A Compassionate Lense

Hello everyone!! I’m so grateful that you made it to my page again. I can’t wait to tell you guys about my second week here in Nicaragua!! 🤗
We started the week off on Monday with normal ministry. We did many prayers walks and hospital visits as well as manual labor on the farm. Through prayer walks, I’ve been able to grow much more confident in speaking truth over those who are desperately searching for it. It can be quite intimidating to go into someone else’s home and speak life into them and pray over them when we don’t even speak their language. I’ve learned that the simplicity in the Gospel is what makes it so exceedingly beautiful to share with others. There is no man that the Gospel doesn’t apply to and that’s why it’s so important that everyone gets the opportunity to hear it at least once.
Hospital visits have given me a deeper appreciation for doctors and nurses. I have a much deeper passion for helping these hurting people and giving them the love and company that they so desperately need. The Lord has been doing a lot of work on my heart as I’ve been learning to love as he does. Compassion has been my primary motivator and fuel. We’ve been studying a deeper form of compassion. The greek word in the bible is splagchnizomai. This word means the stirring of the inward parts, literally the twisting of the bowels. When we think of Jesus’ compassion for us, his insides turn out for those hurting. He hurts for us and with us. This has been changing the way I see the hurt and the lost. My heart hurts for them as this passion deepens from the inside out.
Instead of doing a full week of ministry this week, we decided to do a three-day fast as a team starting on Thursday. Most of our team also decided to fast from our phones. I spent my time resting (lots of naps!), hanging out with my team and reading the Word. Fasting shifted my attitude towards how much I actually waste my time (I know this sounds harsh!), but it’s so true! When I had time to rest, the only things I had were the people around me, the Lord, and my own thoughts. This fast was a really great time for me to reflect and spend time with the Lord on all of my uncertainties with the future and even where I am right now. It’s difficult to not think about everyone back home all the time but I know this time is going to be over before I know it and I will be ecstatic to see everyone!! This fast gave me a lot of space to surrender my thoughts and worries to the Lord and he gave me a lot of rest even though I don’t necessarily have all the answers. I’ve been understanding more that when I give things to the Lord, a direct answer isn’t always what he gives me and that is okay. He gives me peace in the waiting and when the time is right, he will guide me where I need to be.
Lastly, on Saturday I had the opportunity to share the message at squad church with my friend Danika. And all that I have to say is that the joy that I receive when i’m with her is nothing but a blessing straight from God. I’m so grateful for her and the bond we’ve grown. It was such a special moment for us to speak together and let the Holy Spirit guide our hearts. Im also so grateful for our squad for listening and supporting us as we spoke. It’s been a true joy to spend this time with each of them.
On another note… how am I already halfway through my time in Nicaragua?! This place has a beauty that i’ve never experienced before. This will for sure not be my last time here. 🙂 So thank you again to everyone that helped get me here because this place and this opportunity has been the biggest blessing. I hope you’re able to experience a glimpse of what I have through reading about it here and enjoying the pictures i’ve been sharing!! God bless you all! ❤️