We would take a break for lunch then had a couple of different options for the rest of the afternoon. Usually I got to work in the after school program for the elementary school kids. One day I was asked if I wanted to ride the bus with the kids to drop them off at their houses. It was so sweet how excited they were to show me where they lived. Also one of the weeks my team got to teach in the English class at the high school. 

    – By the time we were done with the after school program, all of the children that lived at CICRIN would be home. They always made sure to shout hello and run up to give us a big hug. 

    – In an hour or two we would have dinner and then would hang out with the kids. Usually we played games and chatted until it was time for bed. One of my favorite moments was when the older girls invited us to a sleepover and we got to watch a movie. We made jokes about how sappy the main characters were and had so many snacks. It really helped bond us with some of the girls there and because of that we were able to build deeper relationships with them. 

    A lot of our core ministry happened after true ministry hours. We got to choose into relationships with the kids at the center. I loved getting to pour into them and love them with all of me. Saying goodbye was very hard and the tears didn’t stop even after we drove away. But it was so worth it to see how much God can move in just three weeks. 

    This time was challenging and hard and sweet and so worth it. A verse that I clung to during this time was Isaiah 61:1-3. Isaiah 61:1-3 says:

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.”

The Lord showed me a lot of things through these verses:

   1. The Holy Spirit is with me. He has chosen me to proclaim His good news and show His love. 

   2.  God can redeem anything. Any story, any heart ache, any brokenness, and turn it into something beautiful. He can bestow crown of beauty where there once were ashes. 

   3. He provides for all of those who grieve. God sees those children and will bestow on them a garment of praise instead of despair. I’ve seen for myself, He has given some of them a garment or praise. 

   4. The Lord works all things out for the good of those who love Him. He will call them oaks of righteousness. An oak is something that is mighty and deeply rooted, it’s not easily shaken by storms and wind. When we are deeply rooted in the Lord, we get to be a display of His splendor. 

Please join me in prayer for the children at CICRIN as they continue to grow and that they see the Lord’s love for them. 

If you have any questions, drop them in the comments!