There have been countless lessons I’ve learned during my time in Nicaragua the past six months. As I walk with Jesus Christ and grow closer to Him, I feel like a new person more and more. The goal is to be Christ like, and I am nowhere near that, but I hope that the little part of the journey I have traveled so far will encourage you to step out in faith to serve Him as well.
What is it like to live in a poor country?
Nicaragua can be considered a third world country, but when I am there, I don’t see the poverty or dirt; I look into the locals’ eyes to connect with them, and see contentment, curiosity, and expectation. This unexpected discovery attracts me. With the curiosity of children, we examine each other’s behaviors. I would love to see from a Miskitu’s perspective, but that may take a lifetime to achieve. I do what I can by asking questions, observing, and simply sharing experiences with them.
The language is easy to pick up, and I have been devouring it like a homemade pie, fresh out of the oven. The Miskitus speak Spanish as well, as it is the national language; so as I teach English and learn Miskitu, Spanish is the bridge between the two. Thank God I learned Spanish! Many want to learn English to expand their worlds beyond their communities. “English Without Borders” as we call it has been welcome and appreciated in the countless homes it reaches. I find that living in Waspam has opened my eyes to see beyond my own needs; expanded my heart to give when I feel that I have nothing to give; and has blessed me with the ability to rest in the faithfulness of my God.
What exactly have I been doing in Nicaragua?
In a nutshell, I have developed an audio program for teaching English directly from the native language, Miskitu. Three 45 min. lessons go on the radio per week. Not to pass up the opportunity to share the good news of the gospel, each lesson contains a prayer by a local, praise songs in both languages (sometimes Spanish as well), and the lessons themselves are conversation style, so the contents of the dialogues teach of God and salvation.
English classes are also taught in classroom settings once or twice a week. I do a personal language exchange with a couple of youths. I began a Bible study that is going through the different types of literature in the Word, and how to study them; which I hope to continue more in depth when I return to Waspam. That group meets twice a week. Also, there have been two teachers’ workshops in which I got to teach the 58 Seek the Lamb teachers English in an intense study time. As the teachers are the focus of my English over the radio program, I designed and left in their hands pronunciation dictionaries. They have all the vocabulary from the radio lessons, Miskitu in one column, the English translation in a second column, and the third has the English pronunciation (which for them is almost always different from the spelling).
What have I learned?
1. Cultural sensitivity. Not everyone in the world thinks nor acts as I do.
2. Flexibility. I have plan A, plan B, plan C, and if those don’t work out, there is plan D… I have been learning to live with open hands, not to have to be in control in order to be content. So what if things don’t go as I want them to?! God is in control and has a better plan, that’s truth you can live by.
3. To whom much has been given, much is required. From a journal entry on 4/2/08: I have so much more to give here than I have realized. There are things I want to share but can’t, like the ability to travel, to work and save up for things. But what do I have that I am able to give? Jesus Christ and the model of a lifestyle with Him.
What’s Next?
So now I am visiting my team members: family/ friends/ supporters/ loved ones. I plan to be in Maui October 3 through January, then spend a month in Sebring before returning to Nicaragua. I want to stay for six months, after which my visa requires me to leave the country, so that means I would visit Sebring again in August. Then I would return to Nicaragua until about mid November, when I plan to return to Maui again. I plan to re-air the English program, develop it further, and continue the same ministries I have begun this year. The Bible studies are my favorite and I believe the most necessary of all; so that may end up taking up more of my time than other projects as time goes on.
Thank you for your interest in God’s work on the Rio Coco, your prayers and financial support make it all possible, and are greatly appreciated, not only by myself who has the priviledge of being God’s hands and feet, but also and most importantly by the Miskitus of Nicaragua. May God bless you and expand your borders as well in pleasant places. 
