Worship!

"When peoples gather together, and kingdoms, to worship the LORD..."  Psalm 102:22

What joy it was to worship with our sisters and brothers in Christ at Harvest Managua!  The worship was powerful and spirit filled and the message was strong!  (even for those of us who don't speak English :)).  It brought tears to our eyes as we realized the power of worship no matter where you are or what country you are in.  While they sang in Spanish we sang in English.  God is the same everywhere and we can worship with ALL the saints!

We had a great last day on Sunday at church and spending time with the staff of Harvest Managua.  What precious people who love the Lord with all their hearts and want to serve Him fully.

We are all home....getting back into life here in Denver.  Our prayer is that we can be ambassadors for those in Nicaragua and our other international partners and remember and implement all that God spoke to us during our week in Nicaragua.  Pray with us!

Stay tuned for a few more posts from others that went and a video that Justin is making to play for our church.

Thanks for joining us in prayer on this journey.

You are loved!

Tracy

Today was our first day that we got to...

We finally got a chance to explore some more of Nicaragua today.  The men started out with a bible study this morning, which was awesome!  After that, we went to a Volcano today and actually got a chance to go on a zip line.  Finishing up with the zip lining, we went to the Mercado de Artesanias de Masaya.  We got a chance to barter and buy some things to bring home to the States.

Thanks again to Meileen and Perla for being our translators!  My spanish has progressed big time.  I don't want to leave.  I want to bring Kira and learn more of the language!  It was great to take one day and see more of what Nicaragua looks like.  It is very different.  Though the heart is still the same for Christ Jesus!  As Moe said to me, everybody has a testimony and they are ready to share it when asked.  I've really enjoyed hearing the testimonies of my brothers and sisters in Christ!

Here are some pictures from the day.  Mi amigos de restaurante Hacienda, miden lo que vi hoy.

It's Saturday already!

It's Saturday and we are two days away from coming home! Wow how time flies! We have had a full week of non-stop work projects finishing up only 10 minutes before we were to arrive for dinner last night! We built a kids fort, dug out a ditch and put in a French drain, fixed a roof, cleaned and painted an outside concrete floor (more than once because the rain kept washing it away :)), and painted a bathroom. We worked and sweated, often times testing our physical ability all while basking in the realization that God is at work in and through us. We have been reflecting on Romans 12:1-2, offering our bodies as a living sacrifice. Pastor Hamilton stated "sometimes the way I react in my physical body will reflect my view of God." We have had the privilege and opportunity to serve the Harvest church in Nicaragua both physically and spiritually this week and I think we would all agree they have served and blessed us just as much! What a great thing to serve each other in one body as we serve Christ! To Him be the glory!

Gratitude

We thank you for your prayers, and we are all overwhelmed with God's presence.  With the work complete, our team along with Meilene, Perla, and Jose drove south to the Cafe Las Flores coffee plantation situated on the side of Mombachu, one of the many volcanoes in Nicaragua.  We are pictured above on one of the look outs; Jose is on the far left in the blue shirt, while Perla (one the left) and Meilene are bending over in the front right.  They represent only a fraction of the body that attends Harvest Nicaragua.  After our hike around the south crater, we returned to the plantation for a zip-line tree-top adventure.  The day was filled with joy, excitement, and rest. 

I firmly believe the team is experiencing moments we will never forget.  The people here embrace life with a thankful heart, and their inspiration for Christ breathes a Spirit of gratitude that challenges me to be still and listen.  Most, if not all, the men and women at Harvest Nicaragua are first generation believers.  They are hungry and desire to serve passionately.  I thank God that He allowed me to be a part of something much greater than myself.  I pray that He continues to pour out His heart; I pray His Spirit continues to be evident in the lives of His children here, with the hope He will send them out to minister throughout Managua, to Central America, and to the world.  

Thank you once again for your prayers and hearts of faith.  Please continue praying over our trip, and that we will return safely home.  Be lifted up in Jesus Christ, and may your hearts be forever changed.

Because He lives, we serve,

Nick

Nehemiah 8:10

Estoy pocito cansato ahora.

Today was a busy day.  We painted a lot, and did so in a place that was such a small confined area, that we wore gas masks.  I must say, that was my first experience with those.  I did like it though.  My eyes did not so much.  My hands seemed to have taken a beating today.  Lots of paint thinner to clean them off and still, paint remains on them.  We helped replace a roof at the church office today as well.  

Special prayer goes out for Moe.  He seems to have caught a bug of some sort.  He's right next to me in our room, and the A/C is on, yet he says he's sweating.  Not sure what's going on with him, because he was feeling okay for the most part this afternoon.

Today was the first day that I tried the fruit mamon.  It kind of resembles the taste and texture of a grape, yet it has a huge seed in the middle.  I had never seen or heard that it even existed.

As far as my walk with God goes, yesterday I heard Alvaro's testimony about how he came to know the Lord personally, It brought tears to my eyes. (I am able to understand a lot more spanish now than I ever have been. I use what I know, and always ask how to say new things.  I have a passion to learn the language.  I've had lies put in my head already that say, it's too hard, you'll never learn.  All satanic lies.  I got to share my testimony with the help of Perla my translator. (Thanks Perla!)  I am looking very forward to Sunday to Worship our God here in Nicaragua.  God is the same no matter what the country and he will always be in control.

One last thing that stuck out to me was that during the prayer today before our lunch, Oswaldo said something to the effect that "their are starving people in Africa and that we have more than enough here in Nicaragua."  They don't have much here in Nicaragua compared to America, but they still are blessed.  I just love that attitude and mindset that Jesus has.  It is now time for me to go to bed though.  Goodnight.

-Justin

Pray list

I can feel your prayers.  It's incredible.

Continued prayers for our health.  Today is the first day allergies could be really bad.
Pray for...
Pastor Jared, his wife Tanya, and their children Josiah, Isaiah, Gabriela, and Jeremiah.
The weather to be good for outside working.  Our weather we've had these past couple of days has been fantastic.
And just for God to speak to us and show us why he chose us for this trip.

The top picture is of Gabriela and Josiah.  (I'm taking Gabriela home with me without Pastor Jared knowing.  She is just too cute.)

The bottom picture is with Perla and Ili. :)

P.S. Josh says hey btw.

Sunset... | Managua, Nicaragua

Joy and Humility supersedes the pain...

I have never been in so much physical pain in my life...LOL! However, I have never experienced so much Joy in digging a ditch and pushing barrels of dirt around all day. Knowing that, foremost, I'm doing the will of my Father in heaven, and secondly that I'm demonstrating the love of Christ in serving my family here Nicaragua. I am so humbled by the way that small groups of Harvest Managua have taken time out of their week to serve us. Some even ask for extended lunch hours or a day off of work to fellowship with us. This type of hospitality is foreign to me. I hope to learn to love like the People of Managua Nicaragua. Each day brings new joy and humility into my life. God is Good!

Greetings Friends -

We wanted to share another way that your love and financial support is blessing the people of Nicaragua.  This morning us girls went shopping for food and other necessities for four families in the Harvest Managua congregation who are struggling.  Tomorrow we will present them with baskets full of food and other household necessities.  We are humbled to be able to serve these families with the support you sent.  As we discussed with Pastor Arnold this morning in our devotion time, the presence of Christ produces Joy.   Our prayer is that through the gifts presented tomorrow the families will feel the joy of Christ in the midst of their trials.

Counting every day here a tremendous blessing...
Bridget & Ella

Just a quick sec before dinner to post something

I had someone ask about the fort we are building down here for the kids.  At the pastors house, they usually have people over often for ministry.  There is alot of space for the kids to run around, but not a whole lot that they can do.  So, we are building this fort for them so that when families bring their children over, they can play and have fun, while the grown ups meet for small groups, parties, or what ever is going on.  Today we finished the beams that will support the floor.  Tomorrow we should be able to finish the flooring and have it nailed down while also having time to install the zipline.  That's right, you heard me correct.  We are installing a zipline!  The floor stands tall at about 6' 6".  Imagine Michael Jordan being able to stand underneath it and have his head touch just barely.  Here is a picture of what we ended with today...

Time for dinner!  Adios!

Lunch Break

Hello...

just a quick update... we continue to work on several projects here in Managua. We're definitely getting a good work out, in case you're wondering. Everyone on our team is working hard.

We just done with lunch... Managua has never heard of "Siesta", unfortunately. Food so good... thank you God! :)

The fellowship has been amazing, even the work has been a joy - the hospitality has been a huge blessing. We have been able to talk with some of the guys on staff at Harvest Managua. So encouraged to know that these folks are on board to proclaim the truth without apology and desire to reach the lost with the Gospel!  

Please, be praying for 2 little boys I met in front of the church today. Their names are Moises and Daniel (8-9 year olds i think). Their situation is a bit complicated... they are beggars out on the streets (parents put them to work and beg on the streets- very sad). They came up to me looking to get a dollar or two. Didn't have any money, but I started to ask them about their lives and what they like to do for fun. I also asked them if they knew who Jesus was.. and it seemed as though they knew all the right things to say/answer. There is definitely no desire for God and they are more interested in receiving money or material things. I encouraged them to come and join the kids on Sunday. They seemed hesitant... but I'm praying that God would birth a desire in them to know Jesus and the hope that is only found in Him! Also praying that God would bring more opportunities to share the good news to people while we work and serve the people. 

Thank you all for your prayers and support!!! God is so good... we are doing better than we deserve!

Josh

Josh is correct...

Coffee is fantastic, and Tanya was just telling us that last night that the coffee we had was average.  It was way better than anything we get in states, including starbucks.  Sorry folks, and I'm a gold member too, so I can say that.  Time for breakfast and bible study!

 ¡Adios!

Great day today!

Hello Everyone...just a quick update from me.

We started our Tuesday morning with a devotional lead by Pastor Jared... we read through Proverbs 3:1-12. Pastor Jared challenged us to be more proactive, more visionary and less reactionary- to trust the Lord, step out in faith, seek His direction on this trip and remaining faithful/loyal regardless of the trials and change.

I was assigned the task of helping to dig a trench at the church offices along with Tracy, Ella, Brigitte and Moe. If you know me... you know that I was definitely out of my comfort zone! It was pretty hard work and specially on a hot and humid day. The humidity in Managua is pretty crazy, and we were told today that it is actually winter season (pretty hot for winter if you ask me!) right now. I can't even imagine what summer must be like! Anyway, we all worked hard for several hours and accomplished a lot. I'm thinking we'll be doing the same kind of work tomorrow.

We met and connected with members of Harvest Managua. Members of a small group took time off of work to come to the church offices and serve us lunch and they were so excited and happy about serving... humbling. We had so much fun talking with them and getting to know one another. I'm looking forward to more fellowship and ministry opportunities this week!

My prayer is that God would continue to give us opportunities to share the love of Christ in this city and that He would be glorified in all that we do!

Thank you all for your prayers and support! We'll try and keep all of you updated everyday this week!

Oh, by the way..................Nicaraguan coffee................................really good! :)

Goodnight,

Josh

What a Day!

Today was a day full of work and new things!  It started out with a bible study which has always been a great way to start any day!  After that we got started on the project for building the kids fort in the back of Jared’s house.  The 6 support beams are in the ground with cement, and are drying over night as I type.  Real interesting to ride around in a car here.  Very exciting.  I could really get use to the driving here because some times, you feel like it’s a game of bumper cars, except you get as close to the other cars as possible without hitting them! :)  Kira (my wife) would not like it so much, but that’s because she probably experiences it enough with me at home anyways, where actual traffic laws apply! Haha

We got to meet some members of Harvest Managua today that took their lunch shift off to come serve us lunch!  I thought we were here to serve them, but that was awesome.  To top that, I feel like we’ve known them for years and I haven’t talked to them but about 20ish minutes is all.  They were really excited for us to be there today.  I was excited to use what little Spanish I do know and communicate with them.  They have the Harvest Family vibe to them and I do feel like we are brothers and sisters, not just in Christ but as family.  I’m looking forward to meeting more people!

As for the culture here, I didn’t know what to expect as far as what I would compare to the U.S.A.  I can assure you that my thoughts were a bit high.  Nicaragua is the poorest country in Central America and the second poorest in the Hemisphere.  There are a plethora of rickshaws (little three wheeled taxi’s) and lots of people always outside.  Seeing the Church office and places surrounding it, it has been very eye opening.  Surprisingly, I feel as though I'm at home.  There is no uncomfortable feeling even though I thought there would be at first.  I have taken about 300ish pictures today and will be taking more and more each day.

Until tomorrow,

-Justin  

Here are some pictures just from today though.